ACT II. SCENE 1. Sicily. Enter Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas. F the great gods be juft, they fhall affift Mene. Know, worthy Pompex, That what they do delay, they not deny. Pom. While we are fuitors to their throne, delay's The thing we fue for. Men. We, ignorant of ourfelves, Beg often our own harms, which the wife powers By lofing of our prayers. Pom. I fhall do well: The people love me, and the fea is mine; No wars without doors. Cæfar gets money, where Of both is flatter'd; but he neither loves, Nor either cares for him. Mene. Cæfar and Lepidus are in the field, A mighty ftrength they carry. Pom. Where have you this? 'tis falfe. Mene. From Silvius, Sir. Pom. He dreams; I know they are in Rome together. Let witchcraft join with beauty; left with both! Keep his brain fuming; Epicurean cooks, That fleep and feeding may prorogue his honcur, How now, Varrius? Enter Varrius. Var. This is moft certain that I fhall deliver, Mark Antony is every hour in Rome Expected. Since he went from Egypt, 'tis Pom. I could have given lefs matter A better ear. Menas, I did not think, 1 This am'rous furfeiter would have donn'd his helm Is twice the other twain; but let us rear Men. I cannot hope Cæfar and Antony fhall well greet together. Pom. I know not, Menas,. How leffer enmities may give way to greater. 'Twere pregnant they thould fquare between them. For they have entertained caufe enough [felves: To draw their fwords; but how the fear of us May cement their divifions, and bind up The petty difference, we yet not know. Be't as our gods will have't! it only ftands Our lives upon, to use our strongest hands. Come, Menas. SCENE II. Changes to Rome. Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus. [Exeunt Lep. Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed, And thall become you well, t'intreat your CaptainTo foft and gentle fpeech. Eno. 1 fhall intreat him To answer, like himfelf; if Cæfar move him, Let Antony look over Cæfar's head, And fpeak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter, I would not fhave't to-day. Lep. 'Tis not a time for private ftomaching. Serves for the matter that is then born in't: Lep. But fmall to greater matters must give way. Eno. Not, if the fmall come first. Lep. Your fpeech is paffion; But, pray you, ftir no embers up. Here comes Enter Antony and Ventidius. Eno. And yonder Cæfar. Enter Cæfar, Mecenas, and Agrippa. Ant. If we compose well here, to Parthia Caf. I do not know; Mecænas, ask Agrippa. That which combin'd us was moft great, and let not A leaner action rend us. May it be gently heard. What's amifs, When we debate Our trivial difference loud, we do commit Murther in healing wounds. Then, noble partners, (The rather, for I earnestly befeech), Touch you the fourest points with sweetest terms, Nor curftness grow to th' matter. Ant. 'Tis fpoken well; Were we before our armies, and to fight, I fhould do thus. Caf. Welcome to Rome. Ant. Thank you. Caf. Sit. Ant. Sit, Sir.. Caf. Nay, then [Flourish. Ant. I learn you take things ill, which are not fo: Or being, concern you not. Caf. I must be laugh'd at, If, or for nothing, or a little, I Should fay myself offended, and with you Chiefly i' th' world; more laugh'd at, that I should Once name you derogately, when to found Your name it not concern'd me. Ant. My being in Egypt, Cæfar, what was't to you?? Caf. No more than my refiding here at Rome Might be to you in Egypt; yet, if you there Did practife on my flate, your being in Ægypt Ant. How intend you, practis'd ? Caf. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent, Ant. You do mistake the bufinefs: my brother neDid urge me in his act. I did inquire it, [ver And have my learning from fome true reporters, That drew their fwords with you. Did he not rather Difcredit my authority with your's, And make the wars alike against my ftomach, Having alike your caufe? Of this my letters Before did fatisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel, (As matter whole you've not to make it with), It must not be with this. Caf. You praife yourself, By laying defects of judgment to me: but Ant. Not fo, not so; I know you could not lack, I'm certain on't, Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,. The third of the world is your's, which with a fnaffle Eno Would we had all fuch wives, that the men might go to wars with the women! Ant. So much uncurbable her garboils, Cæfar,, Caf. I wrote to you; When rioting in Alexandria, you Did pocket up my letters; and with taunts Ant. Sir, he fell on me ere admitted: then Of what I was i' th' morning; but, next day, Caf. You have broken The article of your oath, which you shall never Lep. Soft, Cæfar, Ant. No, Lepidus, let him fpeak; The honour's facred which he talks on now, Suppofing that I lack'd it. The article of my oath. But on, Cæfar, Caf. To lend me arms and aid, when I requir'd them, The which you both deny'd. Ant. Neglected rather; And then when poison'd hours had bound me up Lep. 'Tis nobly spoken, Mec. If it might pleafe you, to inforce no further The griefs between ye: to forget them quite, Were to remember, that the prefent need Speaks to atone you. Lep. Worthily ipoken, Mecenas. Eno. Or if you borrow one another's love for the inftant, you may, when you hear no more words of Pompey, return it again: you thall have time to wrangle in, when you have nothing else to do. Ant, Thou art a foldier only, fpeak no more. more. no. Go to then: your confiderate ftone.Caf. I do not much diflike the manner, but • facred for unbroken, unviolated...... |