Once name you derogately, when, to sound your

name,

It not concern'd me.

Ant. My being in Egypt, Cæsar,
What was❜t to you?

Cas. No more than my residing here at Rome
Might be to you in Egypt: Yet, if you there
Did practise on my state, your being in Egypt
Might be my question.

Ant. How intend you, practised?

Cas. You may be pleased to catch at mine intent, By what did here befall: Your wife, and brother, Made wars upon me; and their contestation Was theme for you;-you were the word of war. Ant. You do mistake your business: My brother

never

Did urge me in this act ;-of this my letters Before did satisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel, (As matter whole you have not to make it with) It must not be with this.

Cæs. You praise yourself,

By laying defects of judgment to me; but
You patch'd up your excuses.

Ant. Not so, not so:

I know you could not lack, I'm certain on't,
Very necessity of this thought, that I,

Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,
Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars,
Which fronted mine own peace. As for my wife,
I would you had her spirit in such another:
The third o' the world is yours, which, with a snaffle,
You may pace easy, but not such a wife.

Cas. I wrote to you,

When rioting in Alexandria; you'

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

Ant. Sir,

He fell upon me, ere admitted; then

Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want
Of what I was i' the 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.

Cæs. You have broken

The article of your oath; which

Have tongue to charge me with.
Lep. Soft, Cæsar.

Ant. No,

Lepidus, let him speak:

you shall never

The honour is sacred which he talks on now,
Supposing that I lack'd it; but, on, Cæsar ;—
The article of my oath,-

Cas. To lend me arms, and aid, when I required them;

The which you both refused.

Ant. Neglected, rather;

And then, when poison'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 greatness: Truth is,-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.

Cas. I do not much mislike the matter, but The manner of his speech; for't cannot be, We shall remain in friendship, our conditions So differing in their acts. Yet, if I knew What hoop should hold us staunch, from edge to edge O' the world I would pursue it.

Agr. Give me leave, Cæsar

Caes. Speak, Agrippa.

Agr. Thou hast a sister by the mother's side,
Admired Octavia ;-great Mark Antony
Is now a widower.

Cæs. Say not so, Agrippa.

If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof
Were well deserved of rashness.

Ant. I am not married, Cæsar: Let me hear
Agrippa further speak.

Agr. To hold you in perpetual amity,
With an unslipping knot, take Antony
Octavia to his wife; whose beauty claims
No worse à husband than the best of men ;
Whose virtue, and whose general graces, speak
That which none else can utter. By this marriage,
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 present thought,
By duty ruminated.

Ant. Will Cæsar speak?

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

Ant. What power is in Agrippa,

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

Cas. The power of Cæsar, and

His power unto Octavia.

Ant. May I never

To this good purpose, that so fairly shews,

Dream of impediment.

Let me have thy hand:

[They rise.

Further this act of grace; and from this hour,
The hearts of brothers govern in our loves,

And sway our great designs!

Cas. A sister I bequeath you, whom no brother

Did ever love so 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 sword 'gainst
Pompey;

For he hath laid strange courtesies, and great,

Of late upon me: I must thank him only,
Lest my remembrance suffer ill report;
At heel of that, defy him.

Lep. Time calls upon us :

Of us must Pompey presently be sought,
Or else he seeks out us.

Ant. Where lies he?

Cæs. About the Mount Misenum.

Ant. What's his strength

By land?

Caes. Great, and increasing; but by sea He is an absolute master.

Ant. So is the fame.

Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we
The business we have talk'd of.

Cas. With most gladness;
And do invite you to my sister's view,
Whither straight I'll lead you.

Ant. Let us, Lepidus,

Not lack your company.
Lep. Noble Antony,

Not sickness shall detain me.

[Exeunt

SCENE II.

Alexandria-A Room in the Palace.

Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMION, IRAS, and ALEXAS,

Cle. Give me some music; music, moody food Of us that trade in love.-No, let it be. We'll to the river;-there I will betray Tawny-finn'd fishes: as I draw them up,

I'll think them every one an Antony, "Ah! Ha! you're caught."

And say,

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.

Cle. 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 laugh'd him to his bed;
Then put my ties and mantles on him, whilst
I wore his sword Phillippan.-O! from Italy-
Enter MARDION.

Mar. Madam, madam

Cle. Antony's dead?-If thou say so, Villain, thou kill'st thy mistress ;-but well, and free, If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here, My bluest veins to kiss; a hand that kings Have lipp'd, and trembled, kissing."

To

Mar. First, madam, he is well.

Cle. Why, there's more gold. But, sirrah, mark;

we use

say, the dead are well; if he be dead, (And I perceive no goodness in thy face)

Thou should'st come like a fury crown'd with snakes, Not like a formal man.

Mar. Will't please you hear me?

Cle. I have a mind to spurn thee, ere thou speak'st: Yet, if thou say, Antony lives, is 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.

Mar. Madam, he's well.

Cle. Well said.

Mar. And friends with Cæsar.

Cle. Thou art an honest man.

Mar. Cæsar and he are greater friends than ever,