So far ask pardon, as befits mine Honour To stoop in such a case. Lep. 'Tis nobly spoken. Mec. If it might please you, to enforce no further Speaks to atone you. Lep. Worthily fpoken, Mecanas. 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 fhall have time to wrangle in, when you have nothing elfe to do. Ant. Thou art a Soldier, only fpeak no more. Eno. That truth fhould be filent, I had almoft forgot. Ant. You wrong this prefence, therefore speak no more. Eno. Go to then: your confiderate Stone. Caf. I do not much dislike the matter, but The manner of his Speech: for't cannot be, We shall remain in friendship, our conditions So differing in their acts. Yet if I knew, What Hoop fhould hold us ftaunch, from edge to edge Ath' World, I would pursue it. Agr. Give me leave, Cafar. Caf. Speak, Agrippa. Agr. Thou haft a Sifter by thy Mother's fide, Admir'd Octavia! Great Mark Antony Is now a Widower. Caf. Say not fo, Agrippa; if Cleopatra heard you, your proof were well deferved of rafhness. Ant. I am not married, Cafar; let me hear Agrippa further fpeak. Agr. To hold you in perpetual amity, To make you Brothers, and to knit your Hearts Where Where now half tales be truths: her love to both Ant. Will Cafar fpeak? Caf. Not 'till he hears how Antony is touch'd, With what is spoken already. Ant. What power is in Agrippa, If I would fay Agrippa, be it so, To make this good? Caf. The power of Cafar, To this good purpose, that fo fairly fhews, Caf. There's my hand: A Sifter I bequeath you, whom no Brother Did ever love fo 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 against Pompey, For he hath laid ftrange Courtefies, and great Of late upon me. I muft thank him only, Left my remembrance fuffer ill report: At heel of that defie him. Lep. Time calls upon's, Of us muft Pompey presently be fought, Or else he feeks out us. Ant. Where lyes he? Caf. About the Mount-Mifenum. Ant. What is his strength by Land? Caf. Great, and increafing : But by Sea he is an abfolute Mafter. Would we had fpoke together. Hafte we for it, The The bufinefs we have talk'd of. Caf. With moft gladness. And do invite you to my Sifter's view, Ant. Let us, Lepidus, not lack your company. Manent Enobarbus, Agrippa, Mecenas. Mec. Welcome from Ægypt, Sir. [Exeunt. Eno. Half the Heart of Cafar, worthy Mecanas. My Honourable Friend Agrippa. Agr. Good Enobarbus. Mec. We have caufe to be glad, that matters are fo well digested you stay'd well by't in Ægypt. Eno. Ay Sir, we did fleep day out of countenance, and made the Night light with drinking. Mec. Eight wild-Boars roafted whole at a breakfast: and but twelve Perfons there. Is this true? Eno. This was but as a Fly by an Eagle: we had much more monftrous matter of Feaft, which worthily deserved noting. Mec. She's a moft triumphant Lady, if report be square to her. Eno. When she first met Mark Antony, the purs'd up Heart upon the River of Cydnus. his Agr. There the appear'd indeed or my reporter devis'd well for her. Eno. I will tell you; The Barge fhe fat in, like a Burnish'd Throne The Winds were Love-fick. With them the Oars were Silver, Which to the tune of Flutes kept ftroke, and made In her Pavillion, Cloth of Gold, of Tissue, The Fancy out-work Nature. On each fide her With divers-colour'd Fans, whofe wind did feem Eno. Her Gentlewomen, like the Nereides, Agr. Rare Egyptian! Eno. Upon her landing, Antony fent to her, It should be better, he became her Gueft; For what his Eyes eat only. Agr. Royal wench! She made great Cafar lay his Sword to Bed, He ploughed her, and she cropt. Eno. I faw her once Hop forty Paces through the publick Street. And having loft her breath, fhe spoke, and panted, And breathless power breath forth. Mec. Now Antony must leave her utterly. Eno. Never, he will not. Age cannot wither her, nor cuftom fteal Blefs Bless her, when she is Riggish. Mec. If Beauty, Wisdom, Modefty, can settle The Heart of Antony, Octavia is A bleffed Lottery to him. Agr. Let us go. Good Enobarbus, make your felf my Guest, Whilft you abide here. Eno. Humbly, Sir, I thank you. [Exeunt. Enter Antony, Cæfar, Octavia between them. Ant. The World, and my great Office, will sometimes Divide me from your Bofom. Octa. All which time, Before the Gods my Knee fhall bow in Prayers To them for you. Ant. Good Night Sir. My Octavia, Read not my blemishes in the World's report: Caf. Good Night. [Exeunt Cæfar and Octavia. Enter Soothsayer. Ant. Now Sirrah! do you wish your felf in Egypt ? Sooth. Would I had never come from thence, nor you thither. Ant. If you can, your reafon?. Sooth. I fee it in my motion, have it not in my tongue; hie you to Egypt again. But yet Ant. Say to me, whofe Fortune fhall rife higher, Cafar's or mine? Sooth. Cafar's. Therefore, oh Antony, ftay not by his fide. Thy Damon, that's thy Spirit which keeps thee, is Noble, Couragious, High, Unmatchable, Where Cafar's is not. But near him thy Angel Make space enough between you. Ant. Speak this no more. Sooth. To none but thee, no more, but when to thee, If thou doft play with him at any Game, Thou art fure to lofe: And of that Natural luck He beats thee 'gainst the odds. Thy Luftre thickens, |