Or murmuring, "Where's my serpent of old
Nile?"

For so he calls me. Now I feed myself
With most delicious poison !-Think on me,
That am with Phoebus' amorous pinches black,
And wrinkled deep in time! Broad-fronted Cæsar,
When thou wast here above the ground, I was
A morsel for a monarch: and great Pompey
Would stand and make his eyes grow in my
brow:

There would he anchor his aspéct, and die
With looking on his life.

Enter ALEXAS.

Alex. Sovereign of Egypt, hail!

Cleo. How much unlike art thou Marc Antony! Yet, coming from him, that great medicine hath With his tinct gilded thee.—

How goes it with my brave Marc Antony?
Alex. Last thing he did, dear queen,

He kissed (the last of many doubled kisses)
This orient pearl :-his speech sticks in my heart.
Cleo. Mine ear must pluck it thence.
Alex. "Good friend (quoth he),

Say, The firm Roman to great Egypt sends
This treasure of an oyster: at whose foot,
To mend the petty present, I will piece
Her opulent throne with kingdoms. All the

Alex. Like to the time o' the year between the

extremes

Of hot and cold: he was not sad nor merry.
Cleo. O well divided disposition!—Note him,
Note him, good Charmian; 'tis the man: but
note him,

He was not sad; for he would shine on those
That make their looks by his: he was not merry;
Which seemed to tell them his remembrance lay
In Egypt with his joy: but between both;
O heavenly mingle!-Beest thou sad or merry,
The violence of either thee becomes;

So does it no man else.-Mett'st thou my posts?
Alex. Ay, madam, twenty several messengers.
Why do you send so thick?

Cleo.

Who's born that day

When I forget to send to Antony,

Shall die a beggar.-Ink and paper, Charmian.Welcome, my good Alexas.-Did I, Charmian, Ever love Cæsar so?

By your most gracious pardon,

When I was green in judgment:—cold in blood,
To say as I said then!-But come, away:
Get me ink and paper: he shall have every day
A several greeting, or I'll unpeople Egypt.

[Exeunt.

Mene.

Know, worthy Pompey,

That what they do delay they not deny.

Pom. Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays

Enter VARRIUS.

Var. This is most certain that I shall deliver: Marc Antony is every hour in Rome Expected: since he went from Egypt 't is A space for further travel.

Pom.

I could have given less matter
A better ear.-Menas, I did not think
This amorous surfeiter would have donned 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.
I cannot hope

Men.
Cæsar and Antony shall well greet together:
His wife that's dead did trespasses to Cæsar;
His brother warred upon him: although, I think,
Not moved by Antony.

Pom. I know not, Menas, How lesser enmities may give way to greater. Were't not that we stand up against them all, 'T were pregnant they should square between themselves;

For they have entertainéd cause enough
To draw their swords: but how the fear of us
May cément their divisions, and bind up
The petty difference, we yet not know.
Be it as our gods will have it: 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. Lep. Good Enobarbus, 't is a worthy deed,

Enter CESAR, MECENAS, and AGRIPPA.

Ant. If we compose well here, to Parthia:
Hark, Ventidius.

Cæs. I do not know, Mecænas: ask Agrippa.
Lep. Noble friends,

That which combined 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.
'Tis spoken well :

Ant.

Were we before our armies, and to fight, I should do this.

Cæs. Welcome to Rome.

Ant. Thank you.

Cæs. Sit.

Ant. Sit, sir!

Cæs. Nay, then

Ant. I learn you take things ill which are not so:

Or, being, concern you not.

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 bro-
ther 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.

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 incurbable, 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.

He fell upon me ere admitted: then
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 asked him pardon. Let this fellow
Be nothing of our strife: if we contend,
Out of our question wipe him.
You have broken

Cas.

The article of your oath; which you shall never
Have tongue to charge me with.
Soft, Cæsar.

Lep.

Ant. No, Lepidus, let him speak:

The honour's sacred which he talks on now,

Cæs.

Say not so, Agrippa: If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof

Were well deserved 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,

Agr. Good Enobarbus!

Mec. We have cause to be glad that matters are so well digested. You stayed well by it in Egypt.

Eno. Ay, sir; we did sleep day out of countenance, and made the night light with drinking.

Mec. Eight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast, and but twelve persons there is this true?

Eno. This was but as a fly by an eagle: we had much more monstrous matter of feasts, which worthily deserved noting.

Mec. She's a most triumphant lady, if report

be square to her.