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Cleo. For what good turn?

Mes. For the best turn i' the bed.

Cleo. I am pale, Charmian.

Mes. Madam, he's married to Octavia.

Cleo. The most infectious pestilence upon thee! [Strikes him down.

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[you: Mes. Take no offence, that I would not offend 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, [hence: Thou art not what thou'rt sure of!Get thee 15 The merchandise, which thou hast brought from Rome,

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Mes. Good madam, patience.
Cleo. What say you?-Hence,[Strikeshimagain.
Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine eyes
Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head;
[She hales him up and down.
Thou shalt be whipt with wire, and stew'd in brine, 25
Smarting in ling'ring pickle.

Mes. Gracious madam,

I, that do bring the news, made not the match.

Cleo. Say, 'tis not so, a province I will give thee,
And make thy fortunesproud: the blow, thou hadst, 30
Shall make thy peace, for moving me to rage:
And I will boot thee with what gift beside
Thy modesty can beg.

Mes. He's married, madam.

Cleo. Rogue, thou hast liv'd too long.
[Draws a dagger.

Mes. Nay, then I'll run:

What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.

[Exit.

Are all too dear for me; Lye they upon thy hand,
And be undone by 'em! [Exit Messenger.
Char. Good your highness, patience.
[sar.
Cleo. In praising Antony, I have disprais'd Cæ-
Char. Many times, madam.

Cleo. I am paid for it now. Lead me from hence,

I faint; O Iras, Charmian,-'Tis no matter:-
Go to the fellow, good Alexas: bid him
Report the feature of Octavia, her years,
Her inclination, let him not leave out
The colour of her hair-bring me word quickly.
[Exit Alexas.
Let him for ever go:-Let him not,-Charmian;
Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
The other way he is a Mars:-Bid you Alexas
[To Mardian.
Bring me word, how tall she is.-Pity me, Char-
mian,

35 But do not speak to me.-Lead me to my chamber.
[Exeunt

Char. Good madam, keep yourself within your-40

The man is innocent.

[self;

Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thunder-
Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures[bolt.--
Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again!
Though I am mad, I will not bite him:-Call.
Char. He is afeard to come.
Cleo. I will not hurt him:-

hither, sir.

These hands do lack nobility, that they strike
A meaner than myself; since I myself
Have given myself the cause.-Come
Re-enter the Messenger.
Though it be honest, it is never good

To bring bad news: Give to a gracious message
An host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell
Themselves, when they be felt.

Mes. I have done my duty.

Cleo. Is he married?

I cannot hate thee worser than I do,

If thou again say, Yes.

Mes. He is married, madam.

Cleo. The gods confound thee! dost thou hold

there still?

2

45

SCENE VI.
Near Misenum.

Enter Pompey, and Menas, at one door, with drum
and trumpet: at another, Cæsar, Lepidus, Antony,
Enobarbus, Mecenas, with soldiers marching.
Pomp. 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,
50 And carry back to Sicily much tall youth,
That else must perish here.

Pomp. To you all three,

The senators alone of this great world,
Chief factors for the gods,-I do not know,
55 Wherefore my father should revengers want,
Having a son, and friends; since Julius Cæsar,
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted,
There saw you labouring for him.
What was it
That mov'd pale Cassius to conspire? and

66 What made all-honour'd, honest, Roman Brutus,
Withthe arm'd rest, courtiersof beauteousfreedom,
To drench the Capitol; but that they would

'Submerg'd is whelm'd under water. i. e. Thou art an honest man, of which thou art thy self assured; but thou art in my opinion a knave by thy master's fault alone. 3. e. the beauty. i. e. Antony,

Have

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Ant. You have heard much.

Pomp. I have fair meaning, sir, Ant. And fair words to them. Pomp. Then so much have I heard :And I have heard, Apollodorus carriedEno. No more of that :-He did so. Pomp. What, I pray you?

Eno. A certain queen to Cæsar' in a mattress.
Pomp. I know thee now; How far'st thou, sol-
Eno. Well;

And well am like to do; for, I perceive,
Four feasts are toward.

Pomp. Let me shake thy hand;

I never hated thee: I have seen thee fight, 15 When I have envied thy behaviour. Eno. Sir,

[dier?

I never lov'd you much; but I have prais'd you, When you have well deserv'd ten times as much As I have said you did..

20 Pomp. Enjoy thy plainness,

It nothing ill becomes thee.-
Aboard my galley I invite you all:
Will you lead, lords?

All. Shew us the way, sir.

25 Pomp. Come. [Exeunt. Manent Eno. andMenas. Men. [Aside.] Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have made this treaty.

30

You and I have known, sir.

Eno. At sea, I think.

Men. We havé, sir.

Eno. You have done well by water.
Men. And you by land.

Eno. I will praise any man that will praise me: though it cannot be denied what I have done by 35 land.

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Cas. Since I saw you last,

Pomp. Well, I know not,

But in my bosom shall she never coine,

To make my heart her vassal.

Lep. Well met here.

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Pomp. I hope so, Lepidus.-Thus we are agreed:

Pomp. We'll feast each other, ere we part; and let

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Draw lots, who shall begin.

Ant. That will I, Pompey.

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Pomp. No, Antony, take the lot: but, first,

Or last, your fine Egyptian cookery

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Shall have the fame. I have heard,that Julius Cæsar
Grew fat with feasting there.

1i. e. affright us.

i. e. to Julius Cæsar.

Men. Nor what I have done by water.

Eno. Yes, something you can deny for your own safety: You have been a great thief by sea. Men. And you by land.

Eno. There I deny my land service. But give ne your hand, Menas: If our eyes had authority, here they might take two thieves kissing.

Men. All men's faces are true, whatsoe'er their hands are.

Eno. But there is never a fair woman has a true face.

Men. No slander; they steal hearts.

Eno. We came hither to fight with you. Men. For my part, I am sorry it is turn'd to a drinking. Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune.

Eno. If he do, sure, he cannot weep it back again.

Men. You have said, sir. We look'd not for Mark Antony here: Pray you, is he married to Cleopatra ?

Eno. Cæsar's sister is call'd Octavia.

Men. True, sir ; she was the wife of Caius Mar

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* A metaphor from making marks or lines in casting accounts in arithmetick.

Men.

Men. Then is Cæsar, and he, for ever knit together.

Eno. If I were bound to divine of this unity, I 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: Octavial is of a holy, cold, and still conversation.

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10

Men. Who would not have his wife so? Eno. Not he, that himself is not so; which is Mark Antony. He will to his Ægyptian 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.

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[Exeunt. [25

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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 Sero. 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.

2 Sero. 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

heave.

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1351

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Men. Pompey, a word.

[Aside

Pomp. Say in mine ear: What is't?
Men. Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, cap-
tain,
And hear me speak a word.

[Aside. [Lepidus. Pomp.. Forbear me 'till anon.This wine for Lep. What manner o'thing is your crocodile ? Ant. It is shap'd, sir, like itself: 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 nourishes it; and, the elements once out of it, it transmigrates.

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

And the tears of it are wet.

Cas. Will this description satisfy him?
Ant. With the health that Pompey gives him,
else he is a very epicure.

Pomp. [To Menas aside.] 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 sake of merit thou wilt hear me,
Rise from thy stool.

Pomp. [Rises, and walksaside.] I think, thou'rt
mad. The matter?

Men. I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes. Pomp. [To Menas.] Thou hast serv'd me with much faith: What's else to say?

[Be jolly, lords.

Ant. These quick-sands, Lepidus,—

Keep off them, for you sink.

Men. Wilt thou be lord of all the world?

Pomp. What say'st thou?

[That's twice.

Men. Wilt thou be lord of the whole world?

Pomp. How shall that be?

Men. But entertain it,

55 And, though you think me poor, I am the man Will give thee all the world.

Pomp. Hast thou drunk well?

Men. No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup. Thou art, if thou dar'st be, the earthly Jove:

2 A phrase

1 Plants, besides its common meaning, is here used for the foot, from the Latin. amongst good fellows, to signify that liquor of another's share which his companion drinks to ease him. But it satirically alludes to Cæsar and Antony's admitting him into the triumvirate, in order to take off from themselves the load of envy. A phrase equivalent to that now in use, of touching one in a sore place. i. e. a pike, i. e. Great offices are the holes where eyes should be, which, if the eyes be wanting, pitifully disaster the cheeks. i. e. the middle. ?i. e. plenty, abundance. Whate'er

4

Whate'er the ocean pales, or sky inclips',
Is thine, if thou wilt have it.
Pomp. Shew me which way.

[titors,

Men. These three world-sharers, these compeAre 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 villainy; 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 Who seeks, and will not take, when once 'tis ofShall never find it more.

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Make battery to our ears with the loud music:10 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.

15

fortunes more.—

[fer'd,
[Pompey. 20

Pomp. This health to Lepidus.

Ant. Bear him ashore.--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. [Pointing to the attendant who carries off Lepidus. Men. Why?

Eno. He bears

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[hand [Musick plays. Enobarbus places them hand in SON G.

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 round;
goes
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

Is weaker than the wine; and mine own tongue Splits what it speaks: the wild disguise hath almost 30 Antick'd us all. What needs more words? Good Good Antony, your hand, [night.—

Pomp. I'll try you on the shore.
Ant. And shall, sir: give's your hand.
Pomp. O, Antony, you have my father's house.

35 But what? we are friends: Come down into the Eno. Take heed you fall not.—

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. 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

4

Shall

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I have done enough: A lower place, note well,
May make too great an act: For learn this, Silius; 5
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.

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 Octavia.
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.

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Sil. Where is he now? [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. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.
Rome.

Casar's House.

In

Ant. Make me not offended
your distrust.

Čas. 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-

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Octa. Sir, look well to my husband's house;
Cas, 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

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'Grant, for afford, 2 The phoenix. 1i. 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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