But 't would offend him; and in his offence
Should my performance perish.

Sil.

Thou hast, Ventidius, that

Without the 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. [Exeuni.

SCENE II.

Rome. An Ante-Chamber 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. Spake you of Cæsar? How! the nonpareil!
Agr. O Antony! O thou Arabian bird!

Eno. Would you praise Cæsar, say, - Cæsar;

go no farther Agr. Indeed, he ply'd them both with excellent praises. Eno. But he loves Cæsar best; yet he loves Antony. Ho! 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,

This is to horse.

Adieu, noble Agrippa.

Agr. Good fortune, worthy soldier; and farewell.

[Trumpets.

Enter CESAR, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, and OCTAVIA.
Ant. No farther, Sir.

Cæs. You take from me a great part of myself;
Use me well in 't. -Sister, prove such a wife

As my thoughts make thee, and as my farthest 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 loved without this mean, if on both parts
This be not cherish'd.

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.

Cæs. 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-
Cæs. What, Octavia?

Octa. I'll tell you in your ear.

Ant. Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can Her heart inform her tongue; the swan's down feather, That stands upon the swell at the full of tide,

And neither way inclines.

Eno. Will Cæsar weep?

Agr.

[Aside to AGRIPPA.

He has a cloud in 's face.

Eno. He were the worse for that, were he a horse;

So is he, being a man.

Why, Enobarbus,

Agr.
When Antony found Julius Cæsar dead,

He cried almost to roaring; and he wept,

When at Philippi he found Brutus slain.

Eno. That year, indeed, he was troubled with a rheum; What willingly he did confound, he wail'd:

Believe 't, till I weep too.

Cæs.

No, sweet Octavia,

You shall hear from me still: the time shall not

Out-go my thinking on you.

Come, Sir, come;

Ant.
I'll wrestle with you in my strength of love:
Look, here I have you; thus I let you go,

And give you to the gods.

Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.

Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and Alexas.

Cleq. Where is the fellow?

Alex.

Half afeard to come.

Cleo. Go to, go to. Come hither, Sir.

I'll have: but how, when Antony is gone

Through whom I might command it? Come thou near.

Mess. Most gracious majesty,

Cleo.

Octavia?

Mess. Ay, dread queen.

Cleo.

Mess.

Where?

I look'd her in the face; and saw her led
Between her brother and Mark Antony.
Cleo. Is she as tall as me?

Mess.

Didst thou behold

Madam, in Rome

She is not, Madam.

Clo. Didst hear her speak? Is she shrill-tongu'd, or low?
Mess. Madam, I heard her speak: she is low-voic❜d.
Cleo. That's not so good: he cannot like her long.
Char. Like her? O Isis! 't is 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.

Is this certain?

Three in Egypt

He's very knowing,

I do perceive 't. There's nothing in her yet.
The fellow bas good judgment.

Mess.

Madam,

She was a widow.

Cleo.

Widow? - Charmian, hark.

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

Cleo. Bear'st thou her face in mind? is 't long, or round? Mess. Round, even to faultiness.

Cleo. For the most part, too, they are foolish that are so.

Her hair, what colour?

Mess. Brown, Madam; and her forehead

As low as she would wish it.

Cleo.

There's 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.

Cleo. Indeed, he is so: I repent me much, That so I 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!

Cleo. I have one thing more to ask him yet, good Charmian: But 't is 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.

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:

[Exeunt.

VI.

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