Cle. Make thee a fortune from me. Cle. I do not like, but yet; it does allay The good and bad together: He's friends with Cæsar; Cle. The most infectious pestilence upon thee! Cle. What say you?—hence ! Mar. Gracious madam, I, that do bring the news, made not the match. And I will boot thee with what gift beside, Cle. Is he married? I cannot hate thee worse than now I do, If thou again say, yes. Mar. Too sure he is; and, ere I quitted Rome, He and Octavia had embark'd for Athens. Exit MARDION, Char. Good, your highness, patience. I faint: O, Iras, Charmion !-'Tis no matter- [Exit ALEXAS. Let him for ever go! Pity me, Charmion, chamber. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Athens. A Room in ANTONY'S House. Enter ANTONY and OCTAVIA. Ant. Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that, Spoke scantily of me; when, perforce he could not Oct. O, my good lord, Believe not all; or, if you must believe, Ant. Gentle Octavia, Let your best love draw to that point which seeks Best to preserve it: If I lose mine honour, I lose myself; better I were not yours, Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested, Yourself shall go between us. Meantime, lady, I'il raise the preparation of a war C Shall stain your brother; speed you then to Rome,- The Jove of power make me most weak, most weak, Ant. Well, well, the ship awaits you in the harbour: Choose your own company, and command what cost Your heart has mind to. Oct. Oh, my lord-Farewell! Ant. The April's in thy eyes; Thy tongue will not obey thy heart, nor will And neither way inclines.-Come on, Octavia; [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Alexandria. A Room in CLEOPATRA'S Palace. CLEOPATRA and IRAS discovered. CLEOPATRA pensively reclined on a Couch. Cle. Athens may well be proud! it circles, now, Within its walls, Bellona's paragon; The man of men;-ay me! the married man. Would that Mark Antony could see me thus! Sure he would sigh, for he is noble-natured, And bears a tender heart. I know him well→ Ah, no, I know him not; I knew him once, Iras. Let it be past with you Forget him, madam. Cle. Never, never, Iras. Faithless, ungrateful, cruel though he be, I still must love him. Enter CHARMION. Now, what news, my Charmion? Char. The man, whom you dispatch'd in trust to Athens, Newly return'd, now waits upon your will. Cle. [Starting up.] Will Antony be kind?—or quite forsake me? Is't life or death? for when he gave his answer, Enter MARDION. Cle. Say,-had'st thou audience Of great Mark Antony? Mar. I found him, madam, Encompass'd by a throng that shouted round him :When he beheld me struggling through the crowd, He blush'd, and bade make way. Cle. There's comfort yet! [Apart from MARDION. Proceed. Mar. I told my message, Just as you gave it, broken and dishearted; If but to say, farewell.-Saw'st thou Octavia? Cle. Make thee a fortune from me. Cle. I do not like, but yet; it does allay The good and bad together: He's friends with Cæsar; Cle. The most infectious pestilence upon thee! Cle. What say you?—hence ! Mar. Gracious madam, I, that do bring the news, made not the match. And I will boot thee with what gift beside, Cle. Is he married? I cannot hate thee worse than now I do, If thou again say, yes. Mar. Too sure he is; and, ere I quitted Rome, He and Octavia had embark'd for Athens. [Exit MARDION, Char. Good, your highness, patience. I faint: O, Iras, Charmion !-'Tis no matter- The colour of her hair: bring me word quickly. [Exit ALEXAS. Let him for ever go! Pity me, Charmion, Lead me to my chamber. [Exeunt. |