I wrote to you,

That which combin'd us was most great, and let not❘ When rioting in Alexandria; you
A leaner action rend us. What's amiss,

May it be gently heard: When we debate
Our trivial difference loud, we do commit
Murder in healing wounds: Then, noble partners,
(The rather, for I earnestly beseech,)
Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms,
Nor curstness 7 grow to the matter.
Ant.

'Tis spoken well; Were we before our armies, and to fight,

Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts
Did gibe my missive 3 out of audience.
Ant.

Sir,

He fell upon me, ere admitted; then
Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want
Of what I was i' the morning: but, next day,
I told him of myself; which was as much
As to have ask'd him pardon: Let this fellow
Be nothing of our strife; if we contend,
Out of our question 4 wipe him.

Ant. I learn, you take things ill, which are not so; Supposing that I lack'd it: But on, Cæsar; Or, being, concern you not. The article of my oath, Cæs. I must be laugh'd at, Cæs. To lend me arms, and aid, when I requir'd If, or for nothing, or a little, I them; Should say myself offended; and with you Chiefly i' the world: more laugh'd at, that I should Once name you derogately, when to sound your

name

It not concern'd me.

Ant.

What was't to you?

The which you both denied.
Ant.
Neglected, rather;
And then, when poison'd hours had bound me up
From mine own knowledge. As nearly as I may,
I'll play the penitent to you: but mine honesty
My being in Egypt, Cæsar, Shall not make poor my greatness, nor my power
Work without it: Truth is, that Fulvia,
To have me out of Egypt, made wars here;
For which myself, the ignorant motive, do
So far ask pardon, as befits mine honour
To stoop in such a case.

Cas. No more than my residing here at Rome
Might be to you in Egypt: Yet, if you there
Did practise 8 on my state, your being in Egypt
Might be my question.9
Ant.
How intend you, practis'd?
Cæs. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent,
By what did here befall me. Your wife, and brother,
Made wars upon me; and their contestation
Was theme for you, you were the word of war.
Ant. You do mistake your business; my brother

never

Did urge me in his act: I did enquire it;
And have my learning from some true reports,
That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather
Discredit my authority with yours;

And make the wars alike against my stomach,
Having alike your cause? Of this, my letters
Before did satisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel,
As matter whole you have not to make it with,
It must not be with this.
Cas.
You praise yourself
By laying defects of judgment to me; but
You patch'd up your excuses.

Ant.
Not so, not so;
I know you could not lack, I am certain on't,
Very necessity of this thought, that I,
Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,
Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars
Which fronted mine own peace. As for my wife,
I would you had her spirit in such another:
The third o' the world is yours; which with a snaffle
You may pace easy, but not such a wife.

Eno. 'Would we had all such wives, that the men might go to wars with the women!

Ant. So much uncurable, her garboils?, Cæsar
Made out of her impatience, (which not wanted
Shrewdness of policy too,) I grieving grant,
Did you too much disquiet: for that, you must
But say, I could not help it.

7 Let not ill humour be added.
9 Subject of conversation.

Use bad arts or stratagems.

1 Opposed, 2 Commotions.

Lep.
'Tis nobly spoken.
Mec. If it might please you, to enforce no further
The griefs 5 between ye: to forget them quite,
Were to remember that the present need
Speaks to atone 6 you.

Lep.
Worthily spoke, Mecanas.
Eno. Or, if you borrow one another's love for
the instant, you may, when you hear no more words
of Pompey, return it again: you shall have time to
wrangle in, when you have nothing else to do.

Ant. Thou art a soldier only; speak no more. Eno. That truth should be silent, I had almost forgot.

Ant. You wrong this presence, therefore speak

Octavia to his wife: whose beauty claims
No worse a husband than the best of men ;
Whose virtue, and whose general graces, speak
That which none else can utter. By this marriage,
All little jealousies, which now seem great,
And all great fears, which now import their dangers,
Would then be nothing: truths would be but tales
Where now half tales be truths: her love to both,
Would, each to other, and all loves to both,
Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke;
For 'tis a studied, not a present thought,

By duty ruminated.

Ant.

Will Cæsar speak?

Cas. Not till he hears how Antony is touch'd With what is spoke already.

Ant.

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 8 to her.

Eno. When she first met Mark Antony, she pursed up his heart upon the river of Cydnus.

Agr. There she appeared 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;

What power is in Agrippa, 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,

If I would say, Agrippa, be it so,
To make this good?

Cæs.

The power of Cæsar, and His power unto Octavia.

'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.
Cæs.
With most gladness;
And do invite you to my sister's view,
Whither straight I will lead you.

Ant.

Not lack your company,

Lep.

Let us, Lepidus,

Noble Antony,

Not sickness should detain me.

It beggar'd all description: she did lie

In her pavilion, (cloth of gold, of tissue,)
O'er-picturing that Venus, where we see,
The fancy out-work nature: on each side her,
Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids,
With diverse-colour'd fans, whose wind did seem
To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool,
And what they undid, did.
Agr.
O, rare for Antony!
Eno. Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides,
So many mermaids, tended her i' the eyes,
And made their bends adornings: at the helm
A seeming mermaid steers; the silken tackles
Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands,
That yarely frame 9 the office. From the barge
A strange invisible pérfume hits the sense
Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast
Her people out upon her; and Antony,
Enthron'd in the market-place, did sit alone,
Whistling to the air; which, but for vacancy,
Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too,
And made a gap in nature.

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.

[Flourish. Exeunt CÆSAR, ANTONY, and Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale

LEPIDUS.

Mec. Welcome from Egypt, sir.

Her infinite variety: Other women

Cloy th' appetites they feed; but she makes hungry

Eno. Half the heart of Cæsar, worthy Mecanas! Where most she satisfies. For vilest things

- my honourable friend, Agrippa ! Agr. Good Enobarbus !

Mec. We have cause to be glad, that matters are so well digested. You staid 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?

Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Cæsar's, or mine? The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now: —

So half my Egypt were submerg'd, and made
A cistern for scal'd snakes! Go, get thee hence;
Well said. Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me
Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?
Mess. I crave your highness' pardon.
He is married?

Madam, he's well.

Mess. And friends with Cæsar.
Cleo.

Thou'rt an honest man.
Mess. Cæsar and he are greater friends than ever.
Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me.
Mess.
But yet, madam
Cleo. I do not like but yet, it does allay
The good precedence; fye upon but yet:
But yet is as a gaoler to bring forth

Some monstrous malefactor. Pr'ythee, friend,
Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,

The good and bad together: He's friends with
Cæsar;

In state of health, thou say'st; and, thou say'st free.
Mess. Free, madam! no; I made no such report:
He's bound unto Octavia.

I am pale, Charmian.
Mess. Madam, he's married to Octavia.
Cleo. The most infectious pestilence upon thee!
[Strikes him down.
What say you? Hence.
[Strikes him again.
Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine eyes
Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head;
[She hales him up and down.
Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in brine,
Smarting in ling'ring pickle.
Mess.

Gracious madam,

Char. Good madam, keep yourself within yourself;
The man is innocent.

Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thunderbolt.
Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures
Turn all to serpents! — 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 myself; since I myself
Have given myself the cause. — Come hither, sir.

Re-enter Messenger.

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.

Mess.

Cleo. Is he married?

Cleo.

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.-
[Erit 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.
Pity me, Char-

Bring me word, how tall she is..

mian, But do not speak to me.-Lead me to my chamber. [Exeunt.

SCENE VI. — Near Misenum.

Enter POMPEY and MENAS, at one side, with Drum
and Trumpet: at another, CESAR, LEPIDUS,
ANTONY, ENOBARBUS, MECENAS, with Soldiers
marching.

Pom. Your hostages I have, so have you mine;
And we shall talk before we fight.
Most meet,

Cas.

That first we come to words; and therefore have we
Our written purposes before us sent;
Which, if thou hast consider'd, let us know
If 't will tie up thy discontented sword;
And carry back to Sicily much tall 9 youth
That else must perish here.

Pom.
To you all three,
The senators alone of this great world,
Chief factors for the gods, I do not know,
Wherefore my father should revengers want,
Having a son, and friends; since Julius Cæsar,
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted ',
There saw you labouring for him. What was it,
That mov'd pale Cassius to conspire? And what
Made the all-honour'd, honest, Roman Brutus,

I have done my duty. With the arm'd rest, courteous 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
1 Haunted.

I cannot hate thee worser than I do,

If thou again say, Yes.

8 Recompense.

9 Brave.

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

Men. I think the policy of that purpose made You have heard much. more in the marriage, than the love of the parties.

Eno. I think so too. But you shall find, the And fair words to them. band that seems to tie their friendship together, will be the very strangler of their amity: Octavia is of a holy, cold, and still conversation. Men. Who would not have his wife so?