Enter ENOBARBUS. Eno. What's your pleasure, Sir? Ant. I must with haste from hence. Eno. Why, then, we kill all our women: We see how mortal an unkindness is to them; if they suffer our departure, death's the word. Ant. I must be gone. Eno. Under a compelling occasion, let women die: it were pity to cast them away for nothing; though, between them and a great cause, they should be esteemed nothing. Cleopatra, catching but the least noise of this, dies instantly; I have seen her die twenty times upon far poorer moment:* I do think, there is mettle in death, which commits some loving act upon her, she hath such a celerity in dying. Ant. She is cunning past man's thought. Eno. Alack, Sir, no; her passions are made of nothing but the finest part of pure love: We cannot call her winds and waters, sighs and tears; they are greater storms and tempests than almanacks can report: this cannot be cunning in her; if it be, she makes a shower of rain as well as Jove. Ant. 'Would I had never seen her! Eno. O, Sir, you had then left unseen a wonderful piece of work; which not to have been blessed withal, would have discredited your travel. Ant. Fulvia is dead. Eno. Sir? Ant. Fulvia is dead. Ant. Dead. Eno. Why, Sir, give the gods a thankful sacrifice. When it pleaseth their deities to take the wife of a man from him, it shows to man the tailors of the earth; comforting therein, that when old robes are worn out, there are members to make new. If there were no more women but Fulvia, then had you indeed a cut, and the case to be lamented: this grief is crowned with consolation; your old smock brings forth a new petticoat :-and indeed, the tears live in an onion, that should water this sorrow. Ant. The business she hath broach'd in the state, Cannot endure my absence. Eno. And the business you have broached here cannot be without you; especially that of Cleopatra's, which wholly depends on your abode. Ant. No more light answers. Let our officers *Fer much less matter. #Love's leave.) The empire of the sea: our slippery people Our quick remove from hence. Eno. I shall do't. SCENE III. [Exeunt. Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS. Cleo. Where is he? Char. I did not see him since. Cleo. See where he is, who's with him, what he does: I did not send you; †-If you find him sad, Say, I am dancing; if in mirth, report That I am sudden sick : Quick, and return [Exit ALEXAS. Char. Madam, methinks, if you did love him dearly, You do not hold the method to enforce The like from him. Cleo. What should I do, I do not? Char. In each thing give him way, cross him in nothing. Char. Tempt him not so too far: I wish forbear; In time we hate that which we often fear. But here comes Antony. Enter ANTONY. Cleo. I am sick, and sullen. Ant. I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose,- It cannot be thus long, the sides of nature Will not sustain it. Ant. Now, my dearest queen, Cleo. Pray you, stand further from me. Ant. What's the matter? Cleo. I know, by that same eye, there's some good news. What says the married woman ?-You may go? 'Would, she had never given you leave to come! Let her not say, 'tis I that keep you here, I have no power upon you: hers you are. Ant. The gods best know, Cleo. O, never was there queen So mightily betray'd! Yet, at the first, I saw the treasons planted. * It was once thought that the hair of a horse, dropped into corrupt water, became an animal. † I. e. seem as though I did not send you Ant. Cleopatra,— Cleo. Why should I think, you can be mine, and true, Though you in swearing shake the thronged gods, Who have been false to Fulvia? Riotous madness, To be entangled with those mouth-made vows, Which break themselves in swearing! Ant. Most sweet queen, Cleo. Nay, pray you seek no colour for your going, Bliss in our brows' bent; * none our parts so poor, Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world, Art turn'd the greatest liar. Ant. How now, lady! Cleo. I would, I had thy inches; thou shouldst know, There were a heart in Egypt. Ant. Hear me, queen: The strong necessity of time commands Our services awhile; but my full heart Remains in use with you. Our Italy Shines o'er with civil swords: Sextus Pompeius Makes his approaches to the port of Rome: Equality of two domestic powers Breeds scrupulous faction: The hated grown to strength, Are newly grown to love: The condemn'd Pompey, Into the hearts of such as have not thrived Upon the present state, whose numbers threaten; Cleo. Though age from folly could not give me freedom, It does from childishness :-Can Fulvia die? Ant. She's dead, my queen: Look here, and, at thy sovereign leisure, read Cleo. O most false love! Where be the sacred vials thou should'st fill In Fulvia's death, how mine received shall be. Cleo. Cut my lace, Charmian, come; † Flavour. * Arch. + Gate. Commotion. But let it be.—I am quickly ill, and well; So Antony loves. Ant. My precious queen forbear; And give true evidence to his love, which stands Cleo. So Fulvia told me. I pr'ythee turn aside and weep for her; Like perfect honour. Ant. You'll heat my blood; no more. Cleo. You can do better yet; but this is meetly. Cleo. And target,-Still he mends; But this is not the best: look pr'ythee, Charmian, The carriage of his chafe, † Ant. I'll leave you, lady. Cleo. Courteous lord, one word. Sir, you and I must part,-but that's not it: And I am all forgotten. Ant. But that your royalty Holds idleness your subject, I should take you Cleo. Tis sweating labour, To bear such idleness so near the heart As Cleopatra this. But, Sir, forgive me; Since my becomings kill me, when they do no And all the gods go with you! upon your sword Be strew'd before your feet! Ant. Let us go. Come; Our separation so abides, and flies, That thou, residing here, go'st yet with me, And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee. Away. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-Rome. An Apartment in CÆSAR's House. Enter OCTAVIUS CÆSAR, LEPIDUS, and Attendants. Cæs. You may see, Lepidus, and henceforth know, It is not Cæsar's natural vice to hate One great competitor: § from Alexandria This is the news; He fishes, drinks, and wastes The lamps of night in revel: is not more manlike More womanly than he hardly gave audience, or Vouchsafed to think he had partners: You shall find there A man who is the abstract of all faults That all men follow. Lep. I must not think, there are Evils enough to darken all his goodness: His faults, in him, seem as the spots of heaven, Rather than purchased;* what he cannot change, Cas. You are too indulgent: let us grant, it is not To give a kingdom for a mirth; to sit And keep the turn of tippling with a slave; To reel the streets at noon, and stand the buffet With knaves that smell of sweat: say, this becomes him, (As his composure must be rare indeed, Whom these things cannot blemish), yet must Antony So great weight in his lightness. † If he fill'd His vacancy with his voluptuousness, Full surfeits, and the dryness of his bones, Call on him for't: but, to confound such time, That drums him from his sport, and speaks as loud As we rate boys; who, being mature in knowledge, Enter a MESSENGER. Lep. Here's more news. Mess. Thy biddings have been done; and every hour, Most noble Cæsar, shalt thou have report How 'tis abroad. Pompey is strong at sea; And it appears, he is beloved of those That only have fear'd Cæsar: to the ports Cæs. I should have known no less: It hath been taught us from the primal state, And the ebb'd man, ne'er loved, till ne'er worth love, Comes dear'd, || by being lack'd. This common body, Like a vagabond flag upon the stream, Goes to, and back, lackeying the varying tide, T To rot itself with motion. Mess. Cæsar, I bring thee word, Menecrates and Menas, famous pirates, Make the sea serve them: which they ear ** and wound With keels of every kind: Many hot inroads * Acquired. + Levity. Following like a servant. Consume. ** Plough. |