If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof Were well deserved of rashness. Ant. I am not married, Cæsar: let me hear Agrippa further speak. Agr. To hold you in perpetual amity, To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts And all great fears, which now import their dangers, Ant. Will Cæsar speak? Cas. 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? Cas. 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! Cæs. 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 Pompey; For he hath laid strange courtesies, and great, Of late upon me: I must thank him only, Lest my remembrance suffer ill report;' At heel of that, defy him. Lep. Time calls upon us: Of us must Pompey presently be sought, Ant. And where lies he? Cæs. About the mount Misenum. Ant. What's his strength By land? * Lest I be thought unmindful. Cas. 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: Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, despatch we The business we have talk'd of. Cas. With most gladness; And do invite you to my sister's view, Not lack your company. Lep. Noble Antony, Not sickness should detain me. [Flourish. Exeunt CÆSAR, ANTONY, and LEPIDUS, Mec. Welcome from Egypt, Sir. Eno. Half the heart of Caesar, worthy Mecenas !—my honourable friend, Agrippa! Agr. Good Enobarbus! Mec. We have cause to be glad, that matters are so well digested. You stayed well by it in Egypt. Eno. Ay, Sir; we did sleep day out of countenance, and made the night light with drinking. Mec. Eight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast, and but twelve persons there; is this true? Eno. This was but as a fly by an eagle: we had much more monstrous matter of feast, which worthily deserved noting. Mec. She's a most triumphant lady, if report be square* to her. Eno. When she first met Mark Antony, she pursed up his heart upon the river of Cidnus. Agr. There she appear'd indeed; or my reporter devised well for her. 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 The water, which they beat, to follow faster, As amorous of their strokes. For her own person, Agr. O, rare for Antony! Eno. Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides, So many mermaids, tended her i' the eyes, *Equal her merits. + Added to the warmth they were intended to diminish. And made their bends adoring: at the helm Agr. Rare Egyptian! Eno. Upon her landing, Antony sent to her, It should be better, he became her guest; For what his eyes eat only. Agr. Royal wench! She made great Cæsar lay his sword to bed; Eno. I saw her once Hop forty paces through the public street: And having lost her breath, she spoke, and panted, That she did make defect, perfection, And, breathless, power breathe forth. Mec. Now Antony must leave her utterly. Eno: Never; he will not; Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety: Other women Cloy th' appetites they feed; but she makes hungry Where most she satisfies. For vilest things Become themselves in her; that the holy priests Bless her, when she's riggish.t Mec. If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle The heart of Antony, Octavia is 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. SCENE III.-The same. A Room in CÆSAR'S House. Enter CESAR, ANTONY, OCTAVIA, between them; ATTENDANTS, and a SOOTHSAYER. Ant. The world, and my great office, will sometimes Divide me from your bosom. Octa. All which time * Dexterously perform. + Wanton. Allotment. Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers Ant. Good night, Sir.-My Octavia, Read not my blemishes in the world's report: I have not kept my square; but that to come Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear lady. Cas. Good night. [Exeunt CESAR and OCTAVIA. Ant. Now, sirrah! you do wish yourself in Egypt? Sooth. Would I had never come from thence, nor you. Thither! Ant. If you can, your reason? Sooth. I see't in My motion, have it not in my tongue : But yet Ant. Say to me, Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Cæsar's, or mine? Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side: Thy demon, that's thy spirit which keeps thee, is Where Cæsar's is not; but near him, thy angel 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, He beats thee 'gainst the odds; thy lustre thickens, When he shines by: I say again, thy spirit Is all afraid to govern thee near him; But, he away, 'tis noble. Ant. Get thee gone : Say to Ventidius, I would speak with him: [Exit SOOTHSAYER, He shall to Parthia.-Be it art, or hap, He hath spoken true: The very dice obey him; And, in our sports, my better cunning faints I' the east my pleasure lies:-O, come, Ventidius, SCENE IV.-The same. A Street. Enter LEPIDUS, MECENAS, and AGRIPPA. Lep. Trouble yourselves no further: pray you, hasten Your generals after. [Exeunt. * Inspiration. †The ancients used to match quails as we match cocks. Agr. Sir, Mark Antony Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow. Lep. Till I shall see you in your soldier's dress, Which will become you both, farewell. Mec. We shall, As I conceive the journey, be at mount* Lep. Your way is shorter, My purposes do draw me much about; SCENE V-Alexandria. [Exeunt. A Room in the Palace. Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS. Attend. The music, ho! Enter MARDIAN. Cleo. Let it alone; let us to billiards: Come, Charmian. Char. My arm is sore, best play with Mardian. As with a woman ;-Come, you'll play with me, Sir? 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: Give me mine angle,-We'll to the river: there, My music playing far off, I will betray Tawny-finn'd fishes; my bended hook shall pierce And say, Ah, ha! you're caught. Char. "Twas merry, when You wager'd on your angling; when your diver Cleo. That time !-O times! I laugh'd him out of patience; and that night Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears, Mess. Madam, madam, Cleo. Antony's dead ? If thou say so, villain, thou kill'st thy mistress: But well and free, *I. e. Mount Misenum. |