1 Serv.

Here they'll be, man: ^{4 note}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.

^{5 note}They have made him drink alms-drink.

2 Serv.

^{6 note}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 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 ^{7 note}a partizan I could not heave.

1 Serv.

^{8 note}

to be seen to move in't, are the holes where eyes should be, which pitifully disaster the cheeks.

Ant.
Thus do they, sir: They take the flow o' the Nile
By certain scales i' the pyramid; they know,
By the height, the lowness, or the mean^{9 note}, if dearth,
Or foizon, follow^{1 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 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 Ptolemies' Pyramises are very goodly things; 9Q0960 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, [Aside.
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 it self; 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, for 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:
Whate'er the ocean pales, or sky inclips^{2 note},
Is thine, if thou wilt have it.

Pomp.
Shew me which way.

Men.
These three world-sharers, these competitors,
Are in thy vessel: Let me cut the cable^{3 note};
And, when we are put off, fall to their throats:
All then is thine^{4 note}.

Pomp.
Ah, this thou should'st have done,

And not have spoke of it! In me, 'tis villany;
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 ^{5 note}

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 the attendant who carries off Lepidus.

Men.
Why?

Eno.
He bears
The third part of the world, man; See'st not?

Men.
The third part then he is drunk: 'Would it were all,
That it might go on wheels!

Eno.
Drink thou; encrease the reels.

Men.
Come.

Pomp.
This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.

Ant.
It ripens towards it.—^{6 note}

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' the 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! [To Ant.
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 steep'd our sense
In soft and delicate lethe.

Eno.
All take hands.—
Make battery to our ears with the loud music:—
The while, I'll place you: Then the boy shall sing;
^{7 note}

SONG.
Come, thou monarch of the vine,
Plumpy Bacchus, with pink eyne^{8 note}

Cæs.
What would you more?—Pompey, good night. Good brother,
Let me request you off: our graver business
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
Antick'd us all. What needs more words? Good night.—
Good Antony, your hand.

Pomp.
I'll try you on the shore.

Ant.
And shall, sir: give's your hand.

Pomp.
^{9 note}

But what? we are friends: Come, down into the boat.

Eno.
Take heed you fall not.—
Menas I'll not on shore.

Men.
No, to my cabin.—
These drums!—these trumpets, flutes! what!—
Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewel
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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