will be the very strangler of their amity: Octavia is of holy, cold, and still conversation.1°

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.

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?
Ant. Of its own colour too.
Lep. 'Tis a strange serpent.
Ant. 'Tis so.

And the tears of it are wet.
Cas. Will this description satisfy him?
Ant. With the health that Pompey gives him,

[Exeunt.

Men. Come; let's away. SCENE VII-On board Pompey's galley, lying near Misenum. Music. Enter two or three Servants, with a banquet.2

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 partizan1 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 Cæsar, Antony, Pompey, Lepidus, Agrippa, Mæcenas, Enobarbus, Menas, with other captains.

Ant. Thus do they, sir: [To Cæsar.] 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 foizon, follow: The higher Nilus swells,
The more it promises: as it ebbs, the seedsman
Upon the sline 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.

These quick-sands, Lepidus,
Keep off them, for you sink.

Men. Wilt thou be lord of all the world?
Pom.
What say'st thou?
Men. Wilt thou be lord of the whole world?
That's twice.

Pom. How should that be?
Men.
But entertain it, and,
Although thou think me poor, I am the man
Will give thee all the world.
Pom.
Hast thou drunk well?
Men. No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup.
Thou art, if thou dar'st be, the earthly Jove:
Is thine, if thou wilt have't.
Whate'er the ocean pales,8 or sky inclips,9

Pom.
Show me which way.
Men. These three world-sharers, these competi
tors, 10

Are in thy vessel: Let me cut the cable;
And, when we are put off, fall to their throats:
All there is thine.

Pom.

Ah, this thou should'st have done, And not have spoke on't! In me, 'tis villany; In thee, it 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. 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.

[Aside.

Pom.
This health to Lepidus.
Ant. Bear him ashore.-I'll pledge it for him,
Pompey.

Eno. Here's to thee, Menas.

Men. Enobarbus, welcome. Pom. Fill, till the cup be hid. Eno. There's a strong fellow, Menas. [Pointing to the attendant who carries off Lepidus. Men. Why? Eno. He bears The third part of the world, man; See'st not? Men. The third part then is drunk: 'Would it were all,

That it might go on wheels!

Eno. Drink thou; increase the reels.

Ant.

Make me not offended

I have said.

You shall not find, Though you be therein curious,4 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.

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

Octa. 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. Octa. Sir, look well to my husband's house; andCœs.

What,

Octavia?
Octa. 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 full of tide,
And neither way inclines.

Eno. Will Caesar weep? [Aside to Agrippa.
Agr.
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;

What willingly he did confound, he wail'd:
Believe it, till I weep too.

Cas.
No, sweet Octavia,
You shall hear from me still; the time shall not
Out-go my thinking on you.

Ant.
Come, sir, come;
I'll wrestle with you in my strength of love:
Look, here I have you; thus I let you go,
And give you to the gods.

Cœs.
Adieu; be happy!
Lep. Let all the number of the stars give light
To thy fair way!

Cœs.

Ant.

(1) Wings. (4) Scrupulous.

Farewell, farewell!

[Kisses Octavia. Farewell. [Trumpets sound. Exeunt.

(2) Bond.
(3) Octavia.
(5) Of air and water.

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 a 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

I look'd her in the face; and saw her led
Between her brother and Mark Antony.
Cleo. Is she as tall as me?
Mess.
She is not, madan
Cleo. Didst hear her speak? Is she shrill-tongu'd,
or low?

Mess. Madam, I heard her speak; she is lowvoic'd.

Cleo. That's not so good:-he cannot like her long.
Char. Like her? O Isis! 'tis impossible.
Cleo. I think so, Charmian: Dull of tongue, and
dwarfish!-

What majesty is in her gait? Remember,
If e'er thou look'dst on majesty.
Mess.
She creeps;
Her motion and her station? are as one:
She shows a body rather than a life;
A statue, than a breather.
Cleo.

Is this certain?
Mess. Or I have no observance.
Char.

Cannot make better note.
Cleo.

Three in Egypt

He's very knowing,

I do perceive't:-There's nothing in her yet:The fellow has good judgment.

Char.

Excellent. Cleo. Guess at her years, I pr'ythee. Mess.

She was a widow.

Cleo.

Madam,

Widow?-Charmian, hark.

Mess. And I do think, she's thirty.

Cleo. Bear'st thou her face in mind? is it long,

or round?

Mess. Round even to faultiness.

Cleo. For the most part too, They are foolish that are so.-Her hair, what colour? Mess. Brown, madam : And her forehead is as low As she would wish it.

Cleo.
There is gold for thee.
Thou must not take my former sharpness ill:
I will employ thee back again; I find thee
Most fit for business: Go, make thee ready;
Our letters are prepar'd. [Exit Messenger.
Char.
A proper man.
Cleo. Indeed, he is so: I repent me much,
That so I harry'd him. Why, methinks, by him,
This creature's no such thing.

Char.
O, nothing, ma lam.
Cleo. The man hath seen some majesty, and
should know.

Char. Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend,

(6) Destroy. (7) Standing. (8) Pulled, lugged.

Cas. That ever I should call thee, cast away! Oct. You have not call'd me so, nor have you

cause.

Cas. Why have you stol'n upon us thus? You

come not

Like Cæsar's sister: The wife of Antony
Should have an army for an usher, and
The neighs of horse to tell of her approach,
Long ere she did appear; the trees by the way,
Should have borne men; and expectation fainted,
Longing for what it had not: nay, the dust
Should have ascended to the roof of heaven,
Rais'd by your populous troops: But you are come
A market-maid to Rome; and have prevented
The ostent of our love, which, left unshown,
Is often left unlov'd: we should have met you
By sea, and land; supplying every stage
With an augmented greeting.

Oct.

Good my lord,

To come thus was I not constrain'd, but did it
On my free will. My lord, Mark Antony,
Hearing that you prepar'd for war, acquainted
My grieved ear withal; whereon, I begg'd
His pardon for return.

Cœs.
Which soon he granted,
Being an obstruct2 'tween his lust and him.
Oct. Do not say so, my lord.
Cœs.

I have eyes upon And his affairs come to me on the wind.

Where is he now?

Oct.

My lord, in Athens.

him,

Cas. No, my most wronged sister; Cleopatra
Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire
Up to a whore; who now are levying
The kings o'the earth for war: He hath assembled
Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus,
Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king

Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas:
King Malchus of Arabia; king of Pont;
Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, king
Of Comagene; Polemon and Amintas,
The kings of Mede, and Lycaonia, with a
More larger list of sceptres.

Oct.
Ah me, most wretched,|
That have my heart parted betwixt two friends,
That do afflict each other!

Cas.

Welcome hither: Your letters did withhold our breaking forth; Till we perceiv'd, both how you were wrong led, And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart: Be you not troubled with the time, which drives O'er your content these strong necessities; But let determin'd things to destiny Hold unbewail'd their way. Welcome to Rome: Nothing more dear to me. You are abus'd Beyond the mark of thought: and the high gods, To do you justice, make them ministers Of us, and those that love you. Best of comfort; And ever welcome to us.

Agr.

Welcome, lady.

Mac. Welcome, dear madam.
Each heart in Rome does love and pity you :
Only the adulterous Antony, most large

In his abominations, turns you off;
And gives his potent regiment to a trull,4
That noises its against us.

Enter Antony and Canidius.

Is't not strange, Canidius, That from Tarentum, and Brundusium, He could so quickly cut the lonian sea, And take in Toryne?-You have heard on't, sweet? Cleo. Celerity is never more admir'd, Than by the negligent.

Ant. A good rebuke, Which might have well becom'd the best of men, To taunt at slackness.-Canidius, we Will fight with him by sea.

Cleo.

By sea! What else? Can. Why will my lord do so? Ant. For he dares us to't. Eno. So hath my lord dar'd him to single fight. Can. Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia, Where Cæsar fought with Pompey: But these offers, Which serve not for his vantage, he shakes off; And so should you.

Eno. Your ships are not well mann'd: Your mariners are muleteers, 10 reapers, people Ingross'd by swift impress;11 in Caesar's fleet Are those, that often have 'gainst Pompey fought: Their ships are yare;12 yours, heavy. 13 No disgrace Shall fall you for refusing him at sea, Being prepar'd for land. Ant.

By sea, by sea.
Eno. Most worthy sir, you therein throw away
The absolute soldiership you have by land;
Distract your army, which doth most consist
Of war-mark'd foot-men; leave unexecuted
Your own renowned knowledge; quite forego
The way which promises assurance; and
Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard,
From firm security.

Ant.
I'll fight at sea.
Cleo. I have sixty sails,14 Cæsar none better.
Ant. Our overplus of shipping will we burn;

[Exeunt

(2) Obstruction.

(8) Take, subdue. (10) Mule-drivers (12) Ready.

(13)

(3) Government. (4) Harlot. (5) Threatens. (6) Forbid. (7) Absolutely.