That day appear'd; and oft before gave audience, As 'tis reported, so. Mec. Inform'd. Let Rome be thus Agr. Who, queasy* with his insolence *Sick. 20 Already, will their good thoughts call from him. Cas. The people know it; and have now received His accusations. Agr. Who does he accuse? Cæs. Cæsar: and that, having in Sicily Should be deposed; and, being,† that we detain Agr. +Inasmuch as. 30 Sir, this should be answer'd. Cæs. 'Tis done already, and the messenger gone. I have told him, Lepidus was grown too cruel; And did deserve his change: for what I have conquer'd, I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia, Mec. He'll never yield to that. Cæs. Nor must not then be yielded to in this. Enter OCTAVIA with her train. 39 Oct. Hail, Cæsar, and my lord! hail, most cause. Cas. Why have you stol'n upon us thus? You come not Like Cæsar's sister: the wife of Antony 49 Longing for what it had not; nay, the dust Oct. Cæs. Cæs. I have eyes upon him, And his affairs come to me on the wind. Cas. No, my most wronged sister; Cleopatra Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire Up to a whore; who now are levying The kings o' the earth for war: he hath assembled Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus, Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas; 70 Oct. Ay me, most wretched, That have my heart parted betwixt two friends That do afflict each other! Cæs. Welcome hither: Your letters did withhold our breaking forth; 79 Till we perceived, both how you were wrong led, And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart: Be you not troubled with the time, which drives O'er your content these strong necessities; But let determined things to destiny Hold unbewail'd their way. Welcome to Rome; Nothing more dear to me. You are abused Beyond the mark of thought: and the high gods, To do you justice, make them ministers of us and those that love you. Best of comfort; And ever welcome to us. Agr. Welcome, lady. Each heart in Rome does love and pity you: Is it so, sir? 90 *Government. Cæs. Most certain. Sister, welcome: pray you, Be ever known to patience: my dear'st sister! [Exeunt. SCENE VII. Near Altium. Antony's camp. Cleo. I will be even with thee, doubt it not. Cleo. Thou hast forspoke* my being in these wars, And say'st it is not fit. Eno. *Spoken against. Well, is it, is it? Cleo. If not denounced against us, why should not we Be there in person? Eno. [Aside] Well, I could reply: If we should serve with horse and mares together, The horse were merely lost; the mares would bear A soldier and his horse. IO Cleo. What should not then be spared. He is already Cleo. Sink Rome, and their tongues rot That speak against us! A charge we bear i' the war, And, as the president of my kingdom, will Appear there for a man. I will not stay behind. Here comes the emperor. Ant. Speak not against it; Nay, I have done. 20 Enter ANTONY and CANIDIUS. Is it not strange, Canidius, That from Tarentum and Brundusium He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea, And take in* Toryne? You have heard on 't, sweet? Cleo. Celerity is never more admired Than by the negligent. Ant. A good rebuke, *Conquer. Which might have well becomed the best of men, To taunt at slackness. Canidius, we Will fight with him by sea. Cleo. By sea! what else? Can. Why will my lord do so? Ant. For that he dares us to 't. 30 Eno. So hath my lord dared him to single fight. Can. Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia, Where Cæsar fought with Pompey: but these offers, Which serve not for his vantage, he shakes off; Eno. Are those that often have 'gainst Pompey fought: Their ships are yare;* yours, heavy: no disgrace Shall fall you for refusing him at sea, Being prepared for land. Ant. By sea, by sea. *Ready. 40 Eno. Most worthy sir, you therein throw away The absolute soldiership you have by land; Distract your army, which doth most consist Of war-mark'd footmen; leave unexecuted Your own renowned knowledge; quite forego The way which promises assurance; and Ant. I'll fight at sea. Cleo. I have sixty sails, Cæsar none better. 50 Ant. Our overplus of shipping will we burn; And, with the rest full-mann'd, from the head of Actium Beat the approaching Cæsar. But if we fail, Mess. Enter a Messenger. Thy business? The news is true, my lord; he is descried; Cæsar has taken Toryne. Ant. Can he be there in person? 'tis impossible; Strange that his power should be. Canidius, Enter a Soldier. How now, worthy soldier! 61 Sold. O noble emperor, do not fight by sea; Trust not to rotten planks: do you misdoubt This sword and these my wounds? Egyptians Let the And the Phoenicians go a-ducking: we Ant. Well, well: away! [Exeunt Antony, Cleopatra, and Enobarbus. Sold. By Hercules, I think I am i' the right. Can. Soldier, thou art: but his whole action grows Not in the power on 't: so our leader's led, 70 And we are women's men. Sold. You keep by land The legions and the horse whole, do you not? |