His cocks do win the battle still of mine, Enter VENTIDIUS. O, come, Ventidius, [Exeunt. You must to Parthia: your commission 's ready; SCENE IV.-The same. A Street. Enter LEPIDUS, MECENAS, and Agrippa. Lep. Trouble yourselves no further: pray you, hasten Your generals after. Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow. Lep. Till I shall see you in your soldier's dress, Which will become you both, farewell. Mec. As I conceive the journey, be at Mount3 Before you, Lepidus. Lep. We shall, Your way is shorter; My purposes do draw me much about: You'll win two days upon me. Mec., Agr. Lep. Farewell! All to nought.] Sir, good success ! [Exeunt. All the world to nothing!' K. Richard III., i. 2; Romeo & Juliet, iii. 5. 2 Inhooped.] When enclosed in the ring. At Mount.] At Mount Misenum. Extracts from Plutarch, 20. Misenum was a promontory of Campania in Italy. SCENE V.-Alexandria. A Room in the Palace. Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS. Cleo. Give me some music;-music, moody food Of us that trade in love.1 Att. The music, ho! Enter MARDIAN. Cleo. Let it alone; let us to billiards: Char. My arm is sore; best play with Mardian. As with a woman.-Come, you'll play with me, sir? Cleo. And when good will is showed, though 't come too short, The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now: Give me mine angle,—we 'll to the river: there, Tawny-finned fishes; my bended hook shall pierce I'll think them every one an Antony, And say, Ah ha! you're caught. Char. 'T was merry when You wagered on your angling;3 when your diver 1 Moody food, &c.] 'If music be the food of love, play on.' Twelfth Night, i. 1. 2 My music.] Music, often signified, as here, a band of musicians. So in The Merchant of Venice, v. 1, 'It is your music, madam, of the house;' and in K. Henry VIII., iv. 2, ' Bid the music leave: they are harsh and heavy to me.' 'Twas merry when, &c.] Extracts from Plutarch, 15. Did hang a salt-fish on his hook, which he Cleo. That time, O, times!- Enter a Messenger. O, from Italy! Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears, Mess. Madam, madam, Cleo. Antony's dead!-If thou say so, villain, Mess. First, madam, he is well. Cleo. Why, there's more gold. But, sirrah, mark; we use To say the dead are well: bring it to that, The gold I give thee will I melt and Down thy ill-uttering throat. Mess. Good madam, hear me. pour Well, go to, I will; But there's no goodness in thy face: if Antony Be free and healthful-so tart a favour3 1 His sword Philippan.] The sword with which he fought at Philippi. 2 So yield him.] Admit or report him to be so. Favour.] Countenance. Compare Romeo and Juliet, ii. 5, 'Thou shamest the music of sweet news by playing it to me with so sour a face.' To trumpet such good tidings! If not well, Thou shouldst come like a Fury crowned with snakes, Mess. Will't please you hear me? Cleo. I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak'st: Yet, if thou say Antony lives, 't is well; Or friends with Cæsar, or not captive to him, I'll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail Rich pearls upon thee.2 Mess. Cæsar and he are greater friends than ever. Mess. But yet, madam, Cleo. I do not like but yet, it does allay Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend, The good and bad together: he's friends with Cæsar; 1 A formal man.] A sedate or sober-minded man. So in The Comedy of Errors, v. 1, 'With wholesome syrups, drugs, and holy prayers, To make of him a formal man again.' 2 I'll set thee, &c.] In some eastern countries it was customary for princes, at their coronation, to be powdered with gold dust and seed-pearl. Hence the lines in Milton's Paradise Lost, ii. 3, 'Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold.' Mess. Free, madam! no, I made no such report: He's bound unto Octavia. Cleo. I am pale, Charmian. Mess. Madam, he's married to Octavia. Cleo. The most infectious pestilence upon thee! Mess. Good madam, patience. [Strikes him down. What say you?-Hence, [Strikes him again. eyes Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head; [She hales him up and down. Thou shalt be whipped with wire, and stewed in brine, Mess. Gracious madam, I that do bring the news made not the match. Cleo. Say 'tis not so, a province I will give thee, And make thy fortunes proud: the blow thou hadst Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage; And I will boot thee' with what gift beside Thy modesty can beg. What mean you, madam? I have made no fault. [Exit. Char. Good madam, keep yourself within yourself; The man is innocent. Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thunderbolt.— Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures Turn all to serpents!-Call the slave again :— Boot thee.] Profit thee. |