How lesser enmities may give way to greater.
Wer't not that we stand up against them all,
'Twere pregnant they should square

selves;

14 between them

For they have entertained cause enough

To draw their swords: but how the fear of us
May cement their divisions, and bind up
The petty difference, we yet not know.
Be it as our gods will have it! It only stands
Our lives upon, to use our strongest hands.
Come, Menas.

SCENE II.

[Exeunt.

Rome. A Room in the House of Lepidus.

Enter ENOBARBUS and Lepidus.

Lep. Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed, And shall become you well, to entreat your captain To soft and gentle speech.

Eno.

I shall entreat him

To answer like himself: if Cæsar move him,

Let Antony look over Cæsar's head,

And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter,

Were I the wearer of Antonius' beard,

I would not shav't to-day.

Lep.

For private stomaching..

Eno.

'Tis not a time

Every time

Serves for the matter that is then born in it.

Lep. But small to greater matters must give way. Eno. Not if the small come first.

Lep.

Your speech is passion:

But, pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes
The noble Antony.

Enter ANTONY and VENTIDIUS.

Eno.

And yonder, Cæsar.

Enter CESAR, MECENAS, and AGRIPPA.

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

Cœs.

Mecænas; ask Agrippa.

Lep.

I do not know,

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 loud, we do commit

Murder in healing wounds: Then, noble partners,
(The rather, for I earnestly beseech,)

Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms,
Nor curstness grow to the matter.

Ant.

'Tis spoken well:

Were we before our armies, and to fight,

Caes.

Nay,

Then

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

Or, being, concern you not.

Cœs.

If, or for nothing, or a little, I

I must be laugh'd at,

Should say myself offended; and with you

Chiefly i' the world: more laugh'd at, that I should Once name you derogately, when to sound your name It not concern'd me.

Ant.

What was't to you?

My being in Egypt, Cæsar,

Cas. No more than my residing here at Rome
Might be to you in Egypt: Yet, if you there

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

Ant.

How intend you, practis'd?

Caes. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent, By what did here befal me. Your wife, and brother, Made wars upon me; and their contestation

Was theme for you, you were the word of war.

Ant. You do mistake your business; my brother

never

Did urge me in his act: I did enquire it;

And have my learning from some true reports 15, That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather

Discredit my authority with yours;

And make the wars alike against my stomach,

Having alike your cause? Of this, my letters
Before did satisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel,

As matter whole you have not to make it with,

It must not be with this.

Cœs.

You praise yourself

By laying defects of judgement to me; but
You patch'd up your excuses.

Ant.

Not so, not so:
I know you could not lack, I ain certain on't,
Very necessity of this thought, that I,

Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,
Could not with graceful 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' the world is yours; which with a snaffle
You may pace easy, but not such a wife.

Eno. 'Would, we had all such wives, that the men might go to wars with the women!

Ant. So much uncurbable, her garboils 16, Cæsar, 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.

Cæs.

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.

He fell upon me, ere admitted; then

Sir,

Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want
Of what I was i' the 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.

Lepidus, let him speak;

The honour's sacred which he talks on now,
Supposing that I lack'd it: But on, Cæsar;
The article of my oath,—

Cas. 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 myself, the ignorant motive, do
So far ask pardon, as befits mine honour
To stoop in such a case.

Lep.

"Tis nobly spoken.

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

The griefs between ye: to forget them quite,

Were to remember that the present need

Speaks to atone you.