Act II
Scene I
Messina. Pompey’s house.
Enter Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas, in warlike manner. | |
Pompey |
If the great gods be just, they shall assist
|
Menecrates |
Know, worthy Pompey,
|
Pompey |
Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays
|
Menecrates |
We, ignorant of ourselves,
|
Pompey |
I shall do well:
|
Menas |
Caesar and Lepidus
|
Pompey | Where have you this? ’tis false. |
Menas | From Silvius, sir. |
Pompey |
He dreams: I know they are in Rome together,
|
Enter Varrius. | |
How now, Varrius! | |
Varrius |
This is most certain that I shall deliver:
|
Pompey |
I could have given less matter
|
Menas |
I cannot hope
|
Pompey |
I know not, Menas,
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Scene II
Rome. The house of Lepidus.
Enter Enobarbas and Lepidus. | |
Lepidus |
Good Enobarbus, ’tis a worthy deed,
|
Enobarbas |
I shall entreat him
|
Lepidus |
’Tis not a time
|
Enobarbas |
Every time
|
Lepidus | But small to greater matters must give way. |
Enobarbas | Not if the small come first. |
Lepidus |
Your speech is passion:
|
Enter Antony and Ventidius. | |
Enobarbas | And yonder, Caesar. |
Enter Caesar, Mecaenas, and Agrippa. | |
Antony |
If we compose well here, to Parthia:
|
Caesar |
I do not know,
|
Lepidus |
Noble friends,
|
Antony |
’Tis spoken well.
|
Caesar | Welcome to Rome. |
Antony | Thank you. |
Caesar | Sit. |
Antony | Sit, sir. |
Caesar | Nay, then. |
Antony |
I learn, you take things ill which are not so,
|
Caesar |
I must be laugh’d at,
|
Antony |
My being in Egypt, Caesar,
|
Caesar |
No more than my residing here at Rome
|
Antony | How intend you, practised? |
Caesar |
You may be pleased to catch at mine intent
|
Antony |
You do mistake your business; my brother never
|
Caesar |
You praise yourself
|
Antony |
Not so, not so;
|
Enobarbas | Would we had all such wives, that the men might go to wars with the women! |
Antony |
So much uncurbable, her garboils, Caesar,
|
Caesar |
I wrote to you
|
Antony |
Sir,
|
Caesar |
You have broken
|
Lepidus | Soft, Caesar! |
Antony |
No,
|
Caesar |
To lend me arms and aid when I required them;
|
Antony |
Neglected, rather;
|
Lepidus | ’Tis noble spoken. |
Mecaenas |
If it might please you, to enforce no further
|
Lepidus | Worthily spoken, Mecaenas. |
Enobarbas | Or, if you borrow one another’s love for the instant, you may, when you hear no more words of Pompey, return it again: you shall have time to wrangle in when you have nothing else to do. |
Antony | Thou art a soldier only: speak no more. |
Enobarbas | That truth should be silent I had almost forgot. |
Antony | You wrong this presence; therefore speak no more. |
Enobarbas | Go to, then; your considerate stone. |
Caesar |
I do not much dislike the matter, but
|
Agrippa | Give me leave, Caesar— |
Caesar | Speak, Agrippa. |
Agrippa |
Thou hast a sister by the mother’s side,
|
Caesar |
Say not so, Agrippa:
|
Antony | I am not married, Caesar: let me hear Agrippa further speak. |
Agrippa |
To hold you in perpetual amity,
|
Antony | Will Caesar speak? |
Caesar |
Not till he hears how Antony is touch’d
|
Antony |
What power is in Agrippa,
|
Caesar |
The power of Caesar, and
|
Antony |
May I never
|
Caesar |
There is my hand.
|
Lepidus | Happily, amen! |
Antony |
I did not think to draw my sword ’gainst Pompey;
|
Lepidus |
Time calls upon’s:
|
Antony | Where lies he? |
Caesar | About the mount Misenum. |
Antony | What is his strength by land? |
Caesar |
Great and increasing: but by sea
|
Antony |
So is the fame.
|
Caesar |
With most gladness;
|
Antony |
Let us, Lepidus,
|
Lepidus |
Noble Antony,
|
Mecaenas | Welcome from Egypt, sir. |
Enobarbas | Half the heart of Caesar, worthy Mecaenas! My honourable friend, Agrippa! |
Agrippa | Good Enobarbus! |
Mecaenas | We have cause to be glad that matters are so well digested. You stayed well by’t in Egypt. |
Enobarbas | Ay, sir; we did sleep day out of countenance, and made the night light with drinking. |
Mecaenas | Eight wild-boars roasted whole at a breakfast, and but twelve persons there; is this true? |
Enobarbas | This was but as a fly by an eagle: we had much more monstrous matter of feast, which worthily deserved noting. |
Mecaenas | She’s a most triumphant lady, if report be square to her. |
Enobarbas | When she first met Mark Antony, she pursed up his heart, upon the river of Cydnus. |
Agrippa | There she appeared indeed; or my reporter devised well for her. |
Enobarbas |
I will tell you.
|
Agrippa | O, rare for Antony! |
Enobarbas |
Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides,
|
Agrippa | Rare Egyptian! |
Enobarbas |
Upon her landing, Antony sent to her,
|
Agrippa |
Royal wench!
|
Enobarbas |
I saw her once
|
Mecaenas | Now Antony must leave her utterly. |
Enobarbas |
Never; he will not:
|
Mecaenas |
If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle
|
Agrippa |
Let us go.
|
Enobarbas | Humbly, sir, I thank you. Exeunt. |
Scene III
The same. Caesar’s house.
Enter Antony, Caesar, Octavia between them, and Attendants. | |
Antony |
The world and my great office will sometimes
|
Octavia |
All which time
|
Antony |
Good night, sir. My Octavia,
|
Caesar | Good night. Exeunt Caesar and Octavia. |
Enter Soothsayer. | |
Antony | Now, sirrah; you do wish yourself in Egypt? |
Soothsayer |
Would I had never come from thence, nor you
|
Antony | If you can, your reason? |
Soothsayer |
I see it in
|
Antony |
Say to me,
|
Soothsayer |
Caesar’s.
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Antony | Speak this no more. |
Soothsayer |
To none but thee; no more, but when to thee.
|
Antony |
Get thee gone:
|
Enter Ventidius. | |
O, come, Ventidius,
|
Scene IV
The same. A street.
Enter Lepidus, Mecaenas, and Agrippa. | |
Lepidus |
Trouble yourselves no further: pray you, hasten
|
Agrippa |
Sir, Mark Antony
|
Lepidus |
Till I shall see you in your soldier’s dress,
|
Mecaenas |
We shall,
|
Lepidus |
Your way is shorter;
|
Mecaenas Agrippa |
Sir, good success! |
Lepidus | Farewell. Exeunt. |
Scene V
Alexandria. Cleopatra’s palace.
Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas. | |
Cleopatra |
Give me some music; music, moody food
|
Attendants | 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 play’d
|
Mardian | As well as I can, madam. |
Cleopatra |
And when good will is show’d, though’t come too short,
|
Charmian |
’Twas merry when
|
Cleopatra |
That time—O times!—
|
Enter a Messenger. | |
O, from Italy!
|
|
Messenger | Madam, madam— |
Cleopatra |
Antonius dead!—If thou say so, villain,
|
Messenger | First, madam, he is well. |
Cleopatra |
Why, there’s more gold.
|
Messenger | Good madam, hear me. |
Cleopatra |
Well, go to, I will;
|
Messenger | Will’t please you hear me? |
Cleopatra |
I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak’st:
|
Messenger | Madam, he’s well. |
Cleopatra | Well said. |
Messenger | And friends with Caesar. |
Cleopatra | Thou’rt an honest 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
|
Messenger |
Free, madam! no; I made no such report:
|
Cleopatra | For what good turn? |
Messenger | For the best turn i’ the bed. |
Cleopatra | I am pale, Charmian. |
Messenger | Madam, he’s married to Octavia. |
Cleopatra | The most infectious pestilence upon thee! Strikes him down. |
Messenger | Good madam, patience. |
Cleopatra |
What say you? Hence, Strikes him again.
|
Messenger |
Gracious madam,
|
Cleopatra |
Say ’tis not so, a province I will give thee,
|
Messenger | He’s married, madam. |
Cleopatra | Rogue, thou hast lived too long. Draws a knife. |
Messenger |
Nay, then I’ll run.
|
Charmian |
Good madam, keep yourself within yourself:
|
Cleopatra |
Some innocents ’scape not the thunderbolt.
|
Charmian | He is afeard to come. |
Cleopatra |
I will not hurt him. Exit Charmian.
|
Re-enter Charmian and Messenger. | |
Come hither, sir.
|
|
Messenger | I have done my duty. |
Cleopatra |
Is he married?
|
Messenger | He’s married, madam. |
Cleopatra | The gods confound thee! dost thou hold there still? |
Messenger | Should I lie, madam? |
Cleopatra |
O, I would thou didst,
|
Messenger | I crave your highness’ pardon. |
Cleopatra | He is married? |
Messenger |
Take no offence that I would not offend you:
|
Cleopatra |
O, that his fault should make a knave of thee,
|
Charmian | Good your highness, patience. |
Cleopatra | In praising Antony, I have dispraised Caesar. |
Charmian | Many times, madam. |
Cleopatra |
I am paid for’t now.
|
Scene VI
Near Misenum.
Flourish. Enter Pompey and Menas at one side, with drum and trumpet: at another, Caesar, Antony, Lepidus, Enobarbas, Mecaenas, with Soldiers marching. | |
Pompey |
Your hostages I have, so have you mine;
|
Caesar |
Most meet
|
Pompey |
To you all three,
|
Caesar | Take your time. |
Antony |
Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails;
|
Pompey |
At land, indeed,
|
Lepidus |
Be pleased to tell us—
|
Caesar | There’s the point. |
Antony |
Which do not be entreated to, but weigh
|
Caesar |
And what may follow,
|
Pompey |
You have made me offer
|
Caesar Antony Lepidus |
That’s our offer. |
Pompey |
Know, then,
|
Antony |
I have heard it, Pompey;
|
Pompey |
Let me have your hand:
|
Antony |
The beds i’ the east are soft; and thanks to you,
|
Caesar |
Since I saw you last,
|
Pompey |
Well, I know not
|
Lepidus | Well met here. |
Pompey |
I hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed:
|
Caesar | That’s the next to do. |
Pompey |
We’ll feast each other ere we part; and let’s
|
Antony | That will I, Pompey. |
Pompey |
No, Antony, take the lot: but, first
|
Antony | You have heard much. |
Pompey | I have fair meanings, sir. |
Antony | And fair words to them. |
Pompey |
Then so much have I heard:
|
Enobarbas | No more of that: he did so. |
Pompey | What, I pray you? |
Enobarbas | A certain queen to Caesar in a mattress. |
Pompey | I know thee now: how farest thou, soldier? |
Enobarbas |
Well;
|
Pompey |
Let me shake thy hand;
|
Enobarbas |
Sir,
|
Pompey |
Enjoy thy plainness,
|
Caesar Antony Lepidus |
Show us the way, sir. |
Pompey | Come. Exeunt all but Menas and Enobarbus. |
Menas | Aside. Thy father, Pompey, would ne’er have made this treaty.—You and I have known, sir. |
Enobarbas | At sea, I think. |
Menas | We have, sir. |
Enobarbas | You have done well by water. |
Menas | And you by land. |
Enobarbas | I will praise any man that will praise me; though it cannot be denied what I have done by land. |
Menas | Nor what I have done by water. |
Enobarbas | Yes, something you can deny for your own safety: you have been a great thief by sea. |
Menas | And you by land. |
Enobarbas | There I deny my land service. But give me your hand, Menas: if our eyes had authority, here they might take two thieves kissing. |
Menas | All men’s faces are true, whatsome’er their hands are. |
Enobarbas | But there is never a fair woman has a true face. |
Menas | No slander; they steal hearts. |
Enobarbas | We came hither to fight with you. |
Menas | For my part, I am sorry it is turned to a drinking. Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune. |
Enobarbas | If he do, sure, he cannot weep’t back again. |
Menas | You’ve said, sir. We looked not for Mark Antony here: pray you, is he married to Cleopatra? |
Enobarbas | Caesar’s sister is called Octavia. |
Menas | True, sir; she was the wife of Caius Marcellus. |
Enobarbas | But she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius. |
Menas | Pray ye, sir? |
Enobarbas | ’Tis true. |
Menas | Then is Caesar and he for ever knit together. |
Enobarbas | If I were bound to divine of this unity, I would not prophesy so. |
Menas | I think the policy of that purpose made more in the marriage than the love of the parties. |
Enobarbas | I think so too. But you shall find, the band that seems to tie their friendship together will be the very strangler of their amity: Octavia is of a holy, cold, and still conversation. |
Menas | Who would not have his wife so? |
Enobarbas | Not he that himself is not so; which is Mark Antony. He will to his Egyptian dish again: then shall the sighs of Octavia blow the fire up in Caesar; and, as I said before, that which is the strength of their amity shall prove the immediate author of their variance. Antony will use his affection where it is: he married but his occasion here. |
Menas | And thus it may be. Come, sir, will you aboard? I have a health for you. |
Enobarbas | I shall take it, sir: we have used our throats in Egypt. |
Menas | Come, let’s away. Exeunt. |
Scene VII
On board Pompey’s galley, off Misenum.
Music plays. Enter two or three Servants with a banquet. | |
First Servant | Here they’ll be, man. Some o’ their plants are ill-rooted already; the least wind i’ the world will blow them down. |
Second Servant | Lepidus is high-coloured. |
First Servant | They have made him drink alms-drink. |
Second Servant | As they pinch one another by the disposition, he cries out “No more;” reconciles them to his entreaty, and himself to the drink. |
First Servant | But it raises the greater war between him and his discretion. |
Second Servant | Why, this it is to have a name in great men’s fellowship: I had as lief have a reed that will do me no service as a partisan I could not heave. |
First Servant | To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in’t, are the holes where eyes should be, which pitifully disaster the cheeks. |
A sennet sounded. Enter Caesar, Antony, Lepidus, Pompey, Agrippa, Mecaenas, Enobarbas, Menas, with other captains. | |
Antony |
To Caesar. Thus do they, sir: they take the flow o’ the Nile
|
Lepidus | You’ve strange serpents there. |
Antony | Ay, Lepidus. |
Lepidus | Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun: so is your crocodile. |
Antony | They are so. |
Pompey | Sit—and some wine! A health to Lepidus! |
Lepidus | I am not so well as I should be, but I’ll ne’er out. |
Enobarbas | Not till you have slept; I fear me you’ll be in till then. |
Lepidus | Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies’ pyramises are very goodly things; without contradiction, I have heard that. |
Menas | Aside to Pompey. Pompey, a word. |
Pompey | Aside to Menas. Say in mine ear: what is’t? |
Menas |
Aside to Pompey. Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, captain,
|
Pompey |
Aside to Menas. Forbear me till anon.
|
Lepidus | What manner o’ thing is your crocodile? |
Antony | It is shaped, sir, like itself; and it is as broad as it hath breadth: it is just so 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 transmigrates. |
Lepidus | What colour is it of? |
Antony | Of it own colour too. |
Lepidus | ’Tis a strange serpent. |
Antony | ’Tis so. And the tears of it are wet. |
Caesar | Will this description satisfy him? |
Antony | With the health that Pompey gives him, else he is a very epicure. |
Pompey |
Aside to Menas. Go hang, sir, hang! Tell me of that? away!
|
Menas |
Aside to Pompey. If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me,
|
Pompey | Aside to Menas. I think thou’rt mad. The matter? Rises, and walks aside. |
Menas | I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes. |
Pompey |
Thou hast served me with much faith. What’s else to say?
|
Antony |
These quick-sands, Lepidus,
|
Menas | Wilt thou be lord of all the world? |
Pompey | What say’st thou? |
Menas | Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That’s twice. |
Pompey | How should that be? |
Menas |
But entertain it,
|
Pompey | Hast thou drunk well? |
Menas |
No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup.
|
Pompey | Show me which way. |
Menas |
These three world-sharers, these competitors,
|
Pompey |
Ah, this thou shouldst have done,
|
Menas |
Aside. For this,
|
Pompey | This health to Lepidus! |
Antony | Bear him ashore. I’ll pledge it for him, Pompey. |
Enobarbas | Here’s to thee, Menas! |
Menas | Enobarbus, welcome! |
Pompey | Fill till the cup be hid. |
Enobarbas | There’s a strong fellow, Menas. Pointing to the Attendant who carries off Lepidus. |
Menas | Why? |
Enobarbas | A’ bears the third part of the world, man; see’st not? |
Menas |
The third part, then, is drunk: would it were all,
|
Enobarbas | Drink thou; increase the reels. |
Menas | Come. |
Pompey | This is not yet an Alexandrian feast. |
Antony |
It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho!
|
Caesar |
I could well forbear’t.
|
Antony | Be a child o’ the time. |
Caesar |
Possess it, I’ll make answer:
|
Enobarbas |
Ha, my brave emperor! To Antony.
|
Pompey | Let’s ha’t, good soldier. |
Antony |
Come, let’s all take hands,
|
Enobarbas |
All take hands.
|
The Song. | |
|
|
Caesar |
What would you more? Pompey, good night. Good brother,
|
Pompey | I’ll try you on the shore. |
Antony | And shall, sir; give’s your hand. |
Pompey |
O Antony,
|
Enobarbas |
Take heed you fall not. Exeunt all but Enobarbas and Menas.
|
Menas |
No, to my cabin.
|
Enobarbas | Ho! says a’. There’s my cap. |
Menas | Ho! Noble captain, come. Exeunt. |