Lep.
Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed,
And shall become you well, t'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 Antonio's beard,
I would not shav'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 Ventidius.

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

Ant.
If we compose well here, to Parthia—
Hark, Ventidius.

Cæs.
I do not know; Mecænas, ask Agrippa.

Lep.
Noble friends,
That which combin'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 sowrest points with sweetest terms,
Nor curstness grow to th' matter.

Ant.
'Tis spoken well;
Were we before our armies and to fight,
I should do thus. [Flourish.

Cæs.
Welcome to Rome.

Ant.
Thank you.

Cæs.
Sit.

Ant.
Sit, Sir.

Cæs.
Nay, then—

Ant.
I learn, you take things ill, which are not so:
Or being, concern you not.

Cæs.
I must be laugh at,
If, or for nothing, or a little, I
Should say my self offended, and with you
Chiefly i'th' world: More laught 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. (19) ^note

Ant.
You do mistake your business: my Brother never,
Did urge me in his act: I did inquire it,
And have my learning from some true reports
That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather
Discredit my authority with yours,
And make the wars alike against my stomach,
Having alike your cause? of this, my letters
Before did satisfie you. If you'll patch a quarrel,
(As matter whole you've not to make it with,)
It must not be with this.

Cæs.
You praise your self,
By laying defects of Judgment to me: but
You patch 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 grateful 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'th' world is yours, which with a snaffle
You may pace easie; but not such a Wife.

Eno.

Would, we had all such Wives, that the Men might go to wars with the Women!

Ant.
So much uncurbable her garboiles, Cæsar,
Made out of her impatience, which not wanted
Shrewdness of policy too, I grieving grant,
Did you too much disquiet: For That you must
But say, I could not help it.

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 on me, ere admitted: then
Three Kings I had newly feasted, and did want
Of what I was i'th' morning: but, next day,
I told him of my self; 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's sacred which he talks on now,
Supposing, that I lackt 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 deny'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; nor my Power
Work without it. Truth is, that Fulvia,
To have me out of Ægypt, made wars here;
For which my self, the ignorant motive, do
So far ask pardon, as befits mine Honour
To stoop in such a case.

Lep.
'Tis nobly spoken.

Mec.
If it might please you, to enforce no further
The griefs between ye: to forget them quite,
Were to remember, that the present Need

Speaks to attone you.

Lep.
Worthily spoken, Mecænas.

Eno.

Or if you borrow one another's love for the instant, you may, when you hear no more words of Pompey, return it again: you shall have time to wrangle in, when, you have nothing else to do.

Ant.
(20) ^noteThou art a Soldier only; speak no more.

Eno.
That truth should be silent, I had almost forgot.

Ant.
You wrong this Presence, therefore speak no more.

Eno.

Go to then: your considerate stone.—

Cæs.
I do not much dislike 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 would hold us staunch, from edge to edge
O'th' 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;
(21) ^note

Ant.
I am not married, Cæsar, let me hear
Agrippa further speak.

Agr.
To hold you in perpetual Amity,
To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts
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,
All little jealousies, which now seem great,
And all great fears, which now import their dangers,
Would then be nothing. Truths would be but tales,
Where now half tales be truths: 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! let me have thy hand;
Further this act of grace: and from this hour,
The heart of brothers govern in our loves,
And sway our great designs!

Cæs.
There is my hand:
A Sister I bequeath you, whom no Brother
Did ever love so dearly. Let her live
To joyn our Kingdoms, and our Hearts, and never
Fly off our loves again!

Lep.
Happily, amen.

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, defie him.

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

Ant.
Where lyes he?

Cæs.
About the Mount Misenum.

Ant.
What is his strength by Land?

Cæs.
Great, and increasing: but by Sea
He is an absolute Master.

Ant.
So is the fame.
Would, we had spoke together! haste we for it;
Yet, ere we put our selves 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 should detain me. [Flourish. Exeunt. Manent Enobarbus, Agrippa, Mecænas.

Mec.

Welcome from Ægypt, Sir.

Eno.

Half the heart of Cæsar, worthy Mecænas! my honourable friend Agrippa!—

Agr.

Good Enobarbus!

Mec.

We have cause to be glad, that matters are so well digested: you stay'd well by't in Ægypt.

Eno.

Ay, Sir, we did sleep day out of countenance, and made the night light with drinking.

Mec.

Eight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast, and but twelve persons there;—Is this true?

Eno.

This was but as a flie by an eagle: we had much more monstrous matter of feast, which worthily deserved noting.

Mec.

She's a most triumphant Lady, if report be square to her.

Eno.

When she first met Mark Antony, she purs'd up his heart upon the river of Cydnus.

Agr.

There she appear'd, indeed: or my reporter devis'd well for her.

Eno.
I will tell you;
The Barge she sat in, like a burnish'd Throne,
Burnt on the water; the poop was beaten gold,
Purple the sails, and so perfumed, that
The Winds were love-sick with 'em; th' oars were silver,
Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made
The water, which they beat, to follow faster,
As amorous of their strokes. For her own person,
It beggar'd all description; she did lye
In her pavilion, cloth of gold, of tissue,
(22) ^note

Agr.
Oh, rare for Antony!

Eno.
Her Gentlewomen, like the Nereids,
So many Mermaids, tended her i'th' eyes,
And made their Bends adornings. At the helm,
A seeming Mermaid steers; the silken tackles
Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands,
That yarely frame the office. From the Barge

A strange invisible perfume hits the sense
Of the adjacent wharfs. The City cast
Her People out upon her; and Antony,
Enthron'd i'th' Market-place, did sit alone,
Whistling to th' air; which, but for vacancy,
Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too,
And made a gap in Nature.

Agr.
Rare Ægyptian!

Eno
Upon her landing, Antony sent to her,
Invited her to supper: she reply'd,
It should be better, he became her guest;
Which she entreated. Our courteous Antony,
Whom ne'er the word of No Woman heard speak,
Being barber'd ten times o'er, goes to the feast;
And for his ordinary, pays his heart,
For what his eyes eat only.

Agr.
Royal Wench!
She made great Cæsar lay his sword to bed;
He plough'd her, and she cropt.

Eno.
I saw her once
Hop forty paces through the publick street:
And having lost her breath, she spoke, and panted,
That she did make defect, perfection,
And breathless power breathe forth.

Mec.
Now Antony must leave her utterly.

Eno.
Never, he will not.
Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety: other women cloy
The appetites they feed; but she makes hungry,
Where most she satisfies. For vilest things
Become themselves in her, that the holy Priests
Bless her, when she is riggish.

Mec.
(23) ^note

Agr.
Let us go.
Good Enobarbus, make your self my guest,
Whilst you abide here.

Eno.
Humbly, Sir, I thank you. [Exeunt. Enter Antony, Cæsar, Octavia between them.

Ant.
The world, and my great office, will sometimes
Divide me from your bosom.

Octa.
All which time,
Before the Gods my knee shall bow in prayers
To them for you.

Ant.
Good night, Sir. My Octavia,
Read not my blemishes in the world's report:
I have not kept my square, but That to come
Shall all be done by th' rule; good night, dear Lady.

Octa.
Good night, Sir.

Cæs.
Good night. [Exeunt Cæsar and Octavia. Enter Soothsayer.

Ant.

Now, sirrah! do you wish your self in Ægypt?

Sooth.

Would I had never come from thence, nor you thither!

Ant.

If you can, your reason?

Sooth.

(24) ^note

Ant.
Say to me, whose fortune shall rise higher,
Cæsar's or mine?

Sooth.
Cæsar's.—Therefore, oh Antony, stay not by his side.
(25) ^noteThy Dæmon, that's thy spirit which keeps thee, is
Noble, couragious, high, unmatchable,
Where Cæsar's is not. But, near him, thy angel
Becomes a Fear, as being o'erpower'd; and therefore
Make space enough between you.

Ant.
Speak this no more.

Sooth.
To none but thee; no more, but when to thee.—
If thou dost play with him at any game,
Thou'rt sure to lose: and of that natural luck,

He beats thee 'gainst the odds. Thy lustre thickens,
When he shines by: I say again, thy Spirit
Is all afraid to govern thee near him:
But, he away, 'tis noble.

Ant.
Get thee gone:
Say to Ventidius, I would speak with him. [Exit Sooth.
He shall to Parthia;—be it art, or hap,
He hath spoke true. The very dice obey him;
And, in our Sports, my better cunning faints
Under his chance; if we draw lots, he speeds;
His cocks do win the battel still of mine,
When it is all to nought: and his quailes ever
Beat mine, in-hoop'd at odds. I will to Ægypt;
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
I'th' east my pleasure lies. Oh, come, Ventidius. Enter Ventidius.
You must to Parthia, your commission's ready:
Follow me and receive't. [Exeunt. Enter Lepidus, Mecænas, and Agrippa.

Lep.
Trouble your selves no farther: pray you, hasten
Your Generals after.

Agr.
Sir, Mark Antony
Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow.

Lep.
'Till I shall see you in your Soldiers' dress,
Which will become you both, farewel.

Mec.
We shall,
As I conceive the journey, be at th' Mount
Before you, Lepidus.

Lep.
Your way is shorter,
My purposes do draw me much about;
You'll win two days upon me.

Both.
Sir, good success.

Lep.
Farewel. [Exeunt.

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