Eno. But she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius. Men. Pray you, Sir? Eno. "Tis true. Men. Then is Cæsar, and he, for ever knit together. Eno. If I were bound to divine of this unity, I would not prophesy so. Men. I think, the policy of that purpose made more in the marriage, than the love of the parties. Eno. I think so too. But you shall find, the band that seems to tie their friendship together, will be the very strangler of their amity: Octavia is of a holy, cold, and still conversation.* Men. Who would not have his wife so? Eno. Not he, that himself is not so; which is Mark Antony. He will to his Egyptian dish again: then shall the sighs of Octavia blow the fire up in Cæsar; and, as I said before, that which is the strength of their amity, shall prove the immediate author of their variance. Antony will use his affection where it is: he married but his occasion here. Men. And thus it may be. Come, Sir, will you aboard? I have a health for you. Eno. I shall take it, Sir: we have used our throats in Egypt. Men. Come; let's away. [Exeunt. SCENE VII.-On Board POMPEY'S Galley, lying near Misenum. Music. Enter two or three SERVANTS, with a Banquet.†. 1 Serv. Here they'll be, man: Some o' their plants are illrooted already, the least wind i' the world will blow them down. 2 Serv. Lepidus is high-coloured. 1 Serv. They have made him drink alms-drink. 2 Serv. As they pinch one another by the disposition, he cries out, no more; reconciles them to his entreaty, and himself to the drink. 1 Serv. But it raises the greater war between him and his discretion. 2 Serv. Why, this is to have a name in great men's fellowship; I had as lief have a reed that will do me no service, as a partizan § I could not heave. 1 Serv. To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in't, are the holes where eyes should be, which pitifully disaster the cheeks. A Sennet sounded. Enter CESAR, ANTONY, POMPEY, LEPIDUS, AGRIPPA, MECENAS, ENOBARBUS, MENAS, with other captains. Ant. Thus do they, Sir: [To CESAR]. They take the flow o' the Nile. By certain scales i' the pyramid; they know, By the height, the lowness, or the mean, || if dearth, *Behaviour. + Dessert. Feet. ¶ Plenty. Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain, Lep. You have strange serpents there. Ant. Ay, Lepidus. Lep. Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun: so is your crocodile. Ant. They are so. Pom. Sit, and some wine.-A health to Lepidus. * Lep. I am not so well as I should be, but I'll ne'er out. Eno. Not till you have slept; I fear me, you'll be in till then. Lep. Nay, certainly, I have heard, the Ptolemies' pyramises are very goodly things; without contradiction, I have heard that. Men. Pompey, a word. Pom. Say in mine ear: What is't? [Aside. Men. Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, captain, And hear me speak a word. [Aside. Pom. Forbear me till anon. This wine for Lepidus. Lep. What manner o' thing is your crocodile? Ant. 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. Lep. What colour is it of? Ant. 'Tis so. And the tears of it are wet. Cæs. Will this description satisfy him? Ant. With the health that Pompey gives him, else he is a very epicure. Pom. [to MENAS aside.] Go, hang, Sir, hang! Tell me of that? away! Do as I bid you.-Where's this cup I call'd for? Rise from thy stool. Pom. I think, thou'rt mad. The matter? [Aside. [Rises, and walks aside. Men. I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes. Pom. Thou hast served me with much faith: What's else to say? Be jolly, lords. Ant. These quicksands, Lepidus, Keep off them, for you sink. Men. Wilt thou be lord of all the world? Pom. What say'st thou ? Men. Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That's twice. Pom. How should that be? Men. But entertain it, and, Although thou think me poor, I am the man Will give thee all the world. Pom. Hast thou drunk well? Men. No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup. Thou art, if thou dar'st be, the earthly Jove: * Pyramids. Whatever the ocean pales,* or sky inclips,† Is thine, if thou wilt have't. Pom. Show me which way. Men. These three world-sharers, these competitors,+ And, when we are put off, fall to their throats: Pom. Ah, this thou shouldst have done, And not have spoke on't! In me, 'tis villany; I'll never follow thy pall'd fortunes more. Who seeks, and will not take, when once 'tis offer'd, Shall never find it more. Pom. This health to Lepidus. Ant. Bear him ashore.-I'll pledge it for him, Pompey. Men. Enobarbus, welcome. Pom. Fill, till the cup be hid. Eno. There's a strong fellow, Menas. [Aside. [Pointing to the Attendant who carries off LEPIDUS. Men. Why? Eno. He bears The third part of the world, man; See'st not? Men. The third part then is drunk: 'Would it were all, That it might go on wheels! Eno. Drink thou; increase the re'els. Men. Come. Pom. This is not yet an Alexandrian feast. Ant. It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, § ho! Here is to Cæsar. Cæs. I could well forbear it. It's monstrous labour, when I wash my brain, And it grows fouler. Ant. Be a child o' the time. Cas. Possess it, I'll make answer: but I had rather fast From all, four days, than drink so much in one. Eno. Ha, my brave emperor ! Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals, And celebrate our drink? Pom. Let's ha't, good soldier. Ant. Come, let us all take hands; [TO ANTONY. Till that the conquering wine hath steep'd our sense Eno. All take hands. Make battery to our ears with the loud music :— * Encompasses. § Kettle-drums. + Embraces. Confederates. The while, I'll place you: Then the boy shall sing: As his strong sides can volley. [Music plays. ENOBARBUS places them hand in hand. Come, thou monarch of the vine, Cas. What would you more?-Pompey, good night. Good brother, Let me request you off: our graver business Frowns at this levity. Gentle lords, let's part; You see, we have burnt our cheeks: strong Enobarbe Is weaker than the wine; and mine own tongue Splits what it speaks: the wild disguise hath almost Antick'd us all. What needs more words? Good night.- Pom. I'll try you o' the shore. Ant. And shall, Sir: give's your hand. Pom. O, Antony, You have my father's house,-But what? we are friends: Eno. Take heed you fall not. [Exeunt POMPEY, CÆSAR, ANTONY, and Attendants. Menas, I'll not on shore. Men. No, to my cabin. These drums!-these trumpets, flutes! what!— Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell To these great fellows: Sound, and be hang'd, sound out. Eno. Ho, says 'a!-There's my cap. [A flourish of trumpets, with drums. [Exeunt. Men. Ho!-noble captain! Come. ACT III. SCENE I-A Plain in Syria. Enter VENTIDIUS, as after conquest, with SILIUS, and other Romans, Officers, and Soldiers; the dead body of PACORUS borne before him. Ven. Now, darting Parthia, art thou struck; and now Pleased fortune does of Marcus Crassus' death Make me revenger.—Bear the king's son's body Before our army:-Thy Pacorus, Orodes, Pays this for Marcus Crassus. Sil. Noble Ventidius, * Burden, chorus. † Eyes. Whilst yet with Parthian blood thy sword is warm, The routed fly: so thy grand captain Antony Ven. O Silius, Silius, I have done enough: A lower place, note well, More in their officer, than person: Sossius, Which he achieved by the minute, lost his favour. I could do more to do Antonius good, Sil. Thou hast, Ventidius, That without which a soldier, and his sword, Grants scarce distinction. Thou wilt write to Antony? Ten. I'll humbly signify what in his name, That magical word of war, we have effected; How, with his banners, and his well-paid ranks, We have jaded out o' the field. Sil. Where is he now ? Ven. He purposeth to Athens: whither with what haste The weight we must convey with us will permit, We shall appear before him.-On, there; pass along. [Exeunt. SCENE II-Rome. An Antichamber in CESAR'S House. Enter AGRIPPA, and ENOBARBUS, meeting. Agr. What, are the brothers parted? Eno. They have despatch'd with Pompey, he is gone; The other three are sealing. Octavia weeps To part from Rome: Cæsar is sad; and Lepidus, Agr. 'Tis a noble Lepidus. Eno. A very fine one: O, how he loves Cæsar! Agr. Nay, but how dearly he adores Mark Antony! * The phoenix. |