Royal wench!

For what his eyes eat only.

Agr.

She made great Cæsar lay his sword to bed;
He plough'd her, and she cropp'd.

Eno.

I saw her once

Hop forty paces through the public street;

And having lost her breath, she spoke, and panted,
That she did make defect perfection,

And, breathless, power breathe forth.

Mec. Now Antony must leave her utterly.

Eno. Never; he will not.

Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety: other women cloy

The appetites they feed, but she makes hungry,
Where most she satisfies; for vilest things
Become themselves in her, that the holy priests
Bless her when she is riggish.

Mec. If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle
The heart of Antony, Octavia is

A blessed lottery to him.

Agr.

Let us go.

Good Enobarbus, make yourself my guest,
Whilst you abide here.

Eno.

Humbly, sir, I thank you. [Exeunt.

SCENE III-The Same. A Room in CAESAR'S House. Enter CESAR, ANTONY, OCTAVIA between them;

Attendants.

Ant. The world, and my great office, will sometimes Divide me from your bosom.

Octa.

All which time,

Before the gods my knee shall bow with prayers
To them for you.

Ant.

Good night, sir.-My Octavia,

Read not my blemishes in the world's report:

I have not kept my square, but that to come

Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear lady.— Good night, sir.

Cas. Good night.

[Exeunt CESAR and OCTAVIA.

Enter a Soothsayer.

Ant. Now, sirrah: you do wish yourself in Egypt. Sooth. Would I had never come from thence, nor you thither!

Ant. If you can, your reason?

Sooth. I see it in my motion, have it not in my tongue: but yet hie you to Egypt again.

Ant. Say to me, whose fortune shall rise higher, Cæsar's, or mine?

Sooth. Cæsar's.

Therefore, O Antony! stay not by his side:

Thy dæmon, that's thy spirit which keeps thee, is
Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable,

Where Cæsar's is not; but near him thy angel
Becomes afeard,' as being o'erpower'd: therefore,
Make space enough between you.

Ant.

Speak this no more.

Sooth. To none but thee; no more, but when to thee. If thou dost play with him at any game,

Thou art sure to lose; and, of that natural luck,
He beats thee 'gainst the odds: thy lustre thickens,
When he shines by. I say again, thy spirit

Is all afraid to govern thee near him,

But, he away, 't is noble.

Ánt.

Get thee gone :

Say to Ventidius, I would speak with him.

[Exit Soothsayer.

He shall to Parthia.-Be it art, or hap,
He hath spoken true: the very dice obey him;
And in our sports my better cunning faints
Under his chance: if we draw lots, he speeds:
His cocks do win the battle still of mine,
When it is all to nought; and his quails ever
Beat mine, inhoop'd, at odds. I will to Egypt:
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
Enter VENTIDIUS.

I' the east my pleasure lies.—O! come, Ventidius,
You must to Parthia: your commission's ready;
Follow me, and receive it.

SCENE IV.-The Same. A Street.

[Exeunt.

Enter LEPIDUS, MECENAS, and Agrippa. Lep. Trouble yourselves no farther: pray you, hasten Your generals after.

Agr.

Sir, Mark Antony

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.

1 a fear in f. e.

Mec.

As I conceive the journey, be at Mount1
Before you, Lepidus.

Lep.

My purposes do draw me much about:
You'll win two days upon me.
Mec. Agr.

We shall,

Your way is shorter;

Sir, good success!

Lep. Farewell.

[Exeunt.

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.

Attend.

The music, ho!

Enter MARDIAN.

Cleo. Let it alone; let's to billiards: come, Charmian.
Char. My arm is sore, best play with Mardian.
Cleo. As well a woman with an eunuch play'd,
As with a woman.-Come, you'll play with me, sir?
Mar. As well as I can, madam.
[too short,
Cleo. And when good will is show'd, though 't come
The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now.―
Give me mine angle, we 'll to the river: there,
My music playing far off, I will betray

Tawny-finn'd fishes; my bended hook shall pierce
Their slimy jaws, and as I draw them up,

I'll think them every one an Antony,

And say, Ah, ha! you 're caught.

Char.

'Twas merry, when

You wager'd on your angling; when your diver
Did hang a salt-fish on his hook, which he
With fervency drew up.

Cleo.

That time.-O times!
I laugh'd him out of patience; and that night
I laugh'd him into patience and next morn,
Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed;
Then, put my tires and mantles on him, whilst
I wore his sword Philippian.-

Enter ELIS, a Messenger.3

O! from Italy?—

Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,

That long time have been barren.

1 Mt. Misenum. 2 Tawney-fine in folio. Theobald made the change. 3 Enter a Messenger: in f. e.

Mess.

Cleo. Antony's dead ?—

Madam, madam,

If thou say so, villain, thou kill'st thy mistress:

But well and free,

If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here
My bluest veins to kiss; a hand, that kings
Have lipp'd, and trembled kissing.

Mess. First, madam, he is well.
Cleo.

But, sirrah, mark, we use

Why, there's more gold.

To say, the dead are well: bring it to that,
The gold I give thee will I melt, and pour
Down thy ill-uttering throat.

Mess. Good madam, hear me.
Cleo.

Well, go to, I will;
If Antony
Be free, and healthful, why so tart a favour
To trumpet such good tidings? if not well.

But there's no goodness in thy face.

Thou shouldst come like a fury crown'd with snakes, Not like a formal man.

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.

Mess.

Cleo.

Madam, he's well.

Well said.

Thou 'rt an honest man.

Mess. And friends with Cæsar.

Cleo.

Mess. Cæsar and he are greater friends than ever. Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me.

But yet, madam,—

Mess.
Cleo. I do not like "but yet," it does allay
The good precedence; fie upon "but yet!"
"But yet" is as a gaoler to bring forth
Some monstrous malefactor. Pr'ythee, friend,

Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,

The good and bad together. He's friends with Cæsar; In state of health, thou say'st; and, thou say'st, free. Mess. Free, madam? no; I made no such report: He's bound unto Octavia.

Cleo.

For what good turn?

Mess. For the best turn i' the bed.

Cleo.

I am pale, Charmian.

Mess. Madam, he 's married to Octavia.
Cleo. The most infectious pestilence upon thee!

Mess. Good madam, patience.
Cleo.

[Strikes him down.

What say you?-Hence, [Strikes him again.

Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine eyes
Like balls before me: I'll unhair thy head.

[She hales him up and down. Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in brine, Smarting in lingering pickle.

Mess.

Gracious madam,

I, that do bring the news, made not the match.

Cleo. Say, 't is 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.

Mess.

He's married, madam.

Cleo. Rogue! thou hast liv'd too long. [Draws a Knife. Mess. Nay, then I'll run.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 thunder-bolt.— Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures Turn all to serpents -Call the slave again: Though I am mad, I will not bite him.—Call. Char. He is afeard to come.

I will not hurt him.

Cleo.
These hands do lack nobility, that they strike
A meaner than myself; since I myself

Have given myself the cause.-Come hither, sir.
Re-enter ELIS, the Messenger.1

Though it be honest, it is never good

To bring bad news: give to a gracious message
An host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell
Themselves, when they be felt.

Mess. I have done my duty.
Cleo.

Is he married?

I cannot hate thee worser than I do,

If thou again say, Yes.

1 Re-enter Messenger: in f. e.