ACT II

AGR.

Sc. II

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.

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.

230

240

Humbly, Sir, I thank

you.

[exeunt.

SCENE III. The Same. CESAR'S House.

Enter ANTONY, CESAR, OCTAVIA between them; and

Attendants.

ANT. The World and my great office will some

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

A

Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear Lady. ACT II

Good night, Sir.

Sc. III

CES. Good night.

[Exeunt CESAR and OCTAVIA.

Enter the 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,1 have it not in my tongue :
but yet hie you to Egypt again.

ANT. Say to me

Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Cæsar's or mine?
SOOTH. Cæsar's.

Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side:

Thy Demon, that's thy Spirit which keeps thee, is
Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable,

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

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.

30

[Exit Soothsayer.

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,
I' the East my pleasure lies.

1 puppet-show; the images of my vision.

40

ACT II

Sc. III

Enter VENTIDIUS.

O, come, Ventidius,

You must to Parthia: your commission 's ready;

Follow me, and receive 't.

[exeunt.

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.

We shall,

Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, and
Attendants.

CLEO. Give me some music-music, moody food
Of us that trade in love.

Enter MARDIAN the Eunuch.

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.

CLEO. And when good will is shew'd, though 't come too ACT II

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-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 Philippan.

Enter a Messenger.

O, from Italy!

Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,

That long time have been barren. MESS.

Madam, Madam

CLEO. Antony's dead? 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

ΤΟ

20

30

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;

But there's no goodness1 in thy face, if Antony

Be free and healthful-so tart a favour

Sc. V

1 i.e. correspondence with truth.

ACT II

Sc. V

To trumpet such good tidings! If not well,
Thou should'st come like a Fury crown'd with snakes,
Not like a formal man.

MESS.

Will❜t please you hear me? 41

CLEO. I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak'st:

Yet, if thou say Antony lives, is well,

Or friends with Cæsar, or not captive to him,

I'll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail

MESS. Cæsar and he are greater friends than ever.
CLEO. Make thee a fortune from me.

MESS.

But yet, Madam—

50

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?

I am pale, Charmian.

60

MESS. For the best turn i' the bed.
CLEO.

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

Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in brine,

Smarting in lingering pickle.

[She hales him up and down.