Mef. He's married, Madam.

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

Mef. Nay, then I'll run:

7

[Draws a dagger.

What mean you, Madam? I have made no fault.
[Exit.
Char. Good Madam, keep your felf within your felf,
The man is innocent.

Cleo. Some innocents 'fcape not the thunderbolt-
Melt 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 my felf: fince I my felf
Have given my self the cause. 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. The Gods confound thee! doft thou hold there

ftill?

Mef. Should I lie, Madam?

Cleo. Oh, I would, thou didft;

So half my Egypt were fubmerg'd, and made

A ciftern for fcal'd fnakes! go get thee hence,

Hadft thou Narciffus in thy face, to me

Thou wouldst appear moft ugly: he is married?-Mef. I crave your Highnels' 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

Seems much unequal: he's married to Octavia.

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

Lye they upon thy hand, and be undone by 'em!

Char. Good your Highness, patience.

[Exit Mef.

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

Cleo. I am paid for it now: lead me from hence,
I faint; oh Iras, Charmiantis no matter.
Go to the fellow, good Alexas, bid him
Report the feature of Ottavia, 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,
The other way's a Mars. Bid you Alexás
Bring word, how tall fhe is: pity me, Charmian,
But fpeak not to me. Lead me to my chamber.

[Exeunt. SCENE changes to the Coast 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:

YOUR

Pom. OUR hoftages I have, fo have you mine; And we shall talk before we fight.

Caf. Moft meet,

That firft we come to words; and therefore have we
Our written purposes before us fent;

Which, if thou haft confider'd, let us know
If 'twill tie up thy discontented sword,
And carry back to Sicily much tall youth,
That elfe muft perish here.

Pom.

Pom. 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 Son and Friends; fince Julius Cæfar,
(Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted,)
There faw you labouring for him. What was it,
That mov'd pale Caffius to confpire? and what
Made Thee, all-honour'd, honest Roman Brutus,
With the arm'd reft, Courtiers of beauteous freedom,
To drench the Capitol, (28) but that they would
Have One man, but a man? And That is it,
Hath made me rig my Navy: At whose burthen
The anger'd Ocean foams, with which I meant
To fcourge th' ingratitude that despiteful Rome
Caft 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.

Pom. 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'st.

but that they would

(28) Have but one Man a Man?] What! were the Confpirators prefum'd to have kill'd Cafar, because they would have but one Man a Man? What Mock-reasoning is this? If they would have but one Man a Man (i. e. a Man naτ' on, eminent above, and overtopping all others ;) it was the Height of Cafar's Ambition to be fuch a One, and therefore They fhould rather have let him live. We find Caffius complaining to Brutus of this afpiring Spirit, thefe Aims at Supremacy, in Cafar.

When could they fay till now, that talk'd of Rome,

That her wide Walls encompass'd but ONE Man?

Sure, I think, I pointed out before to Mr. Pope, in my SHAKESPEARE Refford, the true Reading of this Paffage, from the two elder Folio's, would he but have embraced it.

bat that they would

Hasse One Man but a Man?

i. e. They would have no One aim at arbitrary Power, and a Degree of Preheminence above the rest. What did they kill Cæfar for, but to prevent his afpiring above his Fellow Countrymen?

Lep.

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.

Cef. And what may follow To try a larger fortune.

Pom. You've made me offer
Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must

Rid all the fea of Pirates; then to fend
Measures of wheat to Rome: this 'greed upon,
Το part with unhackt edges, and bear back
Our targe undinted.

Omnes. That's our offer.

Pom. 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.

Pom. Let me have your hand:

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

Ant. The beds i'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.

Pom. Well, I know not,

What counts hard fortune cafts upon my face;

But in my bofom fhe fhall never come,

To make my heart her vaffal.

Lep. Well met here.

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

And

And feal'd between us.

Caf. That's the next to do.

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

Ant. That will I, Pompey.

Pom. 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 feafting there.

Ant. You have heard much.
Pom. I have fair meaning, Sir.
Ant. And fair words to them.
Pom. Then fo much have I heard.
And I have heard Apollodorus carried
Eno. No more of that: he did fo.
Pom. What, I pray you

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

And well am like to do; for, I perceive,

Four Feafts are toward,

Pom. 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.

Pom. Enjoy thy plainness,

It nothing ill becomes thee;

Aboard my Galley I invite you all.

Will you lead, Lords?

All. Shew's the way, Sir.

Pom. 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.