Eno. But there is ne'er a fair woman, has a true face. Men. For my part, I am forry it is turn'd to a drink- Men. True, Sir, fhe was the wife of Caius Marcellus. Eno. But now fhe is the wife of Marcus Antonius. Men. Pray ye, Sir? Eno. 'Tis true. Men. Then is Cæfar and he for ever knit together. Eno. If I were bound to divine of this unity, I would not prophefy fo. Men. I think, the policy of that purpose made more in the marriage, than the love of the parties. Eno. I think fo too. But you fhall find, the band, that feems to tie the friendship together, will be the very ftrangler of their amity: Octavia is of a holy, cold, and still converfation. Men. Who would not have his wife fo? Eno. Not he, that himself is not fo: which is Mark Antony. He will to his Egyptian difh again; then fhall the fighs of Octavia blow the fire up in Cafar, and, as I faid before, that which is the ftrength of their amity, fhall prove the immediate author of their variance. Antony will ufe his affection where it is: He married but his occafion here. Men. And thus it may be. Come, Sir, will you aboard? I have a health for you. Eno. I fhall take it, Sir: we have us'd our throats in Egypt. Men. Come, let's away. [Exeunt. SCENE, on Board Pompey's Galley. Mufick plays. Enter two or three Servants with a Banquet. 1 Serv. HE Ere they'll be, man: fome o' their plants, are ill rooted already, the least wind i'th' world will blow them down. 2 Serv. Lepidus is high-colour'd. 1 Serv. They have made him drink alms-drink.` 2 Serv. As they pinch one another by the difpofition, he cries out, no more; reconciles them to his entreaty, and himself to th' drink. 1 Serv. But it raises the greater war between him and his difcretion. 2 Serv. Why, this it is to have a name in great men's fellowship: I had as lieve have a reed that will do me no fervice, as a Partizan I could not heave. Serv. To be call'd into a huge fphere, and not to be feen to move in't, are the holes where eyes fhould be, which pitifully difafter the cheeks. Trumpets. Enter Cæfar, Antony, Pompey, Lepidus, Agrippa, Mecænas, Enobarbus, Menas, with other Captains. Ant. Thus do they, Sir: they take the flow o'th' Nile By certain fcale i'th' pyramid; they know, By th' height, the lownefs, or the mean, if dearth, Or foizen, follow. The higher Nilus fwells, The more it promises; as it ebbs, the seedsman Upon the flime and ooze fcatters his grain, And fhortly comes to harveft. Lep. You've ftrange ferpents there. Ant. Ay, Lepidus. Lep. Your ferpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your fun; fo is your crocodile. Ant. They are so, Pomp. Sirrah, fome wine! a health to Lepidus. Lep. Lep. I am not fo as I fhould be: But I'll ne'er out. Eno. Not 'till you have flept; I fear me, you'll be in, 'till them. Lep. Nay, certainly, I have heard, the Prolomey's Pyramifis are very goodly things; without contradiction, I have heard that. Men. Pompey, a word. Pomp. Say in mine ear, what is't? [Afide. Men. Forfake thy feat, 1 do befeech thee, Captain, And hear me fpeak a word. Pomp. Forbear me, 'till anon. This wine for Lepidus. [Whispers. Lep. What manner o'thing is your crocodile ? Ant. It is fhap'd, Sir, like itfelf; and it is as broad as it hath breadth; it is just fo high as it is, and moves with its own organs. It lives by that which nourisheth it; and the elements once out of it, it tranfmigrates. Lep. What colour is it of? Ant. Of it's own colour too. Ant. 'Tis fo, and the tears of it are wet. Ant. With the health that Pompey gives him, elfe he is a very epicure. Pomp. Go hang, Sir, hang! tell me of that? away! Do as I bid you. Where's the cup I call'd for? Men. If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me, Rife from thy ftool, Pomp. I think, thou'rt mad; the matter? Men. I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes. Pomp. Thou haft ferv'd me with much faith: what's elfe to fay? be jolly, Lords. Ant. Thefe quick-fands, Lepidus, Keep off them, 'fore you fink. Men. Wilt thou be Lord of all the world? Pomp. What fay'st thou? Men. Wilt thou be Lord of the whole world? that's twice. F 4 Pomp. Pomp. How fhall that be? Men. But entertain it, And though you think me poor, I am the man. Pomp. Haft thou drunk well? Men. No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup. Pomp. Shew me which way. Men. These three World-fharers, thefe competitors, Are in thy veffel. Let me cut the cable : And when we are put off, fall to their throats: All then is thine. Pomp. Ah, this thou shouldft have done, And not have spoken on't. In me, 'tis villany; I'll never follow thy pall'd fortunes more; Who feeks and will not take, when once 'tis offer'd, Shall never find it more. Pomp. This health to Lepidus. Ant. Bear him afhore, I'll pledge it for him, Pompey. Eno. Here's to thee, Menas. Men. Enobarbus, welcome. Pomp. Fill 'till the cup be hid. Eno. There's a strong fellow, Menas. Men. Why? [Pointing to Lepidus. Eno. He bears the third part of the world, man ! fee'ft not. Men. The third part then is drunk; 'would, it were all, That it might go on wheels! Eno. Drink thou, encrease the reels. Men. Come. Pomp. Pomp. This is not an Alexandrian feast. Ant. It ripens towards it; ftrike the veffels, hoa. Here is to Cafar. Caf. I could well forbear it; It's monftrous labour when I wash my brain, Ant. Be a child o'th' time. Caf. Poffefs it, I'll make anfwer; but I had rather Faft from all, four days, than drink so much in one. Eno. Ha, my brave Emperor, fhall we dance now the Egyptian bacchanals, and celebrate our drink? Pomp. Let's ha't, good foldier. Ant. Come, let's all take hands; "Till that the conquering wine hath steept our sense In foft and delicate Lethe. Eno. All take hands: Make battery to our ears with the loud mufick, [Mufick plays. Enobarbus places them hand in hand. The SON G. Come, thou Monarch of the Vine, (16) The Holding ev'ry Man fhall beat as loud, As bis frong Sides can volly.] A Boy is defigned here to fing a Song, and all the Company are to join in the Burden, which the Poet ftiles, the Holding. But how were they to beat this with their Sides? If they were, at a certain Part of the Tune, either to have clapped their Hands, or ftamped with their Feet, L fhould have understood this as Beating. I am perfuaded, the Poet wrote: The Holding ev'ry Man fhall bear, as loud As bis ftrong Sides can volly. The Breaft and Sides are immediately concerned in straining to fing as loud and forcibly as a Man can. F 5 Caf. |