1 Serv.

Here they'll be, man: Some o' their plants^{1 note}

2 Serv.

Lepidus is high-coloured.

1 Serv.

They have made him drink alms-drink^{2 note}.

2 Serv.

As they pinch one another by the disposition^{3 note}, 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 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 partizan^{4 note}

1 Serv.

To be called 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^{5 note}

A Sennet sounded. Enter Cæsar, Antony, Pompey, Lepidus, Agrippa, Mecænas, Enobarbus, Menas, with other Captains.

Ant.
Thus do they, sir: [To Cæsar.] They take the flow o' the Nile^{6 note}

By certain scales i' the pyramid; they know,
By the height, the lowness, or the mean^{7 note}, if dearth,
Or foizon, follow^{8 note}: The higher Nilus swells,
The more it promises: as it ebbs, the seedsman
Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain,
And shortly comes to harvest.

Lep.

You have strange serpents there.

Ant.

Ay, Lepidus.

Lep.

Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun: so is your crocodile.

Ant.

They are so.

Pom.

Sit,—and some wine.—A health to Lepidus.

Lep.

I am not so well as I should be, but I'll ne'er out.

Eno.

Not till you have slept; I fear me, you'll be in, till then.

Lep.

Nay, certainly, I have heard, the Ptolemies' pyramises are very goodly things^{9 note}

Men.
Pompey, a word. [Aside.

Pom.
Say in mine ear: What is't?

Men.
Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, captain, [Aside.
And hear me speak a word^{1 note}.

Pom.
Forbear me till anon.—
This wine for Lepidus.

Lep.
What manner o' thing is your crocodile?

Ant.

It is shaped, 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 nourisheth 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.

Cæs.

Will this description satisfy him?

Ant.

With the health that Pompey gives him, else he is a very epicure.

Pom. [To Menas aside.]
Go, hang, sir, hang! Tell me of that? away!
Do as I bid you.—Where's this cup I call'd for?

Men.
If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me,
Rise from thy stool. [Aside.

Pom.
I think, thou'rt mad. The matter? [Rises, and walks aside.

Men.
I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.

Pom.
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?

Pom.
What say'st thou?

Men.
Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That's twice.

Pom.
How should that be?

Men.
But entertain it, and,
Although thou think me poor, I am the man
Will give thee all the world.

Pom.
Hast thou drunk well?

Men.
No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup.
Thou art, if thou dar'st be, the earthly Jove:
Whate'er the ocean pales, or sky inclips^{3 note},
Is thine, if thou wilt have't.

Pom.
Show me which way.

Men.
These three world-sharers, these competitors^{4 note},
Are in thy vessel: Let me cut the cable^{5 note};

And, when we are put off, fall to their throats:
All there is thine^{6 note}

Pom.
Ah, this thou should'st have done,
And not have spoke on't! 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, [Aside.
I'll never follow thy pall'd fortunes^{7 note}

Pom.
This health to Lepidus.

Ant.
Bear him ashore.—I'll pledge it for him, Pompey.

Eno.
Here's to thee, Menas.

Men.
Enobarbus, welcome.

Pom.
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
The third part of the world, man; Sees't not?

Men.
The third part then is drunk: 'Would it were all^{9 note},
That it might go on wheels^{1 note}!

Eno.
Drink thou; increase the reels^{2 note}

Men.
Come.

Pom.
This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.

Ant.
It ripens towards it.—Strike the vessels^{3 note}

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

Ant.
Be a child o' the time.

Cæs.
Possess it, I'll make answer^{4 note}: but I had rather fast
From all, four days, than drink so much in one.

Eno.
Ha, my brave emperor! [To Antony.
Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals,
And celebrate our drink?

Pom.
Let's ha't, good soldier.

Ant.
Come, let us all take hands^{5 note}

,
Till that the conquering wine hath steep'd our sense
In soft and delicate Lethe.

Eno.
All take hands.—
Make battery to our ears^{6 note}
with the loud musick:—

The while, I'll place you: Then the boy shall sing;
The holding every man shall bear^{7 note}