A ciftern for fcal'd fnakes! go, get thee hence;
Hadft thou Narciffus in thy face, to me

Thou wouldst appear moft ugly: he is married?-
Meff. I crave your Highness' pardon.
Cleo. He is married?.

Meff. Take no offence, that I would not offend To punish me for what you make me do, [you; Seems much unequal. He's married to Octavia. Cleo. Oh, that his fault fhould make a knave of

thee,

That art not what thou'rt fure of!-Get thee hence,
The merchandises thou haft brought from Rome
Are all too dear for me:

Ly they upon thy hand, and be undone by 'em!
[Exit Meffenger.
Char. Good your Highness, patience.
Cleo. In praifing Antony, I have difprais'd Cæfar.
Char. Many times, Madam.

Cleo. I am paid for it now. Lead me from hence;
I faint; oh 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—
Let him for ever go --Let him not-Charmian-
Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
Th' other way's a Mars ----Bid him, Alexas,

B:

ng

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

[Exeunt.

Changes to the Coaft of Italy, near Mifenum.

Enter Pompey and Menas, at one door, with drum and trumpet: at another, Cæfar Lepidus, Antony, Enobarbus, Mecenas, Agrippa, with Soldiers marching.

Pomp. Your hoftages I have, fo have you mine; And we fhall talk before we fight.

Caf. Most meet

That first we come to words; and therefore have we
Our written purpofes before us fent;

Which if thou haft confider'd, let us know
If 'twill tie up thy difcontented fword,
And carry back to Sicily much tall youth,
That elfe muft perish here.

Pomp. To you all three,

The fenators alone of this great world,
Chief factors for the gods-I do not know
Wherefore my father thould revengers want,
Having a fon and friends; fince Julius Cefar,
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted,
There faw you labouring for him
What was it
That mov'd pale Caffius to confpire? and what
Made thee, all honour'd, honest 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 whofe burden
The anger'd ocean foams, with which I meant
To fcourge th' ingratitude that deípightful Rome
Caft on my noble father.

Caf. Take your time.

Ant. Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy fails;

We'll fpeak with thee at fea. At land thou know'ft How much we do o'er-count thee.

Pomp. At land, indeed,

Thou dost o'ercount me of my father's house.
But fince the cuckow builds not for himself,

Remain in't as thou may' *.

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.

Since, like the cuckow, that feizes the nefts of other birds, you have invaded a house which you could not build, keep it while you can. Johnson.

Caf. And what may follow To try a larger fortune.

Pomp. You've made me offer

Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must

Rid all the fea of pirates; then to fend
Measures of wheat to Rome: this 'greed upon,
Το part with unhack'd edges, and bear back
Our targe undinted.

Omnes. That's our offer.
Pomp. 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 lofe
The praise of it by telling, you must know,
When Cæsar and your brother were at blows,
Your mother came to Sicily, and did find
Her welcome friendly.

Ant. I have heard it, Pompey,

And am well ftudied for a liberal thanks,
Which I do owe you.

Pomp. Let me have your hand:

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

Ant. The beds i' th' eaft are soft; and thanks to you, That call'd me timelier than my purpose hither, For I've gain'd by it.

Caf. Since I law you last,

There is a change upon you.
Pomp. Well, I know not

What counts hard fortune cafts upon my face;
But in my bosom she shall never come,

To make my heart her vafial.

Lep. Well met here.

Pomp. I hope fo, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed. I crave, our composition may be written

And feal'd between us.

Caf. That's the next to do.

Pomp. We'll feaft each other ere we part, and let's-Draw lots who fhall begin.

Ant. That I will, Pompey.

Pomp. No, Antony, take the lot:

But, firft or laft, your fine Egyptian cookery

Shall have the fame. I've heard that Julius Cæfar

Grew fat with feasting there.
Ant. You have heard much.
Pomp. I have fair meaning, Sir.
Ant. And fair words to them.
Pomp. Then fo much have I heard.
And I have heard, Apollodorus carried.
Eno. No more of that. He did fo.

Pomp. What, I pray you?

Eno. A certain queen to Cæfar in a mattress.
Pomp. I know thee now. How far'st thou, soldier?
Eno. Well;

And well ain like to do; for, I perceive,
Four feafts are toward.

Pomp. Let me thake thy hand.

I never hated thee: I have feen thee fight,
When I have envied thy behaviour.

Eno. Sir,

I never lov'd thee much; but I ha' prais'd ye, When you have well deferv'd ten times as much As I have faid you did.

Pomp. Enjoy thy plainnefs,

It nothing ill becomes thee.

Aboard my galley I invite you all.

Will you lead, Lords?

All. Shew's the way, Sir.

Pomp. Come. [Exeunt. Manent Enob. and Men. Men. afide.] Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have made this treaty.

You and I have known, Sir.

Eno. At fea, I think.

Men. We have, Sir.

Eno. You have done well by water.

Men. And you by land.

Eno. I will praife any man that will praife me; though it cannot be denied what I have done by land. Men. Nor what I have done by water.

Eno. Yes, fomething you can deny for your own fafety you have been a great thief by fea. Men. And you by land.

Eno. There I deny my land-fervice; but give me your hand, Menas. If our eyes had authority, here they might take two thieves kifling.

Men. All men's faces are true, whatfoe'er their hands are.

Eno. But there is ne'er a fair woman has a true face.

Men. No flander, they steal hearts.

Eno. We came hither to fight with you.

Men. For my part I am forry it is turned to a inking. Pompey doth this day laugh away his. fortune.

Eno. If he do, fure he cannot weep't back again. Men. You've faid, Sir. We look'd not for Mark Antony here; pray you is he married to Cleopatra? Eno. Cæfar's fifter is call'd Octavia.

Men. True, Sir; fhe was the wife of Caius Marcellus.

Eno. But now fhe is the wife of Marcus Antonius Men. Pray ye, Sir?

Eno. Tis true..

Men. Then is Cæfar and he for ever knit together. Eno. If I were bound to divine of this unity, L would not prophefy fo.

Men. I think the policy of that purpose mademore in the marriage than the love of the parties. Eno. I think fo too. But you fhall find the band that feems to tie their friendship together will be the very ftrangler of their amity. Octavia is of a holy, cold, and fill converfation.

Men. Who would not have his wife fo?

Ero. Not he that himself is not fo, which is Mark Antony. He will to his Ægyptian difh again: then fhall the fighs of Octavia blow the fire up in Cæfar, and, as I faid before, that which is the ftrength of their amity fhall prove the immediate author of their variance. Antony will use his affection where it is; he married but his occafion here.

Men. And thus it may be. Come, Sir, will you aboard? I have a health for you.

En. I fhall take it, Sir. We have us'd our throats in Egypt.

Men. Come, let's away.

[Exeunt.