SCENE IV-Athens. A Room in Antony's House. Enter Antony and Octavia. Ant. Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that,That were excusable, that, and thousands more Of semblable import,-but he hath wag'd New wars 'gainst Pompey; made his will, and read it To public ear; Spoke scantly of me: when perforce he could not He vented them; most narrow measure lent me : Oct. And the good gods will mock me presently, O, bless my brother! Husband win, win brother, Ant. Gentle Octavia, Let your best love draw to that point, which seeks Best to preserve it: If I lose mine honour, I lose myself: better I were not yours, Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested, Yourself shall go between us: The mean time, lady, I'll raise the preparation of a war Shall stain your brother; Make your soonest haste; So your desires are yours. Oct. Thanks to my lord. The Jove of power make me most weak, most weak, Your reconciler! Wars 'twixt you twain would be As if the world should cleave, and that slain men Should solder up the rift. Ant. When it appears to you where this begins, Turn your displeasure that way; for our faults Can never be so equal, that your love Can equally move with them. Provide your going; Choose your own company, and command what cost Your heart has mind to. [Exeunt. SCENE V.-The same. Another Room in the same. Enter Enobarbus and Eros, meeting. Eno. How now, friend Eros? Eros. There's strange news come, sir. Eno. What, man? Eros. Cæsar and Lepidus have made wars upon Pompey. Eno. This is old; What is the success? Eros. Caesar, having made use of him in the wars 'gainst Pompey, presently denied hm rivality; would not let him partake in the glory of the action: and not resting here, accuses him of letters he had former ly wrote to Pompey; upon his own appeal, seizes him: So the poor third is up, till death enlarge his confine. Eno. Then, world, thou hast a pair of chaps, no more; And throw between them all the food thou hast, They'll grind the one the other. Where's Antony? Eros. He's walking in the garden-thus; and spurns The rush that lies before him: cries, Fool, Lepidus! And threats the throat of that his officer, That murder'd Pompey. Eno. Our great navy's rigged. Eros. For Italy, and Cæsar. My lord desires you presently: my news I might have told hereafter. Eno. More, Domitius; But let it be.-Bring me to Antony. SCENE VI.-Rome. A Room in Cæsar's House. Enter Caesar, Agrippa, and Mecenas. Cas. Contemning Rome, he has done all this: And more; In Alexandria,-here's the manner of it,- Absolute queen. Mec. This in the public eye? Cas. I'the common show-place, where they exercise. His sons he there proclaim'd, The kings of kings: Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia, He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assign'd In the habiliments of the goddess Isis That day appear'd; and oft before gave audience Mec. Inform'd. Let Rome be thus Agr. Who, queasy with his insolence Already, will their good thoughts call from him. Caes. The people know it; and have now receiv'd His accusations. Agr. Whom does he accuse? Cas. Cæsar: and that, having in Sicily Sextus Pompeius spoil'd, we had not rated him Should be depos'd; and, being, that we detain 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 conquer'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. Caes. Nor must not then be yielded to in this. Enter Octavia. Oct. Hail, Cesar, and my lord! hail, most dear Cæsar! Cas. That ever I should call thee, cast-away! Oct. You have not call'd me so, nor have you cause. Caes. 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 Good my lord, Oct. Cæs. Vol. 5. M. Which soon he granted, Being an obstruct 'tween his lust and him. Cas. I have eyes upon him, And his affairs come to me on the wind. Where is he now? Oct. 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 The kings o'the earth for war: He hath assembled Of Cappadocia ; Philadelphos, king Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas; Oct Ah me, most wretched, That have my heart parted betwixt two friends, That do afflict each other! Cæs. Welcome hither: Hold unbewail'd their way. Welcome to Rome: Of us, and those that love you. Best of comfort s And ever welcome to us. Agr. Welcome, lady. Mec. Welcome, dear madam. Each heart in Rome does love and pity you: |