1 Serv.

Here they'll be, man: ^{3 note}some o' their plants are ill rooted already, the least wind i' th' world will blow them down.

2 Serv.

Lepidus is high-colour'd.

1 Serv.

^{4 note}They have made him drink alms drink.

2 Serv.

^{5 note}As they pinch one another by the disposition, he cries out, no more; reconciles them to his entreaty, and himself to th' 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 lieve have a reed that will do me no service, as ^{6 note}a Partizan I could not heave.

1 Serv.

^{7 note}

Trumpets. Enter Cæsar, Antony, Pompey, Lepidus, Agrippa, Mecænas, Enobarbus, Menas, with other Captains.

Ant.
Thus do they, Sir: they take the flow o' th' Nile
By certain scales i' th' pyramid; they know,
By th' height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth,
Or foizon, follow; 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've strange serpents there.

Ant.

Ay, Lepidus.

Lep.

Your serpent of Ægypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your Sun; so is your Crocodile.

Ant.

They are so.

Pomp.

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 Ptolemey's Pyramisis are very goodly things; without contradiction, I have heard that.

Men.

Pompey, a word.

Pomp.

Say in mine ear, what is't?

Men.

Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, Captain,

And hear me speak a word.

Pomp.

Forbear me, 'till anon.

—This wine for Lepidus.

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 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.

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 walks aside.]

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, 'fore you sink.

Men.
Wilt thou be Lord of all the world?

Pomp.
What say'st thou?

Men.
Wilt thou be Lord of the whole world? that's twice.

Pomp.
How shall that be?

Men.
But entertain it,
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,
What e'er the Ocean pales, or Sky inclips,
Is thine, if thou wilt ha't.

Pomp.
Shew me which way.

Men.
These three World-sharers, these Competitors,
Are 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 shouldst have done,
And not have spoken on't. In me, 'tis villany;
In thee, 't 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 ^{8 note}thy pall'd fortunes more;
Who seeks and will not take, when once 'tis offer'd,
Shall never find it more.

Pomp.
This health to Lepidus.

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

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 Lepidus.

Men.
Why?

Eno.
He bears the third part of the world, man!
See'st not.

Men.
The third part then is drunk; 'would, it were all,

That it might go on wheels!

Eno.
Drink thou, encrease the reels.

Men.
Come.

Pomp.
This is not an Alexandrian Feast.

Ant.
It ripens towards it; ^{9 note}strike the vessels, hoa.
Here is to Cæsar.

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

Ant.
Be a child o' th' time.

Cæs.
Possess it,
I will make answer; but I had rather fast
From all, four days, than drink so much in one.

Eno.
Ha, my brave Emperor,
Shall we dance now the Ægyptian Bacchanals,
And celebrate our Drink?

Pomp.
Let's ha't, good Soldier.

Ant.
Come, let's all take hands;
'Till that the conquering wine hath steept our sense
In soft and delicate Lethe.

Eno.
All take hands:
Make battery to our ears with the loud musick,
The while I'll place you; then the Boy shall sing:
^{1 note}