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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.

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Ant. Ay, Lepidus.

Lep. Your serpent of Egy mud by the operation of you codile.

Ant. They are so.

Pomp. Sit, and some 10 Lepidus.

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 15 strength of their amity, shall prove the immediate author of their variance. Antony will use his affection where it is; he marry'd but his occasion here.

Men. And thus it may be. Come, sir, will you 20 aboard?

I have a health for you.

Eno. I shall take it, sir: we have us'd our throats in Egypt.

Men. Come; let's away.

SCENE

[Exeunt. 25

VII.

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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-colour'd.

1 Serv. They have made him drink alms-drink 2. 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.

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35

40

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 partisan I could not 45 heave.

1 Sero. To be call'd 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, Mecanas, Enobarbus, Menas, with other Captains.

Ant. Thus do they, sir: 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

50

Lep. I am not so well as ne'er out.

Eno. Not 'till you have sl be in, till 'then.

Lep. Nay,certainly I have Pyramises are very goodly th diction, I have heard that. Men. Pompey, a word. Pomp. Say in mine ear: Men. Forsake thy seat, I d tain,

And hear me speak a word.
Pomp. Forbear me 'till a
Lep. What manner o'thing
Ant. It is shap'd, sir, like
broad as it hath breadth: it i
and moves with its own orga
which nourishes it; and, the
it, it transmigrates.

Lep. What colour is it of?
Aut. Of its own colour too
Lep. 'Tis a strange serpent.
Ant. 'Tis so. And the tea

Cas. Will this description s Ant. With the health that else he is a very epicure. Pomp. [To Menas aside. C Tell me of that? aw Do as I bid you.-Where's t Men. If for the sake of meri Rise from thy stool.

Pomp. [Rises, and walks asic mad. The matter? Men. I have ever held my cap Pomp. [To Menus.] Thou much faith: What's

Be jolly, lords.

Ant. These quick-sands, Le
Keep off them, for you sink.
Men. Wilt thou be lord of a
Pomp. What say'st thou?
Men. Wilt thou be lord of
Pomp. How shall that be?
Men. But entertain it,
55 And, though you think me po
Will give thee all the world.

Pomp. Hast thou drunk wel
Men. No, Pompey, I have kep
Thou art, if thou dar'st be, the

1 Plants, besides its common meaning, is here used for the foot, from the Lati amongst good fellows, to signify that liquor of another's share which his companion But it satirically alludes to Cæsar and Antony's admitting him into the triumvirate, in from themselves the load of envy. A phrase equivalent to that now in use, of sore place. i. e. a pike. i. e. Great offices are the holes where eyes shoul eves be wanting. pitifullu disaster the cheeks. • i. e. the middle. 7 i. e. plent

4

[titors,

Whate'er the ocean pales, or sky inclips',
Is thine, if thou wilt have it.
Pomp. Shew me which way.
Men. These three world-sharers, these compe-
Are in thy vessel: Let me cut the cable;
And, when we are put off, fall to their throats:
All then is thine.

Pomp. Ah, this thou should'st have done,
And not have spoke of it! 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 act: Being done unknown,
I should have found it afterwards well done;
But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.
Men. For this,

I'll never follow thy pall'd 2 fortunes more.Who seeks, and will not take, when once 'tis ofShall never find it more.

5

10

(15)

[fer'd,
[Pompey. 20

Pomp. This health to Lepidus.
Ant. Bear him ashore.-Î'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. [Pointing to the attendant who carries of 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 reels.
Men.Come.

Pomp. This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.

Ant. It ripens towards it.-Strike the vessels3,

Here is to Cæsar.

Cas. I could well forbear it.

[ho!

It's monstrous labour, when I wash my brain, And it grows fouler.

Ant. Be a child o' the time.

Cas. Possess it,

I will make answer: but I had rather fast
From all, four days, than drink so much in one.

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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 volly.

[hand. [Musick plays. Enobarbus places them hand in SONG.

Come, thou monarch of the vine,
Plumpy Bacchus, with pink eyne":
In thy cats our cares be drown'd;
With thy grapes our hairs be crown'd;
Cup us, 'till the world goes round;
Cup us, 'till the world goes round!
Cas. What would you more?-Pompey, good
night. Good brother,

Let me request you off: our graver business 25 Frowns at this levity.-Gentle lords, let's part; You see, we have burnt our cheeks: strong

Enobarbe

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Menas, I'll not on shore.

Men. No, to my cabin.

[boat.

These drums!-these trumpets, flutes! what!40 Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell To these great fellows: Sound and be hang'd, sound out. [Sound a flourish with drums. Eno. Ho, says 'a!-There's my cap. Men. Ho!-noble captain! Come! [Exeunt.

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1i. e. embraces. 2 Palled is rapid, past its time of excellence. 3 Dr. Johnson explains this passage by, Try whether the casks sound as empty: while Mr. Steevens thinks, that strike the cessels means no more than, chink the vessels one against the other, as a mark of our unanimity in drinking, as we now say, chink glasses. i. e. the burden of the song. i. e. eyes inflam'd with drinking. Struck alludes to darting.-Thou whose darts have so often struck others, art struck now thyself. Pacorus was the son of Orodes, king of Parthia.

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Shall

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I have done enough: A lower place, note well,
May make too great an act: For learn this, Silius;
Better to leave undone, than by our deed
Acquire too high a fame, when he we serve's away.
Cæsar and Antony have ever won

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

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Which he atchiev'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, 15
Than gain, which darkens him.

I could do more to do Antonius good,
But 'twould offend him; and in his offence
Should my performance perish.

Sil. Thou hast, Ventidíus, that,
Without the which a soldier, and his sword, [tony?
Grants' scarce distinction. Thou wilt write to An-

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?

Think, speak, cast, write, sing, number, ho, his
love

To Antony. But as for Cæsar, kneel,
Kneel down, kneel down, and wonder.
Agr. Both he loves.

Eno. They are his shards, and he their beetle'.
So,-This is to horse.-Adieu, noble Agrippa.
[Trumpets.
Agr. Good fortune, worthy soldier; and farewell.
Enter Casar, Antony, Lepidus, and Ociavia.
Ant. No further, sir.

Cas. You take from me a great part of myself:
Use me well in it.-Sister, prove such a wife [band
As my thoughts make thee, and as my furthest
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

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

25

[what haste Ven. He purposeth to Athens: whither with The weight we must convey with us will permit, 30 We shall appear before him.-On, there; pass

along.

SCENE II.
Rome.

Cæsar's House.

[Exeunt.

Ant. Make me not offended

In your distrust.

Cas. I have said.

Ant. 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,
35 And these the showers, to bring it on:-Be
cheerful.
[and-

Enter Agrippa at one door, Enobarbus at another.
Agr. What, are the brothers parted? [gone;
Eno. They have dispatch'd with Pompey, he is 40
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 An-
Eno.Cæsar! Why, he's the Jupiter of men. [tony!
Agr. What's Antony; the god of Jupiter?
Eno. Speak you of Casar? How? the nonpareil!
Agr. O Antony! O thou Arabian bird2
Eno. Would you praise Cæsar? say, Cæsar!-
go no further.

Agr. Indeed, he plied them both with excel

lent praises.

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50

[Antony: 55

Eno. But he loves Cæsar best;-Yet he loves Ho: hearts, tongues, figures, scribes, bards, poets,

cannot

2 The phoenix.

4

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1 Grant, for afford, i. e. They are the wings that raise this heavy, lumpish insect from the ground. i, e. as I will venture the greatest pledge of security, on the trial of thy conduct. 'i, e, scrupulous. A horse is said to have a cloud in his face, when he has a black or dark-coloured spot in his forehead between his eyes.-This gives him a sour look; and being supposed to indicate an ill-temper, is of course regarded as a great blemish.

Ant.

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[or low?

Cle o. Bear'st thou her face in mind? ist long or round?

Mes. Round even to faultiness.

Cleo. For the most part too,

5 They are foolish that are so.-Her hair, what
colour?

Mes. Brown, madam: And her forehead
As low as she would wish it.

Cleo. There's gold for thee.

10 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 prepared.

15

20

Char. A proper man.

Cleo. Indeed, he is so: I repent me much That I so harry'd him. Why, methinks, by him, This creature's no such thing.

Char. Nothing, madam.

Cleo. The man hath seen some majesty, and should know.

Char. Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend, And serving you so long!

[Charmian:Cleo. I have one thing more to ask him yet, good But 'tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to me 25 Where I will write: All may be well enough. Char. I warrant you, madam.

30

I look'd her in the face; and saw her led
Between her brother and Mark Antony,
Cleo. Is she as tall as me??
Mes. She is not, madam.
Cleo. Didst hear her speak? Is she shrill-tongu'd,
Mes. Madam, I heard her speak; she is low- 35
voic'd.
[long.

Cleo. That's not so good:-he cannot like her
Char. Like her? O Isis! 'tis impossible.
Cleo. I think so, Charmian: Dull of tongue
and dwarfish!--

What majesty is in her gait? Remember,
If e'er thou look'dst on majesty.

Mes. She creeps;

Her motion and her station' are as one:
She shews a body rather than a life;

A statue, than a breather.

Cleo. Is this certain?

Mes. Or I have no observance.

Char. Three in Ægypt

Cannot make better note.

Cleo. He's very knowing,

I do perceive 't:-There's nothing in her yet:—

The fellow has good judgement.

Char. Excellent.

Cleo. Guess at her years, I pr'ythee.

Mes. Madam, she was a widow.

Cleo. Widow-Charmian, hark.

Mes. And I do think, she's thirty.

SCENE IV.

Antony's House at Athens.
Enter Antony and Octavia.

[Exeunt.

[it

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
To public ear:

Spoke scantily 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 it,
40 Or did it from his teeth.

Octa. O my good lord,

Believe not all; or, if you must believe,
Stomach not all. A niore unhappy lady,

If this division chance, ne'er stood between,

45 Praying for both parts; 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, 50 Prays, and destroys the prayer; no midway Twixt these extremes at all.

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1 See note, p. 768. 2 This scene (says Dr. Grey) is a manifest allusion to the questions put by queen Elizabeth to Sir James Melvil, concerning his mistress, the queen of Scots.-Whoever will give himself the trouble to consult his Memoirs, will probably suppose the resemblance to be more than accidental. Station, in this instance, means the act of standing. To harry, is to use roughly, i, e, disgrace,

3

Sha

[baste; Tweak,

Shall stain your brother: Make your soonest
So your desires are yours.
Octa. Thanks to my lord.
The Jove of power make me most weak, most
Your reconciler! Wars 'twixt you twain would be 5
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 yourowncompany,and commandwhat cost
Your heart has mind to.
[Exeunt.

SCENE V.

The same.

Enter Enobarbus, and Eros.

Eno. How now, friend Eros?

Eno. What, man?

Eros. There's strange news come, sir.

10

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

[Pompey. 20 Eros. Cæsar and Lepidus have made wars upon Eno. This is old; What is the success? Eros. Cæsar, having made use of him in the wars 'gainst Pompey, presently denied him2 rivality; would not let him partake in the glory of 25 the action: and not resting here, accuses him of letters he had formerly wrote to Pompey; upon his own appeal', seizes him: So the poor third is up, 'till death enlarge his confine.

Eno. Then 'would thou hadst a pair of chaps, 30

no more;

And throw between them all the food thou hast, They'll grind the other. Where is Antony?

Eros. He's walking in the garden-thus; and

spurns

The rush that lies before him: cries, Fool, Lepidus!
And threats the throat of that his officer,
That murder'd Pompey.

Eno. Our great navy's rigg'd.

35

Eros. For Italy, and Cæsar. More, Domitius; 40 My lord desires you presently: my news

I might have told hereafter.

Eno. 'Twill be naught:

But let it be.-Bring me to Antony.
Eros. Come, sir.

SCENE VI.

Rome. Cæsar's House.

Agr. Whom does he accuse?

Ces. Cæsar: 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.

I

Agr. Sir, this should be answer'd.

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

[quer'd, And did deserve his change: for what I have conI grant him part; but then, in his Armenia, And other of his conquer'd kingdoms, I Demand the like.

Mec. He'll never yield to that.

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

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

Cas. That ever I should call thee, cast-away! Octa. You have not call'd me so, nor have you [come not

cause.

Cas. Why have you stol'n upon us thus? You
Like Cæsar's sister: The wife of Antony
Should have an army for an usher, and
The neighs of horse to tell of her approach,
Long ere she did appear: the trees by the way,

[Exeunt. 45 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

Enter Cæsar, Agrippa, and Mecanas.

Cas. Contemning Rome, he has done all this: 50 The ostentation of our love, which, left unshewn,

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3. e. upon Cæsar's accusation. * Lydia for Lybia.

• i. e. an obstruction, a bar to the prosecution of his wanton pleasures with Cleopatra."

Octa.

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