Art. So much uncurbable, her garboils, Cæfar, 10
Made out of her impatience, (which not wanted
Shrewdness of policy too) I grieving grant,
Did you too much difquiet: for that, you must
But fay I could not help it.

Ant. No, Lepidus, let him fpeak:

The honour 3 is facred which he talks on now,
Suppofing that I lack'd it :-But on, Cæfar;-
The article of my oath,-

Caf. To lend me arms, and aid, when I re-
quir'd them;

The which you both deny'd.

Ant. Neglected, rather;

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 shall have 55
time to wrangle in, when you have nothing elfe
to do.

Ant. Thou art a foldier only; fpeak no more.
Eno. That truth fhould be filent, I had almoft
forgot.

[no more. 60 Of us muft Pompey prefently be fought,

Ant. You wrong this prefence, therefore fpeak

2 i. e. told him the condition I was in, when he had his laft audience.

ing, the religion of an oath. 4 i, e. “ I will henceforth feem fenfeless as a stone, however I may

Ant. Where lies he?

Caf. About the mount Mifenum.

Ant. What is his strength by land?
Caf. Great, and increasing: but by fea
He is an abfolute mafter.

Ant. So is the fame.

'Would, we had spoke together! Hafte we for it: Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we The business we have talk'd of.

Caf. With most gladness;

And do invite you to my fifter's view,
Whither ftraight I will lead you.

Ant. Let us, Lepidus,

Not lack your company.

Lep. Noble Antony,

Not ficknefs fhould detain mẹ.

[Flourish. Exeunt Cæfar, Antony, and Lepidus. Mec. Welcome from Egypt, fir.

Eno. Half the heart of Cæfar, worthy Mecenas !my honourable friend, Agrippa!

Agr. Good Enobarbus !

Mec. We have caufe to be glad, that matters are fo well digested. You ftay'd well by it in Ægypt. Eno. Ay, fir; we did fleep day out of countenance, and made the night light with drinking. Mec. Eight wild boars roafted whole at a breakfaft, and but twelve perfons there; Is this true? Eno. This was but as a fly by an eagle: we had much more monftrous matter of feaft, which worthily deferved noting.

Mec. She's a most triumphant lady, if report be fquare to her 1.

25

30

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 perfon, 45
It beggar'd all defcription: he did lie
In her pavilion, (cloth of gold, of tissue)
O'er-picturing that Venus where we fee
The fancy out-work nature: on each side her,
Stood pretty dimpled boys, like fmiling Cupids,
With divers-colour'd fans, whofe wind did feem
To glow the delicate checks which they did cool,
And what they undid, did.

Agr. O, rare for Antony!

Eng. Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides,
So many mermaids, tended her i' the eyes,
And made their bends adornings: at the helm
A feeming mermaid fteers; the filken tackles

Eno. I faw her once

Hop forty paces through the publick street:
And having loft her breath, fhe spoke, and panted,
That she did make defect, perfection,

And, breathlefs, power breathe forth.

Mec. Now Antony muft leave her utterly.
Eno. Never; he will not:

Age cannot wither her, nor custom ftale
Her infinite variety: Other women cloy
The appetites they feed; but she makes hungry,
Where moft the fatisfies. For vileft things
Become themselves in her; that the holy priests
Blefs her, when she is riggish 3.

Mec. If beauty, wifdom, modefty, can settle
The heart of Antony, Octavia is
A bleffed lottery to him.

Before the gods my knee fhall bow in prayers 50 To them for you.

55

Ant. Good night, fir.-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.
Ofta. Good night, fir.

Caf. Good night.

[Exeunt Cafar, and OƐavia. Ant. Now, firrah! you do with yourself in Ægypt?

i. e. if report quadrates with her, or fuits with her merits. 2 Mr. Tollet thinks bends or bands is the fame word, and means in this place the feveral companies of Nereids that waited on Cleopatra ; while Mr. Malone apprehends, their bends refers to Cleopatra's eyes, and not to her gentlewomen. "Her attendants, in order to learn their mistress's will, watched the motion of her eyes, the bends or "movements of which added new luftre to her beauty." 3 Rigg is an ancient word meaning a Arumpet.

Sastb. 'Would I had never come from thence, Thither!

Ant. If you can, your reason?

Scoth. I fee it in

[nor you

My motion, have it not in my tongue: But yet 5
Hie you again to Ægypt.

Ant. Say to me,

Whofe fortunes fhall rife higher, Cæfar's or mine?
Scotb. Cæfar's.

Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his fide:

Thy dæmon, that's thy spirit which keeps thee, is
Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable,
Where Cæfar's is not; but, near him, thy angel
Becomes a fear 2, as being o'erpower'd; therefore
Make space enough between you.

Ant. Speak this no more.

[to thee.

Scoth. Tq none but thee; no more, but when

If thou dost play with him at any game,
Thou art fure to lofe; and, of that natural luck,

10

Omnes. The mufic, ho!

Enter Mardian.

Cleo. Let it alone; let us to billiards: come,
Charmian.

Char. My arm is fore, best play with Mardian.
Cleo. As well a woman with an eunuch play'd,
As with a woman:-come, you'll play with me,
Mar. As well as I can, madam.
[fir?
Cleo. And when good will is fhew'd, though it
come too short,

The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now :-
Give me mine angle,-We'll to the river: there,
My mufick playing far off, I will betray
Tawny-finn'd fishes: my bended hook shall pierce
15 Their flimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,
I'll think them every one an Antony,

And fay, Ah, ha! you're caught.

Char. 'Twas merry, when

You wager'd on your angling; when your diver

He beats thee 'gainst the odds; thy luftre thickens, 20 Did hang a falt-fish on his hook, which he

When he shines by: I fay again, thy fpirit

Is all afraid to govern thee near him;

But, he away, 'tis noble.

Ant. Get thee gone :

Say to Venditius, I would speak with him:

[Exit Soothsayer.

He fhall 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 ftill of mine,
When it is all to nought; and his quails 3 ever
Beat mine, inhoop'd 4, at odds. I will to Egypt:
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
Enter Ventidius.

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

SCENE

The fame; a Street.

[Exeunt.

IV.

Enter Lepidus, Mecænas, and Agrippa.

Lep. Trouble yourselves no farther: pray you

Your generals after.

140

Cleo. Why, there's more gold. But, firrah,
mark; we use

To say, the dead are well: bring it to that,
The gold I give thee, will I melt, and pour
Down thy ill-uttering throat.

Mef. Good madam, hear me.

But there's no goodness in thy face: If Antony

[haften

Agr. Sir, Mark Antony

Cleo. Well, go to, I will;

Lep. 'Till I fhall fee you in your foldiers' drefs,

Mec. We fhall,

As I conceive the journey, be at mount 5

Which will become you both, farewel.

Before you, Lepidus.

Lep. Your ftay is shorter,

My purposes do draw me much about;

You'll win two days upon me.

Beth. Sir, good fuccefs!

Lep. Farewel.

SCENE V.

The Palace in Alexandria.

Be free, and healthful,-so tart a favour

To trumpet fuch good tidings? If not well,

Thou should't come like a furycrown'dwith snakes,

50 Not like a formal man.

Mef. Will 't please you hear me?

[speak'ft:

Cleo. I have a mind to ftrike thee, ere thou

Yet, if thou fay, Antony lives, is well,

Or friends with Cæfar, or not captive to him,

[Exeunt. 55 I'll fet thee in a shower of gold, and hail

Rich pearls upon thee 9.

Mef. Madam, he's well.

Cleo. Well faid.

Mef. And friends with Cæfar.
Cleo. Thou art an honest man.

1 i.e. the divinitory agitation. 2 i. e. a fearful thing. A fear was a personage in some of the old moralities. 3 The antients used to match quails as we match cocks.

4 Inboop'd is inclofed, confined, 7 Shakspeare probably wrote

that they may fight. 5 i. e. Mount Mifenum. • i.e. melancholy. (as Sir T. Hanmer obferves) Rain thou, &c. which agrees better with the epithets fruitful and barren. i. e. like a man in form or shape. 9 i. e. I will give thee a kingdom; it being the eastern ceremony, at the coronation of their kings, to powder them with gold-dust and seed-pearl.

Mef. Cæfar and he are greater friends than ever.
Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me.
Mef. 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 jailer to bring forth

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

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

In ftate of health, thou fay'ft; and thou fay'ft, free.
Mcf. Free, madam! no; I made no fuch report:

He's bound unto Octavia.

Cleo. For what good turn?

Mef. For the best turn i' the bed.

Cleo. I am pale, Charmian.

Mef. Madam, he's married to Octavia.

Cles. The most infectious peftilence upon thee !|
[Strikes bim down.

Mef. Good madam, patience.
Cleo. What fay you?-Hence, [Strikes him again.
Horrible villain! or I'll fpurn thine eyes
Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head;
[She bales bim up and down.

20

Thou shalt bewhipt with wire, and stew'd in brine, 25
Smarting in ling'ring pickle.

Mef. Gracious madam,

I, that do bring the news, made not the match.

Cleo. Say, 'tis not fo, a province I will give thee,
And make thy fortunes proud: the blow, thou hadft, 30
Shall make thy peace, for moving me to rage;
And I will boot thee with what gift befide
Thy modefty can beg.

Mef. He's married, madam.

Rome,

Are all too dear for me; Lye they upon thy hand,
And be undone by 'em!
[Exit Meffenger
Char. Good your highnefs, 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; O Iras, Charmian,-'Tis no matter:-
Go to the fellow, good Alexas: bid him
Report the feature 3 of Octavia, her years,
Her inclination, let him not leave out
The colour of her hair :-bring me word quickly.-

[Exit Alexas.
Let him 4 for ever go:-Let him not,-Charmian;
Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
The other way he is a Mars :-Bid you Alexas
[To Mardian.

Bring me word, how tall fhe is.-Pity me, Charmian,

35 But do not fpeak to me.-Lead me to my

Char. Good madam, keep yourself within yourself, 40

The man is innocent.

Cleo. Some innocents 'fcape not the thunderbolt.-
Melt Ægypt into Nile! and kindly creatures
Turn all to ferpents! Call the slave again;
Though I am mad, I will not bite him :-Call.
Ghar. He is afeard to come.
Cleo. I will not hurt him :-

Thefe hands do lack nobility, that they ftrike
A meaner than myfelf; fince I myself
Have given myself the caufe.-Come hither, fir.
Re-enter a Meffenger.

Though it be honeft, it is never good

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

Mef. I have done my duty.

Cleo. Is he married?.

I cannot hate thee worfer than I do,

If thou again fay, Yes.

Mf. He is married, madam.

Cleo. The gods confound thee! doft thou hold there ftill?

Submerg'd is whelm'd under water.

chamber.

[Exeunt.

Enter Pompey, and Menas, at one door, with drum and trumpet: at another, Cæfar, Lepidus, Antony, Enobarbus, Mecanas, with foldiers marching.

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

45 Caf. Moft meet,

That firft 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 tie up, thy difcontented sword;
50 And carry back to Sicily much tall youth,
That elfe muft perish here.

55

Pomp. To you all three,

The fenators alone of this great world,
Chief factors for the gods,-I do not know,
Wherefore my father should revengers want,
Having a fon, and friends; fince Julius Cæfar,
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghofted,
There faw you labouring for him. What was it,
That mov'd pale Caffius to confpire? And

60 What made, all-honour'd, honeft, Roman Brutus,
With the arm'd reft, courtiers of beauteous freedom,
To drench the Capitol; but that they would

zi. e. Thou art not an honest man, of which thou art thy

felf affured, but thou art in my opinion a knave by thy mafter's fault alone. Antony.

3 i. e.

the beauty. 4 i. e.

Have

Eno. A certain queen to Cæfar 3 in a mattress.
Pomp. I know thee now; How far'ft thou, foldier?
Eno. Well;

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

Pomp. Let me shake thy hand;

I never hated thee: I have seen thee fight,
15 When I have envied thy behaviour.
Eno. Sir,

20

40

45

Eno. If he do, fure, he cannot weep it back again.

Men. You have faid, fir. We look'd not for [us 55 Mark Antony here: Pray you, is he married to Cleopatra?

1 i. e. affright us. 2 A metaphor from making marks or lines in casting accounts in arithmetick,