Complete Plays, The (161 page)

Agrippa

Rare Egyptian!

Domitius Enobarbus

Upon her landing, Antony sent to her,
Invited her to supper: she replied,
It should be better he became her guest;
Which she entreated: our courteous Antony,
Whom ne’er the word of ‘No’ woman heard speak,
Being barber’d ten times o’er, goes to the feast,
And for his ordinary pays his heart
For what his eyes eat only.

Agrippa

Royal wench!
She made great Caesar lay his sword to bed:
He plough’d her, and she cropp’d.

Domitius Enobarbus

I saw her once
Hop forty paces through the public street;
And having lost her breath, she spoke, and panted,
That she did make defect perfection,
And, breathless, power breathe forth.

Mecaenas

Now Antony must leave her utterly.

Domitius Enobarbus

Never; he will not:
Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety: other women cloy
The appetites they feed: but she makes hungry
Where most she satisfies; for vilest things
Become themselves in her: that the holy priests
Bless her when she is riggish.

Mecaenas

If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle
The heart of Antony, Octavia is
A blessed lottery to him.

Agrippa

Let us go.
Good Enobarbus, make yourself my guest
Whilst you abide here.

Domitius Enobarbus

Humbly, sir, I thank you.

Exeunt

S
CENE
III. T
HE
SAME
. O
CTAVIUS
C
AESAR
’
S
HOUSE
.

Enter Mark Antony, Octavius Caesar, Octavia between them, and Attendants

Mark Antony

The world and my great office will sometimes
Divide me from your bosom.

Octavia

All which time
Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers
To them for you.

Mark Antony

 
Good night, sir. My Octavia,
Read not my blemishes in the world’s report:
I have not kept my square; but that to come
Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear lady.
Good night, sir.

Octavius Caesar

Good night.

Exeunt Octavius Caesar and Octavia

Enter Soothsayer

Mark Antony

Now, sirrah; you do wish yourself in Egypt?

Soothsayer

Would I had never come from thence, nor you Thither!

Mark Antony

If you can, your reason?

Soothsayer

I see it in
My motion, have it not in my tongue: but yet
Hie you to Egypt again.

Mark Antony

Say to me,
Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Caesar’s or mine?

Soothsayer

Caesar’s.
Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side:
Thy demon, that’s thy spirit which keeps thee, is
Noble, courageous high, unmatchable,
Where Caesar’s is not; but, near him, thy angel
Becomes a fear, as being o’erpower’d: therefore
Make space enough between you.

Mark Antony

Speak this no more.

Soothsayer

To none but thee; no more, but when to thee.
If thou dost play with him at any game,
Thou art sure to lose; and, of that natural luck,
He beats thee ’gainst the odds: thy lustre thickens,
When he shines by: I say again, thy spirit
Is all afraid to govern thee near him;
But, he away, ’tis noble.

Mark Antony

Get thee gone:
Say to Ventidius I would speak with him:

Exit Soothsayer

He shall to Parthia. Be it art or hap,
He hath spoken true: the very dice obey him;
And in our sports my better cunning faints
Under his chance: if we draw lots, he speeds;
His cocks do win the battle still of mine,
When it is all to nought; and his quails ever
Beat mine, inhoop’d, at odds. I will to Egypt:
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
I’ the east my pleasure lies.

Enter Ventidius

O, come, Ventidius,
You must to Parthia: your commission’s ready;
Follow me, and receive’t.

Exeunt

S
CENE
IV. T
HE
SAME
. A
STREET
.

Enter Lepidus, Mecaenas, and Agrippa

Lepidus

Trouble yourselves no further: pray you, hasten
Your generals after.

Agrippa

Sir, Mark Antony
Will e’en but kiss Octavia, and we’ll follow.

Lepidus

Till I shall see you in your soldier’s dress,
Which will become you both, farewell.

Mecaenas

We shall,
As I conceive the journey, be at the Mount
Before you, Lepidus.

Lepidus

Your way is shorter;
My purposes do draw me much about:
You’ll win two days upon me.

Mecaenas

Agrippa

Sir, good success!

Lepidus

Farewell.

Exeunt

S
CENE
V. A
LEXANDRIA
. C
LEOPATRA
’
S
PALACE
.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas

Cleopatra

Give me some music; music, moody food
Of us that trade in love.

Attendants

The music, ho!

Enter Mardian

Cleopatra

Let it alone; let’s to billiards: come, Charmian.

Charmian

My arm is sore; best play with Mardian.

Cleopatra

As well a woman with an eunuch play’d
As with a woman. Come, you’ll play with me, sir?

Mardian

As well as I can, madam.

Cleopatra

And when good will is show’d, though’t come too short,
The actor may plead pardon. I’ll none now:
Give me mine angle; we’ll to the river: there,
My music playing far off, I will betray
Tawny-finn’d fishes; my bended hook shall pierce
Their slimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,
I’ll think them every one an Antony,
And say ‘Ah, ha! you’re caught.’

Charmian

’Twas merry when
You wager’d on your angling; when your diver
Did hang a salt-fish on his hook, which he
With fervency drew up.

Cleopatra

That time,— O times!—
I laugh’d him out of patience; and that night
I laugh’d him into patience; and next morn,
Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed;
Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst
I wore his sword Philippan.

Enter a Messenger

O, from Italy
Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
That long time have been barren.

Messenger

Madam, madam,—

Cleopatra

Antonius dead!— If thou say so, villain,
Thou kill’st thy mistress: but well and free,
If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here
My bluest veins to kiss; a hand that kings
Have lipp’d, and trembled kissing.

Messenger

First, madam, he is well.

Cleopatra

Why, there’s more gold.
But, sirrah, mark, we use
To say the dead are well: bring it to that,
The gold I give thee will I melt and pour
Down thy ill-uttering throat.

Messenger

Good madam, hear me.

Cleopatra

Well, go to, I will;
But there’s no goodness in thy face: if Antony
Be free and healthful,— so tart a favour
To trumpet such good tidings! If not well,
Thou shouldst come like a Fury crown’d with snakes,
Not like a formal man.

Messenger

Will’t please you hear me?

Cleopatra

I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak’st:
Yet if thou say Antony lives, is well,
Or friends with Caesar, or not captive to him,
I’ll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail
Rich pearls upon thee.

Messenger

Madam, he’s well.

Cleopatra

Well said.

Messenger

And friends with Caesar.

Cleopatra

Thou’rt an honest man.

Messenger

Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.

Cleopatra

Make thee a fortune from me.

Messenger

But yet, madam,—

Cleopatra

I do not like ‘But yet,’ it does allay
The good precedence; fie upon ‘But yet’!
‘But yet’ is as a gaoler to bring forth
Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend,
Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,
The good and bad together: he’s friends with Caesar:
In state of health thou say’st; and thou say’st free.

Messenger

Free, madam! no; I made no such report:
He’s bound unto Octavia.

Cleopatra

For what good turn?

Messenger

For the best turn i’ the bed.

Cleopatra

I am pale, Charmian.

Messenger

Madam, he’s married to Octavia.

Cleopatra

The most infectious pestilence upon thee!

Strikes him down

Messenger

Good madam, patience.

Cleopatra

What say you? Hence,

Strikes him again

Horrible villain! or I’ll spurn thine eyes
Like balls before me; I’ll unhair thy head:

She hales him up and down

Thou shalt be whipp’d with wire, and stew’d in brine,
Smarting in lingering pickle.

Messenger

Gracious madam,
I that do bring the news made not the match.

Cleopatra

Say ’tis not so, a province I will give thee,
And make thy fortunes proud: the blow thou hadst
Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage;
And I will boot thee with what gift beside
Thy modesty can beg.

Messenger

He’s married, madam.

Cleopatra

Rogue, thou hast lived too long.

Draws a knife

Messenger

Nay, then I’ll run.
What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.

Exit

Charmian

Good madam, keep yourself within yourself:
The man is innocent.

Cleopatra

Some innocents ’scape not the thunderbolt.
Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures
Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again:
Though I am mad, I will not bite him: call.

Charmian

He is afeard to come.

Cleopatra

I will not hurt him.

Exit Charmian

These hands do lack nobility, that they strike
A meaner than myself; since I myself
Have given myself the cause.

Re-enter Charmian and Messenger

Come hither, sir.
Though it be honest, it is never good
To bring bad news: give to a gracious message.
An host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell
Themselves when they be felt.

Messenger

I have done my duty.

Cleopatra

Is he married?
I cannot hate thee worser than I do,
If thou again say ‘Yes.’

Messenger

He’s married, madam.

Cleopatra

The gods confound thee! dost thou hold there still?

Messenger

Should I lie, madam?

Cleopatra

O, I would thou didst,
So half my Egypt were submerged and made
A cistern for scaled snakes! Go, get thee hence:
Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me
Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?

Messenger

I crave your highness’ pardon.

Cleopatra

He is married?

Messenger

Take no offence that I would not offend you:
To punish me for what you make me do.
Seems much unequal: he’s married to Octavia.

Cleopatra

O, that his fault should make a knave of thee,
That art not what thou’rt sure of! Get thee hence:
The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome
Are all too dear for me: lie they upon thy hand,
And be undone by ’em!

Exit Messenger

Charmian

Good your highness, patience.

Cleopatra

In praising Antony, I have dispraised Caesar.

Charmian

Many times, madam.

Cleopatra

 
I am paid for’t now.
Lead me from hence:
I faint: O Iras, Charmian! ’tis no matter.
Go to the fellow, good Alexas; bid him
Report the feature of Octavia, her years,
Her inclination, let him not leave out
The colour of her hair: bring me word quickly.

Exit Alexas

Let him for ever go:— let him not — Charmian,
Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
The other way’s a Mars. Bid you Alexas

To Mardian

Bring me word how tall she is. Pity me, Charmian,
But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.

Exeunt

S
CENE
VI. N
EAR
M
ISENUM
.

Flourish. Enter Pompey and Menas at one door, with drum and trumpet: at another, Octavius Caesar, Mark Antony, Lepidus, Domitius Enobarbus, Mecaenas, with Soldiers marching

Pompey

Your hostages I have, so have you mine;
And we shall talk before we fight.

Octavius Caesar

Most meet
That first we come to words; and therefore have we
Our written purposes before us sent;
Which, if thou hast consider’d, let us know
If ’twill tie up thy discontented sword,
And carry back to Sicily much tall youth
That else must perish here.