1. S.

Here they'll be, man: Some o' their plants14Q1084 are ill rooted already, the least wind i' the world will blow them down.

2. S.

Lepidus is high-colour'd.

1. S.

They have made him drink alms-drink.

2. S.

As they pinch one another by the disposition, he cries out, no more; reconciles them to his entreaty, and himself to the drink.

1. S.

But it raises the greater war between him and his discretion.

2. S.

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 a partizan I could not heave.

1. S.

To be call'd into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in't, are the holes where eyes should be,

which pitifully disaster the cheeks.

Ant.
Thus do they, sir, [to Cæs.] They take the flow o'the Nile,
By certain scales ^note i'the pyramid; they know,
By the 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 Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of the sun: ^note so is your crocodile.

Ant.

They are so.

Pom.

Sit,—and some wine.—A health to Lepidus.

Lep.

I am not so well as I should be, but I'll ne'er out.

&clquo;Eno.

&clquo;Not 'till you have slept; I fear me, you'll be in 'till then.&crquo;

Lep.

Nay, certainly, I have heard, the Ptolemies' pyramises are very goodly things; without contradiction, I ^note have heard that.

&clquo;Men.
&clquo;Pompey, a word.&crquo;

&clquo;Pom.
&clquo;Say in mine ear; What is't?&crquo;

&clquo;Men.
&clquo;Forsake thy seat ^note, I do beseech thee, captain,&crquo;
&clquo;And hear me speak a word.&crquo;

&clquo;Pom.
&clquo;Forbear me 'till anon.&crquo;—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 it's 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 it's own colour too.

Lep.

'Tis a strange serpent.

Ant.

'Tis so, And the tears of it are wet.

&clquo;Cæs.

&clquo;Will this description satisfy him!&crquo;

&clquo;Ant.

&clquo;With the health that Pompey gives him, else he is a very epicure.&crquo;

Pom.
Go, hang, sir, hang: [to Men.] Tell me of that! Away:
Do as I bid you.—Where's this cup ^note I call'd for?

&clquo;Men.
&clquo;If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me,&crquo;
&clquo;Rise from thy stool.&crquo;

Pom.
I think thou'rt mad. [rising, and stepping aside.] &clquo;The matter?&crquo;

&clquo;Men.
&clquo;I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.&crquo;

&clquo;om.
&clquo;Thou hast serv'd me with much faith: What's else to say?&crquo;—
Be jolly, lords.

Ant.
These quicksands, Lepidus,
Keep off them, for you sink.

&clquo;Men.
&clquo;Wilt thou be lord of all the world?&crquo;

&clquo;Pom.
&clquo;What say'st thou?&crquo;

&clquo;Men.
&clquo;Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That's twice.&crquo;

&clquo;Pom.
&clquo;How should that be?&crquo;

&clquo;Men.
&clquo;But entertain it,&crquo;
&clquo;And, though thou think me poor, I am the man&crquo;
&clquo;Will give thee all the world.&crquo;

&clquo;Pom.
&clquo;Thou hast ^note drunk well.&crquo;14Q1085

&clquo;Men.
&clquo;No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup.&crquo;
&clquo;Thou art, if thou dar'st be, the earthly Jove:&crquo;
&clquo;Whate'er the ocean pales, or sky inclips,&crquo;
&clquo;Is thine, if thou wilt ha't.&crquo;

&clquo;Pom.
&clquo;Shew me which way.&crquo;

&clquo;Men.
&clquo;These three world-sharers, these competitors,&crquo;

&clquo;Are in thy vessel: Let me cut the cable;&crquo;
&clquo;And, when we are put off, fall to their throats:&crquo;
&clquo;All then is ^note thine.&crquo;

&clquo;Pom.
&clquo;Ah, this thou should'st have done,&crquo;
&clquo;And not have spoke of it! In me, 'tis villany;&crquo;
&clquo;In thee, 't had been good service. Thou must know,&crquo;
&clquo;'Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour;&crquo;
&clquo;Mine honour, it. ^note Repent, that e'er thy tongue&crquo;
&clquo;Hath so betray'd thine act: Being done unknown,&crquo;
&clquo;I should have found it afterwards well done;&crquo;
&clquo;But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.&crquo;

&clquo;Men.
&clquo;For this,&crquo; [looking contemptibly after him.
&clquo;I'll never follow thy pall'd fortunes more.—&crquo;
&clquo;Who seeks, and will not take, when once 'tis offer'd,&crquo;
&clquo;Shall never find it more.&crquo; [joins the Company.

Pom.
This health to Lepidus.

Ant.
Bear him ashore.— [to an Attendant.
I'll pledge it for him, Pompey.

Eno.
Here's to thee, Menas.

Men.
Enobarbus, welcome.

Pom.
Fill, 'till the cup be hid. [Lepidus born off.

Eno.
There's a strong fellow, Menas.

Men.
Why?

Eno.
He bears
The third part of the world, man; Seest not?

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

Eno.
Drink thou, encrease the reels.

Men.
Come.

Pom.
This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.

Ant.
It ripens towards it.—Strike the vessels, ho!

Here is to Cæsar.

Cæs.
I could well forbear't.
It's monstrous labour, when I wash my brain,
And it grows ^note fouler.

Ant.
Be a child o'the time.

Cæs.
Possess it, I'll 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 Egyptian bacchanals ^note, and celebrate our drink?

Pom.
Let's ha't, good soldier. [they rise.

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 musick:—
The while, I'll place you: Then the boy shall sing;
The holding every man shall bear,14Q1086 as ^note loud
As his strong sides can volly. [Musick plays. Enobarbus places them hand in hand.
SONG.
Come, thou monarch of the vine,
plumpy Bacchus, with pink eyne:
in thy vats our cares be drown'd;
with thy grapes our hairs be crown'd;
  cup us, 'till the world go round,
  cup us, 'till the world go round.

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 ^note: strong Enobarbe
Is weaker than the wine; and mine own tongue

Splits what it speaks: the wild disguise hath almost
Antickt us all. What needs more words? Good night.—
Good Antony, your hand.

Pom.
I'll try you on the shore.

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

Pom.
O Antony,
You have my father's house ^note,—But what? we are friends:
Come, down into the boat.

Eno.
Take heed you fall not.—14Q1087 [Exeunt Pom. Cæs. Ant. and Attendants.
Menas, I'll not on shore.

Men.
No, to my cabin.—
These drums, these trumpets, flutes, what—let Neptune hear,
We bid aloud farewel to these great fellows:
Sound, and be hang'd, sound out. [Flourish of loud Musick.

Eno.
Ho, says'a!—There's my cap.

Men.
Ho, noble captain! Come. [Exeunt.

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