Shall make thy peace, for moving me to rage;
And I will boot thee with what gift befide

Thy modesty can beg.

Mef.

Cleo. Rogue, thou haft liv'd too long.

Mef.

He's married, madam.

[Draws a dagger.

Nay, then I'll run :

What mean you, madam? I have made no fault. [Exit. Char. Good madam, keep yourself within yourself;

The man is innocent.

Cleo. Some innocents 'fcape not the thunder-bolt.-
Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures
Turn all to ferpents !-Call the slave again;
Though I am mad, I will not bite him :-Call.
Char. He is afeard to come.

Cleo.
I will not hurt him :-
These hands do lack nobility, that they strike
A meaner than myfelf; fince I myself
Have given myself the caufe.-Come hither, fir.

Re-enter Meffenger.

Though it be honest, it is never good

To bring bad news: Give to a gracious message
An host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell

Themselves, when they be felt.

Mef.

Cleo. Is he married?

I have done my duty.

I cannot hate thee worfer than I do,

If thou again fay, Yes.

Mef.

He is married, madam.

Cleo. The gods confound thee! dost thou hold there

ftill?

Mef, Should I lie, madam?

Cleo.

Cleo.

O, I would, thou didft;

So half my Egypt were submerg'd, and made
A ciftern for fcal'd fnakes! Go, get thee hence;
Had'st thou Narciffus in thy face, to me

Thou would'st appear most ugly. He is married?
Mef. I crave your highness' pardon.

Cleo.

He is married?

Mef. Take no offence, that I would not offend you: To punish me for what you make me do,

Seems much unequal: He is married to Octavia.

Cleo. O, that his fault should make a knave of thee, That art not!-What? thou'rt fure of't?-Get thee

hence :

The merchandise, which thou haft brought from Rome, Are all too dear for me; Lie they upon thy hand,

And be undone by 'em!

[Exit Meffenger. Good your highness, patience. Cleo. In praifing Antony, I have difprais'd Cæfar.

Char.

Char. Many times, madam.

Cleo.

Lead me from hence,

I am paid for't now.

I faint; O Iras, Charmian,-'Tis no matter:-
Go to the fellow, good Alexas; bid him

Report the feature of Octavia, her years,

Her inclination, let him not leave out

The colour of her hair :-bring me word quickly.—

[Exit ALEXAS.

Let him for ever go :-Let him not-Charmian,
Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
T' other way he's a Mars :-Bid you Alexas

[TO MARDIAN.

Bring me word, how tall fhe is.-Pity me, Charmian,
But do not speak to me.-Lead me to my chamber.

SCENE VI.

Near Mifenum.

Enter POMPEY, and MENAS, at one fide, with drum and trumpet: at another, CESAR, LEPIDUS, ANTONY, ENOBARBUS, MECENAS, with foldiers marching.

Pom. Your hoftages I have, so have you And we shall talk before we fight.

Caf.

mine i

Most meet,

That first we come to words; and therefore have we

Our written purposes before us fent:

Which, if thou haft confider'd, let us know
If 'twill tie up thy difcontented sword;

And carry back to Sicily much tall youth,
That else must perish here.

Pom.

Το you all three,
The fenators alone of this great world,
Chief factors for the gods,-I do not know,
Wherefore my father fhould revengers want,
Having a fon, and friends; fince Julius Cæfar,
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted,
There faw you labouring for him. What was it,
That mov'd pale Caffius to conspire? And what
Made the all-honour'd, honeft, Roman Brutus,
With the arm'd reft, courtiers of beauteous freedom,
To drench the Capitol : but that they would
Have one man but a man? And that is it,
Hath made me rig my navy; at whose burden
The anger'd ocean foams; with which I meant
To fcourge the ingratitude that defpiteful Rome
Caft on my noble father.

Ant. Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy fails, We'll speak with thee at sea: at land, thou know'st How much we do o'er-count thee.

Pom.

At land, indeed,
Thou doft o'er-count me of my father's house:
But, fince the cuckoo builds not for himself,
Remain in't, as thou may'st.

Lep.

Be pleas'd to tell us, (For this is from the prefent,) how you take

The offers we have fent you.

Caf.

There's the point.

Ant. Which do not be entreated to, but weigh What it is worth embrac'd.

Caf.

To try a larger fortune.

Pom.

And what may follow,

You have made me offer

Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I muft

Rid all the fea of pirates; then, to fend

Measures of wheat to Rome: This 'greed upon,

To part with unhack'd edges, and bear back

Caf. Ant. Lep. That's our offer.

Pom.
Know then,
I came before you here, a man prepar'd
To take this offer: But Mark Antony
Put me to fome impatience :-Though I lose
The praise of it by telling, You must know,
When Cæfar and your brothers were at blows,
Your mother came to Sicily, and did find
Her welcome friendly.

Ant,

And am well ftudied for a liberal thanks,

Which I do owe you.

Pom.

I have heard it, Pompey:

Let me have your hand:

I did not think, fir, to have met you here.

Ant. The beds i' the east are soft; and thanks to you, That call'd me, timelier than my purpose, hither i

What counts harsh fortune cafts upon my face;
But in my bofom fhall the never come,

To make my heart her vaffal.

I crave, our compofition may be written,

And feal'd between us.

Caf.

That's the next to do.

Pom. We'll feaft each other, ere we part; and let us Draw lots, who fhall begin.

Ant.

That will I, Pompey.

Pom. No, Antony, take the lot: but, first,

Or laft, your fine Egyptian cookery

Shall have the fame. I have heard, that Julius Cæfar

Grew fat with fasting there.

Ant.

You have heard much,

And fair words to them.

Pom. I have fair meanings, fir.

Ant.

Pom. Then fo much have I heard :And I have heard, Apollodorus carriedEno. No more of that:-He did fo. Pom.

Eno. A certain queen to Cæfar in a mattress.

What, I pray you?

Well;

Pom. I know thee now; How far'ft thou, foldier?

Eno.

And well am like to do; for, I perceive,

Four feasts are toward.

Pom.