Cæs.

Nay,

Then

Ant. I learn, you take things ill, which are not

so;

Or, being, concern you not.

Cæs.

If, or for nothing, or a little, I

I must be laugh'd at,

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

name

It not concern'd me.

Ant.

What was 't to you?

your

My being in Egypt, Cæsar,

Cas. 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."

Ant.

How intend you, practis'd? Cas. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent, By what did here befal me. Your wife, and brother, Made wars upon me; and their contestation Was theme for you, you were the word of war. Ant. You do mistake your business; my brother

never

Did urge me in his act: I did enquire 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.

Cæs.

You praise yourself

* Use bad arts or stratagems. 9 Subject of conversation

By laying defects of judgment to me; but
You patch'd up your excuses.

Ant.

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' the world is yours; which with a snaffle

You may pace easy, but not such a wife.

Eno. 'Would we had all such wives, that the men might go to wars with the women!

Ant. So much uncurable, her garboils', Cæsar,
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.

Cæs.
I wrote to you,
When rioting in Alexandria; you

Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts'
Did gibe my missive 3 out of audience.

Ant.

He fell upon me, ere admitted; then

Sir,

Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want
Of what I was i' the morning: but, next day,
I told him of myself; which was as much
As to have ask'd him pardon: Let this fellow
Be nothing of our strife; if we contend,
Out of our question wipe him.

Cæs.

4

The article of your oath; which
Have tongue to charge me with.
Lep.

You have broken

you shall never,

Soft, Cæsar.

1 Opposed.

2 Commotions.
4 Conversation.

3 Messenger.

Ant. No, Lepidus, let him speak;

The honour's sacred which he talks on now,
Supposing that I lack'd it: But on, Cæsar ;
The article of my oath,-

Cæs. To lend me arms, and aid, when I requir'd

them;

The which you both denied.

Neglected, rather;

Ant.
And then, when poison'd hours had bound me up
From mine own knowledge. As nearly as I may,
I'll play the penitent to you: but mine honesty
Shall not make poor my greatness, nor my power
Work without it: Truth is, that Fulvia,

To have me out of Egypt, made wars here;
For which myself, the ignorant motive, do
So far ask pardon, as befits mine honour
To stoop in such a case.

Lep.

5

'Tis nobly spoken.

Mec. If it might please you, to enforce no further The griefs between ye: to forget them quite, Were to remember that the present need

Speaks to atone you.

Lep.

Worthily spoke, Mecænas. Eno. 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.

Ant. Thou art a soldier only; speak no more.

Eno. That truth should be silent, I had almost forgot.

Ant. You wrong this presence, therefore speak

-no more.

Eno. Go to then; your considerate stone. Cæs. I do not much dislike the matter, but The manner of his speech: for it cannot be, We shall remain in friendship, our conditions

s Grievances.

6 'Reconcile.

7 Dispositions.

So differing in their acts. Yet, if I knew
What hoop should hold us staunch, from edge to

edge

O' the world I would pursue it.

Agr.

Cas. Speak, Agrippa.

Give me leave, Cæsar,

Agr. Thou hast a sister by the mother's side, Admir'd Octavia: great Mark Antony

Is now a widower.

Cæs.

Say not so, Agrippa;

If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof
Were well deserv'd of rashness.

Ant. I am not married, Cæsar: let me hear
Agrippa further speak.

Agr. To hold you in perpetual amity,

To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts
With an unslipping knot, take Antony
Octavia to his wife: whose beauty claims
No worse a husband than the best of men;
Whose virtue, and whose general graces, speak
That which none else can utter. By this marriage,
All little jealousies, which now seem great,

And all great fears, which now import their dangers,
Would then be nothing: truths would be but tales,
Where now half tales be truths: her love to both,
Would, each to other, and all loves to both,
Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke ;
For 't is a studied, not a present thought,
By duty ruminated.

Ant.

Will Cæsar speak?

Cas. Not till he hears how Antony is touch'd
With what is spoke already.

Ant.
If I would say, Agrippa, be it so,
To make this good?

Cæs.

Ant.

What power

is in Agrippa,

The

power of Cæsar, and

May I never

His power unto Octavia.

To this good purpose, that so fairly shows,

Dream of impediment!

Let me have thy hand : Further this act of grace; and, from this hour, The heart of brothers govern in our loves, And sway our great designs!

Cæs.

There is my hand.

A sister I bequeath you, whom no brother
Did ever love so dearly: Let her live

To join our kingdoms, and our hearts; and never
Fly off our loves again!

Lep.

Happily, amen!

Ant. I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst Pompey;

For he hath laid strange courtesies, and great,

Of late upon me: I must thank him only,
Lest my remembrance suffer ill report;

At heel of that, defy him.

Lep.

Of us must Pompey presently be sought,

Or else he seeks out us.

Ant.

Time calls upon us:

And where lies he?

What's his strength

Cæs. About the Mount Misenum.

Ant.

By land?

Cæs.

Great, and increasing: but by sea

He is an absolute master.

Ant.

So is the fame.

'Would, we had spoke together? Haste we for it: Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, despatch we The business we have talk'd 'of.

Cæs.

And do invite

you to my sister's view,

Whither straight I will lead you.

With most gladness;

Let us, Lepidus,

Noble Antony,

Not sickness should detain me.

[Flourish. Exeunt CESAR, ANTONY, and

LEPIDUS.

Mec. Welcome from Egypt, sir.