Which fronted mine own peace.

As for my Wife, I would, you had her fpirit in fuch another; The third o' th' world is yours, which with a fnaffle You may pace eafy, but not fuch a Wife.

Eno. 'Would, we had all fuch Wives, that the Men might go to wars with the Women!

Ant. So much uncurbable her garboiles, Cafar,
Made out of her impatience, which not wanted
Shrewdness of policy too, I grieving grant,
Did you too much difquiet: For that you muft
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 on me, ere admitted; then
Three Kings I had newly feafted, and did want
Of what I was i' th' 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 wipe him.

Caf. You have broken

The article of your oath, which

you

fhall never

Have tongue to charge me with,

Lep. Soft, Cafar.

Ant. No, Lepidus, let him fpeak;

The Honour's facred which he talks on now,

Suppofing that I lackt 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.

Ant. Neglected, rather;

And then, when poifon'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
Shall not make poor my Greatnefs; 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.

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 fpoken, 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; fpeak no more.
Eno. That truth fhould be filent, I had almoft for-

got.

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't cannot be, We shall remain in friendship, our conditions. So differing in their acts. Yet, if I knew What hoop would hold us ftaunch, from edge to edge O' th' world, I would purfue it.

Agr. Give me leave, Cafar.

Caf. Speak, Agrippa.

Agr. Thou haft a Sifter by the Mother's fide, Admir'd Olavia! great Mark Antony

Is now a Widower.

Caf. Say not fo, Agrippa ;

If Cleopatra heard you, your Reproof
Were well deferv'd of rafhness.

but the mischiefs he speaks of, which I dislike. This agrees with what follows, and is faid with much urbanity, and show of friendship. WARBURTON.

I think the old reading right. I do not, fays Cæfar, think the man wrong, but too free of his interpofition; for't cannot be, we hall remain in friendship: yet if it were poffible, I would endeavour it. The confideration of the ceremony due from Cæfar to the Lieutenant of Antony, is a criticism of the lowest rate, unworthy of confutation.

your Reproof Were well deferv'd-] In the old edition,

-your proof

Were well deferv'dWhich Mr. Theobald with his ufual triumph, changes to approof, which he explains, allowance. Dr. Warburton inferted reproof very properly into Hanmer's edition, but forgot it in his own.

Ant.

Ant. I am not married, Cafar; 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 worse a Husband than the best of men ;
Whofe Virtue, and whofe general Graces fpeak
That which none else can utter. By this marriage,
All little jealoufies, which now feem 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 ftudied, not a prefent thought,
By duty ruminated.

Ant. Will Cæfar speak?

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

Ant. What Power is in Agrippa

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

Caf. The Power of Cafar, and
His Power unto Octavia.

Ant. May I never

To this good purpose, that fo fairly fhews,
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 defigns!

Caf. There is my hand:

A Sifter 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!

Lep. Happily, amen.

Ant. I did not think to draw my fword 'gainst Pompey.

Of late upon me.

For he hath laid ftrange courtefies and great
I must thank him only,
9 Left my remembrance fuffer ill report ;
At heel of that, defy him.

Lep. Time calls upon's:

Of us muft Pompey presently be fought,
Or else he feeks out us.

Ant. Where lies he?

Caf. About the Mount Mifenus.

Ant. What is his ftrength by Land?

4

Caf. Great, and increafing; but by Sea He is an abfolute Master.

Ant. So is the fame.

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

Caf. With moft gladness;

And do invite you to my Sifter's view,
Whither straight I will lead you.

Ant. Let us, Lepidus, not lack your company.

Lep. Noble Antony, not fickness should detain me.

[Flourish. Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Manent Enobarbus, Agrippa, Meċænas.

Mec. Welcome from Egypt, Sir.

Eno. Half the heart of Cafar, worthy Mecanas! My honourable friend, Agrippa!Agr. Good Enobarbus!

9 Left my remembrance Suffer ill report;] Left I be thought too willing to forget benefits, I

6

muft barely return him thanks, and then I will defy him.

Mec