The Dramatic Works

He shall to Parthia.-Be it art, or hap,
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 nought; and his quails ever
Beat mine, inhoop'd, at odds. I will to Egypt:
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
Enter Ventidius.

I' the east my pleasure lies :-0, come, Ventidius,

Lep. Farewell.

Sir, good success! [Exeunt.

SCENE V.-Alexandria. A room in the palace.
Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas.
Cleo. Give me some music; music, moody food
Of us that trade in love.
Attend.

The music, ho!

Enter Mardian.

Cleo. Let it alone; let us 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 it

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!-0 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. O! from Italy;
Enter a Messenger.

Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
That long time have been barren.

Mess.

Cleo. Antony's dead?

Madam, madam,—

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's well.
Cleo. Why, there's more gold. But, sirrah,

mark; We use

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.

(4) Inclosed. (6) Melancholy.

(5) Mount Misenum.

(7) Head-dress,

Mess. Cleo.

Madam, he's well.

Well said.
Mess. And friends with Cæsar.
Cleo.
Thou'rt an honest man.
Mess. Cæsar and he are greater friends than ever.
Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me.
Mess.
But yet, madam,-
Cleo. I do not like but yet, it does allay
The good precedence; fie upon but yet:
But yet is a gaoler to bring forth

Some monstrous malefactor. Pr'ythee, friend,
Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,
The good and bad together: He's friend 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.
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. Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine eyes Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head; [She hales him up and down. Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in brine,

Smarting in ling'ring 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. He's married, madam. Cleo. Rogue, thou hast liv'd too long.

[Draws a dagger. Mess. Nay, then I'll run :What mean you, madam? I have made no fault. [Exit.

Char. Good madam, keep yourself within yourself;

The man is innocent.

Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thunder-
bolt.-

Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures
Turn all to servants!-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.-Come hither, sir."

(1) So sour a countenance.

(2) A man in his senses. (3) Preceding.

VOL. II.

you:

To punish me for what you make me do,
Seerns much unequal: He is married to Octavia.

Cleo. O, that his faults should make a knave of thee,

That art not!-What? thou'rt sure of't?-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!
[Exit Messenger.
Char.
Good your highness, patience.
Cleo. In praising Antony, I have disprais'd

Cæsar.
Char. Many times, madam.
Cleo.

Lead me from hence.

I am paid for't now.

faint; O Iras, Charmian,-Tis no matter :— Go to the fellow, good Alexas; bid him Report the features of Octavia, her years, Her inclination, let him not leave out The colour of her hair :-bring me word quickly.[Exit Alexas. Let him for ever go :-Let him not-Charmian, Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon, T'other way he's a Mars:-Bid you Alexas Bring me word, how tall she is.-Pity me Char

mian,

[To Mardain.

But do not speak to me.-Lead me to my chamber. [Exeunt.

SCENE VI-Near Misenum. Enter Pompey and Menas, at one side, with drum and trumpet: at another, Casar, Lepidus, Antony, Enobarbus, Mæcenas, with soldiers marching.

Pom. Your hostages I have, so have you mine;
And we shall talk before we fight.
Cas.
Most meet,
That first we come to words; and therefore have we
Our written purposes before us sent;
Which if thou hast considered, let us know
If 'twill tie up thy discontented sword;
And carry back to Sicily much tall' youth
That else must perish here.

Pom.
To you all three,
The senators alone of this great world,
Chief factors for the gods,-I do not know,
Wherefore my father should revengers want,
Having a son, and friends: since Julius Cæsar,

Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted,1
There saw you labouring for him. What was it,
That mov'd pale Cassius to conspire? And what
Made the all-honour'd, honest, Roman Brutus,
With the arm'd rest, courtiers of beauteous freedom,
To drench the Capitol; but that they would
Have one man but a man? And that is it,
Hath made me rig my navy: at whose burden
The anger'd ocean foams; with which I meant
To scourge the ingratitude that despiteful Rome
Cast on my noble father.
Take your time.

Cæs.

Ant. Thou can'st not fear2 us, Pompey, with thy sails,

We'll speak with thee at sea: at land, thou know'st How much we do o'er-count thee.

Pom.

At land, indeed, Thou dost o'er-count me of my father's house: But, since the cuckoo builds not for himself, Remain in't as thou may'st.

Lep.

Be pleas'd to tell us,

There's the point.

(For this is from the present,') how you take The offers we have sent you.

Cæs.

Ant. Which do not be entreated to, but weigh

What it is worth embrac'd.

And what may follow,

You have made me offer

[Exeunt Pompey, Cæsar, Antony, Lepidus, Soldiers and Attendants.

Men. Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have made this treaty.-[Aside.1-You and I have known, sir.

Eno. At sea, I think.

Men. We have, sir.

Eno. You have done well by water.

Men. And you by land.

Eno. I will praise any man that will praise me: though it cannot be denied what I have done by land.

Men. Nor what I have done by water.

Eno. Yes, something you can deny for your own safety: you have been a great thief by sea. Men. And you by land.

Eno. There I deny my land service. But give me your hand, Menas: If our eyes had authority, here they might take two thieves kissing.

Men. All men's faces are true, whatsoe'er their hands are.

Eno. But there is never a fair woman has a true

face.

Men. No slander; they steal hearts.
Eno. We came hither to fight with you.

Men. For my part, I am sorry it is turned to drinking. Pompey doth this way laugh away his fortune.

Eno. If he do, sure, he cannot weep it back again. Men. You have said, sir. We looked not for Mark Antony here; Pray you, is he married to Cleopatra?

Eno. Cæsar's sister is call'd Octavia.

Men. True, sir; she was the wife of Caius Marcellus.

Eno. But she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius. Men. Pray you, sir?

Eno. 'Tis true.

Men. Then is Cæsar, and he, for ever knit together.

Eno. If I were bound to divine of this unity, I would not prophesy so.

Men. I think, the policy of that purpose made more in the marriage, than the love of the parties. Eno. I think so too. But you shall find, the band that seems to tie their friendship together,

(5) Scores, marks. (6) Been acquainted.

Scene VII.

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.

will be the very strangler of their amity: Octavia | is of holy, cold, and still conversation."

Men. Who would not have his wife so? Eno. Not he, that himself is not so; which is Mark Antony. He will to his Egyptian dish again: then shall the sighs of Octavia blow the fire up in Cæsar; and, as I said before, that which is the strength of their amity, shall prove the immediate author of their variance. Antony will use his affection where it is; he married but his occasion here.

Men. And thus it may be. Come, sir, will you aboard? I have a health for you.

Ena. I shall take it, sir: we have used our throats in Egypt.

[Exeunt.

Men. Come; let's away.
SCENE VII.-On board Pompey's galley, lying
Music. Enter two or three
near Misenum.
Servants, with a banquet.2

1 Serv. Here they'll be, man: Some o'their plants' are ill-rooted already, the least wind i'the world will blow them down.

2 Serv. Lepidus is high-coloured.

1 Serv. They have made him drink alms-drink. 2 Serv. As they pinch one another by the disposition, he cries out, no more; reconciles them to his entreaty, and himself to the drink.

1 Serv. But it raises the greater war between him and his discretion.

2-Serv. Why, this it is to have a name in great men's fellowship: I had as lief have a reed that will do me no service, as a partizan I could not heave. 1 Serv. To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in't, are the holes where eyes should be, which pitifully disaster the cheeks. A sennet sounded. Enter Caesar, Antony, Pompey, Lepidus, Agrippa, Mæcenas, Enobarbus, Menas, with other captains.

Ant. Thus do they, sir: [To Cæsar.] They take the flow o'the Nile

By certain scales i'the pyramid; they know,
By the height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth,
Or foizon, follow: The higher Nilus swells,
The more it promises: as it ebbs, the seedsman
Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain,
And shortly comes to harvest.

Lep. You have strange serpents there.
Ant. Ay, Lepidus.

Lep. Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud, by the operation of your sun: so is your crocodile.

Ant. They are so.

Pom. Sit,-and some wine.-A health to Lepidus.
Lep. I am not so well as I should be, but I'll ne'er

out.

Eno. Not till you have slept; I fear me, you'll be in, till then.

Lep. Nay, certainly, I have heard, the Ptolemies' pyramises are very goodly things; without contradiction, I have heard that.

Aside.
Men. Pompey, a word.
Say in mine ear: What is't?
Pom.
[Aside.
Men. Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, captain,
Forbear me till anon.-
crocodile?

And hear me speak a word.
Pom.

This wine for Lepidus.

Lep. What manner o'thing is

your

(3) Feet. (6) Plenty.

Behaviour. (2) Dessert.
Pike. (5) Middle.
Pyramids.

Ant. It is shaped, sir, like itself; and it is as
broad as it has breadth: it is just so high as it is,
and moves with its own organs: it lives by that
which nourisheth it; and the elements once out of
it, it transmigrates.

Lep. What colour is it of.
Ant. Of its own colour too.
Lep. 'Tis a strange serpent.

Ant. 'Tis so. And the tears of it are wet.
Cas. Will this description satisfy him.
Ant. With the health that Pompey gives him,
else he is a very epicure.

Pom. [To Menas aside.] Go, hang, sir, hang!
Tell me of that? away!

De as I bid you.-Where's this cup I call'd for?
Men. If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me,
[Aside.
Rise from thy stool.
Pom.
I think, thou'rt mad. The matter?
[Rises, and walks aside.
Men. I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.
Pom. Thou hast serv'd me with much faith.
What's else to say?

Be jolly, lords.
Ant.

These quick-sands, Lepidus,
Men. Wilt thou be lord of all the world?
Keep off them, for you sink.
What say'st thou ?
Pom.
Men. Wilt thou be lord of the whole world?
That's twice.

Pom. How should that be?

But entertain it, and,
Men.
Although thou think me poor, I am the man
Hast thou drunk well?
Pom.
Will give thee all the world.
Men. No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup.
Thou art, if thou dars't be, the earthly Jove:
Whate'er the ocean pales, or sky inclips,
Is thine, if thou wilt have't.

Show me which way.
Pom.
Men. These three world-sharers, these competi-

tors,

Are in thy vessel: Let me cut the cable;
And, when we are put off, fall to their throats:
All there is thine.

Ah, this thou should'st have done,
Pom.
And not have spoke on't! In me, 'tis villany;
In thee, it had been good service. Thou must know,
'Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour;
Mine honour, it. Repent, that e'er thy tongue
Hath so betray'd thine act: Being done unknown,
[Aside.
should have found it afterwards well done;
Men. For this,
But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.

I'll never follow thy pall'd' fortunes more.
Who seeks, and will not take, when once 'tis offer'd,
This health to Lepidus.
Pom.
Shall never find it more.
Ant. Bear him ashore.-I'll pledge it for him,
Pompey.

Eno. Here's to thee, Menas.
Men.

Enobarbus, welcome.
Pom. Fill, till the cup be hid.
Eno. There's a strong fellow, Menas.
Why?
[Pointing to the attendant who carries off Lepidus.
Men.
He bears
The third part of the world, man; See'st not?
Men. The third part then is drunk: 'Would it

Eno.

were all,

That it might go on wheels!

Eno. Drink thou; increase the reels.

(8) Encompasses.

(10) Confederates.

(9) Embraces.

(11) Cloyed.

262

Men. Come.

Pom. This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.

Pleas'd fortune does of Marcus Crassus' death
Make me revenger.-Bear the king's son's body

Ant. It ripens towards it.-Strike the vessels,' ho! Before our army:-Thy Pacorus, Orodes,
Pays this for Marcus Crassus.
Here is to Cæsar.

Cæs.

I could well forbear it.

It's monstrous labour, when I wash my brain,
And it grows fouler.
Ant.

Be a child o'the time.

Cas. Possess it, I'll make answer: but I had

rather fast

From all, four days, than drink so much in one.
[To Antony.
Eno. Ha, my brave emperor!
Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals,
And celebrate our drink?

Pom.

Let's ha't, good soldier.
Ant. Come, let us all take hands.
Till that the conquering wine hath steep'd our sense
In soft and delicate Lethe.

Eno.

All take hands.-
Make battery to our ears with the loud music:-
The while, I'll place you: Then the boy shall sing;
The holding every man shall bear, as foud
As his strong sides can volley.

Sil.
Noble Ventidius,
Whilst yet with Parthian blood thy sword is warm,
The fugitive Parthians follow; spur through Media,
Mesopotamia, and the shelters whither
The routed fly: so thy grand captain Antony
Shall set thee on triumphant chariots, and
Put garlands on thy head.
Ven.
O Silius, Silius,
I have done enough: A lower place, note well,
May make too great an act: For learn this, Silius;
Better leave undone, than by our deed acquire
Too high a fame, when him we serve's away.
Cæsar, and Antony, have ever won
More in their officer, than person: Sossius,
One of my place in Syria, his lieutenant,
For quick accumulation of renown,
Which he achiev'd by the minute, lost his favour.
Who does i'the wars more than his captain can,
Becomes his captain's captain: and ambition,

[Music plays. Enobarbus places them hand The soldier's virtue, rather makes choice of loss,

in hand.

SONG.

Come, thou monarch of the vine,
Plumpy Bacchus, with pink eyne:
In thy rats our cares be drown'd;
With thy grapes our hairs be crown'd;
Cup us, till the world go round;
Cup us, till the world go round!
Cas. What would you more?-Pompey, good
night. Good brother,

Let me request you off: our graver business
Frowns at this levity.-Gentle lords, let's part;
You see, we have burnt our cheeks: strong Eno-
barbe

Is weaker than the vine; and mine own tongue
Splits what it speaks; the wild disguise hath almost
Antick'd us all. What needs more words? Good
night.-

Good Antony, your hand.
Pom.
I'll try you o'the shore.
Ant. And shall, sir: give's your hand.
O, Antony,

Pom.

You have my father's house,--But what? we are friends:

Come, down into the boat.

Eno.

Take heed you fall not.-)
[Exeunt Pom. Cæs. Ant. and Attendants.
Menas, I'll not on shore.
Men.
No, to my cabin.-
These drums!-these trumpets, flutes! what!-
Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell
To these great fellows: Sound, and be hang'd,
sound out.

[A flourish of trumpets, with drums.
Eno. Ho, says 'a!-There's my cap.
Men.
Ho!-noble captain!
Come,
[Exeunt.

gone;

The other three are sealing. Octavia weeps,
To part from Rome: Cæsar is sad; and Lepidus,
Since Pompey's feast, as Menas says, is troubled
With the green sickness.
Agr.
'Tis a noble Lepidus.
Eno. A very fine one: O, how he loves Cæsar!
Agr. Nay, but how dearly he adores Mark An-
tony!

Eno. Cæsar! Why, he's the Jupiter of men.
Agr. What's Antony? The god of Jupiter.
Eno. Spake you of Cæsar? How? the nonpareil!
Agr. O Antony! O thou Arabian bird!

Eno. Would you praise Cæsar, say,-Cæsar ;go no further.

Agr. Indeed, he ply'd them both with excellent
praises.

Eno. But he loves Cæsar best;-Yet he loves
Antony;

Ho! hearts, tongues, figures, scribes, bards, poets,

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