Is all afraid to govern thee near him:
But he alway is noble.

Ant. Get thee gone:

[Exit Sooth.

Say to Ventidius, I would speak with him.
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 Battel, still of mine,
When it is all to naught: and his Quailes ever
Beat mine, in hoop'd, at odds. I will to Ægypt;
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
I'th'East my pleasure lies. Oh come, Ventidius,

Enter Ventidius.

You must to Parthia, your Commission's ready:
Follow me and receive't.

Enter Lepidus, Mecenas, and Agrippa.

[Exeunt.

Lep. Trouble your self no farther: pray you hasten Your Generals after.

Agr. Sir, Mark Antony will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow.

Lep. 'Till I shall fee you in your Soldier's dress,

Which will become you both, Farewel.

Mec. We shall, as I conceive the Journey, be

At the Mount before you, Lepidus.

Lep. Your way is morter,

My purposes do draw me much about,
You'll win two Days upon me.
Both. Sir, good success.

Lep. Farewel.

SCENE III. Alexandria

[Exeunt.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras and Alexas. Cleo. Give me some Musick: Musick, moody food Of us that trade in love

Omnes. The Musick, hoa !

Enter Mardian the Eunuch.

Cleo. Let it alone, let's to Billiards: come Charmian.
Char. My arm is fore, best play with Mardian.
Cleo. As well a Woman with an Eunuch play'd,

1

As

As with a Woman. Come, you'll play with me, Sir?
Mar. As well as I can, Madam.

Cleo. And when good will is shewed, though't come too short,

The Actor may plead pardon. I'll none now,
Give me mine Angle, we'll to th'River, there
My Musick playing far off, I will betray
Tawny-fin Fismes, my bended hook shall pierce
Their flimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,
I'll think them every one an Antony,
And say, ah, ba; you're caught.

Char. 'Twas merry when you wager'd on your Angling, when your diver did hang a falt Fish on his hook, which he with fervency drew up.

Cleo. That time! Oh times!-
I laught him out of patience, and that night
I laught him into patience, and next morn,
E'er the ninth hour I drunk him to his bed :
Then put my Tires and Mantles on him, whilst
I wore his Sword Philippan. Oh from Italy.
Enter a Messenger.

Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine Ears,
That long time have been barren.
Mes. Madam! Madam!

Cleo. Antony's 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 blewest Veins to kiss: a hand that Kings

Have lipt, and trembled kissing.

Mes. First, Madam, he is well.

Cleo. Why there's more Gold. But, Sirrah, mark, we use

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

The Gold I give thee, will I melt and pour

Dow thy ill-uttering throat.

Mes. Good Madam, hear me.

Cleo. Well, go to, I will:

But there's no goodness in thy face. If Antony

Be free and healthful; why so tart a favour

To trumpet such good tidings ? If not well,

Thou should'st come like a Fury crown'd with Snakes,

Not like a formal Man.

VOL. VI.

4

Mes. Wilt please you hear me?

Cleo. I have a mind to strike thee e'er thou speak'ft;

Yet if thou fay, Antony lives, 'tis well,

Or Friends with Cafar, or not Captain to him,

I'll fee thee in a showre of Gold, and hail

Rich Pearls upon thee.

Mef. Madam, he's well.

Cleo. Well faid.

Mes. And Friends with Cafar.

Cleo. Thou'rt an honest Man.

Mef, Cafar, and he, are greater Friends than ever.
Cleo. Mark thee a Fortune from me.

Mes. But yet, Madam

:

Cleo. I do not like but yet, it do's allay

The good precedence, fie upon but yet,

But yet, is as a Jaylor to bring forth

Some monftrous Malefactor. Prithee, Friend,
Pour out the pack of matter to mine Ear,

:

The good and bad together: he's Friends with Cafar,
In State of Health thou fay'st, and thou say'st, free.

Mes. Free, Madam! no: I made no such sport.

He's bound unto Octavia.

Cleo. For what good turn?

Mes. For the best turn i'th' Bed.

Cleo. I am pale, Charmian.

Mes. Madain, he's married to Octavia.

Cleo. The most infe&ious Pestilence upon thee.

Mes. Good Madam, patience.

Cleo. What say you?

:

[Strikes him down.

[Strikes him

Hence 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 whipt with Wyre, and stew'd in Brine,

Smarting in lingring pickle.

1

Mes. Gracious Madam,

I, that do bring the News, made not the match.

Cleo. 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 Thy modefty can beg.

Mes. He's married, Madam.

Cleo. Rogue, thou hast liv'd too long. [Draws a Dagger.

Mes. Nay then I'll run :

What mean you, Madam, I have made no fault.

[Exit.

Char. Good Madam, keep your self within your self,

The Man is innocent.

Cleo. Some innocents scape not the Thunderbolt:
Melt Ægypt into Nile; and kindled creatures
Turn all to Serpents. Call the Slave again,
Though I am mad, I will not bite him; Call.
Char. He is afeard 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 myself 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 Message
An Host of Tongues, but let ill tidings tell

Themselves, when they be felt.

Mes. I have done my duty.

Cleo. Is he married?

I cannot hate thee worser than I do,

If you again say yes.

Mes. He's married, Madam.

:

Cleo. The gods confound thee, dost thou hold there still?

Mes. Should I lie, Madam ?

Cleo. Oh, would thou didst :

:

So half my Ægypt were fubmerg'd, and made
A Cistern for scal'd Snakes. Go get thee hence,
Hadst thou Narcissus in thy Face, to me
Thou wouldst appear most ugly: He is married ?

Mes. I crave your Highness pardon.

Cleo. He is married?.ז

:

:

Mes. 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.

:

Cleo. Oh that his fault should make a Knave of thee,

That art not what thou art sure of. Get thee hence, The Merchandises which thou hast brought from Rome,

Ca

Are

1

Are all too dear for me:

Lye they upon thy hand, and be undone by 'em. [Exit Mes

Char. Good your Highness patience.

Cleo. In praising Antony, I have disprais'd Cafar.

Char. Many times, Madam,

Cleo. I am paid for't now: lead me from hence,
- 'tis no matter.

I faint; oh Iras, Charmian!
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.
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
Bring me word, how tall she is: pity me, Charmian,
But do not speak to me. Lead me to my Chamber. [Excunt

SCENE IV. The Coast of Italy, near

Misenum.

Enter Pompey and Menas at one Door with Drum and Trum pet: At another Cæfar, Lepidus, Antony, Enobarbus Mecenas, Agrippa, with Soldiers marching.

Pom. Your Hostages I have, so have you mine;

And we shall talk before we fight.

Cas. Most meet

That first we come to words, and therefore have we
Our written purposes before us sent,
Which if thou hast confidered, let us know,
If 'twill tie up thy discontented Sword,
And carry back to Sicily much tall youth,
That else must perish here.

Pom. 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 Cafar,
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted,
There saw you labouring for me. What was't
That mov'd pale Caffius to conspire ? And what
Made thee all-honour'd, honest Roman Brutus,