Oct. Sit. Ant. Sit, sir. Oct. Nay, then. Ant. I learn you take things ill, which are not so ; Or, being, concern you not. Oct. I must be laugh'd at, If, or for nothing, or a little, I Should say myself offended; and with you Ant. My being in Egypt, Cæsar, What was't to you? Oct. No more than my residing here at Rome Might be to you in Egypt: Yet, if you there Did practise on my state, your being in Egypt Might be my question. Ant. How intend you, practis'd? Oct. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent, By what did here befall me: Your wife, and brother, Made wars upon me; and their contestation Was theme for you—you were the word of war. never Did urge me in his act: I did inquire it; And have my learning from some true reports, And make the wars alike against my stomach, your cause? Of this, my letters Before did satisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel, (As matter whole you have not to make it with) It must not be with this. Oct. You praise yourself, By laying to me defects of judgment: but Ant. Not so, not so: I know you could not lack, I am certain on't, Very necessity of this thought, that I, Your partner in the cause 'gainst which you fought, Enub. 'Would we had all such wives, that the men Might go to wars with the women. Ant. So much uncurbable, her garboils, Cæsar, Made out of her impatience, (which not wanted Shrewdness of policy too) I grieving grant Did you too much disquiet: for that, you must Oct. I wrote to you, When, rioting in Alexandria, you Did pocket up my letters; and with taunts Ant. Sir, He fell upon me, ere admitted; then Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want Oct. You have broken The article of our oath; which you Have tongue to charge me with. Lep. Soft, Cæsar. Ant. No, Lepidus, let him speak; shall never The honour is sacred which he talks on now, The article of my oath,— Oct. To lend me arms, and aid, when I required Ant. Neglected, rather; And then, when poison'd hours had bound me up Lep. "Tis nobly spoken. Mec. If it might please you, to enforce no further Speaks to atone you. Lep. Worthily spoken, Mecenas. Enob. Or, if you borrow one another's love for the instant, you may, when you hear no more words of Pompey, return it again: you shall have time to wrangle in, when you have nothing else to do. Ant. Thou art a soldier only; speak no more. Enob. That truth should be silent, I had almost forgot. Ant. You wrong this presence, therefore speak no more. Oct. I do not much mislike the manner, but So differing in their acts. Yet, if I knew What hoop would hold us staunch, from edge to edge Agrip. Give me leave, Cæsar,— Oct. Speak, Agrippa. Agrip. Thou hast a sister by the mother's side, Admir'd Octavia: great Marc Antony Is now a widower. Oct. Say not so, Agrippa; If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof Ant. I am not marry'd, Cæsar: let me hear Agrip. To hold you in perpetual amity, To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts With an unslipping knot, take Antony Octavia to his wife: whose beauty claims No worse a husband than the best of men; Whose virtue, and whose general graces, speak That which none else can utter. By this marriage, All little jealousies, which now seem great, And all great fears, which now import their dangers, Would then be nothing: her love to both, Would each to other, and all loves to both Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke; For 'tis a study'd, not a present thought, By duty ruminated. Ant. Will Cæsar speak? Oct. Not till he hears how Antony is touch'd With what is spoke already. Ant. What power is in Agrippa, If I would say," Agrippa, be it so," To make this good? Oct. The power of Cæsar, and His power unto Octavia. Ant. May I never To this good purpose, that so fairly shows, Dream of impediment!—Let me have thy hand: And sway our great designs! Oct. There is my hand. A sister I bequeath you, whom no brother Did ever love so dearly: Let her live To join our kingdoms, and our hearts; and never Fly off our loves again! Lep. Happily! Amen. Ant. I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst For he hath lay'd strange courtesies, and great, Lep. Time calls upon us: Of us must Pompey presently be sought, Ant. Where lies he, Cæsar? Oct. About the mount Misenum. By land? Oct. Great, and increasing: but by sea He is an absolute master. Ant. So is the fame: 'Would we had spoke together! haste we for it: Oct. With most gladness; Ant. Let us, Lepidus, Not lack your company. Not sickness should detain me. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Alexandria. A Room in the Palace. Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas. Cleo. Give me some music; music, moody food Of us that trade in love. |