Let your Egyptian timbrels play alone, Nor mix effeminate sounds with Roman trumpets. You dare not fight for Antony; go pray, And keep your cowards' holiday in temples. [Exeunt ALEX. SER. Re-enter the Gentleman of MARC ANTONY. 2 Gent. The emperor approaches, and commands, On pain of death, that none presume to stay. 1 Gent. I dare not disobey him. [Going out with the other. Vent. Well, I dare: But I'll observe him first, unseen, and find Which way his humour drives: the rest I'll ven Ant. They tell me, 'tis my birth-day; and I'll Where have you learnt that answer? Who am I? keep it With double pomp of sadness: 'Tis what the day deserves, which gave me breath. Why was I raised the meteor of the world, Hung in the skies, and blazing as I travelled, Vent. My emperor; the man I love next hea ven: If I said more, I think 'twere scarce a sin: Till all my fires were spent, and then cast down-You will not leave me then? To be trod out by Cæsar? Vent. [Aside] On my soul 'Tis mournful, wond'rous mournful! Ant. Count thy gains Now, Antony; wouldst thou be born for this? Vent. Aside] How sorrow shakes him! The place, thou pressest on thy mother earth, Lje still and peaceful there, I'll think no more "Tis somewhat to my humour. Stay, I fancy I'm now turned wild, a commoner of nature; Of all forsaken, and forsaking all, Live in a shady forest's sylvan scene; Stretched at my length beneath some blasted oak, I lean my head upon the mossy bark, Vent. 'Twas too presuming To say I would not; but I dare not leave you; For, if a friend, thou hast beheld enough, Vent. Look, emperor, this is no common dew: [Weeping. I have not wept this forty years, but now Ant. By heaven he weeps! Poor good old man, he weeps! The big round drops course one another down The furrows of his cheeks. Stop them, Ventidius, Or I shall blush to death; they set my shame, That caused them, full before me. Vent. I'll do my best. Ant. Sure there's contagion in the tears of friends; See, I have caught it too. Believe me, 'tis not For my own griefs, but thine-Nay, fatherVent. Emperor. Ant. Emperor! why that's the style of vic tory: карый You see through love, and that deludes your sight, As what is straight seems crooked through the water; But I, who bear my reason undisturbed, Cleo. Could I believe thee Alex. By every circumstance I know he loves. True, he's hard prest by interest and honour; Yet he but doubts and parleys, and casts out Many a long look for succour. Cleo. He sends word He fears to see my face. Alex. And would you more? Heshows his weakness, who declines the combat; Cleo. You shall rule me, But all, I fear, in vain. Oh! 'tis the coldest youth upon a charge, The most deliberate fighter! if he ventures (As in Illyria once they said he did) To storm a town, 'tis when he cannot chuse, When all the world have fixed their eyes upon him ; And then he lives on that for seven years after: Vent. I heard you challenged him. What think'st thouwas his answer? 'twas so tame! Vent. Poor! Ant. He has more ways than one, But he would chuse them all before that one. Vent. He first would chuse an ague or a fever. Ant. No, it must be an ague, not a fever; He has not warmth enough to die by that. Vent. Or old age and a bed. Alex. Great emperor, In mighty arms renowned above mankind, Vent. Smooth sycophant! Alex. A thousand wishes, and ten thousand prayers, Millions of blessings, wait you to the wars; As many embraces to your arms, Alex. And yet she begs not now, you would not leave her; That were a wish too mighty for her hopes, And too presuming for her low fortune and your ebbing love; That were a wish for her most prosperous days, Her blooming beauty, and your growing kindness. Ant. [Aside.] Well, I must man it out-What would the queen? Alex. First to these noble warriors, who attend Your daring courage in the chase of fame, (Too daring and too dangerous for her quiet) She humbly recommends all she holds dear, All her own cares and fears,-the care of you. Vent. Yes, witness Actium. Ant. Let him speak, Ventidius. Alex. You, when his matchless valour bears him forward With ardour too heroic on his foes, |