Once name you derogately, when, to sound your name, It not concern'd me. Ant. My being in Egypt, Cæsar, Cas. No more than my residing here at Rome 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 Ant. Not so, not so: I know you could not lack, I'm certain on't, Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought, Cas. I wrote to you, When rioting in Alexandria; you' Did pocket up my letters, and, with taunts, Ant. Sir, He fell upon me, ere admitted; then Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want Cæs. You have broken The article of your oath; which Have tongue to charge me with. Ant. No, Lepidus, let him speak: you shall never The honour is sacred which he talks on now, 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 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, Cæs. Say not so, Agrippa. If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof Ant. I am not married, Cæsar: Let me hear Agr. To hold you in perpetual amity, Would each to other, and all loves to both, 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, 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, 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 Ant. I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst For he hath laid strange courtesies, and great, Of late upon me: I must thank him only, Lep. Time calls upon us : Of us must Pompey presently be sought, 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 Cas. With most gladness; Ant. Let us, Lepidus, Not lack your company. 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 Cle. That time!-O times ! I laugh'd him out of patience; and, that night, 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, |