Mef. Gracious Madam,

I, that do bring the news, made not the match.

Clea. Say, 'tis not fo, a province I will give thee, And make thy fortunes proud: the blow, thou hadft, Shall make thy peace, for moving me to rage; And I will boot thee with what gift befide

Thy modefty can beg.

Mef. He's married, Madam.

Cleo. Rogue, thou haft liv'd too long.

Mef. Nay, then I'll run :

[Draws a Dagger.

[Exit.

What mean you, Madam? I have made no fault.

Char. Good Madam, keep yourself within yourself, The man is innocent,

Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thunderboltMelt Egypt into Nile; and kindly creatures Turn all to ferpents! call the flave again; Though I am mad, I will not bite him; call. Char. He is afraid to come.

Cleo. I will not hurt him.

These hands do lack nobility, that they strike
A meaner than myfelf: fince I myself

Have given myself the caufe.

Come hither, Sir.

Re-enter the Messenger.

Though it be honeft, it is never good

To bring bad news: give to a gracious meffage
An hoft of tongues, but let ill tidings tell
Themfelves, when they be felt.

Mef. I have done my duty.

Cleo. Is he married?

I cannot hate thee worfer than I do,

If you again fay, Yes.

Mef. He's married, Madam.

Cleo.TheGods confound thee! doft thou hold there ftill?

Mef. Should I lyc, Madam?

Cleo. Oh, I would, thou didft;

So half my Egypt were fubmerg'd, and made

A ciftern

A ciftern for fcal'd fnakes! go, get thee hence,
Hadft thou Narciffus in thy face, to me

L

Thou wouldst appear most ugly he is married?
Mef. I crave your Highnefs' pardon.

Cleo. He is married?

Mef. Take no offence, that I would not offend you; To punish me for what you make me do,

Seems much unequal: he's married to Octavia.

Cleo. Oh, that his fault should make a knave of thee, That art not what thou'rt fure of!-Get thee hence, The merchandifes, thou haft brought from Rome, Are all too dear for me:

Lie they upon thy hand, and be undone by 'em! [Exit Mef.

Char. Good your Highness, patience.

Cleo. In praifing Antony, I have difprais'd Cæfar.
Char. Many times, Madam.

Cleo. I am paid for it now: lead me from hence,
I faint; oh Iras, Charmian- -'tis no matter.-
Go to the fellow, good Alexas, bid him
Report the feature of Octavia, her years
Her inclination, let him not leave out

The colour of her hair. Bring me word quickly,-
Let him for ever go-let him not, Charmian;

Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
Th' other way he's a Mars. Bid

you Alexas

Bring word, how tall fhe is: pity me, Charmian,
But fpeak not to me. Lead me to my chamber. [Exeunt.

SCENE changes to the Coaft of Italy, near
Mifenum.

Enter Pompey and Menas, at one door, with drum and trumpet: At another, Cæfar, Lepidus, Antony, Enobarbus, Mecenas, Agrippa, with Soldiers marching.

And we hall talk before we fight.

Our hostages I have, fo have you mine;

Pomp.
Caf. Most meet,

That first we come to words; and therefore have we

VOL. VII.

F

Our

Our written purposes before us fent;
Which, if thou haft confider'd, let us know
If 'twill tie up thy difcontented fword,
And carry back to Sicily much tall youth,
That else must perish here.

Pomp. To you all three,

The Senators alone of this great world,

Chief factors for the Gods,-I do not know,
Wherefore my
father fhould

revengers want,
Having a fon and friends; fince Julius Cafar,
(Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghofted,)
There faw you labouring for him. What was it,
That mov'd pale Caffius to confpire? and what
Made thee, all honour'd, honeft Roman Brutus,
With the arm'd reft, courtiers of beauteous freedom,
To drench the Capitol, but that they would
Have one man, but a man? And that is it,
Hath made me rig my navy: At whose burden
The anger'd ocean foams, with which I meant
To fcourge th' ingratitude that defpightful Rome
Cast on my noble Father.

Caf. Take

your time.

Ant. Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy fails, We'll speak with thee at sea. At land, thou know'ft, How much we do o'er-count thee.

Pomp. At land, indeed,

Thou doft o'er-count me of my

father's house.

But fince the cuckow builds not for himself,

Remain in't, as thou may'ft.

Lep. Be pleas'd to tell us,

(For this is from the prefent,) how you take

The offers we have fent you.

Caf. There's the point.

Ant. Which do not be intreated to, but weigh

What it is worth embrac'd.

Caf. And what may follow

To try a larger fortune.

Pomp. You've made me offer

Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I muft

Rid all the fea of pirates; then to fend

Measures

Measures of wheat to Rome: this 'greed upon,
To part with unhackt edges, and bear back
Our targe undinted.

Omnes. That's our offer.
Pomp. Know then,

I came before you here, a man prepar'd
To take this offer: But Mark Antony

Put me to fome impatience.Though I lofe
The praise of it by telling, you must know,
When Cæfar and your brother were at blows,
Your mother came to Sicily, and did find
Her welcome friendly.

Ant. I have heard it, Pompey,

And am well ftudied for a liberal thanks, ́
Which I do owe you.

Pomp. Let me have your hand :

I did not think, Sir, to have met you here.

Apt. The beds o'th' Eaft are foft; and thanks to you, That call'd me timelier than my purpose hither:

For I've gain'd by it.

Caf. Since I faw you last,

There is a change upon you.

Pomp. Well, I know not,

What counts hard fortune cafts upon my face;

But in my bofom the shall never come,

To make my heart her vaffal.

Lep. Well met here.

Pomp. I hope fo, Lepidus, thus we are agreed: I crave, our compofition may be written

And feal'd between us.

Caf. That's the next to do.

Pamp. We'll feaft each other, ere we part, and let's Draw lots who fhall begin.

Ant. That I will, Pompey.

Pomp. No, Antony, take the lot:

But, firft or laft, your fine Egyptian cookery
Shall have the fame. I've heard, that Julius Cafar

Grew fat with feasting there.

Ant. You have heard much.

Pomp. I have fair meaning, Sir.

F 2

Ant

Ant. And fair words to them.

Pomp. Then fo much have I heard.
And I have heard, Apollodorus carried-
Eno. No more of that: he did fo.
Pomp. What, I pray you?

Eno. A certain Queen to Cæfar in a mattress.
Pomp. I know thee, now, how far'ft thou, foldier ?
Eno. Well;

And well am like to do; for, I perceive,
Four feafts are toward.

Pomp. Let me shake thy hand,

I never hated thee: I have feen thee fight,
When I have envied thy behaviour.

Eno. Sir,

I never lov'd you much, but I ha' prais'd ye,
When you have well deferv'd ten times as much
As I have faid you did.

Pomp. Enjoy thy plainnefs,

It nothing ill becomes thee;

Aboard my Galley I invite you all.

Will you lead, Lords?

All. Shew's the way, Sir.

Pomp. Come.

[Exeunt. Manent Enob. and Menas.

Men. Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have made

this treaty.

You and I have known, Sir.

Eno. At fea, I think.

Men. We have, Sir.

Eno. You have done well by water.

Men. And you by land.

Eno. I will praife any man that will praife me, though it cannot be denied what I have done by land.

Men. Nor what I have done by water.

Eno. Yes, fomething you can deny for your own fafety you have been a great thief by sea. Men. And you by land.

Eno. There I deny my land-fervice; but give me your hand, Menas, if our eyes had authority, here they might take two thieves kiffing.

Men. All men's faces are true, whatsoe'er their hands are.

Eno.