Cle. I will not hurt him :

"Thefe 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 honeft, it is never good

To bring bad news: Give to a gracious meffage
An hoft of tongues; but let ill tidings tell
Themselves, when they be felt.

Mef. I have but done my duty.
Cle. Is he marry'd?

I cannot hate thee worfer than I do,

If thou again fay, yes.

Mef. He's marry'd, madam.

Cle. The gods confound thee! doft thou hold there fill?

Mef. Should I lye, madam?

Cle. O, I would, thou didft;

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

Thou would't appear moft ugly. He is marry'd?
Mef. I crave your highness' pardon.

Cle. He is marry'd ?

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

Seems much unequal: He's marry'd to Octavia.

Cle. O, that his fault fhould make a knave of thee, That fay'ft but what thou art fure of! Get thee hence The merchandize which thou haft brought from Rome, Are all too dear for me; lye they upon thy hand, And be undone by 'em! [Exit Meffenger.

Cha, Good your highnefs, patience.

Cle. In praifing Antony, I have difprais'd Cæfar.
Cha. Many times, madam.

Cle. I am pay'd for't now.

Lead me from hence,

I faint; O Iras, Charmian,-'Tis no matter:
Go to the fellow, good Alexas; bid him
Report the feature of Octavia, her years,

0 4

Her

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,
The other way'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. Country near Mifenum.

[Exeunt.

Flourish. Enter, from oppofite Sides, Pompey, Menas, and others: Cæfar, Antony, Lepidus, Enobarbus, and others.

Pom. Your hoftages I have, fo have you mine; And we shall talk before we fight.

Caf. Moft 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 tye up thy difcontented fword;

And carry back to Sicily much tall youth,
That elfe muft perish here.

Pom. To 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 lab'ring for him.

What was't

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 whofe burthen
The anger'd ocean foams; with which I meant
To fcourge the ingratitude that defpightful Rome
Cat on my noble father.

Caf. Take your time.

Ant. Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy fails, We'll speak with thee at fea: at land, thou know'ft 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 present) how you take The offers we have sent you.

"Caf. There's the point.

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

"Caf. And what may follow,

"To try a larger fortune.

Pom. 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
Our targe undinted.

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
Pat me to fome impatience :-Though I lofe
The praise of it by telling, you must know,
When Cafar and your brother were at blows,
Your mother came to Sicily, and did find
Her welcome friendly.

Ant. I have heard it, Pompeys

And am well ftudy'd for a liberal thanks,
Which I do owe you.

Pom. Let me have your hand:

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

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

For I have gain'd by't.

Caf. Since I faw you laft, There is a change upon you.

Pom. Well, I know not,

What counts harsh fortune cafts upon my

But in my bofom fhall the never come,
To make my heart her vaffal.
Lep. Well met here.

Pom. I hope fo, Lepidus.

face ;

Thus we are agreed :

I crave, pur 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, noble 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 feafting there.

"Ant. You have heard much.

"Pom. I have fair meaning, fir.

"Ant, And fair words to them.

"Pom. Then so much have I heard. And I have

"heard,

Apollodorus carry'd

"Eno. No more of that:-He did fo.

"Pom. What, I pray you?

"Eno. A certain queen to Cæfar in a matress.

"Pom. I know thee now: How far it thou, foldier?

" Exo. Well;

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

"Four feafts are toward.

Pom. Let me shake thy hand;

I never hated thee: I have feen thee fight,
When I have envy'd thy behaviour.

Eno. Sir,

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

Pom. Enjoy thy plainness,

It nothing ill becomes thee.

Aboard my galley I invite you all :

Will you lead, lords?

Caf. Ant. Lep. Shew us the way, Ar.

Pom. Come.

[Exeunt Pompey, Cæfar, Antony, Lepidus, and attendants.

* Men. Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have "made this treaty.-You and I have known, fir.

"Eno. At fea, I think.

"Men. We have, fir.

"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 deny'd, 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 sea. "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 kiffing.

"Men. All men's faces are true, "hands are.

whatfoe'er their

"Eno. But there is never a fair woman has a true face. "Men. No flander; they fteal hearts.

"Eno. We came hither to fight with you.

"Men. For my part, I am forry it is turn'd to a "drinking. Pompey doth this day laugh away his for

tune.

"Eno. If he do, fure, he cannot weep it back again. "Men. You have faid, fir. We look'd not for Mark "Antony here; pray you, is he marry'd to Cleopatra ? "Eno. Cafer's filter is called Octavia.

"Men. True, fir: fhe was the wife of Caius Marcellus. "Eno. But now fhe is the wife of Marcus Antonius. "Men. Pray you, fir,

"Eno. 'Tis true.

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

This fcene, as having little matter of any use, we confider muck. better to be difpofed of than retained; for what is mentioned as the confequence of Antony's marriage with Octavia, is fufficiently and more properly shown in the fequel.