Eno. But she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius.

Men. Pray you, sir?

Eno. "Tis true.

Men. Then is Cæsar, and he, for ever knit together.

Eno. If I were bound to divine of this unity, I would not prophecy so.

made more

Men. I think, the policy of that purpose in the marriage, than the love of the parties.

Eno. I think so too. But you shall find, the band that seems to tie their friendship together, will be the very strangler of their amity: Octavia is of a holy, cold, and still conversation.

Men. Who would not have his wife so?

Eno. Not he, that himself is not so; which is Mark Antony. He will to his Egyptian dish again: then shall the sighs of Octavia blow the fire up in Cæsar; and, as I said before, that which is the strength of their amity, shall prove the immediate author of their variance. Antony will use his affection where it is; he married but his occasion here.

Men. And thus it may be. Come, sir, will you aboard? I have a health for you.

Eno. I shall take it, sir: we have us'd our throats in Egypt.

Men. Come; let's away.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VII.

On board Pompey's Galley, lying near Misenum. Musick. Enter two or three Servants, with a banquet.

1 Serv. Here they'll be, man: Some o' their plants are ill-rooted already, the least wind i' the world will blow them down.

2 Serv. Lepidus is high-colour'd.

1 Serv. They have made him drink alms-drink.

2 Serv. As they pinch one another by the disposition, he cries out, no more; reconciles them to his entreaty, and himself to the drink.

1 Serv. But it raises the greater war between him and his discretion.

2 Serv. Why, this it is to have a name in great men's fellowship: I had as lief, have a reed that will do me no service, as a partizan 24 I could not heave.

1 Serv. 25To be call'd into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in't, are the holes where eyes should be, which pitifully disaster the cheeks.

A sennet sounded. Enter CESAR, ANTONY, POмPEY, LEPIDUS, AGRIPPA, MECENAS, ENOBARBUS, MENAS, with other Captains.

Ant. Thus do they, sir: [to Cæsar.] They take the flow o'the Nile

By certain scales i'the pyramid; they know,

By the height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth,
Or foizon, follow: The higher Nilus swells,

The more it promises: as it ebbs, the seedsman
Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain,

And shortly comes to harvest.

Lep. You have strange serpents there.

Ant. Ay, Lepidus.

Lep. Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun: so is your crocodile.

Ant. They are so.

Pom. Sit,-and some wine.-A health to Lepidus. Lep. I am not so well as I should be, but I'll ne'er

out.

Eno. Not till you have slept; I fear me, you'll be in, till then.

Lep. Nay, certainly, I have heard, the Ptolemies' pyramises are very goodly things; without contradiction, I have heard that.

Men. Pompey, a word.
Pom.

[Aside.

Say in mine ear: What is't?

Men. Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, captain,

And hear me speak a word.

Pom.

This wine for Lepidus.

[Aside.

Forbear me till anon.

Lep. What manner o' thing is your crocodile ? Ant. It is shaped, sir, like itself; and it is as broad as it hath breadth: it is just so high as it is, and

moves with its own organs: it lives by that which nourisheth it; and the elements once out of it, it transmigrates.

Lep. What colour is it of?

Ant. Of its own colour too.

Lep. 'Tis a strange serpent.

Ant. 'Tis so.

And the tears of it are wet.

Cæs. Will this description satisfy him?

Ant. With the health that Pompey gives him, else

he is a very epicure.

Pom. [to Menas aside.] Go, hang, sir, hang! Tell me of that? away!

Do as I bid you.-Where's this cup I call'd for? Men. If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me,

Rise from thy stool.

Pom.

[Aside,

I think, thou'rt mad. The matter? [rises, and walks aside.

Men. I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes. Pom. Thou hast serv'd me with much faith: What's else to say?

Be jolly, lords.

Ant.

These quick-sands, Lepidus,

Keep off them, for you sink.

Men. Wilt thou be lord of all the world?

Pom.

What say'st thou?

Men. Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That's

twice.

Pom. How should that be?

Men.

But entertain it, and,

Although thou think me poor, I am the man
Will give thee all the world.

Pom.

Hast thou drunk well?

Men. No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup. Thou art, if thou dar'st be, the earthly Jove:

Whate'er the ocean pales, or sky inclips,

Is thine, if thou wilt have't.

Pom.

Show me which way.

Men. These three world-sharers, these competitors,

Are in thy vessel: Let me cut the cable;

And, when we are put off, fall to their throats:

All there is thine.

Pom.

Ah, this thou should'st have done,

And not have spoke on't! In me, 'tis villainy;
In thee, it had been good service. Thou must know,
'Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour;
Mine honour, it. Repent, that e'er thy tongue
Hath so betray'd thine act: Being done unknown,
I should have found it afterwards well done;
But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.

Men. For this,

I'll never follow thy pall'd fortunes more.—

[Aside.

Who seeks, and will not take, when once 'tis offer'd,

Shall never find it more.

Pom.

This health to Lepidus.

Ant. Bear him ashore.-I'll pledge it for him,

Pompey.

Eno. Here's to thee, Menas.

Men.

Enobarbus, welcome.