Eno. Go to then; your considerate stone. Cas. I do not much dislike the matter, but The manner of his speech: for it cannot be, We shall remain in friendship, our conditions So differing in their acts. Yet, if I knew

What hoop should hold us staunch †, from edge to edge

O' the world I would pursue it.

Agr. Give me leave, Cæsar,-
Cas. Speak, Agrippa.

Agr. Thou hast a sister by the mother's side,
Admired Octavia: great Mark Antony

Is now a widower.

Cas. Say not so, Agrippa;

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
With an unslipping knot, take Antony
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 dan

gers,

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 touchi'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 shews, Dream of impediment!-Let me have thy hand: Further this act of grace; and, from this hour,

• Dispositions.

+ Firm.

The heart of brothers govern in our loves,
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,
Or else he seeks out us.

Ant. And where lies he?

Cas. About the mount Misenum.

Ant. What's his strength

By land?

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,
Whither straight I will lead you.

Ant. Let us, Lepidus,
Not lack your company.
Lep. Noble Antony,

Not sickness should detain me.

[Flourish.-Exeunt Casar, Antony, and Lepidus. Mec. Welcome from Egypt, Sir.

Eno. Half the heart of Cæsar, worthy Mecenas ! -My honourable friend, Agrippa!

Agr. Good Enobarbus!

Mec. We have canse 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? Eno. This was but as a fly by an eagle: we had much more monstrous matter of feast, which wor thily 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 Cydnus. 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,
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 t.

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 tackle Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands, That yarely frame 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, Enthroned in the market-place, did sit alone, Whistling to the air; whích, but for vacancy, Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too, And made a gap in nature.

Agr. Rare Egyptian!

Eno. Upon her landing, Antony sent to her,
Invited her to supper: she replied,

It should be better, he became her guest;
Which she entreated: our courteous Antony,
Whom ne'er the word of No woman heard speak,
Being barber'd ten times o'er, goes to the feast';
And, for his ordinary, pays his heart,

For what his eyes eat only:

Suits with her merits.

+Added to the warmth they were intended to diminish.

Readily perform.

Agr. Royal wench!

She made great Casar lay his sword to bed;
He plough'd her, and she cropp'd.

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 is riggish ⚫.

Mec. If beauty, wisdoni, 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; At. tendants, and a SOOTHSAYER.

Ant. The world, and my great office, will some

times

Divide me from your bosom.

Octa. All which time

Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers
To them for you.

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.-

Octa. Good night, Sir.

Cas. Good night. [Exeunt Casar 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?

• Wanton,

+Allotment.

Sooth. I see't in

My motion, have it not in my tongue: but yet

Hie you again to Egypt.

Ant. Say to me,

Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Cæsar's, or mine? Sooth. Cæsar's.

Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side:

Thy dæmon, that's thy spirit which keeps thee, is
Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable,

Where Cæsar is not; but near him, thy angel
Becomes a Fear, as being o'erpower'd; therefore
Make space enough between you,

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 Under his chance: if we draw lots, he speeds: His cocks do win the battle still of mine,

When it is all to nought; and his quails ever Beat mine, inhoop'd †, at odds. I will to Egypt: And though I make this marriage for my peace,

Enter VENTIDIUS.

I' the east my pleasure lies:-0, come, Ventidius, You must to Parthia; your commission's ready: Follow me, and receive it.

SCENE IV.-The same.-A Street.

[Exeunt.

Enter LEPIDUS, MECENAS, and AGRIPPA, Lep. Trouble yourselves no further: pray you, hasten

Your generals after.

Agr. Sir, Mark Antony

Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow.

The ancients used to match quails as we match cocks. + Inclosed.