Mufic plays. Enter two or three Servants with a banquet. 1 Ser. Here they'll be, man: fome o' their plants. are ill rooted already, the least wind i' th' world will blow them down. 2. Ser. Lepidus is high-colour'd. I Ser. They have made him drink alms-drink*. 2. Ser. As they pinch one another by the disposition †, he cries out, no more; reconciles them to his entreaty, and hiinfelf to th' drink. 1 Ser. But it raises the greater war between him and his difcretion. 2 Ser. Why, this it is to have a name in great men's fellowship: I had as lieve have a reed that. will do me no fervice, as a partizan I could not heave. 1 Ser. To be call'd into a huge sphere ‡, and not to be feen to move in't, are the holes where eyes fhould be, which pitifully difafter the cheeks. A phrafe amongst good-fellows, to fignify that liquor of another's fhare which his companion drinks to eafe him. But it fatirically alludes to Cæfar and Antony's admitting him into the triumvirate, in order to take off from themselves the load of envy. Warburton. † A phrafe equivalent to that now in ufe, of touching one in a fore place. Ibid. This fpeech feems to be mutilated; to fupply the deficiencies is impoffible, but perhaps the fenfe was originally approaching to this: To be call'd into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in it, is a very ignominious ftate; great offices are the holes where eyes fhould be, which, if eyes be wanting, pitifully difafter the cheeks. Johnson. Trumpets. Enter Cæfar, Antony, Pompey, Lepidus, Agrippa, Mecenas, Enobarbus, Menas, with other Captains. Ant. Thus do they, Sir: they take the flow o* th' Nile By certain fcales i' th' pyramid; they know, By th' height, the lownels, or the mean, if dearth, Or foizon, follow; the higher Nilus fwells, The more it promifes. As it ebbs, the feedsman on the flime and ooze fcatters his grain, hortly comes to harvest. Lep. You've frange ferpents there. y, Lepidus. our ferpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your fun; fo is your cro codile. Ant. They are fo. Pomp. Sit, and fome wine. A health to Lepidus. Lep. I am not fo wel as I fhould be, But I'll ne'er out. Eno. Not 'till you have flept; I fear me you'll be in 'till then. Lep. Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemey's Pyramifis are very goodly things; without contradiction I have heard that. Men. Pompey, a word. Pomp. Say in mine ear, what is't? [Afide. Mei. Forfake thy feat, I do befeech thee, cap tain, And hear me fpeak a word. Pomp. Forbear me 'till anon. -This wine for Lepidus. [Afide. [Whispers. Lep. What manner o' thing is your crocodile ? Ant. It is fhap'd, Sir, like itfelf; 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 tranfmigrates. Lep. What colour is it of? Aut. 'Tis fo, and the tears of it are wet. Ant. With the health that Pompey gives him, elfe he is a very Epicure. Pomp. to Menas afide.] Go hang, Sir, hang! Tell me of that? away! Do as I bid you. Where's the cup I call'd for? Men. If for the fake of merit thou wilt hear me, Rife from thy ftool. Pomp. rifes and walks afide.] I think thou'rt mad. The matter? Men. I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes. Men. Wilt thou be lord of all the world? Men. Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? that's twice. Pomp. How fhall that be? Men. But entertain it,. And though you think me poor, I am the man Pomp. Haft thou drunk well? Men. No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup. Thou art, if thou dar'ft be, the earthly Jove: Whate'er the ocean pales, or sky inclips, Is thine, if thou wilt ha't. Pomp. Shew me which way. Men.Thefe three world-fharers, thefe competitors, Are in thy veffel. Let me cut the cable; And when we are put off, fall to their throats. All then is thine. Pomp. Ah, this thou fhouldst have done, And not have spoken on't. In me 'tis villainy; Men. For this, I'll never follow thy pall'd fortunes more: Who feeks and will not take, when once 'tis offer'd, Shall never find it more. Pomp. This health to Lepidus. Ant. Bear him afhore, I'll pledge it for him, Eno. Here's to thee, Menas. Men. Enobarbus, welcome. Pomp. Fill 'till the cup be hid. Eno. There's a strong fellow, Menas. Men. Why? [Pointing to Lepidus.. Eno. He bears the third part of the world, man! See'ft not. Men. The third part then is drunk; would it wereThat it might go on wheels! Eno. Drink thou, increase the reels.. Men. Come. Pomp. This is not an Alexandrian feast. [all, Aut. It ripens towards it. Strike the veffels, hoa.. Here is to Cæfar. Caf. I could well forbear it : It's monstrous labour when I wash my brain, And it grows fouler. Ant. Be a child o' th' time.. Caf. Poffels it, I will make anfwer; but I had rather fast Shall we dance now th' Egyptian Bacchanals,. Pomp. Let's ha't, good foldier. Ant. Come, let's all take hands, 'Till that the conquering wine hath steep'd our sense In foft and delicate Lethe. Eno. All take hands: Make battery to our ears with the loud mufic, As his ftrong fides can volley. [Mufic plays. Enobarbus places them hand in hand. The S. O N G. Come, thou monarch of the vine, Cf. What would you more? Pompey, good night, good brother, Let me request you off; our graver bufinefs Gentle lords, let's part; You fee we have burnt our cheeks. Strong Eno barbus Is weaker than the wine; and mine own tongue Splits what it fpeaks; the wild disguise hath almost Antickt us all. What needs more words? Good Good Antony, your hand. Pomp. I'll try you on the fhore. Ant. And fhall, Sir. Give's your hand. [night. Pomp. Oh, Antony, you have my father's houfe: But, what! we're friends; come down into the boat. Eno. Take heed you fall not. Men. I'll not on fhore.-No, to my cabin-These drums!-Thefe trumpets, flutes! what! Let Neptune hear, we bid a loud farewell To thefe great fellows. Sound, and be hang'd, found out. [Sound a flourish with drums. Eno. Hoo, fays a'! There's my cap. Men. Hoanoble captain, come, [Exeunt |