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Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,
Could not with graceful eyes attend thofe wars
Which fronted 1 mine own peace. As for my wife,
I would you had her spirit in fuch another :

Eno. Go to then; your confiderate stone 4. Caef. I do not much diflike the matter, but The manner of his speech: for it cannot be, We fhall remain in friendship, our conditions

The third o' the world is yours; which with a So differing in their acts. Yet, if I knew

fnaffe

You may pace eafy, but not fuch a wife.

What hoop fhould hold us ftaunch, from edge to edge

Eno. 'Would, we had all fuch wives, that the O' the world I would pursue it.

men might go to wars with the women!

Ant. So much uncurbable, her garboils, Cæfar,
Made out of her impatience, (which not wanted
Shrewdness of policy too) I grieving grant,
Did you too much difquiet: for that, you must
But fay I could not help it.

Caef. I wrote to you,

When rioting in Alexandria; you

Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts
Did gibe my miffive out of audience.

Ant. Sir, he fell on me, ere admitted; then
Three kings I had newly feafted, and did want
Of what I was i' the morning: but, next day,
I told him of myfelf; which was as much
As to have afk'd him pardon: Let this fellow
Be nothing of our ftrife; if we contend,
Out of our question wipe him.

Cef. You have broken

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Mec. If it might pleafe you, to enforce no further
The griefs between you: to forget them quite,
Were to remember that the prefent need
Speaks to atone you.

Lep. Worthily fpoken, Mecanas.

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

Agr. Give me leave, Cæfar,—

Cef. Speak, Agrippa.

Agr. Thou haft a fifter by the mother's fide,
Admir'd Octavia: great Mark Antony
Is now a widower.

Cof. Say not fo, Agrippa;

If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof
Were well deferv'd of rashness.

Ant. I am not married, Cæfar let me hear
Agrippa further speak.

Agr. To hold you in perpetual amity,
To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts
With an unflipping knot, take Antony
Octavia to his wife: whofe beauty claims
No worfe a husband than the best of men ;
Whofe virtue, and whofe general graces, fpeak
That which none elfe can utter. By this marriage,
All little jealoufies, 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 ftudied, not a prefent thought,
By duty ruminated.

Ant. Will Cefar speak?

Gef. Not 'till he hears how Antony is touch'd
With what fpoke already.

Ant. What power is in Agrippa,
If I would fay, Agrippa, be it fo,
To make this good?

Caef. The power of Cæfar, and
His power unto Octavia.

Ant. May I never

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Lep. Happily, Amen!

[Pompey ;

Ant. I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst For he hath laid strange courtefies, and great, Of late upon me: I mufst thank him only, Left my remembrance fuffer ill report ; At heel of that, defy him. Lep. Time calls upon us : [no more. Of us muft Pompey presently be fought, Ant. You wrong this prefence, therefore fpeak] Or elfe he feeks out us.

Ant. Thou art a foldier only; fpeak no more.
Eno. That truth fhould be filent, I had almoft

forgot.

i. e. oppofed. 2 i. e. told him the condition I was in, when he had his laft audience. 3 Meaning, the religion of an oath. 4 i. e. "I will henceforth feem fenfelefs as a ftone, however I may obferve and confider your words and actions."

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Ant.

Ant. Where lies he?

Cef. About the mount Mifenum. Ant. What is his ftrength by land? Caf. Great, and increafing: but by fea He is an abfolute mafter.

Ant. So is the fame.

'Would, we had spoke together! Hafte we for it: Yet, ere we put ourfelves in arms, dispatch we The bufinefs we have talk'd of.

Caf. With most gladness;

And do invite you to my fifter's view,

Whither straight I will lead you.

Ant. Let us, Lepidus,

Not lack your company.

Lep. Noble Antony,

Not fickness fhould detain me.

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Eno. Upon her landing, Antony fent to her,
Invited her to fupper: the reply'd,

It should be better, he became her guest ;
Which the entreated: Our courteous Antony,
Whom ne'er the word of no woman heard speak,
Being barber'd ten times o'er, goes to the feart;

[Flourish. Exeunt Cæfar, Antony, and Lepidus. And, for his ordinary, pays his heart,

Mec. Welcome from Egypt, fir.

Eno. Half the heart of Cæfar, worthy Mecxnas !-my honourable friend, Agrippa!

Agr. Good Enobarbus I

For what his eyes eat only.

Agr. Royal wench!

She made great Cæfar lay his fword to bed; He plough'd her, and the cropt.

Eno. I faw her once

Hop forty paces through the publick street :

Mec. We have caufe to be glad, that matters are fo well digefted. You ftay'd well by it in Egypt. Eno. Ay, fir; we did fleep day out of counte-And having loft her breath, fhe spoke, and panted, nance, and made the night light with drinking.

Mec. Eight wild boars roafted whole at a breakfaft, and but twelve perfons there; Is this true?

Eno. This was but as a fly by an eagle: we had much more monftrous matter of feaft, which worthily deferved noting.

That she did make defect, perfection,
And, breathlefs, power breathe forth.

Mec. Now Antony must leave her utterly.
Eno. Never; he will not:

Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety: Other women cloy

Mec. She's a most triumphant lady, if report The appetites they feed; but she makes hungry, be fquare to her '.

Eno. When the firft met Mark Antony, the purs'd up his heart, upon the river of Cydnus. Agr. There the appear'd indeed; or my reporter Devis'd well for her.

Eno. I will tell you :

The barge fhe fat in, like a burnish'd throne, Burnt on the water: the poop was beaten gold; Purple the fails, and fo perfum'd, that

The winds were love-fick with them: the oars

were filver;

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Which to the tune of flutes kept ftroke, and made Enter Cæfar, Antony, Octavia between them; At

The water, which they beat, to follow faster,
As amorous of their ftrokes. For her own perfon,
It beggar'd all defcription: fhe did lie
In her pavilion, (cleth of gold, of tiffue)
O'er-picturing that Venus where we fee
The fancy out-work nature: on each fide her,
Stood pretty dimpled boys, like fmiling Cupids,
With divers-colour'd fans, whofe wind did feem
To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool,
And what they undid, did.

Agr. O, rare for Antony !

Eng. Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides, So many mermaids, tended her i' the eyes, And made their bends 2 adornings: at the helm A feeming mermaid fteers; the filken tackles

tendarts, and a Soothfayer.

Ant. The world, and my great office, will fometimes

Divide me from your bofoni.

Octa. All which time,

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

Ant. Good night, fir.-My Octavia,
Read not my blemishes in the world's report:
I have not kept my fquare; but that to come
Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear lady,
Ocia. Good night, fir.

Cf. Good night. [Exeunt Cefar, and O&avia. Ant. Now, firrah! you do with yourself in Ægypt?

2 Mr. Tollet thinks bends or bands

i. e. if report quadrates with her, or fuits with her merits. is the fare word, and means in this place the feveral companies of Nereids that wanted on Cleopatra; while Mr. Malone apprehends, their bends refers to Cleopatra's eyes, and not to her gentlewomen. "Her attendants, in order to learn their miltrels's will, watched the motion of her eyes, the bends or "movements of which added new juitre to her beauty." 3 Rigg is an ancient word meaning a Arumpet.

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Ant. Say to me,

Whofe fortunes fhall rife higher, Cafar's or mine?
Sooth. Cæfar's.

Therefore, O Antony, ftay not by his fide:
Thy dæmon, that 's thy fpirit which keeps thee, is
Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable,
Where Cæfar's is not; but, near him, thy angel
Becomes a fear 2, as being o'erpower'd; therefore
Make space enough between you.

Ant. Speak this no more.

[to thee. Sooth. To none but thee; no more, but when If thou doft play with him at any game, Thou art fure to lofe; and, of that natural luck, He beats thee 'gainst the odds; thy luftre thickens, When he shines by: 1 fay again, thy fpirit Is all afraid to govern thee near him; But, he away, 'tis noble.

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[Exit Soothfayer.

He fhall to Parthia.-Be it art, or hap,
He hath spoken true: The very dice obey him:
And, in our fports, my better cunning faints
Under his chance: if we draw lots, he fpeeds:
His cocks do win the battle still of mine,
When it is all to nought; and his quails 3 ever
Beat mine, inhoop'd +, at odds. I will to Egypt:
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
Enter Ventidius.

I' the east my pleasure lies.—O, come, Ventidius,
You must to Parthia; your commiffion's ready :
and receive it.

Follow me,

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[Exeunt.

Enter Lepidus, Mecenas, and Agrippa.
Lep. Trouble yourselves no farther: pray you

Your generals after.

Agr. Sir, Mark Antony

[haften

Will e'en but kifs Octavia, and we'll follow.
Lep. 'Till I fhall fee you in your foldiers' drefs,
Which will become you both, farewel.

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Omnes. The mufic, ho!

Enter Mardian.

Cleo. Let it alone; let us to billiards: come, Charmian.

Char. My arm is fore, beft play with Mardian. Clea. 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.

[fir? Cleo. And when good will is fhew'd, though it come too fhort,

The actor may plead pardon. P'll none now :--
Give me mine angle,-We'll to the river: there,
My mufick playing far off, I will betray
Tawny-finn'd fifhes: my bended hook fhall pierce
Their flimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,
I'll think them every one an Antony,
And say, Ah, ha! you're caught.

Char. 'Twas merry, when

You wager'd on your angling; when your diver
Did hang a falt-fish on his hook, which he
With fervency drew up.

Cleo. That time--O times!

I laugh'd him out of patience; and that night
I laugh'd him into patience: and next morn,
Ere the ninth hour, I drank him to his bed;
Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst
I wore his fword Philippan. O! from Italy ;-
Enter a Mefinger.

Ram 7 thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
That long time have been barren.
Mef. Madam, madam,-
Cleo. Antony's dead ?-

If thou fay fo, villain, thou kill'ft thy mistress:
But well and free,

If fo thou yield him, there is gold, and here
My blueft veins to kifs; a hand, that kings
Have lipp'd, and trembled kifling.

Mef. Firft, madam, he is well.

Cleo. Why, there's more gold. But, firrah,
mark; we ufe

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

Mcf. Good madam, hear me.
Cleo. Well, go to, I will;

But there's no goodneis in thy face: If Antony
Be free, and healthful,-fo tart a favour
To trumpet fuch good tidings? If not well,
Thou should't come like a fury crown'd with fakes,
Not like a formal man.

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Mef. Will 't please you hear me?

[fpeak ft.

Cleo. I have a mind to frike thee, ere thou
Yet, if thou fay, Antony lives, is well,
Or friends with Cæfar, or not captive to him,
[Exeunt. I'll fet thee in a fhower of gold, and hail
Rich pearls upon thee 9.

Enter Chopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas.
Cleo. Give me fome mufick; mufick, moody &

Of us that trade in love.

[food

Mef. Madam, he's well.
Cleo. Well faid.

Mef. And friends with Cæfar.
Cleo. Thou art an honest man.

1 i. e. the divinitory agitation. 2 i. e. a fearful thing. A fear was a perfonage in fome of the old moralities. 3 The antients ufed to match quails as we match cocks. 4 Inhoop'd is inclofed, 5 i. e. Mount Mifenum. • i. e. melancholy. confined, that they may fight. 7 Shakspeare probably wrote (as Sir T. Hanmer obferves) Rain thou, &c. which agrees better with the epithets fruitful and barren. 8 i. e. like a man in form or shape. 9 i. e. I will give thee a kingdom; it being the eastern ceremony, at the coronation of their kings, to powder them with gold-duft and

feed-peart.

Mef.

Mef. Cæfar and he are greater friends than ever.
Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me.
Mef. But yet, madam,—

Cleo. I do not like but yet, it does allay
The good precedence; fye upon but yet:
But yet is as a jailer 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
Cæfar;

In ftate of health, thou fay'ft; and, thou fay 'ft, free. Mef. Free, madam! no; I made no such report He's bound unto Octavia.

Cleo. For what good turn?

Mf. For the best turn i' the bed.

Cleo. I am pale, Charmian.

Mef. Madam, he's married to Octavia. Cleo. The most infectious peftilence upon thee! [Strikes him down.

:

Mef. Good madam, patience. Cleo. What fay you ?-Hence, [Strikes him again. Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine eyes Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head; [She hales bim up and down. Thou shalt be whipt with wire, and stew'd in brine, Smarting in ling'ring pickle.

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Cleo. Some innocents 'fcape not the thunderbolt.Melt gypt into Nile! and kindly creatures Turn all to ferpents !-Call the flave again; Though I am mad, I will not bite him :-Call. Char. He is afeard to come.

Cleo. I will not hurt him :

Thefe hands do lack nobility, that they Arike
A meaner than myfelf; fince 1 myfelf
Have given myfelf the caufe.Come hither, fir.
Re-enter Melenger.

Though it be honeft, it is never good

To bring bad news: Give to a gracious message An hoft of tongues; but let ill tidings tell Themfelves, when they be felt.

Mf. I have done my duty.

Cleo. Is he married?

I cannot hate thee worfer than I do,

If thou again fav, Yes.

Mef. He is married, madam.

Mef. Should I lye, madam ?

Cleo. O, I would, thou didst ;

So half my Egypt were fubmerg'd', and made
A ciftern for feal'd fnakes! Go, get thee hence;
Hadft thou Narciffus in thy face, to me
Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?
Mef. I crave your highness' pardon.
Cleo. He is married?
[you:

Mef. Take no offence, that I would not offend
To punish me for what you make me do,
Seems much unequal: He is married to Octavia.
Cleo. O, that his fault should make a knave of
thee,
[hence:
That art not what thou'rt fure of 2!Get thee
The merchandife, which thou hast brought from
Rome,

Are all too dear for me; Lye they upon thy hand,
And be undone by 'em!
Exit Mefenger.
Char. Good your highness, patience.
Cleo. In praifing Antony, I have difprais'd Cæfar.
Char. Many times, madam.

Cleo. I am paid for it now. Lead me from hence,
I faint; O Iras, Charmian,-Tis no matter :-
Go to the fellow, good Alexas; bid him
Report the feature 3 of Octavia, her years,
Her inclination, let him not leave out
The colour of her hair :--bring me word quickly.—
[Exit Alexas.
Let him 4 for ever go :-Let him not,-Charmian ;
Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
The other way he is a Mars :-Bid you Alexas
[To Mardian.
Bring me word, how tall fhe is.-Pity me, Char-
mian,

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

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That first we come to words; and therefore have we Our written purposes before us fent :

Which, if thou haft confider'd, let us know

If 'twill tie up thy difcontented fword;
And carry back to Sicily much tall youth,
That elfe muft perish here.

Pomp. To you all three,

The fenators alone of this great world,
Chief factors for the gods,-I do not know,
Wherefore my father thould revengers want,
Having a fon, and friends; fince Julius Cæfar,
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted,
There faw you labouring for him. What was it,
That mov'd pale Caffius to confpire ? And
What made, all-honour'd, honeft, Roman Brutus,

Clo. The gods confound thee! doft thou hold With the arm'd reft, courtiers of beauteous freedom,

there ftill?

1 Submerg'd is whelm'd under water.

To drench the Capitol; but that they would

2 i. e. Thou art not an honest man, of which thou art thy

3 i, e. the beauty, Have

felf affured, but thou art in my opinion a knave by thy master's fault alone, 4 i, e. Antony,

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Ant. Which do not be intreated to, but weigh When you have well deferv'd ten times as much What it is worth embrac'd.

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I came before you here, a man prepar'd
To take this offer: But Mark Antony
Put me to fome impatience :-Though I lose
The praise of it by telling, You must know,
When Cæfar and your brother 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.

Pomp. Let me have your hand :

I did not think, fir, 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.

Caf. Since I faw you last, There is a change upon you.

Pomp. Well, I know not,

What counts harsh fortune caits upon my face 2;

But in my bolom shall she never come,

To make my heart her vaffal.

Lep. Well met here.

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As I have faid you did.

Pomp. Enjoy thy plainness,

It nothing ill becomes thee.-
Aboard my galley I invite you all :
Will you lead, lords?

All, Shew us the way, fir.

Pomp Come. [Exeunt. Manent Enob, and Menas, Men. [Afide.] Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have made this treaty.

You and I have known, fir,
Eno. At fea, I think.

Men. We have, fir.

Eno. You have done well by water.
Men. And you by land.

Eno. I will praife 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, fomething you can deny for your own fafety: you have been a great thief by fea.

Men. And you by land.

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

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

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

face.

Men. No flander; they steal hearts.

Eno. We came hither to fight with you. Men. For my part, I am forry it is turn'd to a drinking. Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune.

Eno. If he do, fure, he cannot weep it back again.

Men. You have faid, fir. We look'd not for Mark Antony here: Pray you, is he married to Cleopatra ?

Eno. Cefar's fifter is call'd Octavia.

Men. True, fir; fhe was the wife of Caius Mar.

cellus.

Eno, But now the is the wife of Marcus Antonius.
Men. Pray you, fir?
Eno. 'Tis true.

1 i. e. affright us. 2 A metaphor from making marks or lines in cafting accounts in arithmetick. i. c. to Julius Cæfaṛ.

Men.

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