Mark Antony is every hour in Rome
Expected. Since he went from Ægypt, 'tis
A space for farther travel.

Pom. I could have given less matter
A better ear. Menas, I did not think,
This am'rous surfeiter would have donn'd his helma

For such a petty war; his foldiership
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-kaft-wearied Antony.

Men. I cannot hope

Cæfar and Antony shall well greet together.
His wife, who's dead, did trefpaffes to Cæfar
His brother warr'd upon him, although I think
Not mov'd by Antony.

Pom. I know not, Menas,
How lesser enmities may give way to greater.
Were't not that we stand up againft them all,
""Twere pregnant they should square between themselvest
For they have entertained cause enough
To draw their swords; but how the fear of us
May cement their divifions, and bind up
The petty difference, we yet not know.
Be't as our gods will have't! it only ftands
Our lives upon, to use our strongeft hands.
Come, Menas.

SCENE II. Changes to Rome.
Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus.

;

[Excunt

Lep. Good Ænobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed, And shall become you well, t intreat your Captain

To foft and gentle fpeech.

Æno. I shall intreat him

To answer, like himself; if Cæfar move him,

Let Antony look over Cæfar's head,

And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter,
Were I the wearer of Antonio's beard,

I would not shave't to-day.

Lep. 'Tis not a time for private ftomaching.
Æno. Every time

:

Serves for the matter that is then born in't.
Lep. But small to greater matters must give away.
Eno. Not, if the small come first.

Lep. Your speech is paffion;

But, pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes

The Noble Antony.

Enter Antony and Ventidius..

Æno. And yonder Cæfar..

Enter Cafar, Mecenas, and Agrippa.

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

Caf. I do not know; Mecenas, ask Agrippa.
Lep. 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 lond, we do commit
Murther in healing wounds. Then, noble partners,,
(The rather, for I earnestly befeech),

Touch you the fourest points with sweetest terms,,
Nor curstness grow to th' matter.

Ant. 'Tis spoken well;

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

Caf. Welcome to Rome.

Ant. Thank you..

Caf. Sitt.

Ant. Sit. Sir.

Gas. Nay, then

[Flourish

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

Or being, concern you not.

Caf. I must be laugh'd at,

If, or for nothing, or a little, I

Should lay myself offended, and with you
Chiefly i' th' world; more laugh'd at, that I should

Once name you derogately, when to found

Your name it not concern'd me.

2

Ant. My being in Ægypt, Cæfar, what was't to you?

Caf. No more than my refiding here at Rome

Might be to you in Egypt; yet, if you there

H35

Did

Did practise on my state, your being in Ægypt
Might be my question.

Ant. How intend you, practis'd?.

Caf. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent,

By what did here befal.

Your wife and brother

Made wars upon me; and their conteftation

Was them'd for you, you were the word of war.

Ant. You do mistake the business: my brother never

Did urge me in his act. I did inquire it,

And have my learning from fome true reporters,
That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather
Discredit my authority with your's,

And make the wars alike against my ftomach,
Having alike your cause? Of this my letters
Before did fatisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel,
(As matter whole you've not to make it with),
It must not be with this.

Caf. You praise yourself,

By laying defects of judgment to me: but
You patch up your excufes.
Ant. Not fo, not fo;

I know you could not lack, I'm certain on't,
Very neceffity of this thought, that I,
Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,
Could not with grateful 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' th' world is your's, which with a fnaffle
You may pace easy; but not fuch a wife.

Æno. 'Would we had all such wives, that the men

might go to wars with the women !

:

Ant. So much uncurbable her garboils, Cæfar,
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.

Caf. I wrote to you;
When rioting in Alexandria, you
Did pocket up my letters; and with taunts
Did gibe my missive out of audience.

Ant. Sir, he fell on me ere admitted: then
Three Kings I had newly feafted, and did want

Of

Of what I was i' th' 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.

Caf. You have broken

The article of your oath, which you shall never
Have tongue to charge me with.
Lep. Soft, Cæfar.-

Ant. No, Lepidus, let him speak;

The honour's facred † which he talks on now,
Supposing that I lack'd it. But on, Cæfar,
The article of my oath-

Caf. To lend me arms and aid, when I requir'd them, The which you both deny'd.

Ant. Neglected rather;

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 myfelf, the ignorant motive, do
So far ask pardon, as befits mine honour
To ftoop in such a cafe.

Lep. 'Tis nobly spoken.

Mec. If it might please you, to inforce no further

The griefs between ye: to forget them quite,
Were to remember, that the prefent need

Speaks to atone you.

Lep. Worthily spoken, Mecænas.

Ano. Or, if you borrow one another's love for the inftant, 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, fpeak no more,
Ano. That truth should be filent, I had almost forgot.
Ant. You wrong this prefence, therefore speak no

more.

Æno. Go to then: your confiderate stone.

Caf. I do not much dislike the manner, but

†' facred, for unbroken, unviolated,

The

The matter of this speech: for't cannot be
We shall remain in friendship, our conditions
So differing in their acts. Yet, if I knew
What hoop would hold us staunch, from edge to edge

O'th' world, I would pursue it.

Agr. Give me leave, Cæfar..

Caf. Speak, Agrippa.

Agr. Thou hast a sister by the mother's fide,,

Admir'd Octavia! great Mark Antony
Is now a widower..

Caf. Say not fo, Agrippa;
If Cleopatra heard you, your approof
Were well deserv'd of rafhness.

Ant. I am not married, Cæfar; let me hear

Agrippa further speak.

Agr. To hold you in perpetual amity, To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts With an unflipping 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, Fór 'tis a studied, not a present thought, By-duty ruminated.

Ant. Will Cæfar speak?

Caf. Not till he hears how Antony is touch'd

With what is spoke already,

Ant. What power is in Agrippa

(If I would say, "Agrippa, be it sfo") To make this good?

Caf. The power of Cæfar, and

His power unto Octavia.

Ant. May I never

کے

To this good purpose, that so fairly shews,
Dream of impediment! let me have thy hand;
Further this act of grace: and, from this hour,

The