The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare. With a Glossary

Enter a Messenger.

Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears, That long time have been barren.

Mess.

Cleo. Antony's dead ?

Madam, madam,

If thou say so, villain, thou kill'st thy mistress:
But well and fee,

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.

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
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 shouldst 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.

Mess.
Cleo.
Mess. And friends with Cæsar.
Cleo.

Well said.

Thou'rt an honest man. 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; 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 friend 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. Mess. Good madam, patience, Cleo. What say you?-Hence, [Strikes him again. 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 whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in brine, Smarting in ling'ring pickle.

Mess.

Gracious madam,

I, 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 hadst
Shall make thy peace, for moving me to rage;
And I will boot thee with what gift beside
Thy modesty can beg.

Mess.

He's married, madam. Cleo. Rogue, thou hast liv'd too long.

[Draws a Dagger. Mess. Nay, then I'll run :What mean you, madam? I have made no fault. [Exit. Char. Good madam, keep yourself within yourself'; The man is innocent.

Cleo. 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. 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.

Mess.

Cleo. Is he married?

I cannot hate thee worser than I do,
If thou again say, Yes.
Mess.
He is married, madam..
Cleo. The gods confound thee! dost thou hold there
Mess. Should I lie, madam?
[still?
Cleo.
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 wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?
Mess. I crave your highness' pardon.
Cleo.

He is married?

Mess. Take no offence, that I would not offend you.
To punish me for what you make me do,
Seems much unequal: He is married to Octavia.
Cleo. O, that his faults should make a knave of thee,
That art not!-What? thou'rt sure of't?-Get thee
hence :

The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome,
Are all too dear for me; Lie they upon thy hand,
And be undone by 'em!
[Exit Messenger.
Char.
Good your highness, patience.
Cleo. In praising Antony, I have disprais'd Cæsar.
Char. Many times, madam.
Cleo.
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,
T'other way he's a Mars:- Bid you, Alexas

[To Mardian. Bring me word, how tall she is.-Pity me, Charmian, But do not speak to me.-Lead me to my chamber. [Exeunt.

SCENE VI. Near Misenum.

Enter Pompey and Menas, at one Side, with Drum
and Trumpet; at another, Cæsar, Lepidus, An-
tony, Enobarbus, Mecenas, with Soldiers marching.
Pom. Your hostages I have, so have you mine;
And we shall talk before we fight.
Cæs.
Most meet,
That first we come to words; and therefore have we
Our written purposes before us sent;
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.
Pom.

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 Brutns,
With the arm'd 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 anger'd ocean foams; with which I meant
To scourge the ingratitude that despiteful Rome
Cast on my noble father.

Pom.

And what may follow,

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,

I have done my duty. To part with unhack'd edges, and bear back

Our targe undisted.

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 Cæsar Grew fat with feasting there.

Ant. You have heard much. Pom. I have fair meanings, sir. Ant. And fair words to them. Pom. Then so much have I heard :And I have heard, Apollodoras carriedEno. No more of that;-He did so, Pom.

What, I pray you? Eno. A certain queen to Cresar in a mattress. Pom. I know thee now ;-How far'st thou, soldier? Well;

Eno.

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

Pom.

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

Eno.

Sir, 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. Show us the way, sir.

Pom.

Come. [Exeunt Pompey, Caesar, Antony, Lepidus, Soldiers, and Attendants.

Men. Thy 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 authority, here they might take two thieves kissing.

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

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

Men. No slander; they steal hearts.

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

Eno. If he do, sure, he cannot weep it back again. Men. You have said, sir. We looked not for Mark Antony here; Pray you, is he married to Cleopatra ? Eno. Cæsar's sister is called Octavia.

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

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, 1 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.

SCENE VII.

[Exeunt.

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 ill-rooted 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 bis discretion.

2 Serv. 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 partizan 1 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 Cæsar, Antony, Pompey, Lepidus, Agrippa, Mecenas, Enobarbus, Menas, with other Captains.

Ant. Thus do they, sir: [To Caesar] 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,
Or foizon, 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.

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.

Say in mine ear: What is't? Men. Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, captain, [Aside.

And hear me speak a word.
Pom.
This wine for Lepidus.

Forbear me till auon.

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. Of its own colour too.
Lep. 'Tis a strange serpent.

Ant. 'Tis so. And the tears of it are wet.

Cas. 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?
Men. If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me,
Rise from thy stool.
[Aside.
Pom.
I think, thou art mad. The matter!
Rises, and walks aside.
Men. I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.
Pom. Thou hast serv'd me with much faith: What's
else to say?

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
Pom. How should that be?
[twice.
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:
Whate'er 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,
Are in thy vessel: Let me cut the cable;
And, when we are put off, fall to their throats :
All there is thine.
Pom.
Ah, this thou shouldst have done,
And not have spoke on't! In me, 'tis villany;
In thee, it 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 betray'd thine aet: Being done unknown,
I should have found it afterwards well done;
But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.
Men. For this,

Aside.

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,
Eno. Here's to thee, Menas.
[Pompey.
Men.
Enobarbus, welcome.
Pom. Fill, till the cup be hid.
Eno. There's a strong fellow, Menas.
[Pointing to the Attendant who carries off Lepidus.
Why

Men.

Eno.

The third part of the world, man; Seest
Men. The third part then is drunk:
That it might go on wheels!

He bears

not?
'Would it
[were all,

Eno. Drink thou; increase the reels.
Men. Come.

Pom. This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.

Caes. What would you more ?-Pompey, good night.
Good brother,

Pom.

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
Good Antony, your hand.
[night.
I'll try you o'the shore.
Ant. And shall, sir: give's your hand.
O, Antony,
You have my father's house,-But what? we are
Come, down into the boat.
[friends?
Eno.
Take heed you fail not.
[Exeunt Pompey, Caesar, Antony, and Attendants.
Menas, I'll not on shore.
Men.
No, to my cabin.--
These drams !-these trumpets, flutes! what!-
Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell [out.
To these great fellows Sound, and be hang'd, sound
LA Flourish of Trumpets, with Drums.
Eno. Ho, says 'a!-There's my cap.
Ho!-noble captain!
[Exeunt.

Men.

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

Pleas'd 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,
Whilst yet with Parthian blood thy sword is warm,
The fugitive Parthians follow; spur through Media,
Mesopotamia, and the shelters whither
The routed fly: so thy grand captain, Antony
Shall set thee on triumphant chariots, and
Put garlands on thy head.
Ven.
O Silius, Silius,
I have done enough: A lower place, note well,
May make too great an act: For learn this, Silius;
Better leave undone, than by our deed acquire
Too high a fame, when him we serve's away.
Caesar, and Antony, have ever won

More in their officer, than person: Sossius,
One of my place in Syria, his lieutenant,
For quick accumulation of renown,

Which he achiev'd by the minute, lost his favour.
Who does i'the wars more than his captain can,
Becomes his captain's captain: and ambition,
The soldier's virtue, rather makes choice of loss,
Than gain, which darkens him.

Ant. It ripens towards it.-Strike the vessels, ho! I could do more to do Antonius good,
Here is to Cæsar.

Let's ha't, good soldier.
Ant. Come, let us all take hands;
Till that the conquering wine hath steep'd our sense
In soft and delicate Lethe.
Eno.

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 bear, as loud
As his strong sides can volley.

[Music plays. Enobarbus places them Hand
in Hand.
SONG.

Come, thou monarch of the vine,
Plumpy Bacchus, with pink eyne:
In thy vats our cares be drown'd;
With thy grapes our hairs be crown'd;
Cup us, till the world go round;
Cup us, till the world go round!

But 'twould offend him; and in his offence
Should my performance perish.

Sil.
Thou hast, Ventidius,
That without which a soldier, and his sword,
Grants scarce distinction. Thou wilt write to Antony?
Ven. 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,
The ne'er-yet-beaten horse of Parthia
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 Antechamber in Cæsar'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,
Since Pompey's feast, as Menas says, is troubled
With the green-sickness.

Agr.
'Tis a noble Lepidus.
Eno. A very fine one: O, how he loves Cæsar!
Agr. Nay, but how dearly he adores Mark Antony!
Eno. Cæsar? Why, he's the Jupiter of men.

Agr. What's Antony? The god of Jupiter. Eno. Speak you of Cæsar? How? the nonpareil! Agr. O Antony! O thou Arabian bird! Eno. Would you praise Cæsar, say,-Cæsar-go no further.

Agr, Indeed, he ply'd them both with excellent praises. [tony: Eno. But he loves Cæsar best ;-Yet he loves AnHo! hearts, tongues, figures, scribes, bards, poets, cannot

Think, speak, cast, write, sing, number, ho, his love
To Antony. But as for Cæsar,

Kneel down, kneel down, and wonder.
Agr.
Both he loves.
Eno. They are his shards, and he their beetle. So,-
[Trumpets.

This is to horse-Adieu, noble Agrippa.
Agr. Good fortune, worthy soldier; and farewell.
Enter Cæsar, Antony, Lepidus, and Octavia.
Ant. No further, sir.

Cæs. You take from me a great part of myself;
Use me well in it. Sister, prove such a wife
As my thoughts make thee, and as my furthest band
Shall pass on thy approof.-Most noble Antony,
Let not the piece of virtue, which is set
Betwixt us, as the cement of our love,
To keep it builded, be the ram, to batter
The fortress of it: for better might we

Have lov'd without this mean, if on both parts
This be not cherish'd.

Ant.

Make me not offended

I have said.

You shall not find, Though you be therein curious, the least cause For what you seem to fear: So, the gods keep you, And make the hearts of Romans serve your ends! We will here part.

Cas. Farewell, my dearest sister, fare thee well; The elements be kind to thee, and make Thy spirits all of comfort! fare thee well. Octa. My noble brother!

Ant. The April's in her eyes: It is love's spring, And these the showers to bring it on.-Be cheerful. Octa. Sir, look well to my husband's house; and What,

Cæs. Octavia ?

Adien; be happy! Lep. Let all the number of the stars give light To thy fair way! Farewell, farewell! [Kisses Octavia. Farewell.

Cæs. Ant.

[Trumpets sound. Exeunt. SCENE III. Alexandria. A Room in the Palace. Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas. Cleo. Where is the fellow? Alex. Half afeard to come. Cleo. Go to, go to:-Come hither, sir. Enter a Messenger.

Alex. Good majesty, Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you, But when you are well pleas'd. Cleo.

That Herod's head I'll have: But how? when Antony is gone, Through whom I might command it.-Come thou near. Mess. Most gracious majesty,

Cleo. Widow ?-Charmian, hark. Mess. And I do think, she's thirty. Cleo. Bear'st thou her face in mind? is it long, or Mess. Round even to faultiness. [round? Cleo, For the most part too, They are foolish that are so.-Her hair, what colour ? Mess. Brown, madam: And her forehead is as low As she would wish it. Cleo. There is gold for thee, Thou must not take my former sharpness ill:I will employ thee back again; I find thee Most fit for business: Go, make thee ready; Our letters are prepar❜d. [Exit Messenger. Char. A proper man. Cleo. Indeed, he is so: I repent me much, This creature's no such thing. That so I harry'd him. Why, methinks, by him,

Char.

O, nothing, madam. Cleo. The man hath seen some majesty and should know.

And serving you so long!
Char. Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend,
[Charmian :
Cleo. I have one thing more to ask him yet, good
But 'tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to me,
Where I will write: All may be well enough.
Char. I warrant you, madam.
SCENE IV. Athens. A Room in Antony's House.

Enter Antony and Octavia.

[Exeunt.

Ant. Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that,-
That were excusable, that, and thousands more.
Of semblable import,-but he hath wag'd
New wars 'gainst Pompey; made his will, and read it
To public ear:

Spoke scantly of me: when perforce he could not ~
But pay me terms of honour, cold and sickly
He vented them; most narrow measure lent me :
When the best hint was given him, he not took't,

Or did it from his teeth.

Octa.

Believe not all; or, if you must believe,
O my good lord,
Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady,
If this division chance, ne'er stood between,
Praying for both parts:

And the good gods will mock me presently,
When I shall pray, 0, bless my lord and husband!
Undo that prayer, by crying out as loud,

O, bless my brother! Husband win, win brother,
Prays, and destroys the prayer: no midway
"Twixt these extremes at all.

Ant.

Gentle Octavia,
Let your best love draw to that point, which seeks
Best to preserve it: If I lose mine honour,

I lose myself: better I were not yours,
Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested,
Yourself shall go between us: The mean time, lady,
I'll raise the preparation of a war

Shall stain your brother; Make your soonest haste;
So your desires are yours.
Octa.
Thanks to my lord.
The Jove of power make me most weak, most weak,
Your reconciler! Wars 'twixt you twin would be
As if the world should cleave, and that slain men
Should solder up the rift.

Ant. When it appears to you where this begins,
Turn your displeasure that way; for our faults
Can never be so equal, that your love

Can equally move with them. Provide your going;
Choose your own company, and command what cost

Your heart has mind to.

SCENE V.

[Exeunt.

The same. Another Room in the same.
Enter Enobarbus and Eros, meeting.

Eno. How now, friend Eros?

Eros. There's strange news come, sir.

Eno. What, man?

Mec.

He'll never yield to that.

Cas. Nor must not then be yielded to in this.
Enter Octavia.

Octa. Hail, Caesar, and my lord! hail, most dear
Cæsar !

Caes. That ever I should call thee, east-away!
Octa. You have not call'd me so, nor have you cause.
Cas. Why have you stol'n upon us thus? You come
Like Cæsar's sister: The wife of Antony [not
The neighs of horse to tell of her approach,
Should have an army for an usher, and
Long ere she did appear; the trees by the way,

Should have borne men; and expectation fainted,
Longing for what it had not: nay, the dust
Should have ascended to the roof of heaven,
Rais'd by your populous troops: But you are come
A market-maid to Rome and have prevented
The ostent of our love, which, left unshown,
Is often left unlov'd: we should have met you

Eros. Cæsar and Lepidus have made wars upon By sea, and land: supplying every stage
With an augmented greeting.
Pompey.

Eno. This is old; What is the success?
Eros. Cæsar, having made use of him in the wars
'gainst Pompey, presently denied him rivality; would
not let him partake in the glory of the action and
not resting here, accuses him of letters he had for-
merly wrote to Pompey; upon his own appeal, seizes
him; So the poor third is up, till death enlarge his

confine.

Eno. Then, world, thou hast a pair of chaps, no

Our great navy's rigged.
Eros. For Italy, and Cæsar. More, Domitius;
My lord desires you presently my news

I might have told hereafter.
Eno.

[Exeunt.

[more;

"Twill be naught:
But let it be.-Bring me to Antony.
Eros. Come, sir.
SCENE VI. Rome. A Room in Cæsar's House.
Enter Cæsar, Agrippa, and Mecenas.
Cæs. Contemning Rome, he has done all this: And
In Alexandria,-here's the manner of it,
I'the market-place, on a tribunal silver'd,
Cleopatra and himself, in chairs of gold,
Were publicly enthron'd at the feet, sat
Cæsarion, whom they call my father's son;
And all the unlawful issue, that their lust
Since then hath made between them. Unto her
He gave the 'stablishment of Egypt; made her
Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia,
Absolute queen.

Mec.

This in the public eye?

[cise.

Caes. I'the common show-place, where they exer-
His sons he there proclaim'd, The kings of kings:
Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia,

He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assign'd
Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia She

In the habiliments.of the goddess Isis

That day appear'd; and oft before gave audience,
As 'tis reported, so.

Mec.

Inform'd.

Let Rome be thus

Agr. Who, queasy with his insolence
Already, will their good thoughts call from him.
Cas. The people know it; and have now receiv'd
His accusations.

Agr.

Whom does he accuse?

Cres. Cesar: and that, having in Sicily
Sextus Pompeius spoil'd, we had not rated him
His part o'the isle: then does he say, he lent me
Some shipping unrestor'd lastly, he frets,
That Lepidus of the triumvirate
Should be depos'd; and, being, that we detain
All his revenue.

Agr

Sir, this should be answer'd.

Ces. "Tis done already, and the messenger gone. I have told him, Lepidus was grown too ernel; That he his high authority abus'd,

[quer'd,

And did deserve his change; for what I have con-
I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia,
And other of his conquer'd kingdoms, I

Demand the like..

Cæs.

I have eyes upon him,
And his affairs come to me on the wind.
Where is he now ?

Octa.
My lord, in Athens.
Cas. No, my most wrong'd sister; Cleopatra
Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire
Up to a whore; who now are levying
The kings o'the earth for war: He hath assembled
Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus,

Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king

Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas:
King Malchus of Arabia; king of Pont;
Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, king

Of Comagene; Polemon and Amintas,
The kings of Mede, and Lycaonia, with a
More larger list of sceptres.

Octa.
Ah me, most wretched,
That have my heart parted betwixt two friends,
That do afflict each other!

Cæs.
Welcome hither:
Your letters did withhold our breaking forth;
Till we perceiv'd, both how you were wrong led,
And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart:
Be you not troubled with the time, which drives.
O'er your content these strong necessities;
But let determin'd things to destiny
Hold unbewail'd their way. Welcome to Rome:
Nothing more dear to me. You are abus'd
Beyond the mark of thought: and the high gods,
To do you justice, make them ministers.
Of us, and those that love you. Best of comfort;

« السابقة متابعة »

كتب