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

Say to Ventidius, I would fpeak with him.
He fhall to Parthia, be it art, or hap,

[Exit Sooth.
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 fpeeds,,
His Cocks do win the Battel, ftill 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'Eaft my pleasure lies. Oh come, Ventidius,
Enter Ventidius.

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

[Exeunt
Enter Lepidus, Mecenas, and Agrippa.
Lep. Trouble your felf no farther: pray you haften
Your Generals after.

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

Lep. 'Till I fhall fee in

you your Soldier's dress,

Which will become you both, Farewel

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

At the Mount before you, Lepidus.

Lep. Your way is shorter,

My purposes do draw me much about,

You'll win two Days upon me.

Both. Sir, good fuccefs.

Lep. Farewel.

SCENE III.

[Exeunt.

Alexandria

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras and Alexas.
Cleo. Give me fome Mufick: Mufick, moody food

Of us that trade in love

Omnes. The Mufick, hoa!

Enter Mardian the Eunuch.

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

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 fhewed, 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 Mufick playing far off, I will betray
Tawny-fin Fishes, my bended hook fhall pierce
Their flimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,
I'll think them every one an Antony,

And fay, ah, ba; you're caught.

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

Cleo. That time! —Ch times!

Oh

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, whilft
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.
Mef. Madam! Madam!

Cleo. Antony's dead;

If thou fay fo, Villain, thou kill'ft thy Mistress:
But well and free, if thou fo yield him.

There is Gold, and here

My blewest Veins to kifs: a hand that Kings

Have lipt, and trembled kiffing.

Mef. Firft, Madam, he is well.

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

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

The Gold I give thee, will I melt and pour

Dow thy ill-uttering throat.

Mef. 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 fo tart a favour
To trumpet fuch good tidings? If not well,

Thou should't come like a Fury crown'd with Snakes,
Not like a formal Man.

VOL. VI.

C

Mef.

Mef. Wilt pleafe you hear me?'

Cleo. I have a mind to ftrike thee e'er thou speak'ft; Yet if thou fay, Antony lives, 'tis well,

2

Or Friends with Cafar, or not Captain to him,

I'll fee thee in a fhowre of Gold, and hail
Rich Pearls upon thee.

Mef. Madam, he's well.

Cleo. Well faid.

Mef. And Friends with Cafar.

Cleo. Thou'rt an honeft Man.

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

Mef. 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'ft, and thou fay'ft, free.
Mef. Free, Madam! no: I made no fuch fport.

He's bound unto Octavia.

Cleo. For what good Turn?

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

Cleo. I am pale, Charmian.

Mef. Madain, he's married to Octavia.

Cleo. The moft infectious Peftilence upon thee.

Mef. Good Madam, patience.

Cleo. What fay you?

[Strikes him down.

[Strikes him

Hence horrible Villain, or I'll fpurn thine Eyes
Like Balls before me; I'll unhair thy Head:

[She hales him up and down. Thou shalt be whipt with Wyre, and ftew'd in Brine, Smarting in lingring pickle.

Mef. Gracious Madam,

I, that do bring the News, made not the match.
Cleo. Say'tis not fo, a Province I will give thee,
And make thy Fortunes proud: the blow thou hadft
Shall make thy peace, for moving me to rage,
And I will boot thee with what gift befide

Thy

Thy modefty can beg.

Mef. He's married, Madam.

Cleo. Rogue, thou haft liv'd too long. [Draws a Dagger.
Mef. Nay then I'll run :

What mean you, Madam, I have made no fault. [Exit.
Char. Good Madam, keep your felf within your felf,
The Man is innocent.

Cleo. Some innocents fcape not the Thunderbolt :
Melt Egypt 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,

Thefe Hands do lack Nobility, that they strike
A meaner than my felf: fince I my felf
Have given my felf the caufe. Come hither, Sir.
Re-Enter the Messenger.
Though it be honeft, it is never good
To bring bad News: give to a gracious Meffage
An Hoft of Tongues, but let ill tidings tell
Themfelves, when they be felt.

Mef. I have done my duty.

Cleo. Is he married?

I cannot hate thee worfer than I do,

If you again fay yes.

Mef. He's married, Madam.

Cleo. The gods confound thee, doft thou hold there still? Mef. Should I lie, Madam?

Cleo. Oh, would thou didft:

So half my Egypt were fubmerg'd, and made :
A Ciftern for fcal'd Snakes. Go get thee hence,
Hadft thou Narciffus in thy Face, to me

Thou wouldft appear moft ugly: He is married?
Mef. I crave your Highness pardon.

Cleo. He is married?..

Mef. 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 fhould make a Knave of thee, That art not what thou art fure of. Get thee hence, The Merchandifes which thou haft brought from Romë,

Are all too dear for me:

Lye they upon thy hand, and be undone by 'em. [Exit Me
Char. Good your Highness patience.

Cleo. In praifing Antony, I have disprais'd Cafar.
Char. Many times, Madam,

Cleo. I am paid for't now: lead me from hence,
I faint; oh 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.
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 fhe is pity me, Charmian,
But do not speak to me. Lead me to my Chamber. [Exeunt

SCENE IV. The Coaft of Italy, near
Mifenum.

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 Hoftages I have, fo have you mine; And we fhall talk before we fight.

Caf. Moft meet

That firft we come to words, and therefore have we

Our written purpofts before us fent,

Which if thou haft confidered, let us know,

If 'twill tie up thy difcontented 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 fhould revengers want,
Having a Son and Friends; fince Julius Cafar,
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghofted,
There faw you labouring for me. What was't
That mov'd pale Caffius to confpire ? And what
Made thee all-honour'd, honeft Roman Brutus,