MESS.

Gracious Madam,

ACT II

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.

MESS.

70

He's married, Madam.

[draws a knife.

CLEO. Rogue, thou hast liv'd too long.

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 thunderbolt.
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.

CLEO.

I will not hurt him.

80

[Exit CHARMIAN.

These hands do lack nobility, that they strike

A meaner than myself; since I myself

Have given myself the cause.

Re-enter CHARMIAN and Messenger.

Come hither, Sir.

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.

CLEO. The Gods confound thee! dost thou hold there

still?

MESS. Should I lie, Madam?

CLEO.

O, I would thou didst,

So half my Egypt were submerg'd, and made

Sc. V

ACT II

Sc. V

A cistern for scal'd snakes! Go, get thee hence :
Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me
Thou would'st appear most ugly. He is married?
MESS. I crave your Highness' pardon.
CLEO.

He is married?

you:

MESS. Take no offence that I would not offend
To punish me for what you make me do
Seems much unequal. He's married to Octavia.
CLEO. O, that his fault should make a knave of thee,
That art not what thou 'rt sure of!1 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!

CHAR.

[Exit Messenger.
Good your Highness, patience.
CLEO. In praising Antony, I have disprais'd Cæsar.
CHAR. Many times, Madam.

CLEO.

Lead me from hence;

I am paid for 't now.

I faint. O Iras! Charmian! "Tis no matter.

Go to the fellow, good Alexas; bid him

Report the feature of Octavia, her

years,

Her inclination: let him not leave out
The colour of her hair: bring me word quickly.

ΙΣΟ

[Exit ALEXAS.

Let him for ever go :—let him not, Charmian;
Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
The other way's a Mars. [to MARDIAN.] Bid you
Alexas

Bring me word how tall she is. Pity me, Charmian,
But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.

[exeunt.

SCENE VI. Near Misenum.

Flourish. Enter POMPEY and MENAS at one side, with
Drum and Trumpet: at another, CESAR, ANTONY,
LEPIDUS, ENOBARBUS, MECENAS, with Soldiers
marching.

POм. Your hostages I have, so have you mine;

And we shall talk before we fight.

1 i.e. thou art not false in reporting him false.

CES.

Most meet

That first we come to words; and therefore have we

Our written purposes before us sent;
Which if thou hast consider'd, let us know
If 'twill tie up thy discontented sword,

And carry back to Sicily much tall youth

That else must perish here.

POM.

To you all three,
The Senators alone of this great World,
Chief factors for the Gods: I do not know
Wherefore my father should revengers want,
Having a son and friends; since Julius Cæsar,
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted,
There saw you labouring for him. What was 't
That mov'd pale Cassius to conspire; and what
Made the all-honour'd, honest Roman, Brutus,
With the arm'd rest, courtiers of beauteous freedom,
To drench the Capitol, but that they would
Have one man but a man? And that is it
Hath made me rig my navy, at whose burthen
The anger'd Ocean foams; with which I meant
To scourge the ingratitude that despiteful Rome
Cast on my noble father.

ANT. Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails;
We'll speak with thee at sea: at land, thou know'st
How much we do o'er-count thee.

POM.

At land, indeed,

Thou dost o'er-count me of my father's house :
But, since the cuckoo builds not for himself,
Remain in 't as thou may'st.

LEP.

(For this is from the present1) how you take

The offers we have sent you.

CÆS.

ΙΟ

20

Be pleas'd to tell us

30

There's the point.

And what may follow,

ANT. Which do not be entreated to, but weigh

What it is worth embrac'd.

CÆS.

To try a larger fortune.

POM.

You have made me offer

1 i.e. irrelevant.

ACT II

Sc. VI

ACT II
Sc. VI

Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must

Rid all the Sea of pirates; then, to send
Measures of wheat to Rome; this 'greed upon,
To part with unhack'd edges, and bear back
Our targes undinted.

I came before you here a man prepar'd
To take this offer; but Mark Antony
Put me to some impatience. Though I lose
The praise of it by telling, you must know,
When Cæsar and your brother were at blows,
Your mother came to Sicily, and did find
Her welcome friendly.

ANT.

I have heard it, Pompey;

And am well studied for a liberal thanks

Which I do owe you.

Ром.

Let me have your hand:

I did not think, Sir, to have met you here.

40

ANT. The beds i' the East are soft; and thanks to

What counts harsh Fortune casts upon my face;

But in my bosom shall she never come,

To make my heart her vassal.

LEP.

Well met here.

POм. I hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed:

I crave our composition may be written,

And seal'd between us.

CAS.

That's the next to do.

POм. We'll feast each other ere we part; and let's

Draw lots who shall begin.

ANT.

That will I, Pompey.

POм. No, Antony, take the lot: but, first

50

60

Or last, your fine Egyptian cookery

Shall have the fame. I have heard that Julius Cæsar

Grew fat with feasting there.

70

ENO. A certain Queen to Cæsar in a mattress.
Poм. I know thee now: how far'st thou, Soldier?
ENO.

And well am like to do; for I perceive

Four feasts are toward.

POM.

Let me shake thy hand;

I never hated thee: I have seen thee fight,
When I have envied thy behaviour.

ENO.

Sir,

I never lov'd you much; but I ha' prais'd ye,
When you have well deserv'd ten times as much

As I have said you did.

POM.

Enjoy thy plainness,

It nothing ill becomes thee.

Aboard my galley I invite you all:

Well;

80

ACT II
Sc. VI

Will

you lead, Lords?

[Exeunt all but MENAS and ENOBARBUS.

MEN. [aside.] Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have

made this treaty.-You and I have known, Sir.

ENO. At sea, I think.

MEN. We have, Sir.

ENO. You have done well by water.

MEN. And you by land.

ENO. I will praise any man that will praise me; though

it cannot be denied what I have done by land.

MEN. Nor what I have done by water.

90