The Plays of Shakespeare

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.—O! come, Ventidius, You must to Parthia: your commission's ready; Follow me, and receive it.

[Exeunt.

Cleo. Let it alone; let 's to billiards: come, Charmian. Char. My arm is sore, best play with Mardian. Cleo. As well a woman with an eunuch play'd, As with a woman.-Come, you'll play with me, sir? Mar. As well as I can, madam.

Cleo. And when good will is show'd, though 't come too short,

The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now.-
Give me mine angle, we'll to the river: there,
My music playing far off, I will betray

Tawny-finn'd fishes; my bended hook shall pierce
Their slimy jaws, and as I draw them up,
I'll think them every one an Antony,
And say, Ab, ha! you're caught.
Char.

'Twas merry, when
You wager'd on your angling; when your diver
Did hang a salt-fish on his hook, which he
With fervency drew up.

Cleo.

That time,-O times!I laugh'd him out of patience; and that night I laugh'd him into patience and next morn, Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed; Then, put my tires and mantles on him, whilst I wore his sword Philippian.

Enter ELIS, a Messenger.

O! from Italy?— Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears, That long time have been barren.

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.

Mess. Good madam, hear me.
Cleo.

Well, go to, I will;
But there's no goodness in thy face. If Antony
Be free, and healthful, why so tart a favour

To trumpet such good tidings? if not well,
Thou should'st come like a fury crown'd with snakes,
Not like a formal man.

Mess.
Will't please you hear me?
Cleo. I have a mind to strike thee, ere thou speak'st:
Yet, if thou say, Antony lives, 'tis well;
Or friends with Cæsar, or not captive to him,
I'll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail
Rich pearls upon thee.

Mess. Cleo.

Madam, he's well.

Well said.

Thou'rt an honest man.

Mess. And friends with Cæsar.

Cleo.

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; fie 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.

Cleo.

For what good turn?
Mess. For the best turn i' the bed.
Cleo.
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.

Mess. Good madam, patience.
Cleo.

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 lingering pickle.
Gracious madam,

Mess.

I, that do bring the news, made not the match.
Cleo. Say, 'tis not so, a province I will give thee,
And make thy fortunes proud: the blow thou hadst
Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage;
And I will boot thee with what gift beside
Thy modesty can beg.
Mess.

He's married, madam.
Cleo. Rogue! thou hast liv'd too long. [Draws a Knife.
Mess.
Nay, then I'll run.-
What mean you, madam? I have made no fault. [E.rit.
Char. Good madam, keep yourself within yourself:
The man is innocent.

Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thunder-bolt.—

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 ELIS, the 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. I have done my duty.
Cleo.

Is he married?

I cannot hate thee worser than I do,

If thou again say, Yes.

Mess.

He's married, madam.

Cleo. The gods confound thee! dost thou hold there
still?

Mess. Should I lie, madam?
Cleo.

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,
With the arm'd rest, 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 whose burden
The anger'd ocean foams; with which I meant
To scourge th' ingratitude that despiteful Rome
Cast on my noble father.

Cæs.
Take your time.
Ant. Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails;
We'll speak with thee at sea: at land, thou know'st
How much we do o'er-count thee.
Pom.

At land, indeed,
Thou dost o'er-count me of my father's house :
O! I would, thou didst, But, since the cuckoo builds not for himself,
Remain in't as thou may'st.
Lep.

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

He is married?

Mess. Take no offence, that I would not offend you:
To punish me for what you make me do,
Seems much unequal. He is married to Octavia.

Cleo. O! that his fault should make a knave of thee,
That art not! What! thou'rt sure of?-Get thee hence:
The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome,
Are all too dear for me: lie they upon thy hand,
And be undone by 'em!
[Exit Messenger.
Good your highness, patience.
Cleo. In praising Antony, I have disprais'à Cæsar.
Char. Many times, madam.
Cleo.

Char.

Lead me from hence;

I am paid for't now.

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.

[Exit ALEXAS.

Let him for ever go?-let him not-Charmian,
Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
The other way he's a Mars.-Bid you Alexas

[To MARDIAN.
Bring me word, how tall she is.-Pity me, Charmian,
But do not speak to me.-Lead me to my chamber.
[Exeunt.

SCENE VI.-Near Misenum.

Flourish. Enter POMPEY and MENAS, at one side, with
Drum and Trumpet: at another, CESAR, LEPIdus,
ANTONY, ENOBARBUS, MECENAS, with Soldiers march-
ing.

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

Cæs.

Most meet,

(For this is from the present)
The offers we have sent you.
Cæs.

Be pleas'd to tell us, how you take

There's the point.
Ant. Which do not be entreated to, but weigh
What it is worth embrac'd.
Cæs.

To try a larger fortune.
Pom.

And what
may follow,
You have made me offer

Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must
Rid all the sea of pirates; then, to send
Measures of wheat to Rome: this 'greed upon,
To part with unhack'd edges, and bear back
Targes undinted.

Cæs. 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
Put me to some impatience.-Though I lose
The praise of it by telling, you must know,
When Cæsar and your brother were at blows,
Your mother came to Sicily, and did find
Her welcome friendly.

Ant.
I have heard it, Pompey;
And am well studied for a liberal thanks,
Which I do owe you.

Pom.

Let me have your hand.
I did not think, sir, to have met you here.

[They take Hands.
Ant. The beds i' the east are soft; and thanks to you,
That call'd me timelier than my purpose hither,
For I have gain'd by it.

Cæs.

Since I saw you last,
There is a change upon you.

Pom.

Well, I know not
What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face,
But in my bosom shall she never come,
To make my heart her vassal.
Lep.

Well met here.
Pom. I hope so, Lepidus.-Thus we are agreed.
I crave, our composition may be written,
And seal'd between us.

Cæs.

That's the next to do.

Pom. We'll feast each other, ere we part; and let us
Draw lots who shall begin.

Ant.
That will I, Pompey.
Pom. No, Antony, take the lot; but, first

Men. We have, sir.

Eno. You have done well by water.

Men. And you by land.

Eno. I will praise any man that will praise me; though it cannot be denied what I have done by land. Men. Nor what I have done by water.

Eno. Yes; something you can deny for your own safety you have been a great thief by sea. Men. And you by land.

Eno. There I deny my land service. But give me your hand, Menas: if our eyes had authority, here they might take two thieves kissing.

Men. All men's faces are true, whatsoe'er their hands are.

Eno. But there is never a fair woman has a true face. Men. No slander; they steal hearts.

Eno. We came hither to fight with you. Men. For my part, I am sorry it is turned to a drinking. Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune.

Eno. If he do, sure, he cannot weep it back again. Men. You have said, sir. We looked not for Mark Antony here: pray you, is he married to Cleopatra? Eno. Cæsar's sister is call'd Octavia.

Men. True, sir; she was the wife of Caius Marcellus. Eno. But she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius. Men. Pray you, sir?

Eno. 'Tis true.

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 more in the marriage, than the love of the parties.

Eno. I think so too: but you shall find, the 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?

Eno. Not he, that himself is not so; which is Mark Antony. He will to his Egyptian dish again: then, shall the sighs of Octavia blow the fire up in Cæsar; and, as I said before, that which is the strength of their amity, shall prove the immediate author of their variance. Antony will use his affection where it is: he married but his occasion here.

Men. And thus it may be. Come, sir, will you aboard? I have a health for you.

Eno. I shall take it, sir: we have used our throats in Egypt.

Men. Come; let's away. [Exeunt. SCENE VII.-On Board POMPEY's Galley, lying near Misenum. Music. Enter Two or Three Servants, with a Banquet. 1 Serv. Here they'll be, man. Some o' their plants are ill-rooted already; the least wind i' the world will blow them down.

2 Serv. Lepidus is high-coloured.

1 Serv. They have made him drink alms-drink. 2 Serv. As they pinch one another by the disposition, he cries out, "no more;" reconciles them to his entreaty, and himself to the drink.

1 Serv. But it raises the greater war between him and his discretion.

2 Serv. Why, this it is to have a name in great men's fellowship: I had as lief have a reed that will do me no service, as a partizan I could not heave.

1 Serv. To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in't, are the holes where eyes should be, which pitifully disaster the cheeks.

A Sennet sounded. Enter CESAR, ANTONY, POMPEY, LEPIDUS, AGRIPPA, MECENAS, ENOBARBUS, MENAS, with other Captains.

Ant. Thus do they, sir. [To CESAR.] They take the flow o' the Nile

By certain scales i' the pyramid: they know,
By the height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth,
Or foison, follow. The higher Nilus swells,
The more it promises: as it ebbs, the seedsman
Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain,
And shortly comes to harvest.

Lep. You have strange serpents there.
Ant.
Ay, Lepidus.
Lep. Your serpent of Egypt is bred, now, of your
mud by the operation of your sun: so is your crocodile.
Ant. They are so.

Pom. Sit, and some wine!-A health to Lepidus. Lep. I am not so well as I should be, but I'll ne'er out.

Eno. Not till you have slept: I fear me, you'll be in, till then.

Lep. Nay, certainly, I have heard, the Ptolemies' pyramids are very goodly things; without contradiction, I have heard that.

Men. [Aside.] Pompey, a word.
Pom.

[Aside.] Say in mine ear: what is't! Men. [Aside.] Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, captain,

And hear me speak a word.
Pom.

[Aside.] Forbear me till anon.—

This wine for Lepidus.

Lep. What manner o' thing is your crocodile ?

Ant. It is shaped, sir, like itself, and it is as broad as it hath breadth; it is just so high as it is, and moves with its own organs; it lives by that which nourisheth it, and the elements once out of it, it transmigrates. Lep. What colour is it of?

In thy vats our cares be drown'd;

Men. No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup. Thou art, if thou dar'st be, the earthly Jove: Whate'er the ocean pales, or sky inclips,

Is thine, if thou wilt have't.

Pom. Show me which way. Men. These three world-sharers, these competitors, Are in thy vessel: let me cut the cable; And, when we are put off, fall to their throats: All then is thine.

Pom.
Ah! this thou should'st have done,
And not have spoke on't. In me, 'tis villainy;
In thee, 't had been good service. Thou must know,
'Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour,
Mine honour, it. Repent, that e'er thy tongue
Hath so betray'd thine act: being done unknown,
I should have found it afterwards well done,
But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.
Men. [Aside.] For this,

I'll never follow thy pall'd fortunes more.
Who seeks, and will not take, when once 'tis offer'd,
Shall never find it more.

This health to Lepidus.

Pom.
Ant. Bear him ashore.-I'll pledge it for him, Pompey.
Eno. Here's to thee, Menas.
Men.

Enorbarbus, welcome.

Pom. Fill, till the cup be hid.
Eno. There's a strong fellow, Menas.
[Pointing to the Attendant who carries off LEPIDUS.
Why?

Men.
Eno.
The third part of the world, man: see'st not?

SCENE I.-A Plain in Syria.

He bears

Cas.

Come, thou monarch of the vine, Plumpy Bacchus, with pink eyne:

With thy grapes our hairs be crown'd;

Cup us, till the world go round; The burCup us, till the world go round!

den.

What would you more?-Pompey, good night.
-Good brother,

Let me request you off: our graver business
Frowns at this levity.-Gentle lords, let's part;
You see, we have burnt our cheeks. Strong Enobarbe
Is weaker than the wine, and mine own tongue
Splits what it speaks: the wild disguise hath almost
Antick'd us all. What needs more words?

night.Good Antony, your hand. Pom.

Ant. And shall, sir. Pom.

Good

I'll try you on the shore.
Give's your hand.
O, Antony!

You have my father's house.-But what? we are

ACT III.

Enter VENTIDIUS, as it were in triumph, with SILIUS, and other Romans, Officers, and Soldiers; the dead Body of PACORUS borne before him.

Ven. Now, darting Parthia, art thou struck; and now

[Exeunt.

Pleas'd fortune does of Marcus Crassus' death
Before our army.-Thy Pacorus, Orodes,
Make me revenger.-Bear the king's son's body
Pays this for Marcus Crassus.

Sil.
Noble Ventidius,
Whilst yet with Parthian blood thy sword is warm,

I have done enough: a lower place, note well,
May make too great an act; for learn this, Silius,
Better to leave undone, than by our deeds acquire
Too high a fame, when him we serve's away.
Cæsar and Antony have ever won
More in their officer, than person: Sossius,
One of my place in Syria, his lieutenant,
For quick accumulation of renown,

Which he achiev'd by the minute, lost his favour.
Who does i' the wars more than his captain can,
Becomes his captain's captain; and ambition,
The soldier's virtue, rather makes choice of loss,
Than gain which darkens him.

I could do more to do Antonius good,
But 'twould offend him; and in his offence
Should my performance perish.

Sil.

Thou hast, Ventidius, that
Without the which a soldier, and his sword,
Gains scarce distinction. Thou wilt write to Antony?
Ven. I'll humbly signify what in his name,
That magical word of war, we have effected;
How, with his banners and his well-paid ranks,
The ne'er-yet-beaten horse of Parthia

We have jaded out o' the field.

Sil.

Where is he now?

Ven. He purposeth to Athens; whither, with what
haste

The weight we must convey with us will permit,
We shall appear before him.-On, there! pass along.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-Rome. An Ante-Chamber in CESAR'S

House.

Enter AGRIPPA, and ENOBARBUS, meeting.

Agr. What are the brothers parted?

Cæs. You take from me a great part of myself;
Use me well in't.—Sister, prove such a wife
As my thoughts make thee, and as my farthest band
Shall pass on thy approof.-Most noble Antony,
Let not the piece of virtue, which is set
Betwixt us as the cement of our love,

To keep it builded, be the ram to batter
The fortress of it; for better might we

Have loved without this mean, if on both parts
This be not cherish'd.
Ant.
In your distrust.
Cæs.

Ant.

Make me not offended

I have said.

You shall not find,

Though you be therein curious, the least cause
For what you seem to fear. So, the gods keep you,
And make the hearts of Romans serve your ends.
We will here part.

Cæs. Farewell, my dearest sister, fare thee well:
The elements be kind to thee, and make
Thy spirits all of comfort! fare thee well.

Oct. My noble brother!

Ant. The April's in her eyes; it is love's spring, And these the showers to bring it on.-Be cheerful. Oct. Sir, look well to my husband's house; andCæs. What, Octavia?

Oct. I'll tell you in your ear.

Ant. Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can
Her heart inform her tongue; the swan's down feather,
That stands upon the swell at the full of tide,
And neither way inclines.

Eno. Will Cæsar weep?
Agr.

[Aside to AGRIPPA.

He has a cloud in's face.

Eno. He were the worse for that, were he a horse;
So is he, being a man.
Agr.

Why, Enobarbus,
When Antony found Julius Cæsar dead,
He cried almost to roaring; and he wept,
When at Philippi he found Brutus slain.

Eno. That year, indeed, he was troubled with a
rheum;

Eno. They have despatch'd with Pompey: he is What willingly he did confound, he wail'd :

gone;

The other three are sealing. Octavia weeps

To part from Rome; Cæsar is sad; and Lepidus,
Since Pompey's feast, as Menas says, is troubled
With the green sickness.

Agr.
"Tis a noble Lepidus.
Eno. A very fine one. O, how he loves Cæsar!
Agr. Nay, but how dearly he adores Mark Antony!
Eno. Cæsar? Why, he's the Jupiter of men.
Agr. What's Antony? The god of Jupiter.
Eno. Spake you of Cæsar? How! the nonpareil!
Agr. O Antony! O thou Arabian bird!

Eno. Would you praise Cæsar, say,-Cæsar;-go no
farther.

Agr. Indeed, he ply'd them both with excellent
praises.

Eno. But he loves Cæsar best;-yet he loves Antony.
Ho! hearts, tongues, figures, scribes, bards, poets cannot
Think, speak, cast, write, sing, number, ho!
His love to Antony. But as for Cæsar,
Kneel down, kneel down, and wonder.
Agr.

Farewell, farewell. [Kisses OCTAVIA,
Ant.
Farewell. [Trumpets sound. Exeunt.
SCENE III.-Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.
Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS.
Cleo. Where is the fellow?
Alex.
Half afeard to come.
Cleo. Go to, go to.-Come hither, sir.
Enter ELIS, the Messenger.
Alex.
Good majesty,
Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you,
But when you are well pleas'd.
Cleo.
That Herod's head
I'll have but how, when Antony is gone,
Through whom I might command it?-Come thou near.
Mess. Most gracious majesty,-
Cleo.

Didst thou behold

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