Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers Ant. Good night, Sir-My Octavia, Read not my blemishes in the world's report: I have not kept my square; but that to come Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear lady. Cæs. Good night. [Exeunt CESAR and OCTAVIA. Ant. Now, sirrah! you do wish yourself in Egypt ? Thither! Ant. If you can, your reason? Sooth. I see't in My motion,* have it not in my tongue: But yet Ant. Say to me, Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Cæsar's, or mine? Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side: Thy demon, that's thy spirit which keeps thee, is Where Cæsar's is not; but near him, thy angel Ant. Speak this no more. Sooth. To none but thee; no more, but when to thee. If thou dost play with him at any game, Thou art sure to lose; and, of that natural luck, He beats thee 'gainst the odds; thy lustre thickens, When he shines by: I say again, thy spirit Is all afraid to govern thee near him; But, he away, 'tis noble. Ant. Get thee gone: Say to Ventidius, I would speak with him: [Exit SOOTHSAYER, He shall to Parthia.-Be it art, or hap, He hath spoken true: The very dice obey him; And, in our sports, my better cunning faints I' the east my pleasure lies:-O, come, Ventidius, SCENE IV.-The same. A Street. Enter LEPIDUS, MECENAS, and AGRIPPA. Lep. Trouble yourselves no further: pray you, hasten Your generals after. [Exeunt. * Inspiration. †The ancients used to match quails as we match cocks. Agr. Sir, Mark Antony Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow. Lep. Till I shall see you in your soldier's dress, Which will become you both, farewell. Mec. We shall, As I conceive the journey, be at mount* Before you, Lepidus. Lep. Your way is shorter, My purposes do draw me much about; Mec. Agr. Sir, good success! Lep. Farewell. [Exeunt. SCENE V-Alexandria. A Room in the Palace. Attend. The music, ho! Enter MARDIAN. Cleo. Let it alone; let us to billiards: Come, Charmian. Char. My arm is sore, best play with Mardian. As with a woman;-Come, you'll play with me, Sir? Mar. As well as I can, madam. Cleo. And when good will is show'd, though it come too short, The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now: Give me mine angle,-We'll to the river: there, My music playing far off, I will betray Tawny-finn'd fishes; my bended hook shall pierce And say, Ah, ha! you're caught. Char. 'Twas merry, when You wager'd on your angling; when your diver Cleo. That time! times! I laugh'd him out of patience; and that night Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears, Mess. Madam, madam,— Cleo. Antony's dead ? If thou say so, villain, thou kill'st thy mistress: But well and free, *I. e. Mount Misenum. If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here Mess. Good madam, hear me. But, sirrah, mark; we use But there's no goodness in thy face: If Antony Thou should'st come like a fury crown'd with snakes, Mess. Will't please to 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 Mess. Madam, he's well, Cleo. Well said. Mess. And friends with Cæsar. Cleo. 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 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 friend with Cæsar; 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! Mess. Good madam, patience. Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine eyes Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head; [Strikes him down. [Strikes him again. [She hales him up and down. Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in brine, *Countenance. + A man in form. Modifies the good before reported. Mess. Gracious madam, 1, 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 lived too long. Mess. Nay, then I'll run : [Draws a dagger. [Exit. What mean you, madam? I have made no fault. Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thunderbolt.→ Cleo. I will not hurt him: These hands do lack nobility, that they strike Have given myself the cause.-Come hither, Sir. Though it be honest, it is never good To bring bad news: Give to a gracious message Mess. I have done my duty. 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 still? Cleo. O, I would, thou didst; So half my Egypt were submerg'd, and made A cistern for scaled snakes! Go, get thee hence; Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married? 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 fault should make a knave of thee, That art not!-What? thou'rt sure of't ?-Get thee hence: Are all too dear for me; Lie they upon thy hand, And be undone by 'em! Char. Good your highness, patience. [Exit MESSENGER. Cleo. In praising Antony, I have dispraised Cæsar. * Recompense. Char. Many times, Madam. I faint; O Iras, Charmian,-'Tis no matter:- The colour of her hair :-bring me word quickly. [Exit ALEXAS. [TO MARDIAN. Let him for ever go:-Let him not-Charmian, SCENE VI.-Near Misenum. [Exeunt. Enter POMPEY and MENAS, at one side, with Drum and Trumpet; at another, CESAR, LEPIDUS, ANTONY, ENOBARBUS, MECENAS, with Soldiers marching. Pom. Your hostages I have, so have you mine; And we shall talk before we fight. Cas. 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 Pom. To you all three, The senators alone of this great world, Cas. Take your time. Ant. Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails, We'll speak with thee at sea: at land, thou know'st How much we do o'er-count thee. Pom. At land, indeed, Thou dost o'er-count me of my father's house: I. e. by the extent of my father's possessions, which thou hast appropriated. |