Cæs.
Contemning Rome, he did all this: And once,
In Alexandria,—here's &dagger2; the manner of it,—
I'the market-place, on a tribunal silver'd,
Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold
Were publickly enthron'd: at the feet, sat
Cæsarion, whom they call my father's son;
And all the unlawful issue, that their lust
Since then hath made between them. Unto her
He gave the 'stablishment of Egypt; made her
Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia,
Absolute Queen.

Mec.
—This in the publick eye?

Cæs.
I'the common shew-place, where they exercise.
His sons he there proclaim'd, The Kings of Kings:
Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia,

He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assign'd
Syria, Cilicia, and Phœnicia: She
In the habiliments of the goddess Isis
That day appear'd; and oft before gave audience,
As 'tis reported, so.

Mec.
—Let Rome be thus
Inform'd.

Agr.
—Who, queasy with his insolence
Already, will their good thoughts call from him.

Cæs.
The peole know it; and have now receiv'd
His accusations.

Agr.
—Whom does he accuse?

Cæs.
Cæsar: and that, having in Sicily
Sextus Pompeius spoil'd, we had not rated him
His part o'the isle: then does he say, he lent me
Some shipping unrestor'd: lastly, he frets,
That Lepidus of the triumvirate
Should de depos'd; and, being, that we detain
All his revenue.

Agr.
—Sir, this should be answer'd.

Cæs.
'Tis done already, and the messenger gone.
I have told him, Lepidus was grown too cruel;
That he his high authority abus'd,
And did deserve his change: for what I have conquer'd,
I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia,
And other of his conquer'd kingdoms, I
Demand the like.

Mec.
—He'll never yield to that.

Cæs.
Nor must not then be yielded to in this. Enter Octavia, attended.

Oct.
Hail, Cæsar, and my lord! hail, most dear Cæsar!

Cæs.
That ever I shoul call thee, cast-away.

Oct.
You have not call'd me so, nor have you cause.

Cæs.
Why hast thou stoln upon us thus? You come not
Like Cæsar's sister: The wife of Antony
Should have an army for an usher, and
The neighs of horse to tell of her approach,
Long ere she did appear: the trees by the way
Should have born men; and expectation fainted,
Longing for what it had not: nay, the dust
Should have ascended to the roof of heaven,
Rais'd by your populous troops: But you are come
A market-maid to Rome; and have prevented
The oftent of our love, which, left unshewn,
Is often left unlov'd: we should have met you
By sea, and land; supplying every stage
With an augmented greeting.

Oct.
—Good my lord,
To come thus was I not constrain'd, but did it
On my free will. My lord Mark Antony,
Hearing that you prepar'd for war, acquainted
My grieving ear withal; whereon, I beg'd
His paron for return.

Cæs.
—Which soon he granted,
Being an obstruct 'tween his lust and him.

Oct.
Do not say so, my lord.

Cæs.
—I have eyes upon him,
And his affairs come to me on the wind:
Where, say you, he is now?

Oct.
—My lord, in Athens.

Cæs.
No, my most wronged sister; Cleopatra
Hath nodded him to her: He hath giv'n his empire
Up to a whore; who now are levying
The Kings o'the earth for war.

Oct.
—Ah me most wretched!
That have my heart parted betwixt two friends,
That do afflict each other.

Cæs.
—Welcome hither:
Your letters did withhold our breaking forth;
'Till we perceived, both how you were wrong'd,
And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart:
Be you not troubl'd with the time, which drives
O'er your content these strong necessities;
But let determin'd things to destiny
Hold unbewail'd their way. Welcome to Rome:
Nothing more dear to me. You are abus'd
Beyond the mark of thought: and the high gods,
To do you justice, make them ministers
Of us, and those that love you. Be of comfort;
And ever welcome to us.

Agr.
—Welcome, lady.

Mec.
Welcome, dear madam.
Each heart in Rome does love and pity you:
Only the adulterous Antony, most large
In his abominations, turns you off;
And gives his potent regiment to a trull,
That noises ^note it against us.

Oct.
—Is it so, sir?

Cæs.
Most certain. Sister, welcome: Pray you now,
Be ever known to patience: My dear'st sister! [Exeunt.

Previous section