Cleo. How much unlike art thou Mark An- ' tony! Yet, coming from him, that great medicine hath How goes it with my brave Mark Antony ? Say, the firm Roman to great Egypt sends Say thou, shall call her mistress. So he nodded, Cleo. What, was he sad, or merry? Alex. Like to the time o'the year between the extremes Of hot and cold; he was nor sad, nor merry. He was not sad; for he would shine on those So does it no man else.-Met'st thou my posts? Cleo. Who's born that day When I forget to send to Antony, Men. Cesar and Lepidus Are in the field; a mighty strength they carry Pom. He dreams: I know they are in Rome together, Looking for Antony: But all charms of love, Enter VARRIUS. Var. This is most certain that I shall deliver : Mark Antony is every hour in Rome Expected; since he went from Egypt, 'tis A space for further travel. Pom. I could have given less matter A better ear.-Menas, I did not think Men. I cannot hope, Cesar and Antony shall well greet together: Pom. I know not, Menas, How lesser enmities may give way to greater. Were't not that we stand up against them all, pregnant they should square between themselves; Shall die a beggar.-Ink and paper, Charmian.-Twere ACT II. house. [Exeunt. For they have entertained cause enough Enter ENOBARBUS and Lepidus. Lep. Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed, And shall become you well, to entreat your capTo soft and gentle speech. Eno. I shall entreat him To answer like himself: if Cesar move him, SCENE 1.-Messina.-A Room in POMPEY'S I would not shave to-day. Lep. 'Tis not a time For private stomaching. Eno. Every time Serves for the matter that is then born in it. [taiu It not concern'd me. Ant. My being in Egypt, Cesar, What was't to you? Ces. No more than my residing here at Rome Ant. How intend you, practis'd ↑ Ces. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine Did urge me in his act: I did enquire it; ot Discredit my authority with yours; Ces. You praise yourself By laying defects of judgment to me; but Ant. Not so, not so; I know you could not lack, I am certain on't Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought, Could not with grateful eyes attend those wars wife, I would you had her spirit in such another: Of what I was i'the morning; but, next day, Ces. You have broken The article of your oath; which you shall never Lep. Soft, Cesar. Ant. No, Lepidus, let him speak: The honour's sacred which he talks on now, Ces. To lend me arms and aid, when I re The which you both denied. Ant. Neglected, rather; And then, when poison'd hours had bound me up To have me out of Egypt, made wars here; Lep. 'Tis nobly spoken. Mec. If it might please you to enforce no The griefs + between ye, to forget them quite, Lep. Worthily spoke, Mecænas. Eno. 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. Eno. That truth should be silent, I had almost forgot. Ant. You wrong this presence, therefore speak no more. Eno. Go to then; your considerate stone. O'the world I would pursue it. Agr. Give me leave, Cesar, Ces. Speak, Agrippa. Agr. Thou hast a sister by the mother's side, Ces. Say not so, Agrippa; If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof Ant. I am not married, Cesar: let me hear ́ Agr. To hold you in perpetual amity, The third o'the world is yours; which, with a with an unslipping knot, take Antony snaffle ¶ You may pace easy, but not such a wife. Eno. 'Would we had all such wives, that the men might go to wars with the women! Ant. So much incurable, her garboils, Cesar, Ces. I wrote to you, When rioting in Alexandria: you Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts Did gibe my missive ** out of audience. He fell upon me, ere admitted; then Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want 'Would we had spoke together! Haste we for it: Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, despatch we The business we have talk'd of. Ces. With most gladness; And do invite you to my sister's view, Ant. Let us, Lepidus, Not lack your company. Lep. Noble Antony, Not sickness should detain me. And what they undid, did, Agr. Oh, rare for Antony! Eno. Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides, So many mermaids, tended her i'the eyes, And made their bends adornings: at the helm A seeming Mermaid steers; the silken tackle Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands That yarely frame the office. From the barge A strange invisible pérfume hits the sense Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast Her people out upon her; and Antony, Enthrou'd in the market-place, did sit alone, Whistling to the air; which, but for vacancy, Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too, And made a gap in nature. hungry Where most she satisfies. For vilest things Mec. If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle [Flourish. Exeunt CESAR, ANTONY, and The heart of Antony, Octavia is Eno. I will tell you: The barge she sat in, like a burnish'd throne, Burn'd on the water: the poop was beaten gold; Purple the sails, and so perfumed, that The winds were love-sick with them: the oars were silver : Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made It beggar'd all description: she did lie A blessed lottery to him, Agr. Let us go. Good Enobarbus, make yourself my guest, Whilst you abide here. Eno. Humbly, Sir, I thank you, [Exeunt. Sooth. Cesar's. Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side: Ant. Speak this no more. Sooth. To none but thee; no more, but when to thee. If thou dost play with him at any game, Thou art sure to lose; and, of that natural luck, Ant. Get thee gone: Say to Ventidius, I would speak with him: I'the east my pleasure lies :-O come, Ventidius, SCENE IV.-The same.-A Street. Enter LEPIDUS, MECENAS. and AGRIPPA. Lep. Trouble yourselves no urther: pray you, hasten If thou say so, villain, thou kill'st thy mistress: If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here Mess. First, madam, he's well. Cleo. Why, there's more gold. But, Sirrah, mark: We use To say the dead are well; bring it to that, Mess. Good madam, hear me. But there's no goodness in thy face: If Antony Mess. Will't please you hear me? Cleo. I have a mind to strike thee, ere thou speak'st: Yet, if thou say, Antony lives, is well, Mess. Madam, he's well. Mess. And friends with Cesar. Mess. Cesar and he are greater friends than ever. Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me. Mess. But yet, madain,- Cleo. I do not like but yet; it does allay The good precedence; fie upon but yet: Some monstrous malefactor. Pr'ythee, friend, In state of health, thou say'st: and, thou say'st, Cleo. For what good turn? [food Mess. For the best turn i'the bed. Cleo. I am pale, Charmian. Mar. As well as I can, madam. Cleo. And when good will is show'd, though it come too short, The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now: Char. 'Twas merry, when You wager'd on your angling; when your diver The ancients used to match quails as we match cocks. + Inclosed. 1 Mount Misenum. Melancholy. Billiards were unknowu then. Mess. Madam, he's married to Octavia. [port: Cleo. The most infectious pestilence upon thee! [Strikes him down. Mess. Good madam, patience. [Strikes him again. Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine eyes Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head; [She hales him up and down. Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in Smarting in ling'ring pickle. [brine, Mess. Gracious madam, I, that do bring the news, made not the match. Cleo. Say 'tis not so, a province I will give [hadst thee, And make thy fortunes proud; the blow thou Mess. He's married, madam. Mess. Nay, then I'll run :- Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures Cleo. I will not hurt him : These hands do lack nobility, that they strike Though it be honest, it is never good To bring bad news: Give to a gracious message Mess. I have done my duty. Cleo. Is he married? I cannot hate thee worser than I do, If thou again say, Yes. Mess. He is married, madam. And carry back to Sicily much tall⚫ youth Pom. To you all three, To drench the Capitol; but that they would Ces. Take your time. Ant. Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with We'll speak with thee at sea: at land thou know'st Pom. At land, indeed, Thou dost o'er-count me of my father's house : Cleo. The gods confound thee! dost thou hold But, since the cuckoo builds not for himself, there still? Mess. Should I lie, madam ? Cleo. Oh! I would thou didst ; So half my Egypt were submerg'd and made A cistern for scal'd snakes! Go, get thee hence ; Mess. Take no offence, that I would not offend To punish me for what you make me do, That art not!-What? thou'rt sure of 't?-Get The merchandise which thou hast brought from Are all too dear for me; Lie they upon thy hand, Char. Many times, madam. Cleo. I am paid for't now. Lead me from hence, Remain in't as thou may'st. Lep. Be pleas'd to tell us, (For this is from the present, §) how you take The offers we have sent you. Ces. There's the point. Ant. Which do not be entreated to, but weigh Ces. And what may follow, Pom. You have made me offer Ces. Ant. Lep. That's our offer. 1 came before you here, a man prepar'd Ant. I have heard it, Pompey; Pom. Let me have your hand : I did not think, Sir, to have met you here. quick-That call'd me, timelier than my purpose, hither; I faint; O Iras, Charmian, 'Tis no matter :- Ces. Since I saw you last, There is a change upon you. Pom. Well, I know not What counts | harsh fortune casts upon my face: Bring me word how tall she is.-Pity me, Char-But in my bosom shall she never come, mian, But do not speak to me.-Lead me to my cham ber. [Exeunt. To make my heart her vassal. Pom. I hope so, Lepidus.-Thus we are I crave our composition may be written, Ces. That's the next to do. Pom. We'll feast each other, ere we part; and let us |