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 self within your felf,

The man is innocent.

Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thunderbolt.
Melt Egypt into Nile; and kindly creatures
Turn all to ferpents! Call the flave again;
Though I am mad, I will not bite him; call.
Char. He is afraid to come.
Cleo. I will not hurt him.

These hands do lack nobility, that they strike
A meaner than my felf: fince I my self
Have given my self the cause. Come hither, Sir.
Re-enter the Meffenger.
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 you 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, I would thou didft;

So half my Egypt were fubmerg'd, and made

A ciftern for fcal'd fnakes! Go get thee hence,
Hadft thou Narciffus in thy face, to me

Thou wouldst appear moft ugly: he is married?
Mef. I crave your Highness' pardon.

Cleo. He is married?

Mef. Take no offence, for I would not offend you;

To punish me for what you make me do,

Seems much unequal: he's married to Octavia.

Cleo. Oh, that his fault should make a knave of thee, That fay'ft but what thou'rt fure of! Get thee hence, The merchandises thou haft brought from Rome

Are

Are all too dear for me:

Lye they upon thy hand, and be undone by 'em!

Char. Good your Highness, patience.

[Exit Mef.

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

Cleo. I am paid for it 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 Octavia, 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,
Th' other way he's a Mars. -Bid you Alexas
Bring word how tall fhe is: pity me, Charmian,

But speak not to me. Lead me to my chamber. [Exeunt.
SCENE VI.

The Coaft of Italy near Mifenum.

Enter Pompey and Menas at one door with drum and trumpet: At another Cæfar, Lepidus, Antony, Mecenas, Agrippa, with Soldiers marching.

Pom. Your hoftages I have, fo have you mine;

And we fhall talk before we fight.

Caf. Most meet

nobarbus,

That firft we come to words, and therefore have we

Our written purposes before us fent,

Which if thou haft confider'd, let us know

If 'twill tie up thy discontented fword,

And carry back to Sicily much tall youth,
That else must perish here.

Pom. To you all three,

The fenators alone of this great world,
Chief factors for the Gods. -I do not know,
Wherefore my father fhould revengers want,
Having a fon and friends; fince Julius Cæfar,
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted,
There faw you labouring for bim. What was it
That mov'd pale Caffius to confpire? and what
Made the all-honour'd, honeft Roman Brutus,

With the arm'd reft, courters 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 fcourge th' ingratitude that defpiteful Rome
Caft on my noble father.

Caf. Take your time.

Ant. Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy fails, We'll speak with thee at fea. At land thou know'ft How much we do o'er-count thee.

Pom. At land indeed

Thou doft o'er-count me of my father's house.
But fince the cuckow builds not for himself,
Remain in't as thou may'st.

Lep. Be pleas'd to tell us,

(For this is from the prefent) how you take The offer we have fent you

Caf. There's the point.

Ant. Which do not be intreated to, but weigh

What it is worth embrac'd.

Caf. And what may follow

To try a larger fortune.

Pom. You've made me offer
Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I-muft

Rid all the fea of pirates; then to send
Measures of wheat to Rome: this 'greed upon,
To part with unhackt edges, and bear back
Our targe undinted.

Omnes. That's our offer.

Pom. Know then

I came before you here, a man prepar'd
To take this offer. But Mark Antony
Puts me to fome impatience; though I lofe
The praise of it by telling; you must know
When Cæfar and your brother were at blows,
Your mother came to Sicily, and did find
Her welcome friendly.

Ant. I have heard it, Pompey,

Ard

And am well ftudied for a liberal thanks,
Which I do owe you.

Pom. Let me have your hand:

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

Ant. The beds i'th' Eaft are foft, and thanks to you, That call'd me timelier than my purpose hither: For I've gain'd by it.

Caf. Since I faw you laft,

There is a change upon you.:

Pom. Well I know not

What counts hard fortune cafts upon my face,
But in my bofom she shall never come,

To make my heart a vaffal.

Lep. Well met here!

Pom. I hope fo, Lepidus, thus we are agreed: I crave our compofition may be written

And feal'd between us.

Caf. That's the next to do.

Pom. We'll feaft each other ere we part, and let's Draw lots who shall begin.

Ant. That will I, Pompey.

Pom. No, Antony, take the lots

But firft or laft, your fine Egyptian cookery
Shall have the fame. I've heard that Julius Cæfar
Grew fat with feafting there."

Ant. You have heard much.
Pom. I have fair meaning, Sir.
Ant. And fair words to it.
Pom. Then fo much have I heard.
And I have heard Apollodorus carried

no. No more of that: he did fo.
Pom. What, I pray you?

Eno. A certain Queen to Cæfar in a mattress.
Pom. I know thee now, how far'ft thou, foldier?

[To Enobarbus.

Eno. Well, and well am like to do, for I perceive Four feafts are toward.

Pom. Let me fhake thy hand,

I never hated thee: I have feen thee fight,

When I have envied thy behaviour.

VOL. VII.

A a

Ene,

Eno. Sir,

I never lov'd you much, but I ha' prais'd ye,
When you have well deferv'd ten times as much,
As I have faid you did.

Pom. Enjoy thy plainness,

It nothing ill becomes thee;

Aboard my galley I invite you all.
Will you lead, Lords?

All. Shew us the way, Sir.

Pom. Come. [Exeunt. Manent Ænob. and Menas. Men. Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have made this

treaty.

You and I have known, Sir.

Eno. At fea, I think.

Men. We have, Sir.

Eno. You have done well by water.

Men. And you by land.

[To Ænobarbus.

Eno, I will praife any man that will praife me, though it cannot be denied what I have done by land.

Men. Nor what I have done by water.

Eno. Yes, fomething you can deny for your own safety: you have been a great thief by sea..

Men. And you by land.

Eno. There I deny my land-fervice; but give me your hand, Menas, if our eyes had authority, here they might take two thieves kiffing.

Men. All mens faces are true, whatfoe'er their hands are. Eno. But there is ne'er a fair woman, has a true face. Men. No flander, they fteal hearts.

Eno. We came hither to fight with you.

Men. For my part, I am forry it is turn'd to a drinking. Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune.

no. If he do, fure he cannot weep't back again. Men, You've faid, Sir; we look'd not for Mark Antony here'; pray you, is he married to Cleopatra?

no. Cæfar's fifter is call'd Octavia.

Men. True, Sir, fhe was the wife of Caius Marcellus. no. But now the is the wife of Marcus Antonius.

Men. Pray ye, Sir.

Eno. 'Tis true.