Some shipping unrestor'd: lastly, he frets, That Lepidus of the triumvirate Should be depos'd; and, being, that we detain All his revenue. Agr. Sir, this should be answer'd. Cas. 'Tis done already, and the messenger gone. I have told him, Lepidus was grown too cruel; That he his high authority abus'd, And did deserve his change; for what I have con quer'd, I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia, And other of his conquer'd kingdoms, I Demand the like. Mec. He'll never yield to that. Cas. Nor must not then be yielded to in this. Enter OCTAVIA. Octa. Hail, Cæsar, and my lord! hail, most dear Cæsar! Cas. That ever I should call thee, cast-away! Octa. You have not call'd me so, nor have you cause. Cas. Why have you stol'n upon us thus? You come not Like Cæsar's sister: The wife of Antony Should have an army for an usher, and The neighs of horse to tell of her approach, Long ere she did appear; the trees by the way, Should have ascended to the roof of heaven, Rais'd by your populous troops: But you are come Octa. Good my lord, To come thus was I not constrain'd, but did it Cas. Being an obstruct 'tween his lust and him. Which soon he granted, Octa. Do not say so, my lord. Cæs. I have eyes upon him, And his affairs come to me on the wind. Where is he now? Octa. My lord, in Athens. Cas. No, my most wronged sister; Cleopatra Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire Up to a whore; who now are levying 33 The kings o' the earth for war: He hath assembled Bocchus, the king of Lybia; Archelaus, Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas: The kings of Mede, and Lycaonia, with a Octa. Ah me, most wretched, That have my heart parted betwixt two friends, Cæs. Hold unbewail'd their way. Nothing more dear to me. Welcome to Rome: Beyond the mark of thought: and the high gods, Of us, and those that love you. Best of comfort; And ever welcome to us. Agr. Welcome, lady. Mec. Welcome, dear madam. Each heart in Rome does love and pity you: And gives his potent regiment to a trull, Octa. Is it so, sir? Cas. Most certain. Sister, welcome: Pray you, Be ever known to patience: My dearest sister! [Exeunt. SCENE VII. Antony's Camp, near the Promontory of Actium. Cleo. I will be even with thee, doubt it not. Cleo. Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars; And say'st, it is not fit. Eno. Well, is it, is it? Cleo. Is't not? Denounce against us, why should not we Be there in person? Eno. [Aside.] Well, I could reply: If we should serve with horse and mares together, The horse were merely lost; the mares would bear A soldier, and his horse. Cleo. What is't you say? Eno. Your presence needs must puzzle Antony; Take from his heart, take from his brain, from his time, What should not then be spar'd. He is already Traduc'd for levity; and 'tis said in Rome, That Photinus an eunuch, and your maids, Cleo. Sink Rome; and their tongues rot, That speak against us! A charge we bear i' the war, And, as the president of my kingdom, will Appear there for a man. Speak not against it; That from Tarentum, and Brundusium, He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea, And take in Toryne?-You have heard on't, sweet? Cleo. Celerity is never more admir'd, Than by the negligent. Ant. A good rebuke, Which might have well becom❜d the best of men, To taunt at slackness.-Canidius, we Will fight with him by sea. Cleo. By sea! What else? For he dares us to't. Can. Why will my lord do so? Ant. Eno. So hath my lord dar'd him to single fight. Can. Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia, Where Cæsar fought with Pompey: But these offers, Which serve not for his vantage, he shakes off; And so should you. Eno. Your ships are not well mann'd: Your mariners are muleteers, reapers, people Ingross'd by swift impress; in Cæsar's fleet Are those, that often have 'gainst Pompey fought: Their ships are yare; yours, heavy. No disgrace |