SCENE III.-The Same. A Room in CÆSAR'S House

Enter CESAR, ANTONY, OCTAVIA between them; and Attendants

ANT. The world and my great office will sometimes

Divide me from your bosom.

ОСТА.

All which time

Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers
To them for you.

ANT.

Good night, sir.-My Octavia,

Read not my blemishes in the world's report:

I have not kept my square; but that to come

Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear lady.—

Good night, sir.

CAS. Good night.

[Exeunt CESAR and OCTAVIA.

Enter Soothsayer

ANT. Now, sirrah,—you do wish yourself in Egypt?
SOOTH. Would I had never come from thence, nor you

My motion, have it not in my tongue: but yet
Hie you to Egypt again.

ANT.

Say to me,

Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Cæsar's or mine? SOOTH. Cæsar's.

Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side:

Thy demon, that's thy spirit which keeps thee, is
Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable,

Where Cæsar's is not; but, near him, thy angel
Becomes a fear, as being o'erpower'd: therefore
Make space enough between you.

ANT.
Speak this no more.
SOOTH. To none but thee; no more, but when to thee.

If thou dost play with him at any game,

Thou art sure to lose; and, of that natural luck,

He beats thee 'gainst the odds: thy lustre thickens,
When he shines by: I say again, thy spirit

Is all afraid to govern thee near him;

But, he away, 'tis noble.

ANT.

Get thee gone :

Say to Ventidius I would speak with him :—

He shall to Parthia.-Be it art or hap,

ΙΟ

20

30

[Exit Soothsayer.

He hath spoken true: the very dice obey him;
And, in our sports, my better cunning faints
Under his chance: if we draw lots, he speeds;
His cocks do win the battle still of mine,
When it is all to naught; and his quails ever
Beat mine, inhoop'd, at odds. I will to Egypt:
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
I' the east my pleasure lies.

Enter VENTIDIUS

O, come, Ventidius,

You must to Parthia: your commission's ready;
Follow me, and receive 't.

40

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-The Same. A Street

Enter LEPIDUS, MECENAS, and AGRIPPA

LEP. Trouble yourselves no further: pray you, hasten
Your generals after.

Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow.
LEP. Till I shall see you in your soldier's dress,
Which will become you both, farewell.
MEC.

We shall,

Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAs, and ALEXAS

CLEO. Give me some music,—music, moody food

Of us that trade in love.

CLEO. Let it alone; let's to billiards: come, Charmian.
CHAR. My arm is sore; best play with Mardian.

CLEO. As well a woman with an eunuch play'd

As with a woman.-Come, you'll play with me, sir? MAR. As well as I can, madam.

CLEO. And when good will is show'd, though 't come too short,

The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now :

Give me mine angle,—we'll to the river: there,
My music playing far off, I will betray

Tawny-finn'd fishes; my bended hook shall pierce
Their slimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,

I'll think them every one an Antony,

And say, 'Ah, ha! you're caught.'

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.

CLEO.

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 drunk him to his bed;
Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst
I wore his sword Philippan.

Enter a Messenger

O, from Italy!—

Madam, madam,

Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
That long time have been barren.
MESS.
CLEO. 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.
MESS. First, madam, he is well.
CLEO.

But, sirrah, mark, we use

Why, there's more gold.

To say the dead are well: bring it to that,
The gold I give thee will I melt and pour
Down thy ill-uttering throat.

MESS. Good madam, hear me.

CLEO.

Well, go to, I will;

But there's no goodness in thy face: if Antony
Be free and healthful,—so tart a favour

To trumpet such good tidings! If not well,

Thou shouldst come like a Fury crown'd with snakes,
Not like a formal man.

MESS.

Will't please you hear me?

ΤΟ

20

30

40

CLEO. I have a mind to strike 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.

MESS.

Madam, he's well.

CLEO.

Well said.

MESS. And friends with Cæsar.
CLEO.

Thou 'rt an honest man.

But yet, madam,—

MESS. Cæsar and he are greater friends than ever.
CLEO. Make thee a fortune from me.
MESS.
CLEO. I do not like 'But yet,' it does allay
The good precedence; fie upon 'But yet'!
'But yet' is as a gaoler to bring forth

Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend,
Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,

The good and bad together: he's friends with Cæsar;
In state of health thou say'st; and thou say'st free.
MESS. Free, madam! no; I made no such report:

He's bound unto Octavia.

CLEO.

For what good turn?

MESS. For the best turn i' the bed.

CLEO.

I am pale, Charmian.

60

MESS. Madam, he's married to Octavia.
CLEO. The most infectious pestilence upon thee! [Strikes him down.
MESS. Good madam, patience.

CLEO.

What say you?-Hence,

[Strikes him again.

[She hales him up and down.

Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine eyes
Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head:

Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in brine,
Smarting in lingering pickle.

MESS.

Gracious madam,

I that do bring the news made not the match.
CLEO. Say 'tis not so, a province I will give thee,

And make thy fortunes proud: the blow thou hadst
Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage;
And I will boot thee with what gift beside
Thy modesty can beg.

MESS.
CLEO. Rogue, thou hast liv'd too long.
MESS.

What mean you, madam ? I have made no fault. CHAR. Good madam, keep yourself within yourself; The man is innocent.

CLEO. Some innocents scape not the thunderbolt.
Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures
Turn all to serpents !-Call the slave again :—
Though I am mad, I will not bite him :-call.
CHAR. He is afeard to come.
CLEO.

I will not hurt him.

These hands do lack nobility, that they strike
A meaner than myself; since I myself
Have given myself the cause.

Re-enter CHARMIAN and Messenger

Come hither, sir.

Though it be honest, it is never good

To bring bad news: give to a gracious message
An host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell
Themselves when they be felt.

MESS.

CLEO. Is he married?

80

[Exit CHARMIAN.

I have done my duty.

90

I cannot hate thee worser than I do,

If thou again say 'Yes.'

MESS.

He's married, madam.

CLEO. The gods confound thee! dost thou hold there still?
MESS. Should I lie, madam?
CLEO.

O, I would thou didst,
So half my Egypt were submerg'd, and made
A cistern for scal'd snakes! Go, get thee hence:
Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me

Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?
MESS. I crave your highness' pardon.

CLEO.

He is married?

MESS. Take no offence that I would not offend you :
To punish me for what you make me do
Seems much unequal: he's married to Octavia.
CLEO. O, that his fault should make a knave of thee,
That art not what thou'rt sure of!-Get thee hence:
The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome
Are all too dear for me: lie they upon thy hand,
And be undone by 'em!

100

[Exit Messenger.

CHAR.
Good your highness, patience.
CLEO. In praising Antony, I have disprais'd Cæsar.
CHAR. Many times, madam.

CLEO.

I am paid for 't now.

Lead me from hence;
I faint:-O Iras, Charmian!—'tis no matter.-

ΙΙΟ