The same. SCENE III. A Room in Cæsar's House. Enter CESAR, ANTONY, OCTAVIA between them; Ant. The world, and my great office, will sometimes Divide me from your bosom. Octa. All which time Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers Ant. Good night, sir.-My Octavia, Read not my blemishes in the world's report: I have not kept my square; but that to come Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear lady.— Octa. Good night, sir. Cæs. Good night. [Exeunt CESAR and OCTAVIA. Ant. Now, sirrah! you do wish yourself in Egypt? Sooth. 'Would I had never come from thence, nor you Thither! Ant. If you can, your reason? 1 Sooth. I see't in My motion, have it not in my tongue: But yet Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Cæsar's, or mine? Sooth. Cæsar's. Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side: Thy dæmon, that's thy spirit which keeps thee, is Where Cæsar's is not; but, near him, thy angel ? I see't in My motion,] i. e. the divinitory agitation; but Mr. Theobald roads, with some probability, I see it in my notion. Ant. Speak this no more. Sooth. To none but thee; no more, but when to thee. If thou dost play with him at any game, Thou art sure to lose; and, of that natural luck, Is all afraid to govern thee near him; But, he away, 'tis noble. Ant. Get thee gone : Say to Ventidius, I would speak with him : [Exit Soothsayer. He shall to Parthia.-Be it art, or hap, Enter VENTIDIUS. I'the east my pleasure lies:-0, come, Ventidius, [Exeunt. SCENE IV. The same. A Street. Enter LEPIDUS, MECENAS, and AGRIPPA. Lep. Trouble yourselves no further: pray you, hasten Your generals after. 3 his quails] The ancients used to match quails as we match cocks. 4 inhoop'd, at odds.] Inhoop'd is inclosed, confined, that they may fight. Agr. Sir, Mark Antony Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow. Mec. As I conceive the journey, be at mount Lep. My purposes do draw me much about; We shall, Your way is shorter, Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAs, and ALEXAS. Cleo. Give me some musick; musick, moody food Of us that trade in love. Attend. The musick, ho! Enter MARDIAN. Cleo. Let it alone; let us to billiards': Come, Charmian. Char. My arm is sore, best play with Mardian. Cleo. As well a woman with an eunuch play'd, As with a woman ;-Come, you'll play with me, Mar. As well as I can, madam. sir? Cleo. And when good will is show'd, though it come too short, 5 at mount] i. e. Mount Misenum. 6 musick, moody food-] Moody, in this instance, means melancholy. Cotgrave explains moody, by the French words, morne and triste. 7 let us to billiards :] This is one of the numerous anachronisms that are found in these plays. The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now :— I'll think them every one an Antony, And say, Ah, ha! you're caught. Char. 'Twas merry, when You wager'd on your angling; when your diver Cleo. Enter a Messenger. Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears, Mess. Cleo. Antony's dead? Madam, madam,- If thou say so, villain, thou kill'st thy mistress: But well and free, If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here My bluest veins to kiss; a hand, that kings Mess. First, madam, he's well. Cleo. Why, there's more gold. But, sirrah, mark ; we use To say, the dead are well: bring it to that, The gold I give thee, will I melt, and pour 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 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. Mess. Cleo. Madam, he's well. Well said. Thou'rt an honest man. Mess. And friends with Cæsar. Cleo. Mess. Cæsar and he are greater friends than ever. Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me. Mess. But yet, madam, Cleo. I do not like but yet, it does allay The good precedence'; fye upon but yet: 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. Mess. For the best turn i'the bed. Cleo. For what good turn? I am pale, Charmian. [Strikes him down. Mess. Madam, he's married to Octavia. Mess. Good madam, patience. Not like a formal man.] i. e. a man in form, i. e. shape. You should come in the form of a fury, and not in the form of a man. 9 it does allay The good precedence ;] i. e. abates the good quality of what is already reported. |