I will to Egypt:
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
I’th’east my pleasure lies.—O, come, Ventidius,
Enter Ventidius
You must to Parthia: your commission’s ready,
Follow me and receive’t.
Exeunt
[Act 2 Scene 4]
running scene 5 continues
Enter Lepidus, Maecenas and Agrippa
LEPIDUS Trouble yourselves no further: pray you hasten
Your generals after2.
AGRIPPA Sir, Mark Antony
Will e’en4 but kiss Octavia, and we’ll follow.
LEPIDUS Till I shall see you in your soldier’s dress,
Which will become you both, farewell.
MAECENAS We shall,
As I conceive the journey, be at the Mount8
Before you, Lepidus.
LEPIDUS Your way is shorter.
My purposes do draw me much about11:
You’ll win two days upon me.
BOTH Sir, good success!
LEPIDUS Farewell.
Exeunt
[Act 2 Scene 5]
running scene 6
Location: Alexandria
Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras and Alexas
CLEOPATRA Give me some music: music, moody food
Of us that trade2 in love.
ALL The music, ho!
Enter Mardian the Eunuch
CLEOPATRA Let it alone. Let’s to billiards: come, Charmian.
CHARMIAN My arm is sore, best play with Mardian.
CLEOPATRA As well a woman with an eunuch play6ed
As with a woman. Come, you’ll play with me, sir?
MARDIAN As well as I can, madam.
CLEOPATRA And when good will9 is showed, though’t come
too short,
The actor10 may plead pardon. I’ll none now.
Give me mine angle11: we’ll to th’river. There,
My music playing far off, I will betray12
Tawny-finned13 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!’
CHARMIAN ’Twas merry when
You wagered on your angling, when your diver18
Did hang a salt-fish19 on his hook, which he
With fervency20 drew up.
CLEOPATRA That time? O times!
I laughed him out of patience, and that night
I laughed him into patience, and next morn,
Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed,
Then put my tires and mantles25 on him, whilst
I wore his sword Philippan26.—
Enter a Messenger
O, from Italy
Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
That long time have been barren27.
MESSENGER Madam, madam—
CLEOPATRA Antonio’s dead! If thou say so, villain,
Thou kill’st thy mistress. But well and free,
If thou so yield32 him, there is gold, and here
Offers gold
My bluest veins to kiss: a hand that kings
Offers her hand
Have lipped34, and trembled kissing.
MESSENGER First, madam, he is well.
CLEOPATRA Why, there’s more gold.
But sirrah, mark, we use37
To say the dead are well38: bring it to that,
The gold I give thee will I melt and pour
Down thy ill-uttering throat.
MESSENGER Good madam, hear me.
CLEOPATRA Well, go to42, I will.
But there’s no goodness in thy face if Antony
Be free and healthful; so tart a favour44
To trumpet such good tidings! If not well,
Thou shouldst come like a Fury46 crowned with snakes,
Not like a formal47 man.
MESSENGER Will’t please you hear me?
CLEOPATRA I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak’st:
Yet if thou say Antony lives, ’tis well50,
Or51 friends with Caesar, or not captive to him,
I’ll set thee in a shower of gold52 and hail
Rich pearls upon thee.
MESSENGER Madam, he’s well.
CLEOPATRA Well said.
MESSENGER And friends with Caesar.
CLEOPATRA Thou’rt an honest57 man.
MESSENGER Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.
CLEOPATRA Make thee a fortune from me.
MESSENGER But yet, madam—
CLEOPATRA I do not like ‘But yet’: it does allay
The good precedence61. Fie upon ‘But yet’!
‘But yet’ is as a jailer to bring forth
Some monstrous malefactor64. Prithee friend,
Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear65,
The good and bad together: he’s friends with Caesar,
In state of health thou say’st and, thou say’st, free.
MESSENGER Free, madam? No: I made no such report.
He’s bound69 unto Octavia.
CLEOPATRA For what good turn?
MESSENGER For the best turn71 i’th’bed.
CLEOPATRA I am pale, Charmian.
MESSENGER Madam, he’s married to Octavia.
CLEOPATRA The most infectious pestilence74 upon thee!
Strikes him down
MESSENGER Good madam, patience.
CLEOPATRA What say you?
Strikes him
Hence, horrible villain, or I’ll spurn77 thine eyes
Like balls before me! I’ll unhair thy head!
She hauls him up and down
Thou shalt be whipped with wire and stewed in brine,
Smarting in ling’ring pickle80!
MESSENGER Gracious madam,
I that do bring the news made not the match.
CLEOPATRA Say ’tis not so, a province I will give thee,
And make thy fortunes proud84: the blow thou hadst
Shall make thy peace85 for moving me to rage,
And I will boot86 thee with what gift beside
Thy modesty can beg.
MESSENGER He’s married, madam.
CLEOPATRA Rogue, thou hast lived too long!
Draws a knife
MESSENGER Nay then, I’ll run.
What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.
Exit
CHARMIAN Good madam, keep yourself92 within yourself.
The man is innocent.
CLEOPATRA Some innocents scape not the thunderbolt94.
Melt Egypt95 into Nile, and kindly creatures
Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again.
Though I am mad97, I will not bite him: call!
CHARMIAN He is afeard to come.
[Exit Charmian]
CLEOPATRA I will not hurt him.
These hands do lack nobility that they strike
A meaner101 than myself, since I myself
Have given myself the cause.—
Enter the Messenger again [with Charmian]
Come hither, sir.
Though it be honest, it is never good
To bring bad news: give to a gracious104 message
An host of tongues105, but let ill tidings tell
Themselves when they be felt.
MESSENGER I have done my duty.
CLEOPATRA Is he married?
I cannot hate thee worser than I do
If thou again say ‘Yes.’
MESSENGER He’s married, madam.
CLEOPATRA The gods confound112 thee! Dost thou hold there still?
MESSENGER Should I lie, madam?
CLEOPATRA O, I would thou didst,
So115 half my Egypt were submerged and made
A cistern116 for scaled snakes! Go, get thee hence!
Hadst thou Narcissus117 in thy face, to me
Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?
MESSENGER I crave your highness’ pardon.
CLEOPATRA He is married?
MESSENGER Take no offence that I would not offend you121.
To punish me for what you make me do
Seems much unequal123. He’s married to Octavia.
CLEOPATRA O, that his fault should make a knave of thee,
That art not what thou’rt sure of!124 Get thee hence,
The merchandise126 which thou hast brought from Rome
Are all too dear127 for me: lie they upon thy hand,
And be undone by ’em! [Exit Messenger]
CHARMIAN Good your highness, patience.
CLEOPATRA In praising Antony, I have dispraised Caesar.
CHARMIAN Many times, madam.
CLEOPATRA I am paid for’t now. Lead me from hence:
I faint! O Iras, Charmian! ’Tis no matter.
Go to the fellow, good Alexas, bid him
Report the feature135 of Octavia: her years,
Her inclination136, let him not leave out
The colour of her hair. Bring me word quickly.
[Exit Alexas]
Let him138 for ever go.—Let him not, Charmian,
Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon139,
The other way’s a Mars140.—Bid you Alexas
Bring me word how tall she is.—Pity me, Charmian,
But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.
To Iras
Exeunt
[Act 2 Scene 6]
running scene 7
Location: near Misena (Misenum), a port in southern Italy
Flourish. Enter Pompey at one door, with Drum and Trumpet, at another, Caesar, Lepidus, Antony, Enobarbus, Maecenas, Agrippa, Menas with Soldiers marching
POMPEY Your hostages I have, so have you mine,
And we shall talk before we fight.
CAESAR Most meet3
That first we come to words, and therefore have we
Our written purposes5 before us sent,
Which, if thou hast considered, let us know
If ’twill tie up7 thy discontented sword
And carry back to Sicily much tall8 youth
That else9 must perish here.
POMPEY To you all three,
The senators alone11 of this great world,
Chief factors12 for the gods: I do not know
Wherefore13 my father should revengers want,
Having a son and friends, since Julius Caesar,
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted15,
There saw you labouring for him. What was’t
That moved17 pale Cassius to conspire? And what
Made the all-honoured, honest18 Roman, Brutus,
With the armed rest, courtiers19 of beauteous freedom,
To drench20 the Capitol20, but that they would
Have one man21 but a man? And that is it
Hath made me rig my navy, at whose burden
The angered ocean foams, with which I meant
To scourge24 th’ingratitude that despiteful Rome
Cast on my noble father.
CAESAR Take your time.
ANTONY Thou canst not fear27 us, Pompey, with thy sails.
We’ll speak28 with thee at sea. At land thou know’st
How much we do o’er-count29 thee.
POMPEY At land indeed
Thou dost o’er-count me of my father’s house31:
But since the cuckoo builds not for himself32,
Remain in’t as thou mayst33.
LEPIDUS Be pleased to tell us —
For this is from the present35 — how you take
The offers we have sent you.
CAESAR There’s the point.
ANTONY Which do not be entreated to38, but weigh
What it is worth embraced39.
CAESAR And what may follow,
To try a larger fortune40.
POMPEY You have made me offer
Of Sicily, Sardinia, and I must
Rid all the sea of pirates. Then to send
Measures of wheat to Rome: this ’greed upon
To part46 with unhacked edges, and bear back
Our targes47 undinted.
CAESAR, ANTONY and LEPIDUS That’s our offer.
POMPEY Know, then,
I came before you here a man prepared
To take this offer. But Mark Antony
Put me to some impatience, though I lose
The praise of53 it by telling. You must know
When Caesar and your brother were at blows,
Your mother came to Sicily and did find
Her welcome friendly.
ANTONY I have heard it, Pompey,
And am well studied58 for a liberal thanks
Which I do owe you.
POMPEY Let me have your hand:
They shake hands
I did not think, sir, to have met you here.
ANTONY The beds i’th’east are soft, and thanks to you,
That called me timelier63 than my purpose hither,
For I have gained by’t.
CAESAR Since I saw you last, there’s a change upon you.
POMPEY Well, I know not
What counts67 harsh fortune casts upon my face,
But in my bosom shall she never come
To make my heart her vassal68.
LEPIDUS Well met here.
POMPEY I hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed:
I crave our composition72 may be written
And sealed between us73.
CAESAR That’s the next to do.
POMPEY We’ll feast each other ere we part, and let’s
Draw lots who shall begin.
ANTONY That will I, Pompey.
POMPEY No, Antony, take the lot78: but, first
Or last, your fine Egyptian cookery
Shall have the fame80. I have heard that Julius Caesar
Grew fat with feasting there81.
ANTONY You have heard much.
POMPEY I have fair83 meanings, sir.
ANTONY And fair words to them84.
POMPEY Then so much have I heard,
And I have heard, Apollodorus86 carried—
ENOBARBUS No more of that: he did so.
POMPEY What, I pray you?
ENOBARBUS A certain queen to Caesar in a mattress.
POMPEY I know thee now. How far’st90 thou, soldier?
ENOBARBUS Well,
And well am like to do, for I perceive
Four feasts are toward93.
POMPEY Let me shake thy hand.
They shake hands
I never hated thee: I have seen thee fight,
When I have envied thy behaviour96.
ENOBARBUS Sir,
I never loved you much, but I ha’ praised ye
When you have well deserved ten times as much
As I have said you did.
POMPEY Enjoy thy plainness101,
It nothing ill becomes102 thee.
Aboard my galley103 I invite you all.
Will you lead, lords?
CAESAR, ANTONY and LEPIDUS Show’s the way, sir.
POMPEY Come.
Exeunt.
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