Anthony and Cleopatra.
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he shall haue euery day a seuerall greeting, or IleExeunt.vnpeople Egypt.
Enter Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas, inwarlike manner.
Pom.If the great Gods be iust, they shall assistThe deeds of iustest men.
Mene.Know worthy Pompey, that what they do delay, they not deny.
Pom.Whiles we are sutors to their Throne, decayesthe thing we sue for.
Mene.We ignorant of our selues,Begge often our owne harmes, which the wise PowresDeny vs for our good: so finde we profitBy loosing of our Prayers.
Pom.I shall do well:The people loue me, and the Sea is mine;My powers are Cressent, and my Auguring hopeSayes it will come to'th'full. Marke AnthonyIn Egypt sits at dinner, and will makeNo warres without doores. Cæsar gets money whereHe looses hearts: Lepidus flatters both,Of both is flatter'd: but he neither loues,Nor either cares for him.
Mene.Cæsar and Lepidus are in the field,A mighty strength they carry.
Pom.Where haue you this? 'Tis false.
Mene.From Siluius, Sir.
Pom.He dreames: I know they are in Rome togetherLooking for Anthony: but all the charmes of Loue,Salt Cleopatra soften thy wand lip,Let Witchcraft ioyne with Beauty, Lust with both,Tye vp the Libertine in a field of Feasts,Keepe his Braine fuming. Epicurean Cookes,Sharpen with cloylesse sawce his Appetite,That sleepe and feeding may prorogue his Honour,Euen till a Lethied dulnesse———Enter Varrius.How now Varrius?
Var.This is most certaine, that I shall deliuer:Marke Anthony is euery houre in RomeExpected. Since he went from Egypt, 'tisA space for farther Trauaile.
Pom.I could haue giuen lesse matterA better eare. Menas, I did not thinkeThis amorous Surfetter would haue donn'd his HelmeFor such a petty Warre: His SouldiershipIs twice the other twaine: But let vs reareThe higher our Opinion, that our stirringCan from the lap of Egypts Widdow, pluckeThe neere Lust-wearied Anthony.
Mene.I cannot hope,Cæsar and Anthony shall well greet together;His Wife that's dead, did trespasses to Cæsar,His Brother wan'd vpon him, although I thinkeNot mou'd by Anthony.
Pom.I know not Menas,How lesser Enmities may giue way to greater,Were't not that we stand vp against them all:'Twer pregnant they should square between themselues,For they haue entertained cause enoughTo draw their swords: but how the feare of vsMay Ciment their diuisions, and binde vpThe petty difference, we yet not know:Bee't as our Gods will haue't; it onely standsOur liues vpon, to vse our strongest handsExeunt.Come Menas.
Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus.
Lep.Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed,And shall become you well, to intreat your CaptaineTo soft and gentle speech.
Enob.I shall intreat himTo answer like himselfe: if Cæsar moue him,Let Anthony looke ouer Cæsars head,And speake as lowd as Mars. By Iupiter,Were I the wearer of Anthonio's Beard,I would not shaue't to day.
Lep.'Tis not a time for priuate stomacking.
Eno.Euery time serues for the matter that is thenborne in't.
Lep.But small to greater matters must giue way.
Eno.Not if the small come first.
Lep.Your speech is passion: but pray you stirreNo Embers vp. Heere comes the Noble Anthony.
Enter Anthony and Ventidius.
Eno.And yonder Cæsar.
Enter Cæsar, Mecenas, and Agrippa.
Ant.If we compose well heere, to Parthia:Hearke Ventidius.
Cæsar.I do not know Mecenas, aske Agrippa.
Lep.Noble Friends:That which combin'd vs was most great, and let notA leaner action rend vs. What's amisse,May it be gently heard. When we debateOur triuiall difference loud, we do commitMurther in healing wounds. Then Noble Partners,The rather for I earnestly beseech,Touch you the sowrest points with sweetest tearmes,Nor curstnesse grow to'th'matter.
Ant.'Tis spoken well:Were we before our Armies, and to fight,Flourish.I should do thus.
Cæs.Welcome to Rome.
Ant.Thanke you.
Cæs.Sit.
Ant.Sit sir.
Cæs.Nay then.
Ant.I learne, you take things ill, which are not so:Or being, concerne you not.
Cæs.I must be laught at, if or for nothing, or a little, IShould say my selfe offended, and with youChiefely i'th'world. More laught at, that I shouldOnce name you derogately: when to sound your nameIt not concern'd me.
Ant.My being in Egypt Cæsar, what was't to you?
Cæs.No more then my reciding heere at RomeMight be to you in Egypt: yet if you thereDid practise on my State, your being in EgyptMight be my question.
Ant.How intend you, practis'd?
Cæs.You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent,By what did heere befall me. Your Wife and BrotherMade warres vpon me, and their contestationWas Theame for you, you were the word of warre.
Ant.You do mistake your busines, my Brother neuerDid vrge me in his Act: I did inquire it,And haue my Learning from some true reportsThat drew their swords with you, did he not ratherDiscredit my authority with yours,And make the warres alike against my stomacke,Hauing alike your cause. Of this, my LettersBefore did satisfie you. If you'l patch a quarrell,As matter whole you haue to make it with,
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