Ant. I fear, Octavia, you have begg'd my life.
Od. Begg'd it, my Lord?

Ant. Yes, begg'd it, my Ambaffadrefs.
Shall I, who, to my kneeling flave, could fay,
Rife up, and be a king, fhall I fall down,
And cry, forgive me, Cæfar ?-no, that word
Would choak me up, and die upon my tongue.
Dol. You fhall not need it.

Ant. I will not need it. Come, you've all betray'd

me;

My friend, too! to receive fome vile conditions,
My wife has bought me, with her pray'rs and tears;
And now I muft become her branded flave.

In ev'ry peevish mood the will upbraid
The life the gave.

Oct. My hard fortune

Subjects me ftill to your unkind mistakes.
But the conditions I have brought are fuch
You need not bluth to take; I love your honour,
Becaufe 'tis mine; it never shall be said

Octavia's husband was her brother's flave.
Sir, you are free; free ev'n from her you loath;
For, tho' my brother bargains for your love,
Makes me the price and cement of your peace,
I have a foul like yours: I cannot take
Your love as alms, nor beg what I deferve.
I'll tell my brother we are reconcil'd;

He fhall draw back his troops, and you shall march
To rule the Eaft; I may be dropt at Athens;
No matter where, I never will complain,

But only keep the barren name of wife,

And rid you of the trouble.

Ven. Was ever fuch a trife of fullen honour? Both fcorn to be oblig'd.

Dol. O, fhe has touch'd him in the tend'rest part. See how he reddens with defpite, and fhame, To be out-done in generofity!

CIA

Ven. See how he winks! how he dries up a tear, That fain would fall!

Ant. Octavia, I have heard you, and must praise The greatness of your foul;

But cannot yield to what you have propos'd;
For I can ne'er be conquer'd but by love;
But you do all for duty. You would free me;
And would be dropt at Athens; was't not fo?
Oa. It was, my Lord..

Ant. Then I must be oblig'd

To one who loves me not; who, to herself,
May call me thanklefs, and ungrateful man;
I'll not endure it; no.

Ven I'm glad it pinches there.

Oct. Would you exult o'er poor Octavia's virtue? That pride was all I had to bear me up;

That you might think you ow'd me for your life,
And ow'd it to my duty, not my love.

I have been injur'd, and my haughty foul
Could brook but ill the man that flights my bed..
Ant. Therefore you love me not?

Oa. Therefore, my Lord,

I fhould not love you.

Ant. Therefore you would leave me?

O&. And therefore I should leave you, if I could.
Ant. I am vanquifh'd. Take me, Octavia ;-

[Embracing her.

I've been a thriftlefs debtor to your love,

But all fhall be amended.

Oa. O, bieft hour!

Dol. Happy change!:

Ven. My joy ftops at my tongue;

But it has found two channels here, for one,

And bubbles out above.

I

Ant. [To Olavia.] This is thy triumph; lead me where thou wilt;

Ev'n to thy brother's camp.

Oa. All there are your's.

Enter ALEXAS, baftily.

Alex. The Queen, my mistress, Sir, and yours
Ant. 'Tis paft!

Octavia, you shall stay this night; to-morrow,
Cæfar and we are one.

[Exit, leading Octavia; Dolabella follows. Ven. There's news for you; run, my officious pandar;

Be fure to be the firft; hafte forward: go

Hafte, my dear go-between!-hafte !

[Exeunt.

A C T V.

SCENE-Outfide of the City of Alexandria.

Enter ANTONY, and VENTIDIUS.

Ant. 'TIS plain, Ventidius, Cæfar has diffembled; He knows no honour, he!-and the conditions,

Sent by Octavia and Dolabella,

Were treacherously meant.

Ven. You please to think fo.

Ant. Is it not clear? He'll not withdraw his troops.