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Cleo. How much unlike art thou Mark Antony Yet, coming from him, that great medicine hath With his tinct gilded thee.

!!

How goes it with my brave Mark Antony?
Alex. Last thing he did, dear queen,
He kiss'd,-the last of many doubled kisses,-
This orient pearl ;-His speech sticks in my heart.
Cleo. Mine ear must pluck it thence.
Alex.
Good friend, quoth he,
Say, the firm Roman to great Egypt sends
This treasure of an oyster; at whose foot
To mend the petty present, I will piece
Her opulent throne with kingdoms; All the east,
Say thou, shall call her mistress. So he nodded,
And soberly did mount a termagant' steed,
Who neigh'd so high, that what I would have spoke
Was beastly dumb'd by him.

Cleo.
What, was he sad, or merry?
Alex. Like to the time o'the year between the

extremes

Of hot and cold; he was nor sad, nor merry.

Cleo. O well-divided disposition!-Note him, Note him, good Charmian, 'tis the man; but note him:

He was not sad; for he would shine on those
That make their looks by his: he was not merry;
Which seem'd to tell them, his remembrance lay
In Egypt with his joy: but between both;
O heavenly mingle!-Be'st thou sad, or merry,
The violence of either thee becomes;

So does it no man else.-Met'st thou my posts?
Alex. Ay, madam, twenty several messengers:
Why do you send so thick?

Cleo.

Who's born that day When I forget to send to Antony,

Shail die a beggar.-Ink and paper, Charmian.Welcome, my good Alexas.-Did, I Charmian, Ever love Casar so?

O that brave Cæsar!

Char. Cleo. Be chok'd with such another emphasis ! Sav, the brave Antony.

The valiant Cæsar!

Char. Cleo. By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth, If thou with Caesar paragon again My man of men. Char. By your most gracious pardon, I sing but after you. Cleo. My salad days; When I was green in judgment;-Cold in blood, To say, as I said then ?-But, come, away: Get me ink and paper: he shall have every day A several greeting, or I'll unpeople Egypt.

ACT II.

[Exe.

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gether,

Looking for Antony: But all charms of love,
Salt Cleopatra, soften thy wan'd2 lip!
Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both!
Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts,
Keep his brain fuming; Epicurean cooks,
Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite;
That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour,
Even till3 a Lethed dulness.-How now, Varrius?
Enter Varrius.

Var. This is most certain that I shall deliver:
Mark Antony is every hour in Rome
Expected; since he went from Egypt, 'tis
A space for further travel.

Pom.

I could have given less matter A better ear.-Menas, I did not think, This amorous surfeiter would have don'd' his helm For such a petty war: his soldiership Is twice the other twain: But let us rear The higher our opinion, that our stirring Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck The ne'er lust-wearied Antony.

Men. I cannot hope, Cæsar and Antony shall well greet together: His wife, that's dead, did trespasses to Cæsar; His brother warr'd upon him; although, I think, Not mov'd by Antony.

Pom.

I know not, Menas,

How lesser enmities may give way to greater. 'Were't not that we stand up against them all, 'Twere pregnant they should square between them

selves;

For they have entertain'd cause enough

To draw their swords: but how the fear of us
May cement their divisions, and bind up
The petty difference, we yet not know.
Be it as our gods will have it! It only stands
Our lives upon, to use our strongest hands.
Come, Menas."

[Exeunt,

SCENE II.-Rome. A room in the house of
Lepidus. Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus,
Lep. Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed,
And shall become you well, to entreat your captain
To soft and gentle speech.
Eno.
I shall entreat him
To answer like himself: if Cæsar move him,
Let Antony look over Cæsar's head,
And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter,
Were I the wearer of Antonius' beard,
I would not shave to-day.
Lep.

For private stomaching.

Eno.

'Tis not a time

Every time

Serves for the matter that is then born in it.

Lep. But smali to greater matters must give way. Eno. Not if the small come first.

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Lep.

Your speech is passion: Which 'fronted mine own peace. As for my wife,

But, pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes
The noble Antony.

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Lep.

I would you had her spirit in such another:
The third o'the world is yours; which with a snaffle'
You may pace easy, but not such a wife.

Eno. 'Would we had all such wives, that the men might go to wars with the women!

Ant. So much uncurable, her garboils, Cæsar,
Made out of her impatience (which not wanted
Shrewdness of policy too,) I grieving grant,
Did you too much disquiet: for that, you must
But say, I could not help it.
Cæs.
I wrote to you,
When rioting in Alexandria; you

Did gibe my missive out of audience.
Ant.

Sir,

That which combin'd us was most great, and let not Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts
A leaner action rend us: What's amiss,
May it be gently heard: When we debate
Our trivial difference loud, we do commit
Murder in healing wounds: Then, noble partners,
(The rather, for I earnestly beseech,)

Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms,
Nor curstness grow to the matter.
Ant.

'Tis spoken well: Were we before our armies, and to fight,

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He fell upon me, ere admitted; then
Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want
Of what I was i'the morning: but, next day,
I told him of myself; which was as much
As to have ask'd him pardon: Let this fellow
Be nothing of our strife; if we contend,
Out of our question' wipe him.

C'œs.
You have broken
The article of your oath; which you shall never
Have tongue to charge me with.

Lep.

Soft, Cæsar.

Ant. No, Lepidus, let him speak;
The honour's sacred which he talks on now,
Supposing that I lack'd it: But on, Cæsar;
The article of my oath,-

Cas. To lend me arms, and aid, when I requir'd
them;
The which you both denied.

Ant.

Neglected, rather;
And then, when poison'd hours had bound me up
From mine own knowledge. As nearly as I may,
I'll play the penitent to you: but mine honesty
Shall not make poor my greatness, nor my power
Work without it: Truth is, that Fulvia,
To have me out of Egypt, made wars here;
For which myself, the ignorant motive, do
So far ask pardon, as befits mine honour
To stoop in such a case.
Lep.
'Tis nobly spoken.
Mac. If it might please you, to enforce no further
The griefs" between ye: to forget them quite,
Were to remember that the present need
Speaks to attone12 you.

Lep.

Worthily spoke, Mæcenas, Eno. Or, if you borrow one another's love for the instant, you may, when you hear no more words of Pompey, return it again: you shall have time to wrangle in, when you have nothing else to do.

Ant. Thou art a soldier only; speak no more. Eno. That truth should be silent, I had almost forgot.

Ant. You wrong this presence, therefore speak

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Is now a widower.

Cas.
Say not so, Agrippa;
If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof
Were well deserv'd of rashness.

Ant. I am not married, Cæsar: let me hear
Agrippa further speak.

Agr. To hold you in perpetual amity, To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts With an unslipping knot, take Antony Octavia to his wife: whose beauty claims No worse a husband than the best of men: Whose virtue, and whose general graces, speak That which none else can utter. By this marriage, All little jealousies, which now seem great, And all great fears, which now import their dan

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Not sickness should detain me.

[Flourish. Exeunt Cæs. Ant, and Lep. Mac. Welcome from Egypt, sir.

Eno. Half the heart of Cæsar, worthy Macenas! -my honourable friend, Agrippa!.

Agr. Good Enobarbus!

Mac. We have cause to be glad, that matters are so well digested. You staid well by it in Egypt. Eno. Ay, sir; we did sleep day out of countenance, and made the night light with drinking.

Mac. Eight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast, and but twelve persons there; Is this true?

Eno. This was but as a fly by an eagle: we had much more monstrous matter of feast, which worthily deserved nothing.

Mac. She's a most triumphant lady, if report be square to her.'

Eno. When she first met Mark Antony, she pursed up his heart upon the river of Cydmus. Agr. There she appeared indeed; or my reporter devised well for her.

Eno. I will tell you:

The barge she sat in, like a burnish'd throne, Burn'd on the water: the poop was beaten gold; Purple the sails, and so perfumed, that

The winds were love-sick with them: the oars were silver;

Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made
The water, which they beat, to follow faster,
As amorous of their strokes. For her own person,
It beggar'd all description: she did lie
In her pavilion (cloth of gold, of tissue,)
O'er-picturing that Venus, where we see

The fancy out-work nature: on each side her,
Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids,
With diverse-colour'd fans, whose wind did seem
To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool,
And what they undid, did."

Agr. O, rare for Antony ! Eno. Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides, So many mermaids, tended her i'the eyes, And made their bends adornings: at the helm A seeming mermaid steers; the silken tackle Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands, That yarely frame3 the office. Froin the barge A strange invisible perfume hits the sense Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast Her people out upon her; and Antony, Enthron'd in the market-place, did sit alone, Whistling to the air; which, but for vacancy, Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too, And made a gap in nature.

Agr.

Rare Egyptian!
Eno. Upon her landing, Antony sent to her,
Invited her to supper: she replied,

It should be better, he became her guest;
Which she entreated: Our courteous Antony,
Whom ne'er the word of No woman heard speak,
Being barber'd ten times o'er, goes to the feast;
And, for his ordinary, pays his heart,
For what his eyes eat only.
Agr.

Royal wench!
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.

Mac. Now Antony must leave her utterly.
Eno. Never; he will not;

Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale

(3) Readily perform.

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Humbly, sir, I thank you. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same. A room in Cæsar's house. Enter Cæsar, Antony, Octavia between them; Attendants, and a Soothsayer.

You must to Parthia; your commission's ready : Follow me, and receive it. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-The same. A street. Enter Lepidus, Mæcenas, and Agrippi.

Lep. Trouble yourselves no further: 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. We shall,

Mac.

As I conceive the journey, be at mount'
Before you, Lepidus.
Lep.
Your way is shorter,
My purposes do draw me much about;

Ant. The world, and my great office, will some- You'll win two days upon me.

times

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Say to me,

Whose fortunes 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 is not; but near him, thy angel
Becomes a Fear, 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, 'tis noble.

Ant.
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.

P the east my pleasure lies:-0, come, Ventidius,

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Sir, good success! [Exeunt.

Mac. Agr. Lep. Farewell. 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 us 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.

Cleo. And when good will is show'd, though it

come too short,

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!-0 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 Philippan. O! from Italy;

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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's 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 pour
Down thy ill-uttering throat.

Mess. Good madam, hear me.

(4) Inclosed. (6) Melancholy.

(5) Mount Misenam.

(7) Head-dress,

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Mess.

Cleo.

Madam, he's well.

Well said.
Mess. And friends with Cæsar.
Cleo.
Thou'rt an honest man.
Mess. Cæsar and he are greater friends than ever.
Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me.
Mess.
But yet, madam,—
Cleo. I do not like but yet, it does allay
The good precedence; fie upon but yet:
But yet is 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 friend with
Casar;

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!
[Strikes him down.

Mess. Good madam, patience.
Cleo.
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 ling'ring pickle.

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.
He's married, madam.
Cleo. Rogue, thou hast liv'd too long.

Mess.

Mess.

Dranos a dagger. Nay, then I'll run :What mean you, madam? I have made no fault. [Exit. Char. Good madam, keep yourself within your- | self;

The man is innocent.

Re-enter Messenger.

| Though it be honest, it is never good
To bring bad news: Give to a gracious message
Themselves, when they be felt.
A host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell

Mess.

Cleo. Is he married?

I have done my duty.

I cannot hate thee worser than I do,
If thou again say, Yes.

Mess.

He is married, madam.

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To punish me for what you make me do,
Seems much unequal: He is married to Octavia.
Cleo. O, that his faults should make a knave of
thee,

That art not!-What? thou'rt sure of't?-Get
thee hence:
The merchandise which thou hast brought from
Rome,

Are all too dear for me; Lie they upon thy hand,
And be undone by 'em
[Erit Messenger.
Char.
Good your highness, patience.
Cleo. In praising Antony, I have disprais'd

Cæsar.
Char. Many times, madam.
Cleo.

Lead me from hence.

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But do not speak to me.-Lead me to my chamber. [Exeunt.

SCENE VI.-Near Misenum. Enter Pompey
and Menas, at one side, with drum and trumpet:
at another, Cæsar, Lepidus, Antony, Enobarbus,
Mæcenas, with soldiers marching.

Pom. Your hostages I have, so have you mine;
And we shall talk before we fight.
Cas.
Most meet,
That first we come to words; and therefore have we

Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thunder-Our written purposes before us sent;

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