Complete Plays, The

Home > Fiction > Complete Plays, The > Page 128
Complete Plays, The Page 128

by William Shakespeare


  Mecaenas

  Now Antony must leave her utterly.

  Domitius Enobarbus

  Never; he will not:

  Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale

  Her infinite variety: other women cloy

  The appetites they feed: but she makes hungry

  Where most she satisfies; for vilest things

  Become themselves in her: that the holy priests

  Bless her when she is riggish.

  Mecaenas

  If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle

  The heart of Antony, Octavia is

  A blessed lottery to him.

  Agrippa

  Let us go.

  Good Enobarbus, make yourself my guest

  Whilst you abide here.

  Domitius Enobarbus

  Humbly, sir, I thank you.

  Exeunt

  SCENE III. THE SAME. OCTAVIUS CAESAR’S HOUSE.

  Enter Mark Antony, Octavius Caesar, Octavia between them, and Attendants

  Mark Antony

  The world and my great office will sometimes

  Divide me from your bosom.

  Octavia

  All which time

  Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers

  To them for you.

  Mark Antony

  Good night, sir. My Octavia,

  Read not my blemishes in the world’s report:

  I have not kept my square; but that to come

  Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear lady.

  Good night, sir.

  Octavius Caesar

  Good night.

  Exeunt Octavius Caesar and Octavia

  Enter Soothsayer

  Mark Antony

  Now, sirrah; you do wish yourself in Egypt?

  Soothsayer

  Would I had never come from thence, nor you Thither!

  Mark Antony

  If you can, your reason?

  Soothsayer

  I see it in

  My motion, have it not in my tongue: but yet

  Hie you to Egypt again.

  Mark Antony

  Say to me,

  Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Caesar’s or mine?

  Soothsayer

  Caesar’s.

  Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side:

  Thy demon, that’s thy spirit which keeps thee, is

  Noble, courageous high, unmatchable,

  Where Caesar’s is not; but, near him, thy angel

  Becomes a fear, as being o’erpower’d: therefore

  Make space enough between you.

  Mark Antony

  Speak this no more.

  Soothsayer

  To none but thee; no more, but when to thee.

  If thou dost play with him at any game,

  Thou art sure to lose; and, of that natural luck,

  He beats thee ’gainst the odds: thy lustre thickens,

  When he shines by: I say again, thy spirit

  Is all afraid to govern thee near him;

  But, he away, ’tis noble.

  Mark Antony

  Get thee gone:

  Say to Ventidius I would speak with him:

  Exit Soothsayer

  He shall to Parthia. Be it art or hap,

  He hath spoken true: the very dice obey him;

  And in our sports my better cunning faints

  Under his chance: if we draw lots, he speeds;

  His cocks do win the battle still of mine,

  When it is all to nought; and his quails ever

  Beat mine, inhoop’d, at odds. I will to Egypt:

  And though I make this marriage for my peace,

  I’ the east my pleasure lies.

  Enter Ventidius

  O, come, Ventidius,

  You must to Parthia: your commission’s ready;

  Follow me, and receive’t.

  Exeunt

  SCENE IV. THE SAME. A STREET.

  Enter Lepidus, Mecaenas, and Agrippa

  Lepidus

  Trouble yourselves no further: pray you, hasten

  Your generals after.

  Agrippa

  Sir, Mark Antony

  Will e’en but kiss Octavia, and we’ll follow.

  Lepidus

  Till I shall see you in your soldier’s dress,

  Which will become you both, farewell.

  Mecaenas

  We shall,

  As I conceive the journey, be at the Mount

  Before you, Lepidus.

  Lepidus

  Your way is shorter;

  My purposes do draw me much about:

  You’ll win two days upon me.

  Mecaenas

  Agrippa

  Sir, good success!

  Lepidus

  Farewell.

  Exeunt

  SCENE V. ALEXANDRIA. CLEOPATRA’S PALACE.

  Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas

  Cleopatra

  Give me some music; music, moody food

  Of us that trade in love.

  Attendants

  The music, ho!

  Enter Mardian

  Cleopatra

  Let it alone; let’s to billiards: come, Charmian.

  Charmian

  My arm is sore; best play with Mardian.

  Cleopatra

  As well a woman with an eunuch play’d

  As with a woman. Come, you’ll play with me, sir?

  Mardian

  As well as I can, madam.

  Cleopatra

  And when good will is show’d, though’t come too short,

  The actor may plead pardon. I’ll none now:

  Give me mine angle; we’ll to the river: there,

  My music playing far off, I will betray

  Tawny-finn’d fishes; my bended hook shall pierce

  Their slimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,

  I’ll think them every one an Antony,

  And say ‘Ah, ha! you’re caught.’

  Charmian

  ’Twas merry when

  You wager’d on your angling; when your diver

  Did hang a salt-fish on his hook, which he

  With fervency drew up.

  Cleopatra

  That time,— O times!—

  I laugh’d him out of patience; and that night

  I laugh’d him into patience; and next morn,

  Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed;

  Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst

  I wore his sword Philippan.

  Enter a Messenger

  O, from Italy

  Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,

  That long time have been barren.

  Messenger

  Madam, madam,—

  Cleopatra

  Antonius dead!— If thou say so, villain,

  Thou kill’st thy mistress: but well and free,

  If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here

  My bluest veins to kiss; a hand that kings

  Have lipp’d, and trembled kissing.

  Messenger

  First, madam, he is well.

  Cleopatra

  Why, there’s more gold.

  But, sirrah, mark, we use

  To say the dead are well: bring it to that,

  The gold I give thee will I melt and pour

  Down thy ill-uttering throat.

  Messenger

  Good madam, hear me.

  Cleopatra

  Well, go to, I will;

  But there’s no goodness in thy face: if Antony

  Be free and healthful,— so tart a favour

  To trumpet such good tidings! If not well,

  Thou shouldst come like a Fury crown’d with snakes,

  Not like a formal man.

  Messenger

  Will’t please you hear me?

  Cleopatra

  I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak’st:

  Yet if thou say Antony lives, is well,

  Or fr
iends with Caesar, or not captive to him,

  I’ll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail

  Rich pearls upon thee.

  Messenger

  Madam, he’s well.

  Cleopatra

  Well said.

  Messenger

  And friends with Caesar.

  Cleopatra

  Thou’rt an honest man.

  Messenger

  Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.

  Cleopatra

  Make thee a fortune from me.

  Messenger

  But yet, madam,—

  Cleopatra

  I do not like ‘But yet,’ it does allay

  The good precedence; fie upon ‘But yet’!

  ‘But yet’ is as a gaoler to bring forth

  Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend,

  Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,

  The good and bad together: he’s friends with Caesar:

  In state of health thou say’st; and thou say’st free.

  Messenger

  Free, madam! no; I made no such report:

  He’s bound unto Octavia.

  Cleopatra

  For what good turn?

  Messenger

  For the best turn i’ the bed.

  Cleopatra

  I am pale, Charmian.

  Messenger

  Madam, he’s married to Octavia.

  Cleopatra

  The most infectious pestilence upon thee!

  Strikes him down

  Messenger

  Good madam, patience.

  Cleopatra

  What say you? Hence,

  Strikes him again

  Horrible villain! or I’ll spurn thine eyes

  Like balls before me; I’ll unhair thy head:

  She hales him up and down

  Thou shalt be whipp’d with wire, and stew’d in brine,

  Smarting in lingering pickle.

  Messenger

  Gracious madam,

  I that do bring the news made not the match.

  Cleopatra

  Say ’tis not so, a province I will give thee,

  And make thy fortunes proud: the blow thou hadst

  Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage;

  And I will boot thee with what gift beside

  Thy modesty can beg.

  Messenger

  He’s married, madam.

  Cleopatra

  Rogue, thou hast lived too long.

  Draws a knife

  Messenger

  Nay, then I’ll run.

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

  Exit

  Charmian

  Good madam, keep yourself within yourself:

  The man is innocent.

  Cleopatra

  Some innocents ’scape not the thunderbolt.

  Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures

  Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again:

  Though I am mad, I will not bite him: call.

  Charmian

  He is afeard to come.

  Cleopatra

  I will not hurt him.

  Exit Charmian

  These hands do lack nobility, that they strike

  A meaner than myself; since I myself

  Have given myself the cause.

  Re-enter Charmian and Messenger

  Come hither, sir.

  Though it be honest, it is never good

  To bring bad news: give to a gracious message.

  An host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell

  Themselves when they be felt.

  Messenger

  I have done my duty.

  Cleopatra

  Is he married?

  I cannot hate thee worser than I do,

  If thou again say ‘Yes.’

  Messenger

  He’s married, madam.

  Cleopatra

  The gods confound thee! dost thou hold there still?

  Messenger

  Should I lie, madam?

  Cleopatra

  O, I would thou didst,

  So half my Egypt were submerged and made

  A cistern for scaled snakes! Go, get thee hence:

  Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me

  Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?

  Messenger

  I crave your highness’ pardon.

  Cleopatra

  He is married?

  Messenger

  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.

  Cleopatra

  O, that his fault should make a knave of thee,

  That art not what thou’rt sure of! Get thee hence:

  The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome

  Are all too dear for me: lie they upon thy hand,

  And be undone by ’em!

  Exit Messenger

  Charmian

  Good your highness, patience.

  Cleopatra

  In praising Antony, I have dispraised Caesar.

  Charmian

  Many times, madam.

  Cleopatra

  I am paid for’t now.

  Lead me from hence:

  I faint: O 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.

  Exit Alexas

  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 Alexas

  To Mardian

  Bring me word how tall she is. Pity me, Charmian,

  But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.

  Exeunt

  SCENE VI. NEAR MISENUM.

  Flourish. Enter Pompey and Menas at one door, with drum and trumpet: at another, Octavius Caesar, Mark Antony, Lepidus, Domitius Enobarbus, Mecaenas, with Soldiers marching

  Pompey

  Your hostages I have, so have you mine;

  And we shall talk before we fight.

  Octavius Caesar

  Most meet

  That first we come to words; and therefore have we

  Our written purposes before us sent;

  Which, if thou hast consider’d, let us know

  If ’twill tie up thy discontented sword,

  And carry back to Sicily much tall youth

  That else must perish here.

  Pompey

  To you all three,

  The senators alone of this great world,

  Chief factors for the gods, I do not know

  Wherefore my father should revengers want,

  Having a son and friends; since Julius Caesar,

  Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted,

  There saw you labouring for him. What was’t

  That moved pale Cassius to conspire; and what

  Made the all-honour’d, honest Roman, Brutus,

  With the arm’d rest, courtiers and 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 burthen

  The anger’d ocean foams; with which I meant

  To scourge the ingratitude that despiteful Rome

  Cast on my noble father.

  Octavius Caesar

  Take your time.

  Mark Antony

  Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails;

  We’ll speak with thee at sea: at land, thou know’st

  How much we do o’er-count thee.

  Pompey

  At land, indeed,

  Thou dost o’er-count me of my father’s house:

  But, since the cuckoo builds not for himself,

  Remain in’t as thou
mayst.

  Lepidus

  Be pleased to tell us —

  For this is from the present — how you take

  The offers we have sent you.

  Octavius Caesar

  There’s the point.

  Mark Antony

  Which do not be entreated to, but weigh

  What it is worth embraced.

  Octavius Caesar

  And what may follow,

  To try a larger fortune.

  Pompey

  You have made me offer

  Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must

  Rid all the sea of pirates; then, to send

  Measures of wheat to Rome; this ’greed upon

  To part with unhack’d edges, and bear back

  Our targes undinted.

  Octavius Caesar

  Mark Antony

  Lepidus

  That’s our offer.

  Pompey

  Know, then,

  I came before you here a man prepared

  To take this offer: but Mark Antony

  Put me to some impatience: though I lose

  The praise of it by telling, you must know,

  When Caesar and your brother were at blows,

  Your mother came to Sicily and did find

  Her welcome friendly.

  Mark Antony

  I have heard it, Pompey;

  And am well studied for a liberal thanks

  Which I do owe you.

  Pompey

  Let me have your hand:

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

  Mark Antony

  The beds i’ the east are soft; and thanks to you,

  That call’d me timelier than my purpose hither;

  For I have gain’d by ’t.

  Octavius Caesar

  Since I saw you last,

  There is a change upon you.

  Pompey

  Well, I know not

  What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face;

  But in my bosom shall she never come,

  To make my heart her vassal.

  Lepidus

  Well met here.

  Pompey

  I hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed:

  I crave our composition may be written,

  And seal’d between us.

  Octavius Caesar

  That’s the next to do.

  Pompey

  We’ll feast each other ere we part; and let’s

  Draw lots who shall begin.

  Mark Antony

  That will I, Pompey.

  Pompey

  No, Antony, take the lot: but, first

  Or last, your fine Egyptian cookery

  Shall have the fame. I have heard that Julius Caesar

  Grew fat with feasting there.

  Mark Antony

  You have heard much.

  Pompey

  I have fair meanings, sir.

  Mark Antony

  And fair words to them.

  Pompey

  Then so much have I heard:

  And I have heard, Apollodorus carried —

  Domitius Enobarbus

  No more of that: he did so.

  Pompey

  What, I pray you?

  Domitius Enobarbus

  A certain queen to Caesar in a mattress.

 

‹ Prev