Antony and Cleopatra

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Original text
Act II, Scene I
Enter Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas, in warlike
manner.

Pom.
If the great Gods be iust, they shall assist
The deeds of iustest men.

Mene.
Know worthy Pompey,
that what they do delay, they not deny.

Pom.
Whiles we are sutors to their Throne, decayes
the thing we sue for.

Mene.
We ignorant of our selues,
Begge often our owne harmes, which the wise Powres
Deny vs for our good: so finde we profit
By loosing of our Prayers.

Pom.
I shall do well:
The people loue me, and the Sea is mine;
My powers are Cressent, and my Auguring hope
Sayes it will come to'th'full. Marke Anthony
In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make
No warres without doores. Casar gets money where
He looses hearts: Lepidus flatters both,
Of both is flatter'd: but he neither loues,
Nor either cares for him.

Mene.
Casar and Lepidus
are in the field, / A mighty strength they carry.

Pom.
Where haue you this? 'Tis false.

Mene.
From Siluius, Sir.

Pom
He dreames: I know they are in Rome together
Looking for Anthony: but all the charmes of Loue,
Salt Cleopatra soften thy wand lip,
Let Witchcraft ioyne with Beauty, Lust with both,
Tye vp the Libertine in a field of Feasts,
Keepe his Braine fuming. Epicurean Cookes,
Sharpen with cloylesse sawce his Appetite,
That sleepe and feeding may prorogue his Honour,
Euen till a Lethied dulnesse---
Enter Varrius.
How now Varrius?

Var.
This is most certaine, that I shall deliuer:
Marke Anthony is euery houre in Rome
Expected. Since he went from Egypt, 'tis
A space for farther Trauaile.

Pom.
I could haue giuen lesse matter
A better eare. Menas, I did not thinke
This amorous Surfetter would haue donn'd his Helme
For such a petty Warre: His Souldiership
Is twice the other twaine: But let vs reare
The higher our Opinion, that our stirring
Can from the lap of Egypts Widdow, plucke
The neere Lust-wearied Anthony.

Mene.
I cannot hope,
Casar and Anthony shall well greet together;
His Wife that's dead, did trespasses to Casar,
His Brother wan'd vpon him, although I thinke
Not mou'd by Anthony.

Pom.
I know not Menas,
How lesser Enmities may giue way to greater,
Were't not that we stand vp against them all:
'Twer pregnant they should square between themselues,
For they haue entertained cause enough
To draw their swords: but how the feare of vs
May Ciment their diuisions, and binde vp
The petty difference, we yet not know:
Bee't as our Gods will haue't; it onely stands
Our liues vpon, to vse our strongest hands
Come Menas.
Exeunt.
Original text
Act II, Scene II
Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus.

Lep.
Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed,
And shall become you well, to intreat your Captaine
To soft and gentle speech.

Enob.
I shall intreat him
To answer like himselfe: if Casar moue him,
Let Anthony looke ouer Casars head,
And speake as lowd as Mars. By Iupiter,
Were I the wearer of Anthonio's Beard,
I would not shaue't to day.

Lep.
'Tis not a time
for priuate stomacking.

Eno.
Euery time
serues for the matter that is then borne in't.

Lep.
But small to greater matters must giue way.

Eno.
Not if the fmall come first.

Lep.
Your speech is passion:
but pray you stirre / No Embers vp. Heere comes
the Noble Anthony.
Enter Anthony and Ventidius.

Eno.
And yonder Casar.
Enter Casar, Mecenas, and Agrippa.

Ant.
If we compose well heere, to Parthia:
Hearke Ventidius.

Casar.
I do not know
Mecenas, aske Agrippa.

Lep.
Noble Friends:
That which combin'd vs was most great, and let not
A leaner action rend vs. What's amisse,
May it be gently heard. When we debate
Our triuiall difference loud, we do commit
Murther in healing wounds. Then Noble Partners,
The rather for I earnestly beseech,
Touch you the sowrest points with sweetest tearmes,
Nor curstnesse grow to'th'matter.

Ant.
'Tis spoken well:
Were we before our Armies, and to fight,
I should do thus.
Flourish.

Cas.
Welcome to Rome.

Ant.
Thanke you.

Cas.
Sit.

Ant,
Sit sir.

Cas.
Nay then.


Ant.
I learne, you take things ill, which are not so:
Or being, concerne you not.

Cas.
I must be laught at,
if or for nothing, or a little, I
Should say my selfe offended, and with you
Chiefely i'th'world. More laught at, that I should
Once name you derogately: when to sound your name
It not concern'd me.

Ant.
My being in Egypt Caesar,
what was't to you?

Cas.
No more then my reciding heere at Rome
Might be to you in Egypt: yet if you there
Did practise on my State, your being in Egypt
Might be my question.

Ant.
How intend you, practis'd?

Cas.
You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent,
By what did heere befall me. Your Wife and Brother
Made warres vpon me, and their contestation
Was Theame for you, you were the word of warre.

Ant.
You do mistake your busines, my Brother neuer
Did vrge me in his Act: I did inquire it,
And haue my Learning from some true reports
That drew their swords with you, did he not rather
Discredit my authority with yours,
And make the warres alike against my stomacke,
Hauing alike your cause. Of this, my Letters
Before did satisfie you. If you'l patch a quarrell,
As matter whole you haue to make it with,
It must not be with this.

Cas.
You praise your selfe,
by laying defects of iudgement to me: but
you patcht vp your excuses.

Anth.
Not so, not so:
I know you could not lacke, I am certaine on't,
Very necessity of this thought, that I
Your Partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,
Could not with gracefull eyes attend those Warres
Which fronted mine owne peace. As for my wife,
I would you had her spirit, in such another,
The third oth'world is yours, which with a Snaffle,
You may pace easie, but not such a wife.

Enobar.
Would we had all such wiues, that the men
might go to Warres with the women.

Anth.
So much vncurbable, her Garboiles (Casar)
Made out of her impatience: which not wanted
Shrodenesse of policie to: I greeuing grant,
Did you too much disquiet, for that you must,
But say I could not helpe it.

Casar.
I wrote to you,
when rioting in Alexandria you
Did pocket vp my Letters: and with taunts
Did gibe my Misiue out of audience.

Ant.
Sir,
he fell vpon me, ere admitted, then:
Three Kings I had newly feasted, and did want
Of what I was i'th'morning: but next day
I told him of my selfe, which was as much
As to haue askt him pardon. Let this Fellow
Be nothing of our strife: if we contend
Out of our question wipe him.

Casar.
You haue broken
the Article of your oath, which you shall neuer
haue tongue to charge me with.

Lep.
Soft Casar.

Ant.
No Lepidus, let him speake,
The Honour is Sacred which he talks on now,
Supposing that I lackt it: but on Casar,
The Article of my oath.

Casar.
To lend me Armes, and aide when I requir'd them,
the which you both denied.

Anth.
Neglected rather:
And then when poysoned houres had bound me vp
From mine owne knowledge, as neerely as I may,
Ile play the penitent to you. But mine honesty,
Shall not make poore my greatnesse, nor my power
Worke without it. Truth is, that Fuluia,
To haue me out of Egypt, made Warres heere,
For which my selfe, the ignorant motiue, do
So farre aske pardon, as befits mine Honour
To stoope in such a case.

Lep.
'Tis Noble spoken.

Mece.
If it might please you, to enforce no further
The griefes betweene ye: to forget them quite,
Were to remember: that the present neede,
Speakes to attone you.

Lep.
Worthily spoken Mecenas.

Enobar.
Or if you borrow one anothers Loue for the
instant, you may when you heare no more words of
Pompey returne it againe: you shall haue time to wrangle
in, when you haue nothing else to do.

Anth.
Thou art a Souldier, onely speake no more.

Enob.
That trueth should be silent, I had almost
forgot.

Anth.
You wrong this presence, therefore speake no more.

Enob.
Go too then: your Considerate stone.

Casar.
I do not much dislike the matter, but
The manner of his speech: for't cannot be,
We shall remaine in friendship, our conditions
So diffring in their acts. Yet if I knew,
What Hoope should hold vs staunch from edge to edge
Ath'world: I would persue it.

Agri.
Giue me leaue Casar.

Casar.
Speake Agrippa.

Agri.
Thou hast a Sister by the Mothers side,
admir'd Octauia: Great Mark Anthony
is now a widdower.

Casar.
Say not, say Agrippa;
if Cleopater heard you, your proofe
were well deserued of rashnesse.

Anth.
I am not marryed Casar: let me heere
Agrippa further speake.

Agri.
To hold you in perpetuall amitie,
To make you Brothers, and to knit your hearts
With an vn-slipping knot, take Anthony,
Octauia to his wife: whose beauty claimes
No worse a husband then the best of men:
whose / Vertue, and whose generall graces, speake
That which none else can vtter. By this marriage,
All little Ielousies which now seeme great,
And all great feares, which now import their dangers,
Would then be nothing. Truth's would be tales,
Where now halfe tales be truth's: her loue to both,
Would each to other, and all loues to both
Draw after her. Pardon what I haue spoke,
For 'tis a studied not a present thought,
By duty ruminated.

Anth.
Will Casar speake?

Casar.
Not till he heares how Anthony is toucht,
With what is spoke already.

Anth.
What power is in Agrippa,
If I would say Agrippa, be it so,
To make this good?

Casar.
The power of Casar, / And
his power, vnto Octauia.

Anth.
May I neuer
(To this good purpose, that so fairely shewes)
Dreame of impediment: let me haue thy hand
Further this act of Grace: and from this houre,
The heart of Brothers gouerne in our Loues,
And sway our great Designes.

Casar.
There's my hand:
A Sister I bequeath you, whom no Brother
Did euer loue so deerely. Let her liue
To ioyne our kingdomes, and our hearts, and neuer
Flie off our Loues againe.

Lepi.
Happily, Amen.

Ant.
I did not think to draw my Sword 'gainst Pompey,
For he hath laid strange courtesies, and great
Of late vpon me. I must thanke him onely,
Least my remembrance, suffer ill report:
At heele of that, defie him.

Lepi.
Time cals vpon's,
Of vs must Pompey presently be sought,
Or else he seekes out vs.

Anth.
Where lies he?

Casar.
About the Mount-Mesena.

Anth.
What is his strength?

Casar.
by land / Great, and encreasing: / But by Sea
he is an absolute Master.

Anth.
So is the Fame,
Would we had spoke together. Hast we for it.
Yet ere we put our selues in Armes, dispatch we
The businesse we haue talkt of.

Casar.
With most gladnesse,
And do inuite you to my Sisters view,
Whether straight Ile lead you.

Anth.
Let vs Lepidus
not lacke your companie.

Lep.
Noble Anthony,
not sickenesse should detaine me.
Flourish. Exit omnes. Manet Enobarbus,
Agrippa, Mecenas.

Mec.
Welcome from Agypt Sir.

Eno.
Halfe the heart of Casar, worthy Mecenas.
My honourable Friend Agrippa.

Agri.
Good Enobarbus.

Mece.
We haue cause to be glad, that matters are so
well disgested: you staid well by't in Egypt.

Enob.
I Sir, we did sleepe day out of countenaunce:
and made the night light with drinking.

Mece.
Eight Wilde-Boares rosted whole at a breakfast:
and but twelue persons there. Is this true?

Eno.
This was but as a Flye by an Eagle: we had
much more monstrous matter of Feast, which worthily
deserued noting.

Mecenas.
She's a most triumphant Lady, if report be
square to her.

Enob.
When she first met Marke Anthony, she
purst vp his heart vpon the Riuer of Sidnis.

Agri.
There she appear'd indeed: or my reporter
deuis'd well for her.

Eno.
I will tell you,
The Barge she sat in, like a burnisht Throne
Burnt on the water: the Poope was beaten Gold,
Purple the Sailes: and so perfumed that
The Windes were Loue-sicke. / With them the Owers were Siluer,
Which to the tune of Flutes kept stroke, and made
The water which they beate, to follow faster;
As amorous of their strokes. For her owne person,
It beggerd all discription, she did lye
In her Pauillion, cloth of Gold, of Tissue,
O're-picturing that Venns, where we see
The fancie out-worke Nature. On each side her,
Stood pretty Dimpled Boyes, like smiling Cupids,
With diuers coulour'd Fannes whose winde did seeme,
To gloue the delicate cheekes which they did coole,
And what they vndid did.

Agrip.
Oh rare for Anthony.

Eno.
Her Gentlewoman, like the Nereides,
So many Mer-maides tended her i'th'eyes,
And made their bends adornings. At the Helme.
A seeming Mer-maide steeres: The Silken Tackle,
Swell with the touches of those Flower-soft hands,
That yarely frame the office. From the Barge
A strange inuisible perfume hits the sense
Of the adiacent Wharfes. The Citty cast
Her people out vpon her: and Anthony
Enthron'd i'th'Market-place, did sit alone,
Whisling to'th'ayre: which but for vacancie,
Had gone to gaze on Cleopater too,
And made a gap in Nature.

Agri.
Rare Egiptian.

Eno.
Vpon her landing, Anthony sent to her,
Inuited her to Supper: she replyed,
It should be better, he became her guest:
Which she entreated, our Courteous Anthony,
Whom nere the word of no woman hard speake,
Being barber'd ten times o're, goes to the Feast;
And for his ordinary, paies his heart,
For what his eyes eate onely.

Agri.
Royall Wench:
She made great Casar lay his Sword to bed,
He ploughed her, and she cropt.

Eno.
I saw her once
Hop forty Paces through the publicke streete,
And hauing lost her breath, she spoke, and panted,
That she did make defect, perfection,
And breathlesse powre breath forth.

Mece.
Now Anthony, must leaue her vtterly.

Eno.
Neuer he will not:
Age cannot wither her, nor custome stale
Her infinite variety: other women cloy
The appetites they feede, but she makes hungry,
Where most she satisfies. For vildest things
Become themselues in her, that the holy Priests
Blesse her, when she is Riggish.

Mece
If Beauty, Wisedome, Modesty, can settle
The heart of Anthony: Octauia is
A blessed Lottery to him.

Agrip.
Let vs go.
Good Enobarbus, make your selfe / my guest,
whilst you abide heere.

Eno.
Humbly Sir I thanke you.
Exeunt
Original text
Act II, Scene III
Enter Anthony, Casar, Octauia betweene them.

Anth.
The world, and my great office, will / Sometimes
deuide me from your bosome.

Octa.
All which time,
before the Gods my knee shall bowe my ptayers
to them for you.

Anth.
Goodnight Sir. My Octauia
Read not my blemishes in the worlds report:
I haue not kept my square, but that to come
Shall all be done byth'Rule: good night deere Lady:
Good night Sir.

Casar.
Goodnight.
Exit. Enter Soothsaier.

Anth.
Now sirrah: you do wish your selfe in Egypt?

Sooth.
Would I had neuer come from thence, nor
you thither.

Ant.
If you can, your reason?

Sooth.
I see it in my motion: haue it not in my
tongue, / But yet hie you to Egypt againe.

Antho.
Say to me, whose Fortunes shall rise higher
Casars or mine?

Soot.
Casars.
Therefore (oh Anthony) stay not by his side
Thy Damon that thy spirit which keepes thee, is
Noble, Couragious, high vnmatchable,
Where Casars is not. But neere him, thy Angell
Becomes a feare: as being o're-powr'd, therefore
Make space enough betweene you.

Anth.
Speake 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 loose: And of that Naturall lucke,
He beats thee 'gainst the oddes. Thy Luster thickens,
When he shines by: I say againe, thy spirit
Is all affraid to gouerne thee neere him:
But he alway 'tis Noble.

Anth.
Get thee gone:
Say to Ventigius I would speake with him.
He shall to Parthia,
Exit.
be it Art or hap,
He hath spoken true. The very Dice obey him,
And in our sports my better cunning faints,
Vnder his chance, if we draw lots he speeds,
His Cocks do winne the Battaile, still of mine,
When it is all to naught: and his Quailes euer
Beate mine (in hoopt) at odd's. I will to Egypte:
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
I'th'East my pleasure lies.
Enter Ventigius.
Oh come Ventigius.
You must to Parthia, your Commissions ready:
Follow me, and reciue't.
Exeunt
Original text
Act II, Scene IV
Enter Lepidus, Mecenas and Agrippa.

Lepidus.
Trouble your selues no further: pray you hasten
your Generals after.

Agr.
Sir, Marke Anthony,
will e'ne but kisse Octauia, and weele follow.

Lepi.
Till I shall see you in your Souldiers dresse,
Which will become you both: Farewell.

Mece.
We shall:
as I conceiue the iourney, be at / Mount
before you Lepidus.

Lepi.
Your way is shorter,
my purposes do draw me much about,
you'le win two dayes vpon me.

Both.
Sir good successe.

Lepi.
Farewell.
Exeunt.
Original text
Act II, Scene V
Enter Cleopater, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas.

Cleo.
Giue me some Musicke: Musicke, moody foode
of vs that trade in Loue.

Omnes.
The Musicke, hoa.
Enter Mardian the Eunuch.

Cleo.
Let it alone, let's to Billards: come Charmian.

Char.
My arme is sore, best play with Mardian.

Cleopa.
As well a woman with an Eunuch plaide,
as with a woman. Come you'le play with me Sir?

Mardi.
As well as I can Madam.

Cleo.
And when good will is shewed, / Though't come to short
The Actor may pleade pardon. Ile none now,
Giue me mine Angle, weele to'th'Riuer there
My Musicke playing farre off. I will betray
Tawny fine fishes, my bended hooke shall pierce
Their slimy iawes: and as I draw them vp,
Ile thinke them euery one an Anthony,
And say, ah ha; y'are caught.

Char.
'Twas merry when
you wager'd on your Angling, when your diuer
did hang a salt fish on his hooke which he
with feruencie drew vp.

Cleo.
That time? Oh times:
I laught him out of patience: and that night
I laught him into patience, and next morne,
Ere the ninth houre, I drunke him to his bed:
Then put my Tires and Mantles on him, whilst
I wore his Sword Phillippan.
Enter a Messenger.
Oh from Italie,
Ramme thou thy fruitefull tidings in mine eares,
That long time haue bin barren.

Mes.
Madam, Madam.

Cleo.
Anthonyo's dead. / If thou say so Villaine,
thou kil'st thy Mistris: / But well and free,
if thou so yeild him. / There is Gold, and heere
My blewest vaines to kisse: a hand that Kings
Haue lipt, and trembled kissing.

Mes.
First Madam, he is well.

Cleo.
Why there's more Gold.
But sirrah marke, we vse
To say, the dead are well: bring it to that,
The Gold I giue thee, will I melt and powr
Downe thy ill vttering throate.

Mes.
Good Madam heare me.

Cleo.
Well, go too I will:
But there's no goodnesse in thy face if Anthony
Be free and healthfull; so tart a fauour
To trumpet such good tidings. If not well,
Thou shouldst come like a Furie crown'd with Snakes,
Not like a formall man.

Mes.
Wilt please you heare me?

Cleo.
I haue a mind to strike thee ere thou speak'st:
Yet if thou say Anthony liues, 'tis well,
Or friends with Casar, or not Captiue to him,
Ile set thee in a shower of Gold, and haile
Rich Pearles vpon thee.

Mes.
Madam, he's well.

Cleo.
Well said.

Mes.
And Friends with Caesar.

Cleo.
Th'art an honest man.

Mes.
Caesar, and he, are greater Friends then euer.

Cleo.
Make thee a Fortune from me.

Mes.
But yet Madam.

Cleo.
I do not like but yet, it does alay
The good precedence, fie vpon but yet,
But yet is as a Iaylor to bring foorth
Some monstrous Malefactor. Prythee Friend,
Powre out the packe of matter to mine eare,
The good and bad together: he's friends with Casar,
In state of health thou saist, and thou saist, free.

Mes.
Free Madam, no: I made no such report,
He's bound vnto Octauia.

Cleo.
For what good turne?

Mes.
For the best turne i'th'bed.

Cleo.
I am pale Charmian.

Mes.
Madam, he's married to Octauia.

Cleo.
The most infectious Pestilence vpon thee.
Strikes him downe.

Mes.
Good Madam patience.

Cleo.
What say you?
Strikes him.
Hence
horrible Villaine, or Ile spurne thine eyes
Like balls before me: Ile vnhaire thy head,
She hales him vp and downe.
Thou shalt be whipt with Wyer, and stew'd in brine,
Smarting in lingring pickle.

Mes.
Gratious Madam,
I that do bring the newes, made not the match.

Cleo.
Say 'tis not so, a Prouince I will giue thee,
And make thy Fortunes proud: the blow thou had'st
Shall make thy peace, for mouing me to rage,
And I will boot thee with what guift beside
Thy modestie can begge.

Mes.
He's married Madam.

Cleo.
Rogue, thou hast liu'd too long.
Draw a knife.

Mes.
Nay then Ile runne:
What meane you Madam, I haue made no fault.
Exit.

Char.
Good Madam keepe your selfe within your selfe,
The man is innocent.

Cleo.
Some Innocents scape not the thunderbolt:
Melt Egypt into Nyle: and kindly creatures
Turne all to Serpents. Call the slaue againe,
Though I am mad, I will not byte him: Call?

Char.
He is afeard to come.

Cleo.
I will not hurt him,
These hands do lacke Nobility, that they strike
A meaner then my selfe: since I my selfe
Haue giuen my selfe the cause.
Enter the Messenger againe.
Come hither Sir.
Though it be honest, it is neuer good
To bring bad newes: giue to a gratious Message
An host of tongues, but let ill tydings tell
Themselues, when they be felt.

Mes.
I haue done my duty.

Cleo.
Is he married?
I cannot hate thee worser then I do,
If thou againe say yes.

Mes.
He's married Madam.

Cleo.
The Gods confound thee, / Dost thou hold there still?

Mes.
Should I lye Madame?

Cleo.
Oh, I would thou didst:
So halfe my Egypt were submerg'd and made
A Cesterne for scal'd Snakes. Go get thee hence,
Had'st thou Narcissus in thy face to me,
Thou would'st appeere most vgly: He is married?

Mes.
I craue your Highnesse pardon.

Cleo.
He is married?

Mes.
Take no offence, that I would not offend you,
To punnish me for what you make me do
Seemes much vnequall, he's married to Octauia.

Cleo.
Oh that his fault should make a knaue of thee,
That art not what th'art sure of. Get thee hence,
The Marchandize which thou hast brought from Rome
Are all too deere for me: / Lye they vpon thy hand,
and be vndone by em.

Char.
Good your Highnesse patience.

Cleo.
In praysing Anthony, I haue disprais'd Casar.

Char.
Many times Madam.

Cleo.
I am paid for't now:
lead me from hence,
I faint, oh Iras, Charmian: 'tis no matter.
Go to the Fellow, good Alexas bid him
Report the feature of Octauia: her yeares,
Her inclination, let him not leaue out
The colour of her haire. Bring me word quickly,
Let him for euer go, let him not Charmian,
Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
The other wayes a Mars. Bid you Alexas
Bring me word, how tall she is: pitty me Charmian,
But do not speake to me. Lead me to my Chamber.
Exeunt.
Original text
Act II, Scene VI
Flourish. Enter Pompey, at one doore
with Drum and Trumpet: at another Casar, Lepidus,
Anthony, Enobarbus, Mecenas, Agrippa, Menas with Souldiers
Marching.

Pom.
Your Hostages I haue, so haue you mine:
And we shall talke before we fight.

Casar.
Most meete
that first we come to words, / And therefore haue we
Our written purposes before vs sent,
Which if thou hast considered, let vs know,
If 'twill tye vp thy discontented Sword,
And carry backe to Cicelie much tall youth,
That else must perish heere.

Pom.
To you all three,
The Senators alone of this great world,
Chiefe Factors for the Gods. I do not know,
Wherefore my Father should reuengers want,
Hauing a Sonne and Friends, since Iulius Casar,
Who at Phillippi the good Brutus ghosted,
There saw you labouring for him. What was't
That mou'd pale Cassius to conspire? And what
Made all-honor'd, honest, Romaine Brutus,
With the arm'd rest, Courtiers of beautious freedome,
To drench the Capitoll, but that they would
Haue one man but a man, and that his it
Hath made me rigge my Nauie. At whose burthen,
The anger'd Ocean fomes, with which I meant
To scourge th'ingratitude, that despightfull Rome
Cast on my Noble Father.

Casar.
Take your time.

Ant.
Thou can'st not feare vs Pompey with thy sailes.
Weele speake with thee at Sea. At land thou know'st
How much we do o're-count thee.

Pom.
At Land indeed
Thou dost orecount me of my Fatherrs house:
But since the Cuckoo buildes not for himselfe,
Remaine in't as thou maist.

Lepi.
Be pleas'd to tell vs,
(For this is from the present how you take)
The offers we haue sent you.

Casar.
There's the point.

Ant.
Which do not be entreated too, But waigh
what it is worth imbrac'd

Casar.
And what may follow
to try a larger Fortune.

Pom.
You haue made me offer
Of Cicelie, Sardinia: and I must
Rid all the Sea of Pirats. Then, to send
Measures of Wheate to Rome: this greed vpon,
To part with vnhackt edges, and beare backe
Our Targes vndinted.

Omnes.
That's our offer.

Pom.
Know then
I came before you heere, / A man prepar'd
To take this offer. But Marke Anthony,
Put me to some impatience: though I loose
The praise of it by telling. You must know
When Casar and your Brother were at blowes,
Your Mother came to Cicelie, and did finde
Her welcome Friendly.

Ant.
I haue heard it Pompey,
And am well studied for a liberall thanks,
Which I do owe you.

Pom.
Let me haue your hand:
I did not thinke Sir, to haue met you heere,

Ant.
The beds i'th'East are soft, and thanks to you,
That cal'd me timelier then my purpose hither:
For I haue gained by't.

Casar
Since I saw you last,
ther's a change vpon you.

Pom.
Well, I know not,
What counts harsh Fotune cast's vpon my face,
But in my bosome shall she neuer come,
To make my heart her vassaile.

Lep.
Well met heere.

Pom.
I hope so Lepidus, thus we are agreed:
I craue our composion may be written
And seal'd betweene vs,

Casar.
That's the next to do.

Pom.
Weele feast each other, ere we part, and lett's
Draw lots who shall begin.

Ant.
That will I Pompey.

Pompey.
No Anthony take the lot:
but first or last, your fine Egyptian cookerie
shall haue the fame, I haue heard that Iulius Casar,
grew fat with feasting there.

Anth.
You haue heard much.

Pom.
I haue faire meaning Sir.

Ant.
And faire words to them.

Pom.
Then so much haue I heard,
And I haue heard Appolodorus carried---

Eno.
No more that: he did so.

Pom.
What I pray you?

Eno.
A certaine Queene to Casar in a Matris.

Pom.
I know thee now, how far'st thou Souldier?

Eno.
Well,
and well am like to do, for I perceiue
Foure Feasts are toward.

Pom.
Let me shake thy hand,
I neuer hated thee: I haue seene thee fight,
When I haue enuied thy behauiour.

Enob.
Sir,
I neuer lou'd you much, but I ha'prais'd ye,
When you haue well deseru'd ten times as much,
As I haue said you did.

Pom.
Inioy thy plainnesse,
It nothing ill becomes thee:
Aboord my Gally, I inuite you all.
Will you leade Lords?

All.
Shew's the way, sir.

Pom.
Come.
Exeunt. Manet Enob. & Menas

Men.
Thy Father Pompey would ne're haue
made this Treaty. You, and I haue knowne sir.

Enob.
At Sea, I thinke.

Men.
We haue Sir.

Enob.
You haue done well by water.

Men.
And you by Land.

Enob.
I will praise any man that will praise me,
thogh it cannot be denied what I haue done by Land.

Men.
Nor what I haue done by water.

Enob.
Yes some-thing you can deny for your owne
safety: you haue bin a great Theefe by Sea.

Men.
And you by Land.

Enob.
There I deny my Land seruice: but giue mee
your hand Menas, if our eyes had authority, heere they
might take two Theeues kissing.

Men.
All mens faces are true, whatsomere their hands
are.

Enob.
But there is neuer a fayre Woman, ha's a true
Face.

Men.
No slander, they steale hearts.

Enob.
We came hither to fight with you.

Men.
For my part, I am sorry it is turn'd to a Drinking.
Pompey doth this day laugh away his Fortune.

Enob.
If he do, sure he cannot weep't backe againe.

Men.
Y'haue said Sir, we look'd not for Marke Anthony
heere, pray you, is he married to Cleopatra?

Enob.
Casars Sister is call'd Octauia.

Men.
True Sir, she was the wife of Caius Marcellus.

Enob.
But she is now the wife of Marcus Anthonius.

Men.
Pray'ye sir.

Enob.
'Tis true.

Men.
Then is Casar and he, for euer knit together.

Enob.
If I were bound to Diuine of this vnity, I
wold not Prophesie so.

Men.
I thinke the policy of that purpose, made more in
the Marriage, then the loue of the parties.

Enob.
I thinke so too. But you shall finde the band
that seemes to tye their friendship together, will bee the
very strangler of their Amity: Octauia is of a holy, cold,
and still conuersation.

Men.
Who would not haue his wife so?

Eno.
Not he that himselfe is not so: which is Marke
Anthony: he will to his Egyptian dish againe: then shall
the sighes of Octauia blow the fire vp in Caesar, and (as
I said before) that which is the strength of their Amity,
shall proue the immediate Author of their variance.
Anthony will vse his affection where it is. Hee married but
his occasion heere.

Men.
And thus it may be. Come Sir, will you aboord?
I haue a health for you.

Enob.
I shall take it sir: we haue vs'd our Throats
in Egypt.

Men.
Come, let's away.
Exeunt.
Original text
Act II, Scene VII
Musicke playes. Enter two or three Seruants with a Banket.

1
Heere they'l be man: some o'th'their
Plants are ill rooted already, the least winde i'th'world
wil blow them downe.

2
Lepidus is high Conlord.

1
They haue made him drinke Almes drinke.

2
As they pinch one another by the
disposition, hee cries out, no more; reconciles them
to his entreatie, and himselfe to'th'drinke.

1
But it raises the greatet warre betweene
him & his discretion.

2
Why this it is to haue a name in great
mens Fellowship: I had as liue haue a Reede that will doe
me no seruice, as a Partizan I could not heaue.

1
To be call'd into a huge Sphere, and
not to be seene to moue in't, are the holes where eyes
should bee, which pittifully disaster the cheekes.
A Sennet sounded. Enter Caesar, Anthony, Pompey,
Lepidus, Agrippa, Mecenas, Enobarbus, Menes, with
other Captaines.

Ant.
Thus do they Sir: they take the flow o'th'Nyle
By certaine scales i'th' Pyramid: they know
By'th'height, the lownesse, or the meane: If dearth
Or Foizon follow. The higher Nilus swels,
The more it promises: as it ebbes, the Seedsman
Vpon the slime and Ooze scatters his graine,
And shortly comes to Haruest.

Lep.
Y'haue strange Serpents there?

Anth.
I 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 Ile ne're
out.

Enob.
Not till you haue slept: I feare me you'l bee
in till then.

Lep.
Nay certainly, I haue heard the Ptolomies
Pyramisis are very goodly things: without contradiction
I haue heard that.

Menas.
Pompey, a word.

Pomp.
Say in mine eare, what is't.

Men.
Forsake thy seate I do beseech thee Captaine,
And heare me speake a word.

Pom.
Forbeare me till anon. Whispers in's Eare.
This Wine for Lepidus.

Lep.
Whar manner o'thing is your Crocodile?

Ant.
It is shap'd sir like it selfe, and it is as broad
as it hath bredth; It is iust so high as it is, and mooues
with it owne organs. It liues by that which nourisheth it,
and the Elements once out of it, it Transmigrates.

Lep.
What colour is it of?

Ant.
Of it owne colour too.

Lep.
'Tis a strange Serpent.

Ant.
'Tis so, and the teares of it are wet.

Cas.
Will this description satisfie him?

Ant.
With the Health that Pompey giues him, else he
is a very Epicure.

Pomp.
Go hang sir, hang: tell me of that? Away:
Do as I bid you. Where's this Cup I call'd for?

Men.

If for the sake of Merit thou wilt heare mee,
Rise from thy stoole.

Pom.
I thinke th'art mad: the matter?

Men.
I haue euer held my cap off to thy Fortunes.

Pom.
Thou hast seru'd me with much faith: what's else to say?
Be iolly Lords.

Anth.
These Quicke-sands Lepidus,
Keepe off, them for you sinke.

Men.
Wilt thou be Lord of all the world?

Pom.
What saist thou?

Men.
Wilt thou be Lord of the whole world? That's twice.

Pom.
How should that be?

Men.
But entertaine it,
and though thou thinke me poore, I am the man
will giue thee all the world.

Pom.
Hast thou drunke well.

Men.
No Pompey, I haue kept me from the cup,
Thou art if thou dar'st be, the earthly Ioue:
What ere the Ocean pales, or skie inclippes,
Is thine, if thou wilt ha't.

Pom.
Shew me which way?

Men.
These three World-sharers, these Competitors
Are in thy vessell. Let me cut the Cable,
And when we are put off, fall to their throates:
All there is thine.

Pom.
Ah, this thou shouldst haue done,
And not haue spoke on't. In me 'tis villanie,
In thee, 't had bin good seruice: thou must know,
'Tis not my profit that does lead mine Honour:
Mine Honour it, Repent that ere thy tongue,
Hath so betraide thine acte. Being done vnknowne,
I should haue found it afterwards well done,
But must condemne it now: desist, and drinke.

Men.
For this, Ile neuer follow / Thy paul'd Fortunes more,
Who seekes and will not take, when once 'tis offer'd,
Shall neuer finde it more.

Pom.
This health to Lepidus.

Ant.
Beare him ashore, / Ile pledge it for him Pompey.

Eno.
Heere's to thee Menas.

Men.
Enobarbus, welcome.

Pom.
Fill till the cup be hid.

Eno.
There's a strong Fellow Menas.

Men.
Why?

Eno.
A beares the third part of the world man: seest not?

Men.
The third part, then he is drunk: would it were all,
that it might go on wheeles.

Eno.
Drinke thou: encrease the Reeles.

Men
Come.

Pom.
This is not yet an Alexandrian Feast.

Ant.
It ripen's towards it: strike the Vessells hoa.
Heere's to Casar.

Casar.
I could well forbear't,
it's monstrous labour when I wash my braine,
and it grow fouler.

Ant.
Be a Child o'th'time.

Casar.
Possesse it, Ile make answer:
but I had rather fast from all, foure dayes,
then drinke so much in one.

Enob.
Ha my braue Emperour,
shall we daunce now the Egyptian Backenals,
and celebrate our drinke?

Pom.
Let's ha't good Souldier.

Ant.
Come, let's all take hands,
Till that the conquering Wine hath steep't our sense,
In soft and delicate Lethe.

Eno.
All take hands:
Make battery to our eares with the loud Musicke,
The while, Ile place you, then the Boy shall sing.
The holding euery man shall beate as loud,
As his strong sides can volly.
Musicke Playes. Enobarbus places them hand in hand.
The Song.
Come thou Monarch of the Vine,
Plumpie Bacchus, with pinke eyne:
In thy Fattes our Cares be drown'd,
With thy Grapes our haires be Crown'd.
Cup vs till the world go round,
Cup vs till the world go round.

Casar.
What would you more? Pompey goodnight. Good Brother
Let me request you of our grauer businesse
Frownes at this leuitie. Gentle Lords let's part,
You see we haue burnt our cheekes. Strong Enobarbe
Is weaker then the Wine, and mine owne tongue
Spleet's what it speakes: the wilde disguise hath almost
Antickt vs all. What needs more words? goodnight.
Good Anthony your hand.

Pom.
Ile try you on the shore.

Anth.
And shall Sir, giues your hand.

Pom.
Oh Anthony,
you haue my Father house. / But what, we are Friends?
Come downe into the Boate.

Eno.
Take heed you fall not
Menas: Ile not on shore,
No to my Cabin:
these Drummes, / These Trumpets, Flutes: what
Let Neptune heare, we bid aloud farewell
To these great Fellowes. Sound and be hang'd,sound out.
Sound a Flourish with Drummes.

Enor.
Hoo saies a there's my Cap.

Men.
Hoa, Noble Captaine, come.
Exeunt.
Modern text
Act II, Scene I
Enter Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas, in warlike
manner

POMPEY
If the great gods be just, they shall assist
The deeds of justest men.

MENECRATES
Know, worthy Pompey,
That what they do delay they not deny.

POMPEY
Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays
The thing we sue for.

MENECRATES
We, ignorant of ourselves,
Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers
Deny us for our good; so find we profit
By losing of our prayers.

POMPEY
I shall do well.
The people love me, and the sea is mine;
My powers are crescent, and my auguring hope
Says it will come to th' full. Mark Antony
In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make
No wars without doors. Caesar gets money where
He loses hearts. Lepidus flatters both,
Of both is flattered; but he neither loves,
Nor either cares for him.

MENAS
Caesar and Lepidus
Are in the field. A mighty strength they carry.

POMPEY
Where have you this? 'Tis false.

MENAS
From Silvius, sir.

POMPEY
He dreams. I know they are in Rome together,
Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love,
Salt Cleopatra, soften thy waned lip!
Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both!
Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts;
Keep his brain fuming. Epicurean cooks
Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite,
That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour
Even till a Lethe'd dullness –
Enter Varrius
How now, Varrius?

VARRIUS
This is most certain that I shall deliver:
Mark Antony is every hour in Rome
Expected. Since he went from Egypt 'tis
A space for further travel.

POMPEY
I could have given less matter
A better ear. Menas, I did not think
This amorous surfeiter would have donned his helm
For such a petty war. His soldiership
Is twice the other twain. But let us rear
The higher our opinion, that our stirring
Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck
The ne'er lust-wearied Antony.

MENAS
I cannot hope
Caesar and Antony shall well greet together.
His wife that's dead did trespasses to Caesar;
His brother warred upon him – although, I think,
Not moved by Antony.

POMPEY
I know not, Menas,
How lesser enmities may give way to greater.
Were't not that we stand up against them all,
'Twere pregnant they should square between themselves,
For they have entertained cause enough
To draw their swords. But how the fear of us
May cement their divisions and bind up
The petty difference, we yet not know.
Be't as our gods will have't! It only stands
Our lives upon to use our strongest hands.
Come, Menas.
Exeunt
Modern text
Act II, Scene II
Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus

LEPIDUS
Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed,
And shall become you well, to entreat your captain
To soft and gentle speech.

ENOBARBUS
I shall entreat him
To answer like himself. If Caesar move him,
Let Antony look over Caesar's head
And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter,
Were I the wearer of Antonio's beard,
I would not shave't today.

LEPIDUS
'Tis not a time
For private stomaching.

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

LEPIDUS
But small to greater matters must give way.

ENOBARBUS
Not if the small come first.

LEPIDUS
Your speech is passion;
But pray you stir no embers up. Here comes
The noble Antony.
Enter Antony and Ventidius

ENOBARBUS
And yonder Caesar.
Enter Caesar, Maecenas, and Agrippa

ANTONY
If we compose well here, to Parthia.
Hark, Ventidius.

CAESAR
I do not know,
Maecenas; ask Agrippa.

LEPIDUS
(to Caesar and Antony)
Noble friends,
That which combined us was most great, and let not
A leaner action rend us. What's amiss,
May it be gently heard. When we debate
Our trivial difference loud, we do commit
Murder in healing wounds. Then, noble partners,
The rather for I earnestly beseech,
Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms,
Nor curstness grow to th' matter.

ANTONY
'Tis spoken well.
Were we before our armies, and to fight,
I should do thus.
Flourish

CAESAR
Welcome to Rome.

ANTONY
Thank you.

CAESAR
Sit.

ANTONY
Sit, sir.

CAESAR
Nay then.
They sit

ANTONY
I learn you take things ill which are not so,
Or, being, concern you not.

CAESAR
I must be laughed at
If, or for nothing or a little, I
Should say myself offended, and with you
Chiefly i'th' world; more laughed at that I should
Once name you derogately, when to sound your name
It not concerned me.

ANTONY
My being in Egypt, Caesar,
What was't to you?

CAESAR
No more than my residing here at Rome
Might be to you in Egypt. Yet if you there
Did practise on my state, your being in Egypt
Might be my question.

ANTONY
How intend you – practised?

CAESAR
You may be pleased to catch at mine intent
By what did here befall me. Your wife and brother
Made wars upon me, and their contestation
Was theme for you You were the word of war.

ANTONY
You do mistake your business. My brother never
Did urge me in his act. I did inquire it,
And have my learning from some true reports
That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather
Discredit my authority with yours,
And make the wars alike against my stomach,
Having alike your cause? Of this, my letters
Before did satisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel,
As matter whole you have to make it with,
It must not be with this.

CAESAR
You praise yourself
By laying defects of judgement to me, but
You patched up your excuses.

ANTONY
Not so, not so;
I know you could not lack, I am certain on't,
Very necessity of this thought, that I,
Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,
Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars
Which fronted mine own peace. As for my wife,
I would you had her spirit in such another;
The third o'th' world is yours, which with a snaffle
You may pace easy, but not such a wife.

ENOBARBUS
Would we had all such wives, that the men
might go to wars with the women.

ANTONY
So much uncurbable, her garboils, Caesar,
Made out of her impatience – which not wanted
Shrewdness of policy too – I grieving grant
Did you too much disquiet. For that you must
But say I could not help it.

CAESAR
I wrote to you
When, rioting in Alexandria, you
Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts
Did gibe my missive out of audience.

ANTONY
Sir,
He fell upon me, ere admitted, then.
Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want
Of what I was i'th' morning; but next day
I told him of myself, which was as much
As to have asked him pardon. Let this fellow
Be nothing of our strife; if we contend,
Out of our question wipe him.

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

LEPIDUS
Soft, Caesar!

ANTONY
No, Lepidus; let him speak.
The honour is sacred which he talks on now,
Supposing that I lacked it. But on, Caesar:
The article of my oath –

CAESAR
To lend me arms and aid when I required them,
The which you both denied.

ANTONY
Neglected rather;
And then when poisoned hours had bound me up
From mine own knowledge. As nearly as I may,
I'll play the penitent to you; but mine honesty
Shall not make poor my greatness, nor my power
Work without it. Truth is that Fulvia,
To have me out of Egypt, made wars here,
For which myself, the ignorant motive, do
So far ask pardon as befits mine honour
To stoop in such a case.

LEPIDUS
'Tis noble spoken.

MAECENAS
If it might please you to enforce no further
The griefs between ye: to forget them quite
Were to remember that the present need
Speaks to atone you.

LEPIDUS
Worthily spoken, Maecenas.

ENOBARBUS
Or, if you borrow one another's love for the
instant, you may, when you hear no more words of
Pompey, return it again: you shall have time to wrangle
in when you have nothing else to do.

ANTONY
Thou art a soldier only. Speak no more.

ENOBARBUS
That truth should be silent I had almost
forgot.

ANTONY
You wrong this presence; therefore speak no more.

ENOBARBUS
Go to, then; your considerate stone.

CAESAR
I do not much dislike the matter, but
The manner of his speech; for't cannot be
We shall remain in friendship, our conditions
So diff'ring in their acts. Yet if I knew
What hoop should hold us staunch, from edge to edge
O'th' world I would pursue it.

AGRIPPA
Give me leave, Caesar.

CAESAR
Speak, Agrippa.

AGRIPPA
Thou hast a sister by the mother's side,
Admired Octavia. Great Mark Antony
Is now a widower.

CAESAR
Say not so, Agrippa.
If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof
Were well deserved of rashness.

ANTONY
I am not married, Caesar. Let me hear
Agrippa further speak.

AGRIPPA
To hold you in perpetual amity,
To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts
With an unslipping knot, take Antony
Octavia to his wife; whose beauty claims
No worse a husband than the best of men;
Whose virtue and whose general graces speak
That which none else can utter. By this marriage
All little jealousies, which now seem great,
And all great fears, which now import their dangers,
Would then be nothing. Truths would be tales,
Where now half-tales be truths. Her love to both
Would each to other, and all loves to both,
Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke,
For 'tis a studied, not a present thought,
By duty ruminated.

ANTONY
Will Caesar speak?

CAESAR
Not till he hears how Antony is touched
With what is spoke already.

ANTONY
What power is in Agrippa,
If I would say, ‘ Agrippa, be it so,’
To make this good?

CAESAR
The power of Caesar, and
His power unto Octavia.

ANTONY
May I never
To this good purpose, that so fairly shows,
Dream of impediment! Let me have thy hand.
Further this act of grace, and from this hour
The heart of brothers govern in our loves
And sway our great designs.

CAESAR
There's my hand.
A sister I bequeath you whom no brother
Did ever love so dearly. Let her live
To join our kingdoms and our hearts; and never
Fly off our loves again.

LEPIDUS
Happily, amen.

ANTONY
I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst Pompey,
For he hath laid strange courtesies and great
Of late upon me. I must thank him only,
Lest my remembrance suffer ill report;
At heel of that, defy him.

LEPIDUS
Time calls upon's.
Of us must Pompey presently be sought,
Or else he seeks out us.

ANTONY
Where lies he?

CAESAR
About the Mount Misena.

ANTONY
What is his strength?

CAESAR
By land, great and increasing; but by sea
He is an absolute master.

ANTONY
So is the fame.
Would we had spoke together! Haste we for it.
Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we
The business we have talked of.

CAESAR
With most gladness;
And do invite you to my sister's view,
Whither straight I'll lead you.

ANTONY
Let us, Lepidus,
Not lack your company.

LEPIDUS
Noble Antony,
Not sickness should detain me.
Flourish. Exeunt all but Enobarbus,
Agrippa, and Maecenas

MAECENAS
Welcome from Egypt, sir.

ENOBARBUS
Half the heart of Caesar, worthy Maecenas.
My honourable friend, Agrippa.

AGRIPPA
Good Enobarbus.

MAECENAS
We have cause to be glad that matters are so
well disgested. You stayed well by't in Egypt.

ENOBARBUS
Ay, sir, we did sleep day out of countenance
and made the night light with drinking.

MAECENAS
Eight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast,
and but twelve persons there. Is this true?

ENOBARBUS
This was but as a fly by an eagle. We had
much more monstrous matter of feast, which worthily
deserved noting.

MAECENAS
She's a most triumphant lady, if report be
square to her.

ENOBARBUS
When she first met Mark Antony, she
pursed up his heart, upon the river of Cydnus.

AGRIPPA
There she appeared indeed! Or my reporter
devised well for her.

ENOBARBUS
I will tell you.
The barge she sat in, like a burnished throne,
Burned on the water. The poop was beaten gold;
Purple the sails, and so perfumed that
The winds were lovesick with them. The oars were silver,
Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke and made
The water which they beat to follow faster,
As amorous of their strokes. For her own person,
It beggared all description. She did lie
In her pavilion, cloth-of-gold of tissue,
O'erpicturing that Venus where we see
The fancy outwork nature. On each side her
Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids,
With divers-coloured fans, whose wind did seem
To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool,
And what they undid did.

AGRIPPA
O, rare for Antony!

ENOBARBUS
Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides,
So many mermaids, tended her i'th' eyes,
And made their bends adornings. At the helm
A seeming mermaid steers. The silken tackle
Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands,
That yarely frame the office. From the barge
A strange invisible perfume hits the sense
Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast
Her people out upon her; and Antony,
Enthroned i'th' market-place, did sit alone,
Whistling to th' air; which, but for vacancy,
Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too,
And made a gap in nature.

AGRIPPA
Rare Egyptian!

ENOBARBUS
Upon her landing, Antony sent to her,
Invited her to supper. She replied
It should be better he became her guest;
Which she entreated. Our courteous Antony,
Whom ne'er the word of ‘ No’ woman heard speak,
Being barbered ten times o'er, goes to the feast,
And, for his ordinary, pays his heart
For what his eyes eat only.

AGRIPPA
Royal wench!
She made great Caesar lay his sword to bed.
He ploughed her, and she cropped.

ENOBARBUS
I saw her once
Hop forty paces through the public street;
And, having lost her breath, she spoke, and panted,
That she did make defect perfection,
And, breathless, power breathe forth.

MAECENAS
Now Antony must leave her utterly.

ENOBARBUS
Never; he will not.
Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety. Other women cloy
The appetites they feed, but she makes hungry
Where most she satisfies; for vilest things
Become themselves in her, that the holy priests
Bless her when she is riggish.

MAECENAS
If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle
The heart of Antony, Octavia is
A blessed lottery to him.

AGRIPPA
Let us go.
Good Enobarbus, make yourself my guest
Whilst you abide here.

ENOBARBUS
Humbly, sir, I thank you.
Exeunt
Modern text
Act II, Scene III
Enter Antony and Caesar, with Octavia between them

ANTONY
The world and my great office will sometimes
Divide me from your bosom.

OCTAVIA
All which time,
Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers
To them for you.

ANTONY
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 th' rule. Good night, dear lady.
Good night, sir.

CAESAR
Exeunt Caesar and Octavia
Good night.
Enter the Soothsayer

ANTONY
Now, sirrah: you do wish yourself in Egypt?

SOOTHSAYER
Would I had never come from thence, nor
you thither.

ANTONY
If you can, your reason?

SOOTHSAYER
I see it in my motion, have it not in my
tongue; but yet hie you to Egypt again.

ANTONY
Say to me, whose fortunes shall rise higher,
Caesar's, or mine?

SOOTHSAYER
Caesar's.
Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side.
Thy demon – that thy spirit which keeps thee – is
Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable,
Where Caesar's is not. But near him thy angel
Becomes afeard, as being o'erpowered. Therefore
Make space enough between you.

ANTONY
Speak this no more.

SOOTHSAYER
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.

ANTONY
Get thee gone.
Say to Ventidius I would speak with him.
He shall to Parthia.
Exit Soothsayer
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, inhooped, at odds. I will to Egypt;
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
I'th' East my pleasure lies.
Enter Ventidius
O, come, Ventidius.
You must to Parthia. Your commission's ready;
Follow me, and receive't.
Exeunt
Modern text
Act II, Scene IV
Enter Lepidus, Maecenas, and Agrippa

LEPIDUS
Trouble yourselves no further. Pray you, hasten
Your generals after.

AGRIPPA
Sir, Mark Antony
Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow.

LEPIDUS
Till I shall see you in your soldier's dress,
Which will become you both, farewell.

MAECENAS
We shall,
As I conceive the journey, be at th' Mount
Before you, Lepidus.

LEPIDUS
Your way is shorter.
My purposes do draw me much about.
You'll win two days upon me.

MAECENAS and AGRIPPA
Sir, good success.

LEPIDUS
Farewell.
Exeunt
Modern text
Act II, Scene V
Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas

CLEOPATRA
Give me some music – music, moody food
Of us that trade in love.

ALL
The music, ho!
Enter Mardian the eunuch

CLEOPATRA
Let it alone! Let's to billiards. Come, Charmian.

CHARMIAN
My arm is sore; best play with Mardian.

CLEOPATRA
As well a woman with an eunuch played
As with a woman. Come, you'll play with me, sir?

MARDIAN
As well as I can, madam.

CLEOPATRA
And when good will is showed, though't come too short,
The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now.
Give me mine angle. We'll to th' river; there,
My music playing far off, I will betray
Tawny-finned 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! Y'are caught.’

CHARMIAN
'Twas merry when
You wagered on your angling; when your diver
Did hang a salt fish on his hook, which he
With fervency drew up.

CLEOPATRA
That time – O times! –
I laughed him out of patience; and that night
I laughed 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!
Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
That long time have been barren.

MESSENGER
Madam, madam –

CLEOPATRA
Antonio'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 lipped, and trembled kissing.

MESSENGER
First, madam, he is well.

CLEOPATRA
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.

MESSENGER
Good madam, hear me.

CLEOPATRA
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 crowned with snakes,
Not like a formal man.

MESSENGER
Will't please you hear me?

CLEOPATRA
I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak'st.
Yet, if thou say Antony lives, is well,
Or friends with Caesar, or not captive to him,
I'll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail
Rich pearls upon thee.

MESSENGER
Madam, he's well.

CLEOPATRA
Well said.

MESSENGER
And friends with Caesar.

CLEOPATRA
Th'art an honest man.

MESSENGER
Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.

CLEOPATRA
Make thee a fortune from me.

MESSENGER
But yet, madam –

CLEOPATRA
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 Caesar,
In state of health, thou sayst, and, thou sayst, free.

MESSENGER
Free, madam! No; I made no such report.
He's bound unto Octavia.

CLEOPATRA
For what good turn?

MESSENGER
For the best turn i'th' bed.

CLEOPATRA
I am pale, Charmian.

MESSENGER
Madam, he's married to Octavia.

CLEOPATRA
The most infectious pestilence upon thee!
She strikes him down

MESSENGER
Good madam, patience.

CLEOPATRA
What say you?
She strikes him
Hence,
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 whipped with wire and stewed in brine,
Smarting in lingering pickle!

MESSENGER
Gracious madam,
I that do bring the news made not the match.

CLEOPATRA
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.

MESSENGER
He's married, madam.

CLEOPATRA
Rogue, thou hast lived too long.
She draws a knife

MESSENGER
Nay, then I'll run.
What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.
Exit

CHARMIAN
Good madam, keep yourself within yourself.
The man is innocent.

CLEOPATRA
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!

CHARMIAN
He is afeard to come.

CLEOPATRA
I will not hurt him.
Exit Charmian
These hands do lack nobility, that they strike
A meaner than myself; since I myself
Have given myself the cause.
Enter Charmian and the 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.

MESSENGER
I have done my duty.

CLEOPATRA
Is he married?
I cannot hate thee worser than I do
If thou again say ‘ Yes.’

MESSENGER
He's married, madam.

CLEOPATRA
The gods confound thee! Dost thou hold there still?

MESSENGER
Should I lie, madam?

CLEOPATRA
O, I would thou didst,
So half my Egypt were submerged and made
A cistern for scaled snakes! Go get thee hence.
Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me
Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?

MESSENGER
I crave your highness' pardon.

CLEOPATRA
He is married?

MESSENGER
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.

CLEOPATRA
O, that his fault should make a knave of thee,
That art not what th'art sure of! Get thee hence.
The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome
Are all too dear for me. Lie they upon thy hand,
Exit Messenger
And be undone by 'em.

CHARMIAN
Good your highness, patience.

CLEOPATRA
In praising Antony I have dispraised Caesar.

CHARMIAN
Many times, madam.

CLEOPATRA
I am paid for't now.
Lead me from hence;
I faint. O Iras, Charmian! 'Tis no matter.
Go to the fellow, good Alexas; bid him
Report the feature 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,
The other way's a Mars. (To Mardian) Bid you Alexas
Bring me word how tall she is. – Pity me, Charmian,
But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.
Exeunt
Modern text
Act II, Scene VI
Flourish. Enter Pompey and Menas at one door,
with drum and trumpet; at another, Caesar, Lepidus,
Antony, Enobarbus, Maecenas, Agrippa, with soldiers
marching

POMPEY
Your hostages I have; so have you mine;
And we shall talk before we fight.

CAESAR
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.

POMPEY
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 Caesar,
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted,
There saw you labouring for him. What was't
That moved pale Cassius to conspire? And what
Made the all-honoured, honest, Roman Brutus,
With the armed 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 angered ocean foams; with which I meant
To scourge th' ingratitude that despiteful Rome
Cast on my noble father.

CAESAR
Take your time.

ANTONY
Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails.
We'll speak with thee at sea. At land thou know'st
How much we do o'ercount thee.

POMPEY
At land indeed,
Thou dost o'ercount me of my father's house;
But since the cuckoo builds not for himself,
Remain in't as thou mayst.

LEPIDUS
Be pleased to tell us –
For this is from the present – how you take
The offers we have sent you.

CAESAR
There's the point.

ANTONY
Which do not be entreated to, but weigh
What it is worth embraced.

CAESAR
And what may follow,
To try a larger fortune.

POMPEY
You have made me offer
Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must
Rid all the sea of pirates; then, to send
Measures of wheat to Rome; this 'greed upon,
To part with unhacked edges and bear back
Our targes undinted.

ALL THE TRIUMVIRS
That's our offer.

POMPEY
Know, then,
I came before you here a man prepared
To take this offer. But Mark Antony
Put me to some impatience. Though I lose
The praise of it by telling, you must know,
When Caesar and your brother were at blows,
Your mother came to Sicily and did find
Her welcome friendly.

ANTONY
I have heard it, Pompey,
And am well studied for a liberal thanks,
Which I do owe you.

POMPEY
Let me have your hand.
I did not think, sir, to have met you here.

ANTONY
The beds i'th' East are soft; and thanks to you,
That called me timelier than my purpose hither;
For I have gained by't.

CAESAR
(to Pompey)
Since I saw you last
There is a change upon you.

POMPEY
Well, I know not
What counts harsh Fortune casts upon my face,
But in my bosom shall she never come
To make my heart her vassal.

LEPIDUS
Well met here.

POMPEY
I hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed.
I crave our composition may be written,
And sealed between us.

CAESAR
That's the next to do.

POMPEY
We'll feast each other ere we part, and let's
Draw lots who shall begin.

ANTONY
That will I, Pompey.

POMPEY
No, Antony, take the lot.
But, first or last, your fine Egyptian cookery
Shall have the fame. I have heard that Julius Caesar
Grew fat with feasting there.

ANTONY
You have heard much.

POMPEY
I have fair meanings, sir.

ANTONY
And fair words to them.

POMPEY
Then so much have I heard.
And I have heard Apollodorus carried –

ENOBARBUS
No more of that: he did so.

POMPEY
What, I pray you?

ENOBARBUS
A certain queen to Caesar in a mattress.

POMPEY
I know thee now. How far'st thou, soldier?

ENOBARBUS
Well;
And well am like to do, for I perceive
Four feasts are toward.

POMPEY
Let me shake thy hand;
I never hated thee; I have seen thee fight
When I have envied thy behaviour.

ENOBARBUS
Sir,
I never loved you much; but I ha' praised ye
When you have well deserved ten times as much
As I have said you did.

POMPEY
Enjoy thy plainness;
It nothing ill becomes thee.
Aboard my galley I invite you all.
Will you lead, lords?

ALL
Show's the way, sir.

POMPEY
Come.
Exeunt all but Enobarbus and Menas

MENAS
(aside)
Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have
made this treaty. – You and I have known, sir.

ENOBARBUS
At sea, I think.

MENAS
We have, sir.

ENOBARBUS
You have done well by water.

MENAS
And you by land.

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

MENAS
Nor what I have done by water.

ENOBARBUS
Yes, something you can deny for your own
safety: you have been a great thief by sea.

MENAS
And you by land.

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

MENAS
All men's faces are true, whatsome'er their hands
are.

ENOBARBUS
But there is never a fair woman has a true
face.

MENAS
No slander; they steal hearts.

ENOBARBUS
We came hither to fight with you.

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

ENOBARBUS
If he do, sure he cannot weep't back again.

MENAS
Y'have said, sir. We looked not for Mark Antony
here. Pray you, is he married to Cleopatra?

ENOBARBUS
Caesar's sister is called Octavia.

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

ENOBARBUS
But she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius.

MENAS
Pray ye, sir?

ENOBARBUS
'Tis true.

MENAS
Then is Caesar and he for ever knit together.

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

MENAS
I think the policy of that purpose made more in
the marriage than the love of the parties.

ENOBARBUS
I think so too. But you shall find the band
that seems to tie their friendship together will be the
very strangler of their amity. Octavia is of a holy, cold,
and still conversation.

MENAS
Who would not have his wife so?

ENOBARBUS
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 Caesar, 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.

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

ENOBARBUS
I shall take it, sir. We have used our throats
in Egypt.

MENAS
Come, let's away.
Exeunt
Modern text
Act II, Scene VII
Music plays. Enter two or three Servants, with a banquet

FIRST SERVANT
Here they'll be, man. Some o' their
plants are ill-rooted already; the least wind i'th' world
will blow them down.

SECOND SERVANT
Lepidus is high-coloured.

FIRST SERVANT
They have made him drink alms drink.

SECOND SERVANT
As they pinch one another by the
disposition, he cries out ‘ No more;’ reconciles them
to his entreaty, and himself to th' drink.

FIRST SERVANT
But it raises the greater war between
him and his discretion.

SECOND SERVANT
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 partisan I could not heave.

FIRST SERVANT
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, Maecenas, Enobarbus, Menas, with
other captains, and a Boy

ANTONY
(to Lepidus)
Thus do they, sir: they take the flow o'th' Nile
By certain scales i'th' pyramid. They know
By th' height, the lowness, or the mean if dearth
Or foison 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.

LEPIDUS
Y'have strange serpents there.

ANTONY
Ay, Lepidus.

LEPIDUS
Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud
by the operation of your sun; so is your crocodile.

ANTONY
They are so.

POMPEY
Sit – and some wine! A health to Lepidus!

LEPIDUS
I am not so well as I should be, but I'll ne'er
out.

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

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

MENAS
(aside to Pompey)
Pompey, a word.

POMPEY
(aside to Menas)
Say in mine ear; what is't?

MENAS
(aside to Pompey)
Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, captain,
And hear me speak a word.

POMPEY
(aside to Menas)
Forbear me till anon.
(aloud) This wine for Lepidus!

LEPIDUS
What manner o' thing is your crocodile?

ANTONY
It is shaped, sir, like itself, and it is as broad
as it hath 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.

LEPIDUS
What colour is it of?

ANTONY
Of it own colour too.

LEPIDUS
'Tis a strange serpent.

ANTONY
'Tis so; and the tears of it are wet.

CAESAR
Will this description satisfy him?

ANTONY
With the health that Pompey gives him; else he
is a very epicure.
Menas whispers to Pompey

POMPEY
(aside to Menas)
Go hang, sir, hang! Tell me of that? Away!
Do as I bid you. – Where's this cup I called for?

MENAS
(aside to Pompey)
If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me,
Rise from thy stool.

POMPEY
(aside to Menas)
I think th'art mad. The matter?
He rises and they walk aside

MENAS
I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.

POMPEY
Thou hast served me with much faith. What's else to say? –
Be jolly, lords.

ANTONY
These quicksands, Lepidus,
Keep off them, for you sink.

MENAS
Wilt thou be lord of all the world?

POMPEY
What sayst thou?

MENAS
Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That's twice.

POMPEY
How should that be?

MENAS
But entertain it,
And, though thou think me poor, I am the man
Will give thee all the world.

POMPEY
Hast thou drunk well?

MENAS
No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup.
Thou art, if thou dar'st be, the earthly Jove;
Whate'er the ocean pales, or sky inclips,
Is thine, if thou wilt ha't.

POMPEY
Show me which way.

MENAS
These three world-sharers, these competitors,
Are in thy vessel. Let me cut the cable;
And when we are put off, fall to their throats.
All there is thine.

POMPEY
Ah, this thou shouldst have done,
And not have spoke on't. In me 'tis villainy;
In thee't 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 betrayed thine act. Being done unknown,
I should have found it afterwards well done,
But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.

MENAS
(aside)
For this I'll never follow thy palled fortunes more.
Who seeks, and will not take when once 'tis offered,
Shall never find it more.

POMPEY
This health to Lepidus!

ANTONY
Bear him ashore. – I'll pledge it for him, Pompey.

ENOBARBUS
Here's to thee, Menas!

MENAS
Enobarbus, welcome!

POMPEY
Fill till the cup be hid.

ENOBARBUS
(pointing to the servant who is carrying off Lepidus)
There's a strong fellow, Menas.

MENAS
Why?

ENOBARBUS
'A bears the third part of the world, man; seest not?

MENAS
The third part then is drunk. Would it were all,
That it might go on wheels!

ENOBARBUS
Drink thou; increase the reels.

MENAS
Come.

POMPEY
This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.

ANTONY
It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho!
Here's to Caesar!

CAESAR
I could well forbear't.
It's monstrous labour when I wash my brain
And it grows fouler.

ANTONY
Be a child o'th' time.

CAESAR
Possess it, I'll make answer.
But I had rather fast from all, four days,
Than drink so much in one.

ENOBARBUS
(to Antony)
Ha, my brave emperor!
Shall we dance now the Egyptian bacchanals
And celebrate our drink?

POMPEY
Let's ha't, good soldier.

ANTONY
Come, let's all take hands
Till that the conquering wine hath steeped our sense
In soft and delicate Lethe.

ENOBARBUS
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 beat as loud
As his strong sides can volley.
Music plays. Enobarbus places them hand in hand

BOY
(sings)
Come, thou monarch of the vine,
Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne!
In thy fats our cares be drowned;
With thy grapes our hairs be crowned.
Cup us till the world go round,
Cup us till the world go round!

CAESAR
What would you more? Pompey, good night. (To Antony) 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 Enobarb
Is weaker than the wine, and mine own tongue
Spleets what it speaks. The wild disguise hath almost
Anticked us all. What needs more words? Good night.
Good Antony, your hand.

POMPEY
I'll try you on the shore.

ANTONY
And shall, sir. Give's your hand.

POMPEY
O, Antony,
You have my father's house. But what, we are friends!
Come down into the boat.
Exeunt all but Enobarbus and Menas

ENOBARBUS
Take heed you fall not.
Menas, I'll not on shore.

MENAS
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 hanged, sound out!
Sound a flourish, with drums

ENOBARBUS
Hoo, says 'a. There's my cap.
He throws his cap in the air

MENAS
Hoa! Noble captain, come.
Exeunt
x

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