Pom.
If the great gods be just, they shall assist
The deeds of justest men.

Mene. ^note
Know, worthy Pompey,
That what ^note they do delay, they not deny.

Pom.
Whiles ^note we are suitors to their throne, decays ^note
The thing we sue for. ^{note note}

Mene. ^note
We, ignorant of ourselves,
Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers
Deny us for our good; so find we profit
By losing of our prayers.

Pom.
I shall do well:
The people love me, and the sea is mine;
My powers are crescent ^{note note}, and my auguring hope
Says it will come to the full. Mark Antony
In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make
No wars without doors: Cæsar gets money where
He loses hearts: Lepidus flatters both,
Of both is flatter'd, but he neither loves,

Nor either cares for him.

Men.
Cæsar and Lepidus
Are in the field: a mighty strength they carry. ^note

Pom.
Where have you this? 'tis false.

Men.
From Silvius, sir.

Pom.
He dreams: I know they are ^note in Rome together,
Looking for Antony. But all the ^note charms of love,
Salt Cleopatra, soften thy waned ^note lip!
Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both!
Tie up the libertine in a field ^{note note} of feasts,
Keep his brain fuming; Epicurean cooks
Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite;
That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour ^note
Even till ^note a Lethe'd ^note dulness! ^note Enter Varrius. ^note
How now, Varrius!

Var.
This is most certain that I shall deliver:
Mark Antony is every hour in Rome
Expected: since he went from Egypt 'tis
A space for farther ^note travel.

Pom.
I could have given less matter
A better ear. Menas, I did not think
This amorous surfeiter would have donn'd his helm
For such a petty war: his soldiership
Is twice the other twain: but let us rear
The higher our opinion, that our stirring
Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck

The ne'er-lust-wearied ^note Antony.

Men.
I cannot hope
Cæsar and Antony shall well greet together:
His wife that's ^note dead did trespasses to Cæsar;
His brother warr'd ^note upon him; although, I think,
Not moved by Antony.

Pom.
I know not, Menas,
How lesser enmities may give way to greater.
Were't not that we stand up against them all, ^note
'Twere pregnant they should square between themselves;
For they have entertained cause enough
To draw their swords: but how the fear of us
May cement ^note their divisions and bind up
The petty difference, we yet not know.
Be't as our gods will have't ^note! It only stands
Our lives upon to use our strongest hands.
Come, Menas. [Exeunt. ^note Scene II. [Footnote: Rome. ^note The house ^note of Lepidus. Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus.

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' ^note beard,
I would not shave't to-day.

Lep.
'Tis not a time
For private stomaching. ^note

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

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. ^note Enter Antony and Ventidius.

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

Ant.
If we compose well here, to Parthia:
Hark ^note, Ventidius.

Cæs.
I do not know,
Mæcenas; ask Agrippa. ^note

Lep.
Noble friends,
That which combined 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
Murder in healing wounds: then, noble partners,
The rather for I earnestly beseech,
Touch you ^note the sourest points with sweetest terms,
Nor curstness grow to the matter.

Ant.
'Tis spoken well.
Were we before our armies ^note and to fight,

I should do thus. [Flourish. ^note

Cæs.
Welcome to Rome.

Ant.
Thank you.

Cæs.
Sit.

Ant.
Sit, sir. ^note

Cæs.
Nay, then. ^note

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

Cæs.
I must be laugh'd at,
If, or for nothing or a little, I ^{note note}
Should say myself offended, and with you
Chiefly i' the world; more laugh'd at, that I should
Once name you derogately ^note, when to sound ^note your name
It not concern'd me.

Ant.
My being in Egypt, Cæsar,
What was't to you? ^note

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

Ant.
How intend you, practised ^note?

Cæs.
You may be pleased to catch at mine intent
By what did here befal me ^note. Your wife and brother
Made wars upon me, and their contestation
Was theme ^note for you, ^{note note} you were the word of war.

Ant.
You do mistake your ^note business; my brother never
Did urge me in his ^note act: I did inquire it,
And have my learning from some true reports ^note
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 ^note cause? ^note Of this my letters
Before did satisfy you. If you'll ^note patch a quarrel,
As matter whole you have not to make ^{note note} it with,
It must not be with this.

Cæs.
You praise yourself
By laying defects of judgement to me ^note, but
You patch'd ^note up your excuses ^note. ^note

Ant.
Not so, not so ^note;
I know you could not lack, I am ^note certain on't,
Very ^note necessity of this thought, that I,
Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,
Could not with graceful ^note eyes attend those wars
Which fronted mine own peace. As for my wife,
I would you had her spirit in ^note such ^note another:
The third o' the world is yours, which with a snaffle
You may pace easy, 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 ^note garboils, Cæsar,
Made out of her impatience, which not wanted
Shrewdness ^note of policy too ^note, I grieving grant
Did you too much disquiet: for that you must
But say, ^note I could not help it.

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

Ant.
Sir, ^note
He fell upon ^note me ere admitted: then ^note
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. ^note

Lep.
Soft, Cæsar ^note!

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

Cæs.
To lend me arms and aid when I required them;
The which you both denied. ^note

Ant.
Neglected rather,
And then when poison'd ^note hours had bound me up
From mine own knowledge. As ^note 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 Egypt, 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 noble ^note spoken.

Mæc.
If ^note it might please you, to enforce no further
The griefs between ye: to forget them quite
Were to remember that ^note the present need
Speaks to atone ^note you.

Lep.
Worthily ^note spoken ^note, Mæcenas.

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.
Thou art a soldier only: ^note speak no more.

Eno.
That truth should be silent I ^note had almost forgot.

Ant.
You wrong this presence; therefore speak no more.

Eno.
Go to, ^note then; your considerate stone ^note.

Cæs.
I do not much dislike the matter, but

The manner ^note of his speech; for't ^note cannot be
We shall remain in friendship, our conditions
So differing in their acts. Yet, if I knew
What hoop should hold us stanch, from edge to edge
O' the ^note world ^note I would pursue it.

Agr.
Give me leave, Cæsar. ^note

Cæs.
Speak, Agrippa.

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

Cæs.
Say not so, ^note Agrippa:
If Cleopatra ^note heard you, your reproof ^note
Were well deserved of ^note rashness. ^note

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

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 ^note 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 tales ^note,

Where now half tales be truths ^note: 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 ^note.

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. ^note

Ant.
May ^note I never
To this good purpose, that so fairly shows,
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 ^note
And sway our great designs!

Cæs.
There is ^note my hand.
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!

Lep.
Happily, amen!

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

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

Ant.
Where ^note lies he? ^note

Cæs.
About ^note the Mount Misenum ^note.

Ant.
What's ^note his strength By land? ^note

Cæs.
Great ^note and increasing: but by sea
He is an absolute master. ^note

Ant.
So is ^note the fame ^note.
Would we had spoke together! Haste we for it:
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. ^note

Lep.
Noble ^note Antony,
Not sickness should detain me. ^note [Flourish. ^note Exeunt ^note Cæsar, Antony, and Lepidus. ^note

Mæc.

Welcome from Egypt, sir.

Eno.

Half the heart of Cæsar, worthy Mæcenas! My honourable friend, Agrippa!

Agr.

Good Enobarbus!

Mæc.

We have cause to be glad that matters are so well digested ^note. You stayed well by't in Egypt.

Eno.

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

Mæc.

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

Eno.

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

Mæc.

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

Eno.

When she first met Mark Antony, she pursed up his heart, upon the river of Cydnus ^note.

Agr.

There she appeared indeed, or my reporter devised well for her.

Eno.
I will tell you. ^note
The barge she sat in, like a burnish'd throne,
Burn'd ^note on the water: the poop was beaten gold;
Purple the sails, and so perfumed that
The winds were love-sick with them; the ^note oars ^note were silver, ^note
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 lie
In her pavilion, cloth-of-gold of tissue ^note,
O'er-picturing that Venus ^note where we see
The fancy outwork nature: on each side her
Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids,
With divers-colour'd fans, whose wind did seem
To glow ^note the delicate cheeks which they did cool,
And what they undid did ^note.

Agr.
O, rare for Antony!

Eno.
Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides ^note,

So many mermaids ^note, tended her i' the eyes ^note,
And made their bends ^note adornings ^{note note note note}: at the helm
A seeming mermaid ^note steers: the silken tackle ^note
Swell ^{note note} with the touches of those flower-soft hands,
That yarely ^note frame the office. From the barge
A strange invisible ^note perfume hits the sense
Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast
Her people out upon her; and Antony,
Enthroned i' the market-place, did sit alone,
Whistling to the air; which, but for vacancy,
Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra ^note too,
And made a gap in nature.

Agr.
Rare Egyptian!

Eno.
Upon her landing, Antony sent to her,
Invited her to supper: she replied,
It should be better he became her guest,
Which she entreated: our ^note courteous Antony,
Whom ne'er the word of ‘No’ ^{note note} woman heard ^note speak,
Being barber'd ten times o'er, goes to the feast,
And, for ^note 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 cropp'd.

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

Mæc.
Now Antony must leave her utterly.

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

Mæc.
If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle
The heart of Antony, Octavia is
A blessed lottery ^note to him ^note.

Agr.
Let us go.
Good Enobarbus, make yourself my guest
Whilst you abide here. ^note

Eno.
Humbly, sir, I thank you. [Exeunt. ^note Scene III. [Footnote: The same. ^note Cæsar's house. Enter Antony, Cæsar, Octavia between them, and Attendants. ^note

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

Octa.
All which time
Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers ^{note note}
To them for you. ^note

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 the rule. Good night, dear lady.
Good night, sir ^note.

Cæs.
Good night. [Exeunt all but Antony. ^note Enter Soothsayer. ^{note note}

Ant.

Now, sirrah, you do ^note wish yourself in Egypt?

Sooth.

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

Ant.

If you can, your reason?

Sooth.

I see it ^note in my motion ^note, have it not in my tongue: but yet hie you to Egypt again ^note. ^note

Ant.

Say to me, whose fortunes ^note shall rise higher, Cæsar's or mine? ^note

Sooth.
Cæsar's.
Therefore, O ^note Antony, stay not by his side: ^note
Thy demon, that thy ^note spirit which keeps thee, is

Noble, courageous, high, ^note unmatchable ^note,
Where Cæsar's is not; but near him thy angel
Becomes a fear, ^note as being o'erpower'd: therefore ^note
Make ^note space enough between you.

Ant.
Speak this no more.

Sooth.
To none but thee; no more but ^note when to thee.
If thou dost play with him at any game,
Thou art ^note sure to lose; and, of ^note that natural luck,
He beats thee 'gainst the odds: thy lustre ^note thickens,
When he shines by: I say again, thy spirit
Is all afraid to govern thee near him,
But he away, 'tis ^note noble.

Ant.
Get thee gone:
Say to Ventidius ^note I would speak with him. [Exit Soothsayer. ^note
He shall to Parthia. Be it art or hap,
He hath spoken ^note 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 battle still of mine
When it is all to nought, and his quails ever
Beat mine, inhoop'd, at odds ^note. I will to Egypt:
And ^note though I make this marriage for my peace,
I' the east my pleasure lies.

Enter Ventidius. ^note
O, come, Ventidius ^note,
You must to Parthia: your commission's ^note ready;
Follow me, and receive't ^note. [Exeunt. ^note Scene IV. [Footnote: The same. A street. ^note Enter Lepidus, ^note Mæcenas, and Agrippa.

Lep.
Trouble yourselves ^note no further ^note: pray you, hasten
Your generals after. ^note

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

Lep.
Till I shall see you in your soldier's dress,
Which will become you both, farewell.

Mæc.
^noteWe shall,
As I conceive the journey, be at the ^note Mount ^note
Before you, Lepidus.

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

Mæc. Agr.
Sir, ^note good success!

Lep.
Farewell. [Exeunt.

^note Scene V. [Footnote: Alexandria. Cleopatra's palace. ^note Enter Cleopatra, ^note Charmian, Iras, and Alexas.

Cleo.
Give me some music; music, moody food
Of us that trade in love. ^note

All. ^note
The music, ho! Enter Mardian the Eunuch. ^note

Cleo.
Let it alone; let's ^note to billiards ^note: come, ^note Charmian.

Char.
My arm is sore; best play with Mardian.

Cleo.
As well a woman with an eunuch play'd
As with a woman. Come, you'll play with me, sir? ^note

Mar.
As well as I can, madam.

Cleo.
And when good will is show'd ^note, though't come too ^note short, ^note
The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now:
Give me mine angle; we'll to the river: there ^note,
My music playing far off, I ^note will betray
Tawny-finn'd ^note fishes ^note; my bended ^note hook shall pierce
Their slimy jaws, and as I draw them up,
I'll think them every one an Antony,
And say ‘Ah, ha! you're ^note caught.’

Char.
'Twas merry when

You wager'd on your angling; when your diver
Did hang a salt-fish on his hook, which he
With fervency drew up. ^note

Cleo.
That time—O times!— ^note
I laugh'd him out of patience, and that night
I laugh'd him into patience: and next morn,
Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed;
Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst
I wore his sword Philippan ^note. Enter ^note a Messenger.
O, from Italy! ^note
Ram ^note thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
That long time have been barren.

Mess.
Madam, madam,— ^note

Cleo.
Antonius ^note dead! If thou say ^note so, villain ^note,
Thou kill'st thy mistress: but well and free, ^note
If thou so yield him, there ^note is gold, and here ^note
My bluest veins to kiss: a hand that kings
Have lipp'd, and trembled kissing.

Mess.
First, madam, he is well.

Cleo.
Why, there's more gold.
But, sirrah, mark, we use ^note
To say the dead are well: bring it ^note to that,
The gold I give thee will I melt and pour
Down thy ill-uttering throat.

Mess.
Good madam, hear me.

Cleo.
Well, go to ^note, I will;
But there's no goodness in thy face: if ^note Antony
Be free and healthful,—so ^note tart a favour ^note
To trumpet ^note such good tidings! If not well,
Thou shouldst come like a Fury crown'd with snakes,
Not like a formal man.

Mess.
Will't ^note please you hear me?

Cleo.
I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak'st:
Yet, if thou say Antony lives, is ^note well,
Or friends with Cæsar, or not captive ^note to him,
I'll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail
Rich pearls upon thee.

Mess.
Madam, he's well.

Cleo.
Well said.

Mess.
And friends with Cæsar.

Cleo.
Thou'rt ^note an honest man.

Mess.
Cæsar and he are greater friends than ever.

Cleo.
Make ^note thee a fortune ^note from me. ^note

Mess.
But, yet, madam,— ^note

Cleo.
I do not like ‘But yet,’ it does allay
The good precedence ^note; fie upon ‘But yet’!
‘But yet’ is a gaoler to bring forth
Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend,
Pour out the pack ^note of matter to mine ear,
The good and bad together: he's friends with Cæsar,
In state of health, thou say'st, and thou say'st, free.

Mess.
Free, madam! no; I made no such report ^note:

He's bound unto Octavia.

Cleo.
For what good turn?

Mess.
For the best turn i' the bed.

Cleo.
I am pale, Charmian.

Mess.
Madam, he's married to Octavia.

Cleo.
The most infectious pestilence upon thee! [Strikes him down.

Mess.
Good madam, patience ^note.

Cleo.
What say you? Hence, [Strikes him again. ^note
Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine eyes ^note
Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head: [She hales him up and down.
Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in brine,
Smarting in lingering pickle.

Mess.
Gracious madam,
I that do bring the news made not the match.

Cleo.
Say 'tis not so, a province I will give thee
And make thy fortunes proud: the blow thou hadst
Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage,
And I will boot thee with what gift beside
Thy modesty can beg.

Mess.
He's married, madam.

Cleo.
Rogue, thou hast lived too long. [Draws a knife. ^note

Mess.
Nay, then I'll run.
What mean you, madam? I have made no fault. [Exit.

Char.
Good madam, keep yourself within yourself:
The man is innocent.

Cleo.
Some innocents ^note 'scape not the thunderbolt.
Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly ^note creatures
Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again:
Though I am mad, I will not bite him: call.

Char.
He is afeard ^note to come.

Cleo.
I will not hurt him. [Exit Charmian. ^note
These hands do lack nobility, that they strike
A meaner than myself; since I myself
Have given myself the cause. Re-enter ^note Charmian and Messenger.
Come hither, sir.
Though it be honest, it is never good
To bring bad news: give to a gracious message
An host of tongues, but let ill ^note tidings tell
Themselves ^note when they be felt.

Mess.
I have done ^note my duty.

Cleo.
Is he married?
I cannot hate thee worser than I do,
If thou again say ‘Yes.’

Mess.
He's married, madam.

Cleo.
The gods confound thee! dost thou hold there still? ^note

Mess.
Should I lie, madam?

Cleo.
O, I would thou didst,
So half my Egypt were submerged and made
A cistern for scaled snakes! Go, get thee hence:
Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me ^note
Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married? ^note

Mess.
I crave your highness' pardon.

Cleo.
He is married? ^note

Mess.
Take no offence that ^note I would not offend you:
To punish me for what you make me do
Seems much unequal: he's married to Octavia.

Cleo.
O, that his fault should make a knave of thee,

That art not what thou'rt sure of! ^note Get thee hence:
The merchandise which ^note thou hast brought from Rome
Are all too dear for me: lie they upon thy hand,
And be undone by 'em! ^note [Exit Messenger. ^note

Char.
Good your highness, patience.

Cleo.
In praising ^note Antony, I have dispraised Cæsar.

Char.
Many times, madam.

Cleo.
I am ^note paid for't ^note now.
Lead me from hence; ^note
I faint: O Iras, Charmian! 'tis no matter.
Go to the ^note fellow, good Alexas; bid ^note him
Report the feature of Octavia, her years,
Her inclination; let him not leave out
The colour of her hair: bring me word quickly. [Exit Alexas. ^note
Let him for ever go: let him not— ^noteCharmian,
Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
The other way's ^note a Mars. [To Mardian ^note] Bid you Alexas
Bring me ^note word how tall she is. Pity me, Charmian,
But do not speak ^note to me. Lead me to my chamber. [Exeunt.

^note Scene VI. [Footnote: Near Misenum. ^note Flourish. ^note Enter ^note Pompey and Menas from one side, with drum and trumpet: at another, Cæsar, Antony, Lepidus, Enobarbus, Mæcenas, with Soldiers marching.

Pom.
Your hostages I have, so have you mine;
And we shall talk before we fight.

Cæs
Most meet
That first we come to words; and therefore have we ^note
Our written purposes before us sent;
Which, if thou hast consider'd ^note, let us know
If 'twill tie up thy discontented sword
And carry back to Sicily ^note much tall youth
That else must ^note perish here.

Pom.
To you all three,
The senators alone of this great world,
Chief factors for the gods, I ^note do not know
Wherefore my father should revengers want,
Having a son and friends; since Julius Cæsar,
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted,
There saw you labouring for him. What was't ^note
That moved pale Cassius to conspire, and what
Made ^note the ^note all-honour'd honest Roman, Brutus,
With the arm'd rest, courtiers ^note of beauteous freedom,
To drench the Capitol, but that they would

Have one man but a man ^note? And that is ^note it
Hath made me rig my navy, at whose burthen
The anger'd ocean foams; with which I meant ^note
To scourge the ingratitude that despiteful Rome
Cast on my noble father.

Cæs.
Take your time.

Ant.
Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails;
We'll speak with thee at sea: at land, thou know'st
How much we do o'ercount thee.

Pom.
At land indeed
Thou dost o'ercount me of my father's house:
But since the cuckoo builds not for himself,
Remain in't as thou mayst.

Lep.
Be pleased to tell us—
For this is from the present—how you take ^note
The offers ^note we have sent you. ^note

Cæs.
There's the point.

Ant.
Which do not be entreated to, but weigh
What it is worth embraced. ^note

Cæs.
And what may follow,
To try a larger fortune. ^note

Pom.
You have ^note made me offer
Of Sicily ^note, Sardinia ^note; and I must
Rid all the sea of pirates; then, to send
Measures of wheat to Rome; this 'greed ^note upon,
To part with unhack'd edges and bear back
Our ^note targes ^note undinted ^note.

Cæs. Ant. Lep. ^note
That's our offer.

Pom.
Know then,
I came before you here a man prepared ^note
To take this offer: but Mark Antony
Put ^note me to some impatience: though I lose
The praise of it by telling, you ^note must know,
When Cæsar and your brother were at blows,
Your mother came to Sicily ^note and did find
Her welcome friendly.

Ant.
I have heard it, Pompey,
And am well studied for a liberal thanks
Which I do owe you.

Pom.
Let me have your hand:
I did not think, sir, to have met you here.

Ant.
The beds i' the east are soft; and thanks to you,
That call'd me timelier than my purpose hither;
For I have gain'd by't ^note.

Cæs.
Since I saw you last,
There is ^note a change upon you. ^note

Pom.
Well, I know not
What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face;
But in my bosom shall she never come,
To make my heart her ^note vassal.

Lep.
Well met here.

Pom.
I hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed:
I crave our composition ^note may be written
And seal'd between us.

Cæs.
That's the next to do.

Pom.
We'll feast each other ere we part, and let's

Draw lots who shall begin.

Ant.
That will I, Pompey.

Pom.
No, Antony ^note, take ^note the lot:
But, first or last, your fine Egyptian cookery
Shall have the fame. I have ^note heard that Julius Cæsar
Grew fat with feasting there. ^note

Ant.
You have heard much.

Pom.
I have fair meanings ^note, sir.

Ant.
And fair words to them ^note.

Pom.
Then so much have I heard:
And I have heard, Apollodorus carried—

Eno.
No more of that ^note: he did so.

Pom.
What, I pray you?

Eno.
A certain queen to Cæsar in a mattress ^note. ^note

Pom.
I know thee now: how farest thou, soldier?

Eno.
Well;
And well am like to do, for I perceive ^note
Four feasts are toward.

Pom.
Let me shake thy hand;
I never hated thee: I have seen thee fight,
When I have envied thy behaviour.

Eno.
Sir,
I never loved you much, but I ha' praised ye ^{note note}
When you have well deserved ten times as much
As I have said you did.

Pom.
Enjoy thy plainness,
It nothing ill becomes thee.
Aboard my galley I invite you all:
Will you lead, lords?

Cæs. Ant. Lep. ^note
Show us ^note the way, sir.

Pom.
Come. [Exeunt ^note all but Menas and Enobarbus.

Men. [Aside ^note]

Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have ^notemade this ^note treaty. You and I have known, sir.

Eno.

At sea, I think.

Men.

We have, sir.

Eno.

You have done well by water.

Men.

And you by land.

Eno.

I will praise any man that will praise me; though it cannot be denied what I have done by land.

Men.

Nor what I have done by water.

Eno.

Yes, something you can deny for your own safety: you have been a great ^note thief by sea.

Men.

And you by land.

Eno.

There I deny my land service. But give me your hand, Menas: if our eyes had authority, here they might take two thieves kissing.

Men.

All men's faces are true, whatsoe'er ^note their hands are.

Eno.

But there is never ^note a fair woman has a true face.

Men.

No slander; they steal hearts.

Eno.

We came hither to fight with you.

Men.

For my part, I am sorry it is turned to a drinking. Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune.

Eno.

If he do, sure he cannot weep't ^note back again.

Men.

You've ^note said, sir. We looked not for Mark Antony here: pray you, is he married to Cleopatra?

Eno.

Cæsar's sister is called Octavia.

Men.

True, sir; she was the wife of Caius Marcellus.

Eno.

But she is now ^note the wife of Marcus Antonius.

Men.

Pray ye, sir? ^note

Eno.

'Tis true.

Men.

Then is Cæsar and he for ever knit together. ^note

Eno.

If I were bound to divine of this unity, I would not prophesy so.

Men.

I think the policy of that purpose made more in the marriage than the love of the parties.

Eno.

I think so too. But you shall find, the band that seems to tie their friendship together will be the very strangler ^note of their amity: Octavia is of a holy, cold and still conversation.

Men.

Who would not have his wife so?

Eno.

Not he that himself is not so; which is Mark Antony. He will to his Egyptian dish again: then shall the sighs of Octavia blow the fire up in Cæsar; and, as I said before, that which is the strength of their amity shall prove the immediate author of their variance. Antony will use his affection where it is: he married but his occasion here.

Men.

And thus it may be. Come, sir, will you aboard? I have a health for you.

Eno.

I shall take it, sir: we have used our throats in Egypt.

Men.

Come, let's away.