Antony and Cleopatra | Page 8

prayers.
POMPEY.?I shall do well;?The people love me, and the sea is mine;?My powers are crescent, and my auguring hope?Says it will come to the full. Mark Antony?In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make?No wars without doors: Caesar gets money where?He loses hearts: Lepidus flatters both,?Of both is flatter'd; but he neither loves?Nor either cares for him.
MENAS.?Caesar and Lepidus?Are in the field: a mighty strength they carry.
POMPEY.?Where have you this? 'tis false.
MENAS.?From Silvius, sir.
POMPEY.?He dreams: I know they are in Rome together,?Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love,?Salt Cleopatra, soften thy wan'd lip!?Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both!?Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts,?Keep his brain fuming; Epicurean cooks?Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite;?That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour?Even till a Lethe'd dullness.
[Enter VARRIUS.]
How now, Varrius!
VARRIUS.?This is most certain that I shall deliver:--?Mark Antony is every hour in Rome?Expected: since he went from Egypt 'tis?A space for further travel.
POMPEY.?I could have given less matter?A better ear.--Menas, I did not think?This amorous surfeiter would have donn'd his helm?For such a petty war; his soldiership?Is twice the other twain: but let us rear?The higher our opinion, that our stirring?Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck?The ne'er lust-wearied Antony.
MENAS.?I cannot hope?Caesar and Antony shall well greet together:?His wife that's dead did trespasses to Caesar;?His brother warr'd upon him; although, I think,?Not mov'd by Antony.
POMPEY.?I know not, Menas,?How lesser enmities may give way to greater.?Were't not that we stand up against them all,?'Twere pregnant they should square between themselves;?For they have entertained cause enough?To draw their swords: but how the fear of us?May cement their divisions, and bind up?The petty difference, we yet not know.?Be't as our gods will have't! It only stands?Our lives upon to use our strongest hands.?Come, Menas.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE II. Rome. A Room in the House of LEPIDUS.
[Enter ENOBARBUS and LEPIDUS.]
LEPIDUS.?Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed,?And shall become you well, to entreat your captain?To soft and gentle speech.
ENOBARBUS.?I shall entreat him?To answer like himself: if Caesar move him,?Let Antony look over Caesar's head,?And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter,?Were I the wearer of Antonius' beard,?I would not shave't to-day.
LEPIDUS.?'Tis not a time?For private stomaching.
ENOBARBUS.?Every time?Serves for the matter that is then born in't.
LEPIDUS.?But small to greater matters must give way.
ENOBARBUS.?Not if the small come first.
LEPIDUS.?Your speech is passion:?But, pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes?The noble Antony.
[Enter ANTONY and VENTIDIUS.]
ENOBARBUS.?And yonder, Caesar.
[Enter CAESAR, MAECENAS, and AGRIPPA.]
ANTONY.?If we compose well here, to Parthia;?Hark, Ventidius.
CAESAR.?I do not know,?Maecenas; ask Agrippa.
LEPIDUS.?Noble friends,?That which combin'd us was most great, and let not?A leaner action rend us. What's amiss,?May it be gently heard: when we debate?Our trivial difference loud, we do commit?Murder in healing wounds: then, noble partners,--?The rather for I earnestly beseech,--?Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms,?Nor curstness grow to the matter.
ANTONY.?'Tis spoken well.?Were we before our armies, and to fight,?I should do thus.
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,?Or being, concern you not.
CAESAR.?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.
ANTONY.?My being in Egypt, Caesar,?What was't to you?
CAESAR.?No more than my residing here at Rome?Might be to you in Egypt: yet, if you there?Did practise on my state, your being in Egypt?Might be my question.
ANTONY.?How intend you practis'd?
CAESAR.?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.
ANTONY.?You do mistake your business; my brother never?Did urge me in his act: I did inquire it;?And have my learning from some true reports?That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather?Discredit my authority with yours;?And make the wars alike against my stomach,?Having alike your cause? Of this my letters?Before did satisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel?As matter whole you have not to make it with,?It must not be with this.
CAESAR.?You praise yourself?By laying defects of judgment to me; but?You patch'd up your excuses.
ANTONY.?Not so, not so;?I know you could not lack, I am certain on't,?Very necessity of this thought, that I,?Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,?Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars?Which 'fronted mine own peace. As for my wife,?I would you had her spirit in such another:?The third o' theworld is yours; which with a snaffle?You may pace easy, but not such a wife.
ENOBARBUS.?Would we had all such wives, that the men?Might go to wars with the women.
ANTONY.?So much uncurbable, her garboils, Caesar,?Made out of her impatience,--which not wanted?Shrewdness of policy too,--I grieving grant?Did you too much disquiet: for that you must?But say I could not help it.
CAESAR.?I