Imatges de pàgina
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Is all afraid to govern thee near him :

But he alway is noble.

Ant. Get thee gone:

Say to Ventidius, I would speak with him.
He fhall to Parthia, be it art, or hap,

[Exit Sooth.

He hath spoken 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 Battel, ftill of mine,
When it is all to naught: and his Quailes ever
Beat mine, in hoop'd, at odds. I will to Ægypt;
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
I'th' Eaft my pleasure lies. Oh come, Ventidius,
Enter Ventidius.

You must to Parthia, your Commiffion's ready:
Follow me and receive't.

[Exeunt.

Enter Lepidus, Mecenas, and Agrippa.
Lep. Trouble your felf no farther: pray you haften
Your Generals after.

Agr. Sir, Mark Antony will e'en but kifs Octavia, and we'll follow.

Lep. 'Till I fhall fee you in your Soldier's dress,

Which will become you both, Farewel.

Mec. We fhall, as I conceive the Journey, be At the Mount before you Lepidus.

Lep. Your way is shorter,

My purposes do draw me much about,

You'll win two Days upon me.

Both. Sir, good fuccefs,

Lep. Farewel.

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[Exeunt.

Alexandria.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras and Alexas. Cleo. Give me fome Mufick: Mufick, moody food

Of us that trade in love.

Omnes. The Mufick, hoa!

Enter Mardian the Eunuch.

Cleo. Let it alone, let's to Billiards: come Charmian.
Char. My arm is fore, beft play with Mardian.
Cleo. As well a Woman with an Eunuch play'd,

As

As with a Woman. Come, you'll play with me, Sir?
Mar. As well as I can, Madam.

Cleo. And when good will is fhewed, though't come too short,
The A&or may plead pardon. I'll none now,
Give me mine Angle, we'll to th' River, there
My Mufick playing far off, I will betray
Tawny-fin Fishes, my bended hook shall pierce
Their flimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,
I'll think them every one an Antony,

And fay, ah, ha; you're caught.

Char. 'Twas merry when you wager'd on your Angling, when your diver did hang a falt Fish on his hook, which he with fervency drew up.

Cleo. That time! Oh times! →→→→→→

I laught him out of patience, and that night
I laught him into patience, and next morn,
E'er the ninth hour I drunk him to his bed:
Then put my Tires and Mantles on him, whilst
I wore his Sword Philippan. Oh from Italy.
Enter a Meffenger.

Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine Ears,
That long time have been barren.
Mef. Madam! Madam!

Cleo. Antony's dead;

If thou fay fo, Villain, thou kill'ft thy Mistress:
But well and free, if thou fo yield him.

There is Gold, and here

My bleweft Veins to kifs: a hand that Kings

Have lipt, and trembled kiffing.

Mef. First, Madam, he is well.

Cleo. Why there's more Gold. But, Sirrah, mark, we ufe

To fay, the dead are well: bring me to that,

The Gold I give thee, will I melt and

Down thy ill-uttering throat.

Mef. Good Madam, hear me.
Cleo. Well, go to, I will:

pour

But there's no goodness in thy face. If Antony
Be free and healthful; Why fo tart a favour
To trumpet fuch good tidings? If not well,

Thou fhould'ft come like a Fury crown'd with Snakes,
Not like a formal Man.

VOL. VI.

Mef.

Mef. Wilt please you hear me?

Cleo. I have a mind to ftrike thee e'er thou speak'ft;
Yet if thou fay, Antony lives, 'tis well,

Or Friends with Cafar, or not Captain to him,
I'll fee thee in a showre of Gold, and hail
Rich Pearls upon thee.

Mef. Madam, he's well.

Cleo. Well faid.

Mef. And Friends with Cafar.

Cleo. Thou'rt an honeft Man.

Mef. Cafar, and he, are greater Friends than ever.
Cleo. Mark thee a Fortune from me.

Mef. But yet, Madam

Cleo. I do not like but yet, it do's allay
The good precedence, fie upon but yet,
But yet, is as a Jaylor to bring forth

Some monftrous Malefactor. Prithee, Friend,
Pour out the pack of matter to mine Ear,

The good and bad together: he's Friends with Cafar,
In ftate of Health thou fay'st, and thou fay'ft, free.
Mef. Free, Madam! no: I made no fuch sport,
He's bound unto Octavia.

Cleo. For what good turn?

Mef. For the beft turn i'th' Bed.

Cleo. I am pale, Charmian.

Mef. Madam, he's married to Octavia.

Cleo. The most infectious Peftilence upon thee,

Mef. Good Madam, patience.

Cleo. What fay you?

[Strikes him down.

[Strikes him.

Hence horrible Villain, or I'll spurn thine Eyes
Like Balls before me; I'll unhair thy Head:

[She hales him up and down. Thou shalt be whipt with Wyre, and ftew'd in Brine, Smarting in lingring pickle.

Mef. Gracious Madam,

I, that do bring the News, made not the match.
Cleo. Say 'tis not fo, a Province I will give thee,
And make thy Fortunes proud: the blow thou hadft
Shall make thy peace, for moving me to rage,
And I will boot thee with what gift befide

Thy

Thy modesty can beg.

Mef. He's married, Madam.

Cleo. Rogue, thou haft liv'd too long. [Draws a Dagger. Mef. Nay then I'll run:

What mean you, Madam, I have made no fault.

[Exit.

Char. Good Madam, keep your felf within your self,

The Man is innocent.

Cleo. Some Innocents fcape not the Thunderbolt :
Melt Egypt into Nile; and kindled creatures
Turn all to Serpents. Call the Slave again,
Though I am mad, I will not bite him; Call.
Char. He is afeard to come.

Cleo. I will not hurt him,

Thefe Hands do lack Nobility, that they ftrike
A meaner than my felf: fince I my felf
Have given my self the caufe. Come hither, Sir.
Re-Enter the Messenger.
Though it be honeft, it is never good

To bring bad News: give to a gracious Meffage
An Hoft of Tongues, but let ill tidings tell
Themselves, when they be felt.

Mef. I have done my duty.

Cleo. Is he married?

I cannot hate thee worfer than I do,

If thou again fay yes.

Mef. He's married, Madam.

Cleo. The gods confound thee, doft thou hold there ftill

Mef. Should I lie, Madam?

Cleo. Oh, would thou didft:

So half my Egypt were fubmerg'd, and made
A Cistern for fcal'd Snakes. Go get thee hence,
Hadft thou Narciffus in thy Face, to me
Thou wouldst appear most ugly: He is married?
Mef. I crave your Highnefs pardon.

Cleo. He is married?

Mef. Take no offence, that I would not offend

To punish me for what you make me do,

Seems much unequal: he's married to Octavia.

you;

Cleo. Oh that his fault fhould make a Knave of thee, That art not what thou art fure of. Get thee hence, The Merchandifes which thou haft brought from Rome,

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Are all too dear for me:

Lye they upon thy hand, and be undone by 'em. [Exit Mef.
Char. Good your Highness patience.

Cleo. In praifing Antony, I have difprais'd Cafar.
Char. Many times, Madam.

Cleo. I am paid for't now: lead me from hence,

I faint; oh Iras, Charmian!

'tis no matter.

Go to the Fellow, good Alexas, bid him
Report the feature of O&avia, her years,
Her inclination, let him not leave out

The colour of her Hair. Bring me word quickly.
Let him for ever go-let him not, Charmian,
Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
The other way's a Mars. Bid you Alexas

Bring me word, how tall fhe is: pity me, Charmian,
But do not fpeak to me. Lead me to my Chamber. [Exeunt.

SCENE

The Coaft of Italy, near

IV.
Mifenum.

Enter Pompey and Menas at one Door with Drum and Trumpet: At another Cæfar, Lepidus, Antony, Enobarbus, Mecenas, Agrippa, with Soldiers marching.

Pom. Your Hoftages I have, fo have you mine; And we fhall talk before we fight.

Caf. Moft meet

That firft we come to words, and therefore have we

Our written purposes before us fent,

Which if thou haft confidered, let us know,

If 'twill tie up thy difcontented Sword,
And carry back to Sicily much tall youth,
That elfe muft perish here.

Pom. To you all three,

The Senators alone of this great World,
Chief Factors for the gods. I do not know,
Wherefore my Father thould revengers want,
Having a Son and Friends; fince Julius Cafar,
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghofted,
There faw you labouring for me. What was't
That mov'd pale Caffius to confpire? And what
Made the all-honour'd, honeft Roman Brutus,

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