Lead me from hence;

CLEOPATRA

I am paid for 't now.

I faint: O Iras, Charmian! 't is no matter.
Go to the fellow, good Alexas; bid him
Report the feature of Octavia, her years,
Her inclination, let him not leave out
The colour of her hair: bring me word quickly.

Exit Alexas.

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

To Mardian.

Bring me word how tall she is. Pity me, Charmian, But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.

SCENE VI

Exeunt.

Flourish.

NEAR MISENUM

Enter POMPEY and MENAS at one side
with drum and trumpet;

at another, CESAR, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, ENOBARBUS,

MECENAS, with SOLDIERS marching.

POMPEY

Your hostages I have, so have you mine;

And we shall talk before we fight.

ACT II, SCENE VI

CÆSAR

Most meet

59

S,

That first we come to words; and therefore have we

Our written purposes before us sent;

Which, if thou hast consider'd, let us know

If 't will tie up thy discontented sword,
And carry back to Sicily much tall youth
That else must perish here.

POMPEY

Το you all three,

The senators alone of this great world,
Chief factors for the gods, I do not know
Wherefore my father should revengers want,
Having a son and friends; since Julius Cæsar,
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted,
There saw you labouring for him. What was 't
That moved pale Cassius to conspire; and what
Made the all-honour'd, honest Roman, Brutus,
With the arm'd rest, courtiers of beauteous freedom,
To drench the Capitol; but that they would

Have one man but a man? And that is it

Hath made me rig my navy; at whose burthen
The anger'd ocean foams; with which I meant
To scourge the ingratitude that despiteful Rome
Cast on my noble father.

CÆSAR

Take your time.

ANTONY

Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails;

We'll speak with thee at sea: at land, thou know'st How much we do o'er-count thee.

POMPEY

At land, indeed,

Thou dost o'er-count me of my father's house:
But, since the cuckoo builds not for himself,
Remain in 't as thou mayst.

Which do not be entreated to, but weigh

What it is worth embrac'd.

To try a larger fortune.

CESAR

And what may follow,

POMPEY

You have made me offer

Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must

Rid all the sea of pirates; then, to send

Measures of wheat to Rome; this 'greed upon,

To part with unhack'd edges, and bear back

Our targes undinted.

CÆSAR, ANTONY, LEPIDUS

That's our offer.

POMPEY

Know, then,

ACT II, SCENE VI

61

I came before you here a man prepar'd
To take this offer: but Mark Antony
Put me to some impatience: though I lose
The praise of it by telling, you must know,
When Cæsar and your brother were at blows,

Your mother came to Sicily and did find
Her welcome friendly.

ANTONY

I have heard it, Pompey;

And am well studied for a liberal thanks

Which I do owe you.

POMPEY

Let me have your hand:

I did not think, sir, to have met you here.

ANTONY

The beds i' th' east are soft; and thanks to you,
That call'd me timelier than my purpose hither;
For I have gain'd by 't.

CÆSAR

Since I saw you last,

There is a change upon you.

POMPEY

Well, I know not

What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face;

But in my bosom shall she never come,

To make my heart her vassal.

LEPIDUS

Well met here.

POMPEY

I hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed:

I crave our composition may be written,

And seal'd between us.

CÆSAR

That's the next to do.

POMPEY

We'll feast each other ere we part; and let's

Draw lots who shall begin.

ANTONY

That will I, Pompey.

POMPEY

No, Antony, take the lot: but, first

Or last, your fine Egyptian cookery

Shall have the fame. I have heard that Julius Cæsar

Grew fat with feasting there.

ANTONY

You have heard much

POMPEY

I have fair meanings, sir.

ANTONY

And fair words to them.

POMPEY

Then so much have I heard:

And I have heard, Apollodorus carried

ENOBARBUS

No more of that he did so.

POMPEY

What, I pray you?

ENOBARBUS

A certain queen to Cæsar in a mattress.