Char. O that brave Cæsar! Cleo. Be chok'd with such another emphasis ! Say, the brave Antony. Char. The valiant Cæsar! Cleo. By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth, If thou with Cæsar paragon again By your most gracious pardon, My salad days; I sing but after you. ACT II. SCENE I-Messina. A room in Pompey's house. Enter Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas. Pom. If the great gods be just, they shall assist The deeds of justest men. Mene. Know, worthy Pompey, That what they do delay, they not deny. Pom. Whiles we are suitors to their throne, de We, ignorant of ourselves, Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers Deny us for our good; so find we profit, By losing of our prayers. Pom. I shall do well: The people love me, and the sea is mine; My power's a crescent, and my auguring hope No wars without doors: Cæsar gets money, where Of both is flatter'd; but he neither loves, Cæsar and Lepidus Men. Are in the field; a mighty strength they carry. Pom. Where have you this? 'tis false. From Silvius, sir. Men. Pom. He dreams; I know, they are in Rome to gether, Looking for Antony: But all charms of love, Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both! Var. This is most certain that I shall deliver: Mark Antony is every hour in Rome Expected; since he went from Egypt, 'tis Pom. I could have given less matter A better ear.-Menas, I did not think, This amorous surfeiter would have don'd3 his belm Is twice the other twain: But let us rear Men. Pom. I know not, Menas, How lesser enmities may give way to greater. (1) Declined, faded. (2) To. (4) Helmet. Were't not that we stand up against them all, 'Twere pregnant they should square1 between themselves; For they have entertain'd cause enough To draw their swords: but how the fear of us up The petty difference, we yet not know. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-Rome. A room in the house of Lepidus. Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus. Lep. Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed, Eno. And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter, 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 small to greater matters must give way. Lep. Your speech is passion: But, pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes The noble Antony. Eno. Enter Antony and Ventidius. And yonder, Cæsar. Enter Cæsar, Mæcenas, and Agrippa. Ant. If we compose2 well here, to Parthia: Hark you, Ventidius. Cœs. I do not know, Mæcenas; ask Agrippa. Lep. Noble friends, That which combin'd us was most great, and let not Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms, Ant. 'Tis spoken well: Were we before our armies, and to fight, I should do thus. Cæs. Welcome to Rome. Ant. Cæs. Ant. Cœs. Then Thank you. Sit. Sit, sir! Nay, Ant. I learn, you take things ill, which are not so; Or, being, concern you not. I must be laugh'd at, If, or for nothing, or a little, I Should say myself offended; and with you Chiefly i'the world: more laugh'd at, that I should Once name you derogately, when to sound your name It not concern'd me. Ant. What was't to you? My being in Egypt, Cæsar, Cas. No more than my residing here at Rome Might be to you in Egypt: Yet, if you there Did practise2 on my state, your being in Egypt Might be my question.3 Ant. How intend you, practis❜d? (1) Let not ill humour be added. Cæs. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent, By what did here befall me. Your wife, and brother, Made wars upon me; and their contestation Was theme for you, you were the word of war. Ant. You do mistake your business; my brother never Did urge me in this act: I did inquire it; And make the wars alike against my stomach, Cæs. You praise yourself Ant. Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought, Eno. Would we had all such wives, that the men might go to wars with the women! Ant. So much uncurable, her garboils,4 Cæsar, Cœs. (1) Reporters. (3) Bridle. (2) Opposed. (4) Commotions. |