Yet, coming from him, that great medicine hath How goes it with my brave Mark Antony? Aler. Last thing he did, dear queen, He kiss'd, the last of many doubled kisses,This orient pearl;-His speech sticks in my heart. Cleo. Mine ear must pluck it thence. Alex. Good friend, quoth he, Her opulent throne with kingdoms; All the east, Say thou, shall call her mistress. So he nodded, And soberly did mount a termagant steed, Who neigh'd so high, that what I would have spoke Was beastly dumb'd by him. Cleo. What, was he sad, or merry? Alex. Like to the time o'the year between the ex tremes Of hot and cold; he was nor sad, nor merry. Cleo. O well-divided disposition!-Note him, Note him, good Charmian, 'tis the man; but note him: He was not sad; for he would shine on those O heavenly mingle!-Be'st thou sad, or merry, So does it no man else.-Met'st thou my posts? Cleo. Who's born that day When I forget to send to Antony, Shall die a beggar.-Ink and paper, Charmian.- Chur. O that brave Cæsar! * Furious. Cleo. Be chok'd with such another emphasis ! Say, the brave Antony. Char. The valiant Cæsar! Cleo. By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth, If thou with Cæsar paragon again When I was green in judgement:-Cold in blood, [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. Messina. A room in Pompey's house. Enter Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas. Pom. If the great gods be just, they shall assist The deeds of justest men. Mene. Know, worthy Pompey, That what they do delay, they not deny. Pom. Whiles we are suitors to their throne, de cays The thing we sue for. Mene. We, ignorant of ourselves, Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers Deny us for our good; so find we profit, By losing of our prayers. Pom. I shall do well: The people love me, and the sea is mine; No wars without doors: Cæsar gets money, where He loses hearts: Lepidus flatters both, Of both is flatter'd; but he neither loves, Nor either cares for him. Men. Cæsar and Lepidus Are in the field; a mighty strength they carry. Men. From Silvius, sir. Pom. He dreams; I know, they are in Rome to gether, Looking for Antony: But all charms of love, Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both! Enter Varrius. Var. This is most certain that I shall deliver: Mark Antony is every hour in Rome Expected; since he went from Egypt, 'tis A space for further travel. Pom. I could have given less matter A better ear.-Menas, I did not think, This amorous surfeiter would have don'd ‡ his helm§ Is twice the other twain: But let us rear Men. I cannot hope, Cæsar and Antony shall well greet together: *Declined, faded. Done on; i. e. put on. + To. § Helmet. His brother warr'd upon him; although, I think, Pom. I know not, Menas, How lesser enmities may give way to greater. Were't not that we stand up against them all, For they have entertained cause enough [Exeunt. SCENE II. Rome. A room in the house of Lepidus. Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus. Lep. Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed, And shall become you well, to entreat your captain To soft and gentle speech. Eno. I shall entreat him To auswer like himself: if Cæsar move him, Let Antony look over Cæsar's head, And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter, Were I the wearer of Antonius' beard, I would not shave to-day. Lep. For private stomaching. Eno. 'Tis not a time Every time Serves for the matter that is then born in it. Lep. But small to greater matters must give way. • Quarrel. Eno. Not if the small come first. Lep. Your speech is passion: But, pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes The noble Antony. Enter Antony and Ventidius. Eno. And yonder, Cæsar. Enter Cæsar, Mæcenas, and Agrippa. Ant. If we compose* well here, to Parthia: Hark you, Ventidius. Cas. Mæcenas; ask Agrippa. Lep. I do not know, Noble friends, That which combin'd us was most great, and let not A leaner action rend us. What's amiss, May it be gently heard: When we debate Our trivial difference loud, we do commit Murder in healing wounds: Then, noble partners, (The rather, for I earnestly beseech), Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms, Nor curstnesst grow to the matter. Ant. 'Tis spoken well: Were we before our armies, and to fight, Ant. I learn, you take things ill, which are not so; Or, being, concern you not. Cæs. I must be laugh'd at, If, or for nothing, or a little, I * Agree. + Let not ill-humour be added. |