No wars without doors. Cæfar gets mony, where
He lofes hearts; Lepidus flatters Both,

Of Both is flatter'd; but he Neither loves,
Nor Either cares for him.

Mene. Cæfar and Lepidus are in the field,
A mighty ftrength they carry.

Pom. Where have you this? 'tis falfe.
Mene. From Silvius, Sir.

Pom. He dreams; I know, they are in Rome toge

ther,

Looking for Antony: but all the charms of love,
Salt Cleopatra, foften thy wan lip!

Let witchcraft join with beauty; luft with both!
Tie up the libertine in a field of feafts,
Keep his brain fuming; Epicurean cooks,
Sharpen with cloylefs fawce his appetite;

That fleep and feeding may prorogue his honour,
Even 'till a Lethe'd dulnefs-

How now, Varrius?

Enter Varrius.

Var. This is moft certain, that I fhall deliver :
Mark Antony is every hour in Rome

Expected. Since he went from Egypt, 'tis
A fpace for farther travel.

Pom. I could have given less matter

A better ear. Menas, I did not think,

'This am'rous furfeiter would have donn'd his helm

For fuch a petty war; his foldiership

Is twice the other twain; but let us rear (9)
The higher our opinion, that our ftirring
Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck.
The ne'er-luft-wearied Antony.

The higher our Opinion, that our stirring

Can from the Lap of Egypt's Widow pluck

The near luft-wearied Antony.]

Mens

Sextus Pompeius, upon heating that Antony is every hour expeated in Rome, does not much relish the News..

E S.

L

Men. I cannot hope,

Cafar and Antony fhall well greet together.
His wife, who's dead, did trefpaffes to Cafar;
His brother warr'd upon him, although I think,
Not mov'd by Antony.

Pom. I know not, Menas,

How leffer enmities may give way to greater. Were't not that we ftand up against them all, 'Twere pregnant, they fhould fquare between themfelves;

For they have entertained caufe enough

To draw their fwords; but how the fear of us
May cement their divifions, and bind up
The petty difference, we yet not know.
Be't, as our Gods will hav't! it only stands
Our lives upon, to use our strongest hands.
Come, Menas.

Lep.

SCENE changes to Rome.
Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus.

OOD Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed,
And fhall become you well, t'entreat your

GOOD

Captain

To foft and gentle fpeech.

Eno. I fhall entreat him

To answer, like himself; if Cefar move him,

Let Antony look over Cafar's head,

the Soldier, (Says He,) that Octavius and Lepidus are; and I did not think, the petty War, which I am raifing, would rouze him from his Amours in Egypt. But why fhould Pompey hold a higher Opinion of his own Expedition, because it awak'd Antony to Arms, who was near weary, almost surfeited, of lascivious Pleasures? Indolent and ftupid Editors, that can difpenfe with Words without ever weighing the Reason of them! How cafie is the Change to the true Reading!

The ne'er-luft-wearied Antony.

If Antony, tho' never tired of Luxury, yet mov'd from that Charm, upon Pompey's Stirring, it was a Reason for Pompey to pride himself upon being of fuch Confequence.

And

And fpeak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter,
Were I the wearer of Antonio's beard,
I would not fhav't to day."

Lep. 'Tis not a time for private ftomaching.
Eno. Every time

Serves for the matter that is then born in't.

Lep. But small to greater matters muft give way.
Eno. Not, if the fmall come first.

Lep. Your fpeech is paffion;

But, pray you, ftir no embers up.

The noble Antony.

Here

comes

Enter Antony and Ventidius.

Eno. And yonder, Cafar.

ན

Enter Cæfar, Mecenas, and Aggrippa.
Ant. If we compose well here, to Parthia.
Hark, Ventidius.

Caf. I do not know; Mecanas, ask Agrippa.
Lep. Noble friends,

That which combin'd us was most great, and let not
A leaner action rend us." What's amifs, 59 L
May it be gently heard. When we debate
Our trivial difference loud, we do commit

Murther in healing wounds. Then, noble partners,
(The rather, for I earnestly befeech,)

Touch you the fowrest points with sweetest terms,
Nor curftness grow to th' matter.

Ant. 'Tis fpoken well;

Were we before our armies, and to fight,

Ifhould do thus.'

[Flourisa's

Ant. I learn, you take things ill, which are not fo:

Or, being, concern you not.

Caf. I must be laught at,

If, or for nothing, or a little,, I.

Should

Should fay myself offended, and with you
Chiefly i'th' world; More laught at, that I should
Once name you derogately, when to found
Your name it not concern'd me.

Ant. My being in Egypt, Cæfar, what was't to you?
Caf. No more than my refiding here at Rome
Might be to you in Egypt: yet, if you there
Did practife on my ftate, your being in Ægypt
Might be my question.

Ant. How intend you, practis'd?

Caf. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent,
By what did here befall. (10) Your Wife and Brother
Made wars upon me; and their contestation

Was theam'd for you, you were the word of war.
Ant. You do miftake your business: my brother

never

Did urge me in his act: I did require it,

And have my learning from fome true reports

That drew their fwords with you. Did he not rather
Difcredit my authority with yours,

And make the wars alike againft my stomach,

Having alike

your caufe of this, my letters

Before did fatisfie you. If you'll patch a quarrel, (As matter whole you've not to make it with,)

It must not be with this.

Caf. You praise yourself,

(10)

Your Wife and Brother

Made Wars upon me, and their Contestation

Was theam for you, you were the Word of War.]

The only Meaning of This can be, that the War, which Antony's Wife and Brother made upon Cafar, was Theam for Antony too to make War; or was the Occafion why he did make War. But This is directly contrary to the Context, which shews, Antony did neither encourage them to it, nor fecond them in it. We cannot doubt then, but the Poet wrote;

and their Conteftation

Was theam'd for You;.

i. e. The Pretence of their War was on your Account, they took up Arms in your Name, and You were made the Theam and Subject of their Infurrection,

Mi Warburton.

By

By laying defects of Judgment to me: but
You patch up your excufes.

Ant. Not fo, not fo;

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

Your Partner in the cause 'gainft which he fought,
Could not with grateful eyes attend those wars,
Which fronted mine own peace. As for my Wife,
I would, you had her spirit in fuch another;
The third o'th' world is yours, which with a fnaffle
You may pace eafie; but not fuch a Wife.

Eno. 'Would, we had all fuch Wives, that the Men might go to wars with the Women!

Ant. So much uncurbable her garboiles, Cafar,
Made out of her impatience, which not wanted
Shrewdnefs of policy too, I grieving grant,
Did you too much difquiet: For That you must
But fay, I could not help it.

Caf. I wrote to you,

When rioting in Alexandria, you

Did pocket up my letters; and with taunts
Did gibe my miffive out of audience.

Ant. Sir, he fell on me, ere admitted: then
Three Kings I had newly feafted, and did want.
Of what I was i'th' morning: but, next day,
I told him of my felf; which was as much
As to have ask'd him pardon. Let this fellow
Be nothing of our ftrife: if we contend,
Out of our question wipe him.

Caf. You have broken

The article of your oath, which you shall never
Have tongue to charge me with.

Lep. Soft, Cafar.

Ant. No, Lepidus, let him fpeak;

The Honour's facred which he talks on now,
Suppofing, that I lackt it: but on, Cæfar,

The article of my oath

Caf. To lend me arms and aid, when I requir'd them, The which you both deny'd.

Ant. Neglected, rather:

And