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

Ant. So much uncurbable, her garboils, Cæfar,
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.

Caf.

I wrote to you,
When rioting in Alexandria; you

Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts
Did gibe my miffive out of audience.

Ant.

Sir,

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

Out of our question wipe him.

Caf.

You have broken

The article of your oath; which you fhall never

Have tongue to charge me with.

Lep.

Ant.

Lepidus, let him speak;

Soft, Cæfar.

No,

The honour's 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 requir'd them; The which you both deny'd.

Neglected, rather;

Ant.
And then, when poison'd hours had bound me up
From mine own knowledge. As nearly as I may,

I'll

I'll play the penitent to you: but mine honesty
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 ftoop in fuch a cafe.

Lep.

'Tis nobly spoken.

Mec. If it might please you, to enforce no further The griefs between ye: to forget them quite,

Were to remember that the prefent need

Speaks to atone you.

Lep.

Worthily fpoke, Mecanas.

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 time to wrangle in, when you have nothing else to do.

Ant. Thou art a foldier only; speak no more.

Eno. That truth should be filent, I had almost forgot. Ant. You wrong this prefence, therefore speak no more. Eno. Go to then; your confiderate stone.

Caf. I do not much dislike the matter, but The manner of his fpeech: 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 ftaunch, from edge to edge O' the world, I would pursue it.

Agr.

Caf. Speak, Agrippa.

Give me leave, Cæfar,

Agr. Thou haft a fifter by the mother's fide,

Admir'd Octavia: great Mark Antony

Is now a widower.

Caf.

Say not fo, Agrippa;

If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof

Were well deferv'd of rashness.

Ant. I am not married, Cæfar: let me hear Agrippa further speak.

Agr. To hold you in perpetual amity,

To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts
With an unflipping knot, take Antony
Octavia to his wife: whose beauty claims
No worfe a husband than the best of men ;
Whofe 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 prefent thought,
By duty ruminated.

Caf. Not till he hears how Antony is touch'd With what is fpoke already.

To this good purpose, that fo fairly shows,
Dream of impediment!-Let me have thy hand;
Further this act of grace; and, from this hour,
The heart of brothers govern in our loves,
And fway our great designs!

Ca

Caf.

There is my hand.

A fifter I bequeath you, whom no brother

Did ever love fo dearly: Let her live

To join our kingdoms, and our hearts; and never
Fly off our loves again!

Ant. I did not think to draw my fword 'gainst Pompey; For he hath laid ftrange courtefies, and great,

Of late upon me: I must thank him only,

Left my remembrance fuffer ill report;

At heel of that, defy him.

Lep.

Time calls upon us :

Of us muft Pompey prefently be fought,

Or else he feeks out us.

Caf. Great, and increafing: but by fea

He is an abfolute mafter.

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

Caf.

And do invite you to my fifter's view,

Whither straight I will lead you.

Ant.

Not lack your company.

Lep.

With most gladness ;

Let us, Lepidus,

Noble Antony,

Not fickness fhould detain me.

[Flourish. Exeunt CESAR, ANTONY, and LEPIDUS.

Mec. Welcome from Egypt, fir.

Eno.

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 so well digefted. You ftay'd well by it in Egypt.

Eno. Ay, fir; 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 perfons there; Is this true?

Eno. This was but as a fly by an eagle: we had much more monstrous matter of feast, which worthily deferved noting.

Mec. She's a moft triumphant lady, if report be fquare

to her.

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

Agr. There the appear'd indeed; or my reporter devis'd well for her.

Eno. I will tell you :

The barge the fat in, like a burnish'd throne,

Burn'd on the water: the poop was beaten gold;

Purple the fails, and fo perfumed, that

The winds were love-fick with them: the oars were filver;
Which to the tune of flutes kept ftroke, 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 tiffue,)
O'er-picturing that Venus, where we fee,
The fancy out-work nature: on each fide her,
Stood pretty dimpled boys, like fmiling Cupids,
With diverfe-colour'd fans, whose wind did feem
To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool,
And what they undid, did.

Agr.