Too great an act: for learn this, Silius, better
To leave undone, than by our deed acquire
Too high a fame, when he we ferve's away.
Cæfar and Antony have ever won

Sofius,

More in their officer, than perfon.
One of my place in Syria, his lieutenant,
For quick accumulation of renown,

Which he atchiev'd by th' minute, loft his favour.
Who does i'th' wars more than his captain can,
Becomes his captain's captain: and ambition,
(The foldier's virtue) rather makes choice of lofs,
Than gain which darkens him. I could do more
To do Antonius good, but 'twould offend him
;
And in his offence should my performance perish.

Sil. Thou haft, Ventidius, that, without the which
A foldier and his fword grant scarce distinction:
Thou wilt write to Antony.

Ven. I'll humbly fignifie what in his name,
(That magical word of war) we have effected;
How with his banners, and his well-paid ranks,
The ne'er-yet-beaten horfe of Parthia
We've jaded out o'th' field.

Sil. Where is he now?

Ven. He purposeth to Athens; with what hafte The weight we must convey with's will permit, We fhall appear before him. País along.

[Exeunt.

Enter Agrippa at one door, Enobarbus at another. Agr. What, are the brothers parted?

Eno. They have dispatcht with Pompey, he is gone,

The other three are fealing. Octavia weeps

To part from Rome: Cæfar is fad, and Lepidus,

Since Pompey's feaft, as Menas fays,

With the green-fickness."

Agr. 'Tis a noble Lepidus.

troubled

Eno. A very fine one; oh, how he loves Cafar!
Agr. Nay but how dearly he adores Mark Antony!
no. Cæfar? why, he's the Jupiter of men,
Agr. What's Antony, the God of Jupiter?
no. Speak you of Cæfar? oh the non-pareil!

Agr,

Agr. Of Antony? oh the Arabian bird!

Eno. Would you praife Cafar? fay, Cæfar! go no further. Agr. Indeed he plied them both with excellent praises. Eno. But he loves Cæfar beft, yet he loves Antony: Hoo! hearts, tongues, figures, fcribes, bards, poets, cannot Think, fpeak, caft, write, fing, hoo! his love to Antony. But as for Cæfar, kneel, kneel down, and wonder. Agr. Both he loves.

no. They are his fhards, and he their beetle. So This is to horfe; adieu, noble Agrippa. [Trumpets. Agr. Good fortune, worthy foldier, and farewel.

Enter Cæfar, Antony, Lepidus, and Octavia.

Ant. No farther, Sir.

Caf. You take from me a great, part of my felf;
Use me well in't. Sifter, prove fuch a wife
As my thoughts make thee, and my farthest bond
Shall pafs on thy approof. Moft noble Antony,
Let not the piece of virtue which is fet
Betwixt us, as the cement of our love,
To keep it builded, be the ram to batter
The fortress of it; for much better might we
Have lov'd without this mean, if on both parts
This be not cherisht.

In

Ant. Make me not offended

your diftruft.

Caf. I have faid.

Ant. You fhall not find,

Though you be therein curious, the leaft caufe
For what you feem to fear; fo the Gods keep you,
And make the hearts of Romans ferve your ends!
We will here part.

Caf. Farewel, my dearest fifter, fare thee well;
The elements be kind to thee, and make
Thy fpirits all of comfort; fare thee well!
Oft. My noble brother!

Ant. The April's in her eyes, it is love's fpring,
And these the showers to bring it on; be chearful.
08. Sir, look well to my husband's house; and
Caf. What,

Octavia?

Oct. I'll tell you in your ear.

Ant. Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can Her heart inform her tongue; the fwan's down-feather, That ftands upon the fwell at full of tide,

And neither way inclines.

Ano. Will Cæfar weep?

Agr. He has a cloud in's face!

no. He were the worse for that, were he a horse;

So is he, being a man.

Agr. Why, Enobarbus?

When Antony found Julius Cæfar dead,

He cryed almost to roaring: and he wept,

When at Philippi he found Brutus flain.

Eno: That year indeed he was troubled with a rheum, What willingly he did confound, he wail'd;

Believe't 'till I weep too.

Caf. No, fweet Octavia,

You shall hear from me ftill; the time shall not
Out-go my thinking on you.

Ant. Come, Sir, come,

I'll wrestle with you in my ftrength of love.

Look, here I have you ; [Embracing him.] thus I let you go,

And give you to the Gods.

Caf. Adieu, be happy!

Lep. Let all the number of the ftars give light

To thy fair way!

Caf. Farewel, farewel!

Ant. Farewel!

[Kiffes Octavia.

[Trumpets found. Exeunt.

SCENE III. The Palace in Alexandria.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas.

Cleo. Where is the fellow ?

Alex. Half afraid to come.

Cleo. Go to, go to: come hither, Sir.

Enter the Meffenger as before.

Alex. Good Majesty,

Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you,

But when you are well pleas'd.

Cleo. That Herod's head

I'll have; but how? when Antony is gone,

Through whom I might command it :-come thou near.

Mef.

Mef. Moft gracious Majesty!
Cleo. Didft thou behold Octavia?
Mef. Ay, dread Queen.

Cleo. Where?

Mef. Madam,

in Rome, I lookt her in the face:

And faw her led between her brother and

Mark Antony.

Cleo. Is fhe as tall as me ?

Mef. She is not, Madam.

Cleo. Didft hear her speak? is the fhrill-tongu'd or low?
Mef. Madam, I heard her speak, fhe is low-voic'd.
Cleo. That's not fo good; he cannot like her long.
Char. Like her? oh Ifis! 'tis impoffible.

Cleo. I think fo, Charmian; dull of tongue, and dwarfish. What majefty is in her gate? remember

If e'er thou look'dft on majesty.

Mef. She creeps;

Her motion and her ftation are as one :
She fhews a body rather than a life,

A ftatue than a breather.

Cleo. Is this certain ?

Mcf. Or I have no obfervance. *
Char, Three in Ægypt
Cannot make better note.

Cleo. He's very knowing,

I do perceive't; there's nothing in her yet,
The fellow has good judgment.

Char. Excellent.

Cleo. Guefs at her years, I pr'ythee.

Mef. Madam, fhe was a widow.
Cleo. Widow? Charmian, hark.

Mef. And I do think she's thirty.

Cleo. Bear'ft thou her face in mind? is't long or round?

Mef. Round even to faultiness.

Cleo. For th' moft part too,

They're foolish that are fo. Her hair what colour?
Mef. Brown, Madam: and her forehead

As low as fhe would with it.

Obfervance is here ufed for Obfervation.

C'eo.

Cleo. There's gold for thee.

Thou must not take my former sharpness ill,
I will employ thee back again; I find thee
Moft fit for bufinefs. Go, make thee ready,
Our letters are prepar'd,

Char. A proper man.

Cleo. Indeed he is fo; I repent me much That so I harried him. Methinks by him, This creature's no fuch thing.

"Char. O nothing, Madam.

[Exit Mef.

Cleo. The man hath seen some majefty, and should know.
Char. Hath he feen majesty? Ifis else defend!

And ferving you fo long.

Cleo. I've one thing more to ask him yet, good Charmian; But 'tis no matter, thou fhalt bring him to me

Where I will write: all may be well enough.

Char. I warrant you, Madam.

SCENE IV. ATHENS.
Enter Antony and Octavia.

Ant. Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that,

That were excufable, that and thousands more
Of femblable import, but he hath wag'd

[Exeunt,

New wars 'gainft Pompey; made his will, and read it
To publick ear, fpoke fcantily of me;

And when at any time perforce he could not

But pay me terms of honour, cold and fickly

He vented them; moft narrow measure lent me ;
When the best hint was given him, he not took't,
Or did it from his teeth.

Oct. Oh, my good Lord,

Believe not all; or if you must believe,

• Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady,
If this divifion chance, ne'er ftood between

Praying for both parts: the good Gods will mock me,
When I fhall pray, O blefs my Lord and busband!
Undo that prayer, by crying out as loud,

Ob blefs my brother! Hufband win, win brother,
Prays, and destroys the prayer; no midway
"Twixt these extreams at all,

Ant. Gentle Octavia,