Lep.
GOOD Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed,
And shall become you well, to entreat your Captain
To soft, and gentle speech.

Eno.
I shall entreat him
To answer like himself; if Cæsar move him,
Let Antony look over Cæsar's head,
And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter,
Were I the wearer of Antonius' beard,
I would not shave't to-day.

Lep.
'Tis not a time
For private stomaching.

Eno.
Every time
Serves for the matter that is then born in't.

Lep.
But small to greater matters must give way.

Eno.
Not if the small come first.

Lep.
Your speech is passion:
But, 'pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes
The noble Antony.

Enter Antony, and Canidius.

Eno.
And yonder Cæsar. Enter Cæsar, Agrippa, and Mæcenas.

Ant.
If we compose well here, to Parthia:
Hark you, Canidius! [Speaking aside to Canidius.

Cæs.
I do not know, Mæcenas; ask Agrippa.
Welcome to Rome.

Ant.
Thank you.

Cæs.
Sit.

Ant.
Sit, Sir!

Cæs.
Nay, then—

Lep.
Noble friends,
That which conven'd us, was most great; and let not
A leaner action rend us. What's amiss,
May it be gently heard: When we debate
Our trivial difference loud, we do commit
Murther in healing wounds: Then, noble partners,
(The rather, for I earnestly beseech)
Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms,
Nor curstness grow to the matter.

Ant.
'Tis spoken well:
Were we before our armies, and to fight,
I should do thus.— [They sit—Lepidus in the middle—Antony, Enobarbus, and Canidius on one side—Cæsar, Mæcenas and Agrippa on the other.] (To Cæsar.)
I learn you take things ill, which are not so;
Or being, concern you not.

Cæs.
I must be laugh'd at,
If, or for nothing, or a little, I
Should say myself offended; and with you
Chiefly i'the world; more laugh'd at, that I should

Once name you derogately, when, to sound your name,
It not concern'd me.

Ant.
My being in Ægypt, Cæsar,
What was't to you?

Cæs.
No more than my residing here at Rome
Might be to you in Ægypt: Yet, if you there
Did practise on my state, your being in Ægypt
Might be my question.

Ant.
How intend you, practis'd?

Cæs
You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent,
By what did here befall: Your wife, and brother,
Made wars upon me; and their contestation
Was theme for you; You were the word of war.

Ant.
You do mistake your business: my brother never
Did urge me in this act;—of this my letters
Before did satisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel,
(As matter whole you have not to make it with)
It must not be with this.

Cæs.
You praise yourself,
By laying defects of judgment to me; but
You patch'd up your excuses.

Ant.
Not so, not so:
I know you could not lack, I'm certain on't,
Very necessity of this thought that I,
Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,
Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars,
Which fronted mine own peace. As for my wife,
I would you had her spirit in such another:
The third o'the world is yours; which, with a snaffle,
You may pace easy, but not such a wise.

Cæs.
I wrote to you,
When, rioting in Alexandria; you
Did pocket up my letters; and, with taunts,
Did gibe my missive out of audience.

Ant.
Sir,
He fell upon me, 'ere admitted; then
Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want
Of what I was i'the morning; but, next day,
I told him of myself; which was as much
As to have ask'd him pardon: Let this fellow
Be nothing of our strife; if we contend,
Out of our question wipe him.

Cæs.
You have broken
The article of your oath; which you shall never
Have tongue to charge me with.

Lep.
Soft, Cæsar.

Ant.
No,
Lepidus, let him speak:
The honour is sacred which he talks on now,
Supposing that I lack'd it; but, on, Cæsar;—
The article of my oath,—

Cæs.
To lend me arms, and aid, when I requir'd them;
The which you both refus'd.

Ant.
Neglected, rather;
And then, when poison'd hours had bound me up
From mine own knowledge. As nearly as I may,
I'll play the penitent to you; but mine honesty
Shall not make poor my greatness: Truth is,—Fulvia,
To have me out of Ægypt, made wars here;
For which myself, the ignorant motive, do
So far ask pardon, as befits mine honour
To stoop in such a case.

Lep.
'Tis nobly spoken,

Cæs.
I do not much mislike the matter, but
The manner of his speech; for't cannot be,
We shall remain in friendship, our conditions
So differing in their acts. Yet, if I knew
What hoop should hold us staunch, from edge to edge
O'the world I would pursue it.

Agr
Give me leave, Cæsar,—

Cæs.
Speak, Agrippa.

Agr.
Thou hast a sister by the mother's side,
Admir'd Octavia: great Mark Antony
Is now a widower.

Cæs.
Say not so, Agrippa.
If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof
Were well deserv'd of rashness.

Ant.
I am not marry'd, Cæsar: let me hear
Agrippa further speak.

Agr.
To hold you in perpetual amity,
With an unslipping knot, take Antony
Octavia to his wife; whose beauty claims
No worse a husband than the best of men:
Whose virtue, and whose general graces, speak
That which none else can utter. By this marriage,
Her love to both
Would each to other, and all loves to both,
Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke;
For 'tis a studied, not a present thought,
By duty ruminated.

Ant.
Will Cæsar speak?

Cæs.
Not till he hears how Antony is touch'd
With what is spoke already.

Ant.
What power is in Agrippa,
If I would say, Agrippa, be it so,
To make this good?

Cæs
The power of Cæsar, and
His power unto Octavia.

Ant.
May I never
To this good purpose, that so fairly shews,
Dream of impediment. [They rise.
Let me have thy hand:
Further this act of grace; and from this hour,
The hearts of brothers govern in our loves,
And sway our great designs!

Cæs.
A sister I bequeath you, whom no brother
Did ever love so dearly: Let her live
To join our kingdoms, and our hearts; and never
Fly off our loves again!

Ant.
I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst Pompey;
For he hath laid strange courtesies, and great,
Of late upon me: I must thank him only,
Lest my remembrance suffer ill report;
At heel of that, defy him.

Lep.
Time calls upon us:
Of us must Pompey presently be sought,
Or else he seeks out us.

Ant.
Where lies he?

Cæs.
About the Mount Misenum.

Ant.
What's his strength
By land?

Cæs.
Great, and encreasing; but, by sea,
He is an absolute master.

Ant.
So is the fame.
Yet, 'ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we
The business we have talk'd of.

Cæs.
With most gladness;
And do invite you to my sister's view,
Whither straight I'll lead you.

Ant.
Let us, Lepidus,
Not lack your company.

Lep.
Noble Antony,
Not sickness shall detain me. [Exeunt.

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