201 The water which they beat to follow faster, Agr. Eno. O, rare for Antony! 210 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* frame the office. From the barge A strange invisible perfume hits the sense *Readily. Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast Her people out upon her; and Antony, Enthroned i' the market-place, did sit alone, 220 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; Whom ne'er the word of 'No' woman heard speak, Agr. Royal wench! She made great Cæsar lay his sword to bed: Eno. 230 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. 240 Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale *Wanton. 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 Eno. *Allotment. 249 Humbly, sir, I thank you. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. Cæsar's house. Enter ANTONY, CÆSAR, OCTAVIA between them, and Attendants. Ant. The world and my great office will some times Divide me from your bosom. Octa. All which time Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers Ant. Cæs. Good night. [Exeunt Cæsar and Olavia. Enter Soothsayer. Ant. Now, sirrah; you do wish yourself in Egypt? IO 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 Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Cæsar's or mine? Sooth. Cæsar's. Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side: Where Cæsar's is not; but, near him, thy angel Ant. 20 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: 30 Say to Ventidius I would speak with him: He shall to Parthia. Be it art or hap, Enter VENTIDIUS. *Enclosed. O, come, Ventidius, 40 You must to Parthia: your commission's ready; Follow me, and receive 't. SCENE IV. The same. A street. [Exeunt. Enter LEPIDUS, MECENAS, and AGRIPPA. Lep. Trouble yourselves no further: pray you, hasten Your generals after. Agr. Sir, Mark Antony Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we 'Il follow. Lep. Till I shall see you in your soldier's dress, Which will become you both, farewell. Mec. We shall, As I conceive the journey, be at the Mount Before you, Lepidus. Lep. Your way is shorter; My purposes do draw me much about: Mec. Lep. Farewell. Sir, good success! [Exeunt. 10 Cleopatra's palace. SCENE V. Alexandria. ALEXAS. Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and Cleo. Give me some music; music, moody food Of us that trade in love. Attend Cleo. The music, ho! Enter MARDIAN the Eunuch. 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. Cleo. And when good will is show'd, though 't come too short, The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now: II 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! 20 I laugh'd him out of patience; and that night I wore his sword Philippan. Enter a Messenger. *Head-dress. O, from Italy! Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears, Mess. Madam, madam,— Mess. First, madam, he is well. But, sirrah, mark, we use 30 Why, there's more gold. To say the dead are well: bring it to that, Mess. Good madam, hear me. Well, go to, I will; Not like a formal† man. 40 +Man in his senses. Mess. Yet, if thou say Antony lives, is well, Or friends with Cæsar, or not captive to him, Rich pearls upon thee. |