A Room in Pompey's House. Enter Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas. Pom. If the great gods be just, they shall assist The deeds of justest men. Mene.
Know, worthy Pompey, That what they do delay, they not deny. Pom. Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays The thing we sue for. Mene.
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. Pom. I shall do well: The people love me, and the sea is mine; My power's a crescent, and my auguring hope Says, it will come to the full. Mark Antony In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make
No wars without doors; Cæsar gets money, where
He loses hearts: Lepidus flatters both,
Of both is flatter'd; but he neither loves,
Nor either cares for him.
Cæsar and Lepidus
Are in the field; a mighty strength they carry.
Pom. Where have you this? 'tis false.
Men.
From Silvius, sir.
Pom. He dreams; I know, they are in Rome
together,
Looking for Antony: But all the charms of love
Salt Cleopatra, soften thy wan'd 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's dullness.-How now, Var-
rius?
Var. 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. Pom.
I could have given less matter
A better ear.-Menas, I did not think,
This amorous surfeiter would have don'd 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.
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Enter Antony and Ventidius.
And yonder, Cæsar.
Enter Cæsar, Mecænas, and Agrippa.
Ant. If we compose well here, to Parthia:
Hark you, Ventidius.
Cæs.
I do not know,
Mecenas; ask Agrippa.
Lep.
Noble friends,
That which combin'd 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 the matter.
Ant.
'Tis spoken well: Were we before our armies, and to fight, I should do thus.
Cas. Welcome to Rome.
Ant. I learn, you take things ill, which are
My being in Egypt, Cæsar, | Speaks to atone you. What was't to you? Lep. Worthily spoke, Mecenas Eno. 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.
Ces. 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. Ant.
How intend you, practis'd? Caes. You may be pleas'd 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.
Ant. You do mistake your business; my bro-
ther 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, iny letters
Before did satisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel,
As matter whole you have not to make it with,
It must not be with this.
Cas.
You praise yourself
By laying defects of judgment to me; but
You patch'd up your excuses.
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' the world is yours; which with a
snaffle,
You may pace easy, but not such a wife.
Eno. Would we had all such wives, that the
men might go to wars with the women!
Ant. So much incurable, her garboils, Cæsar,
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.
Cæs.
I wrote to you,
When rioting in Alexandria; you
Did pocket up any letters, and with taunts
Did gibe my missive out of audience.
Ant.
He fell upon me, ere admitted; then
Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want
Of what I was i' the morning; but, next day,
I told him of myself: which was as much,
As to have ask'd him pardon: Let this fellow
Be nothing of our strife; if we contend,
Out of our question wipe him.
Cæs.
You have broken
The article of your oath; which you shall never
Have tongue to charge me with.
Lep.
Soft, Cæsar.
Ant. No, Lepidus, let him speak;
The honour's sacred which he talks on now,
Supposing that I lack'd it: But on, Cæsar:
The article of my oath,-
Cas. To lend me arms, and aid, when I requir'd them;
The which you both denied.
Neglected, rather; And then, when poison'd hours have 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.
Lep. Mec. If it might please you, to enforce no further The griefs between ye: to forget them quite, Were to remember that the present need
Ant. Thou art a soldier only; speak no more. Eno. That truth should be silent, I had almost forgot.
Ant. You wrong this presence, therefore speak
Eno. Go to then; your considerate stone. Cæs. I do not much dislike the matter, but The manner of his speech: for it cannot be, We shall remain in friendship, our conditions So differing in their acts. Yet, if I knew What hoop should hold us stanch, from edge to edge O' the world I would pursue it. Agr. Caes. Speak, Agrippa. Agr. Thou hast a sister by the mother's side, Admir'd Octavia: great Mark Antony Is now a widower. Cas. Say not so, Agrippa; If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof Were well deserv'd of rashness.
Give me leave, Cæsar,
Ant. I am not married, Cæsar: let me hea Agrippa further speak.
Agr. 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.
Ant.
Will Cæsar speak?
Cas. Not till he hears how Antony is touch'a
With what is spoke already.
What power is in Agrippa,
If I would say, Agrippa, be it so,
To make this good?
Cas.
The power of Cæsar, and
His power unto Octavia.
Ant.
May I never
To this good purpose, that so fairly shows,
Dream of impediment :-Let me have thy band:
Further this act of grace; and, from this hour,
The heart of brothers govern in our loves,
And sway our great designs!
There is 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!
Happily, amen!
Ant. I did not think to draw my sword 'gains
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.
Lep.
Time calls upon as
Of us must Pompey presently be sought,
Or else he seeks out us.
Ant.
Cas. About the Mount Misenum.
Great, and increasing: bat by sea
He is an absolute master.
"Would, we had spoke together! Haste we for it:
Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, despatch we
The business we have talk'd of.
Cæs.
With most gladness;
And do invite you to my sister's view,
Whither straight I will lead you.
Not lack your company.
Lep.
Not sickness snould detain me.
[Flourish.
Exeunt Cæs. Ant. and Lep.
Mec. Welcome from Egypt, sir.
Eno. Haif the heart of Cæsar, worthy Mecæ-
nas!-my honourable friend, Agrippa!-
Agr. Good Enobarbus!
Mec. We have cause to be glad, that matters are o well digested. You stayed well by it in Egypt. Eno. Ay, sir, we did sleep day out of counteance, and made the night light with drinking. Mec. Eight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast, and but twelve persons there; Is this true? Eno. This was but as a fly by an eagle: we had much more monstrous matter of feasts, which worthily deserved noting.
Mec. She's a most triumphant lady, if report be square to her.
Eno. When she first met Mark Antony, she pursed up his heart upon the river of Cydnus. Agr. There she appeared indeed; or my reporter devised well for her.
The barge she sat in, like a burnish'd throne,
Burn'd 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 beggar'd all description: she did lie
In her pavilion (cloth of gold, of tissue,)
O'er-picturing that Venus, where we see,
The fancy outwork nature: on each side her,
Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids,
With diverse-colour'd fans, whose wind did seem
To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool,
And what they undid, did.
Agr.
O, rare for Antony
Eno. Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides,
So many mermaids, tended her i' the 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 wharvess. The city cast
Her people out upon her; and Antony,
Enthron'd in the market-place, did sit alone,
Whistling to the air; which, but for vacancy,
Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too,
And made a gap in nature.
Agr.
Rare Egyptian!
Eno. 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 barber'd ten times o'er, goes to the feast;
And, for his ordinary, pays his heart,
For what his eyes eat only.
Agr.
Royal wench!
She made great Cæsar lay his sword to bed;
He plough'd her, and she cropp'd.
Eno.
I saw her once
Hop forty paces through the publick street:
And having lost her breath, she spoke, and
panted,
That she did make defect, perfection,
And, breathless, power breathe forth.
Mec. Now Antony must leave her utterly.
Eno. Never; he will not;
Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale
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Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side:
Thy dæmon, that's thy spirit which keeps thee,
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.
Speak this no more.
Sooth. To none but thee; no more, but when
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.
Say to Ventidius, I would speak with him
[Exit Soothsayer.
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:
When it is all to nought; and his quails ever
His cocks do win the battle still of mine,
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:-O, come, Ventidius,
You must to Parthia; your commission's ready:
Follow me, and receive it.
[Exeunt.
A Street.
SCENE IV. The same.
Enter Lepidus, Mecænas, and Agrippa.
Lep. Trouble yourselves no further: pray you
hasten
Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow.
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 musick paying far off, I will betray
Tawny-finn'd fishes; my bended hook
pierce
Their slimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,
I'll think them every one an Antony,
And say, Ab, ha! you're caught.
Char.
Mess. Cæsar and he are greater friends than
Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me.
Mess.
But yet, manam,--
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. Pr'ythee, 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. Mess. Madam, he's married to Octavia. Cleo. The most infectious pestilence upon thee! [Strikes him down. What say you ?-Hence, Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine eyes [Strikes him again 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. Good madam, patience.
Cleo.
Gracious madam. shall, 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 hads Shall make thy peace, for moving me to rage; And I will boot thee with what gift beside Thy modesty can beg. Mess.
"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. 01 from Italy; Enter a Messenger. 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 kills't 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.
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.
Cleo.
Well, go to, I will;
But there's no goodness in thy face: If Antony
Be free, and healthful,-why so tart a favour
To trumpet such good tidings? If not well,
Thou should'st come like a fury crown'd with
snakes,
Not like a formal man.
Mess.
Will't please you hear me?
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.
Madam, he's well.
Well said. Thou'rt an honest man.
Mess. And friends with Cæsar. Cleo
He's married, madam. liv'd too long. [Draws a Dagger. Nay, then I'll run
What mean you, madam? I have made no faul.
Char. Good madam, keep yourself within yourThe man is innocent. Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thunder bolt.
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.-Come hither, sir.
Re-enter Messenger.
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.
I have done my duty.
Cleo. Is he married?
I cannot hate thee worser than I do, If thou again say, Yes.
He is married, madam. Cleo. The gods confound thee! dost thou hold there still ?
Mess. Should I lie, madam ?
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 would'st appear most ugly. He is married? Mess. I crave your highness' pardon. He is married 7 Mess Take no offence, that I would not offend
I came before you here, a man prepar'd
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 Cæsar and your brothers were at blows,
Your mother came to Sicily, and did find
Her welcome friendly.
Ant.
I have heard it, Pompey
And am well studied for a liberal thanks,
Which I do owe you.
Let me have your hand: I did not think, sir, to have met you here.
Ant. The beds i' the east are soft: and thanks
to you,
That call'd me, timelier than my purpose, hither;
For I have gain'd by it.
Cas.
Since I saw you lasi,
There is a change upon you.
Pom.
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 quick-
ly.-
[Exit Alexas.
Let him for ever go:-Let him not-Charmian,
Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
The other way he's a Mars:-Bid you Alexas
Well, I know not
To Mardian. What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face;
Bring me word how tall she is.-Pity me, Char-But in my bosom shall she never come,
To make my heart her vassal.
Lep.
Well met here.
Pom. I hope so, Lepidus.-Thus we are agreed:
I crave, our composition may be written,
And seal'd between us.
Cæs.
That's the next to do.
Pom. We'll feast each other, ere we part; and
Draw lots who shall begin.
mian,
But do not speak to me.-Lead me to my cham-
ber.
[Exeunt.
SCENE VI. Near Misenum.
Enter Pompey and Menas, at one side, with
Drum and Trumpet; at another, Cæsar,
Lepidus, Antony, Enobarbus, Mecenas, with
Soldiers marching.
Pom. Your hostages I have, so have you mine;
And we shall talk before we fight.
Most meet
That first we come to words; and therefore have
Our written purposes before us sent; [we
Which, if thou hast consider'd, let us know
If 'twill tie up thy discontented sword;
And carry back to Sicily much tall youth,
That else must perish here.
Ant.
That will I, Pompey.
Pom. No, Antony, take the lot: but, first,
Or last, your fine Egyptian cookery
Shall have the fame. I have heard, that Julius
Grew fat with feasting there.
[Cæsar
You have heard much.
Pom. I have fair meanings, sir.
Pom. Then so much have I heard :-
And I have heard, Apollodorus carried-
Eno. No more of that :-he did so.
Pom
What, I pray you?
Eno. A certain queen to Cæsar in a mattress
Pom. I know thee now-How far'st thou,
soldier ?
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 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 free-Pom.
dom,
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.
Cæs.
Take your time.
Ant. 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.
Pom.
At land, indeed,
Thou dost o'ercount me of my father's house:
But, since the enckoo builds not for himself,
Remain in't as thou may'st.
Lep.
Be pleas'd to tell us,
(For this is from the present,) how you take
The offers we have sent you.
Cas.
There's the point.
Ant. Which do not be entreated to, but weigh
What it is worth embrac'd.
Cæs.
To try a larger fortune.
Pom.
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 targe undinted.
And well am like to do; for, I perceive,
Four feasts are toward."
Let me shake thy hand;
I never hated thee: I have seen thee fight,
When I have envied thy behaviour.
I never lov'd you much: but I have prais'd you,
When you have well deserv'd ten times as much
As I have said you did.
Pom.
Enjoy thy plainness,
It nothing ill becomes thee.-
Aboard my galley I invite you all:
Will you lead, lords?
Cas. Ant. Lep.
Pom.
Show us the way, sh.
Come.
[Exeunt Pompey, Cæsar, Antony, Lepidus,
Soldiers, and Attendants.
Men. Tay father, Pompey, would ne'er have made this treaty.-[Aside.]-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 autho Irity, here they might take two thieves kissing.
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