Enter OCTAVIA. Oct. Hail, Cæsar, and my lord! hail, most dear Had not the adverse wind and raging seas cause. you. Cæs. Why have you stolen upon us thus? You come not Like Cæsar's sister; the wife of Antony Oct. Good, my lord, To come thus was I not constrain'd, but did it Cas. Which soon he granted, Cas. I have eyes upon him, And his affairs come to me on the wind; Oct. My lord, in Athens. Cas. No, no, my most wrong'd sister: Cleopatra Hath nodded him to her; and they are levying The kings o' the earth for war against me. Now, E'en now, they head their force at Actium; But they have found, I trust, to their confusion, Our fleet and armies there, prepared to meet them. He gave the 'stablishment of Egypt; made her, Absolute queen. Mac. This in the public eye? Cæs. I' the common shew-place, where they exercise: His sons he there proclaim'd the kings of kings. He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assign'd In the habiliments of the goddess, Isis, That day appear'd, and oft before gave audience, As 'tis reported so. Mac. Let Rome be thus Inform'd. Agr. Who, queasy with his insolence Already, will their good thoughts call from him. Agr. Whom does he accuse? Cas. Cæsar; and that having in Sicily Should be deposed; and being, that we detain Agr. Sir, this should be answered. Cæs. "Tis done already, and the messenger gone. I have told him Lepidus was grown too cruel; That he his high authority abused, And did deserve his change: for what I have con quer'd, I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia, Demand the like. Mac. He'll never yield to that. Cæs. Nor must not then be yielded to in this. Enter OCTAVIA. Oct. Hail, Cæsar, and my lord! hail, most dear Had not the adverse wind and raging seas cause. you. Cas. Why have you stolen upon us thus? You come not Like Cæsar's sister; the wife of Antony Oct. Good, my lord, To come thus was I not constrain'd, but did it Cas. Which soon he granted, Cæs. I have eyes upon him, And his affairs come to me on the wind; Oct. My lord, in Athens. Cas. No, no, my most wrong'd sister: Cleopatra Hath nodded him to her; and they are levying The kings o' the earth for war against me. Now, E'en now, they head their force at Actium; But they have found, I trust, to their confusion, Our fleet and armies there, prepared to meet them. Oct. Ah me, most wretched! That have my heart parted betwixt two friends Cas. Welcome hither; Your letters so far check'd our breaking forth, Hold unbewail'd their way. Welcome to Rome; Of us, and those that love you. Be of comfort;— And ever welcome to us. Agr. Welcome, lady. Mac. Welcome, dear madam. Each heart in Rome does love and pity you. Oct. Is it so, sir? Cas. Most certain. Sister, welcome: Pray you, now, Be ever known to patience. My dearest sister! SCENE II. [Exeunt. Near Actium.-The Outskirts of ANTONY'S Camp. 14 Enter CLEOPATRA and ENOBARBUS. Cle. I will be even with thee, doubt it not. And have command here, while we stay in Actium. Eno. But why, why, why? Cle. Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars; And say'st it is not fit. Eno. Well, is it? is it? Cle. Is't not denounced 'gainst us? Why should not we Be there in person? Eno. Your presence needs must puzzle Antony; Take from his heart, take from his brain, from his time, What should not then be spared. Cle. Sink Rome, and their tongues rot That speak against us! A charge we bear i' the war, I will be in the action. Eno. I have done. Enter ANTONY and CANIDIUS. Ant. Canidius, we will fight with them by sea. Can. Why will my lord do so? Ant. For that he dares us to*t. Eno. So hath my lord dared him to single fight. Can. Ay, and to wage this battle in 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 manned; Your mariners are muleteers, reapers, people Ingrost by swift impress: In Cæsar's fleet Are those that often have 'gainst Pompey fought: Their ships are yare, your's heavy :-No disgrace Awaits you for refusing him by sea. Ant. By sea, by sea! Eno. Why, sir, you throw away The absolute soldiership you have by land; Your own renowned knowledge quite forego D |