ANT. The gods best know, CLE. O, never was there Queen So mightily betray'd! Yet, at the first, I faw the treafons planted. ANT. -Cleopatra, CLE. Why fhould I think, you can be mine, and true, Though you in fwearing fhake the throned gods, Who have been falfe to Fulvia? Riotous madness, To be entangl'd with those mouth-made vows Which break themselves in fwearing! ANT.-Most sweet Queen, CLE. Nay, pray you, seek no colour for your going; Blifs in our brows' bent; none our parts fo poor, Or thou, the greatest foldier of the world, Art turn'd the greatest liar. ANT. -How now, lady? CLE. I would, I had thy inches; thou should'st know, There were a heart in Egypt. ANT. -Hear me, Queen: The ftrong neceffity of time commands. Our fervices a while; but my full heart Shines o'er with civil fwords: Sextus Pompeius Breeds fcrupulous faction: The hated, grown to strength, Rich in his father's honour, creeps apace 1 Into the hearts of fuch as have not thriv'd Look here, and, at thy fovereign leifure, read CLE. O moft falfe love! Where be the facred vials thou fhould'ft fill CLE. Cut my lace, Charmian, come; ANT.-My precious Queen, forbear; And give true evidence to his love, which stands CLE. So Fulvia told me. I prythee, turn afide, and weep for her; Of excellent diffembling; and let it look ANT. -You'll heat my blood; no more. CLE. You can do better yet; but this is meetly. ANT. -Now, by my sword, CLE. and target, Still he mends; But this is not the beft: Look, prythee, Charmian, How this Herculean Roman does become The carriage of his chafe. ANT. I'll leave you, lady. CLE. Courteous lord, one word. Sir, you and I must part,—but that's not it: Sir, you and I have lov'd, but there's not it; That you know well: Something it is I would,O, my oblivion is a very Antony, And I am all-forgotten. ANT. -But that your royalty Holds idleness your fubject, I should take you CLE. Tis fweating labour, To bear fuch idleness fo near the heart As Cleopatra this. But, fir, forgive me ; ANT. -Let us go. Come; Our feparation fo abides, and flies, That thou, refiding here, go'ft yet with me, Away. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Rome. A Room in Cæfar's House. Enter Octavius CÆSAR, LEPIDUS, and their Trains. CAS. You may fee, Lepidus, and henceforth know, It is not Cæfar's natural vice to hate One great competitor: From Alexandria This is the news, He fishes, drinks, and waftes That all men follow. LEP. I must not think, there are His faults, in him, seem as the spots of heaven, CAS. You are too indulgent: Let us grant, it is not Amifs to tumble on the bed of Ptolemy; To give a kingdom for a mirth; to fit And keep the turn of tipling with a flave; To reel the ftreets at noon, and stand the buffet With knaves that smell of sweat: fay, this becomes him, (As his compofure must be rare indeed, Whom these things cannot blemish) yet muft Antony Full furfeits, and the drynefs of his bones, B Call on him for't: but, to confound fuch time,➡ As we rate boys; who, being mature in knowledge, Enter a Meffenger. LEP. Here's more news. Mef. Thy biddings have been done; and every hour, Moft noble Cajar, fhalt thou have report How 'tis abroad. Pompey is ftrong at fea; And it appears, he is belov'd of those That only have fear'd Cæfar: to the ports The discontents repair, and men's reports Give him much wrong'd. CAS. I fhould have known no less: It hath been taught us from the primal state, And the ebb'd man, ne'er lov'd, 'till ne'er worth love, Goes to, and back, lacquying the varying tide, To rot itself with motion. Enter another Messenger. Mef-Cafar, I bring thee word, Menecrates, and Menas, famous pirates, Make the fea ferve them; which they ear and wound With keels of every kind: Many hot inroads They make in Italy; the borders maritime Lack blood to think on't, and flush youth revolt: Taken as feen; for Pompey's name strikes more, |