Shakespeare - First Folio facsimile (1910)/The Tragedie of Anthonie, and Cleopatra/Act 2 Scene 2
Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus.
Lep.
Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed,
And shall become you well, to intreat your Captaine
To soft and gentle speech.
Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed,
And shall become you well, to intreat your Captaine
To soft and gentle speech.
Enob.
I shall intreat him
To 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.
I shall intreat him
To 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.
'Tis not a time for priuate stomacking.
Eno.
Euery time serues for the matter that is then
borne in't.
Euery time serues for the matter that is then
borne in't.
Lep.
But small to greater matters must giue way.
But small to greater matters must giue way.
Eno.
Not if the small come first.
Not if the small come first.
Lep.
Your speech is passion: but pray you stirre
No Embers vp. Heere comes the Noble Anthony.
Your speech is passion: but pray you stirre
No Embers vp. Heere comes the Noble Anthony.
Enter Anthony and Ventidius.
Eno.
And yonder Cæsar.
And yonder Cæsar.
Enter Cæsar, Mecenas, and Agrippa.
Ant.
If we compose well heere, to Parthia:
Hearke Ventidius.
If we compose well heere, to Parthia:
Hearke Ventidius.
Cæsar.
I do not know Mecenas, aske Agrippa.
I do not know Mecenas, aske Agrippa.
Lep.
Noble Friends:
That which combin'd vs was most great, and let not
A leaner action rend vs. What's amisse,
May it be gently heard. When we debate
Our triuiall difference loud, we do commit
Murther 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.
Noble Friends:
That which combin'd vs was most great, and let not
A leaner action rend vs. What's amisse,
May it be gently heard. When we debate
Our triuiall difference loud, we do commit
Murther 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.
'Tis spoken well:
Were we before our Armies, and to fight,
Flourish.I should do thus.
Cæs.
Welcome to Rome.
Welcome to Rome.
Ant.
Thanke you.
Thanke you.
Cæs.
Sit.
Sit.
Ant.
Sit sir.
Sit sir.
Cæs.
Nay then.
Nay then.
Ant.
I learne, you take things ill, which are not so:
Or being, concerne you not.
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, I
Should say my selfe offended, and with you
Chiefely i'th'world. More laught at, that I should
Once name you derogately: when to sound your name
It not concern'd me.
I must be laught at, if or for nothing, or a little, I
Should say my selfe offended, and with you
Chiefely i'th'world. More laught at, that I should
Once name you derogately: when to sound your name
It not concern'd me.
Ant.
My being in Egypt Cæsar, what was't to you?
My being in Egypt Cæsar, what was't to you?
Cæs.
No more then my reciding heere at Rome
Might be to you in Egypt: yet if you there
Did practise on my State, your being in Egypt
Might be my question.
No more then my reciding heere at Rome
Might be to you in Egypt: yet if you there
Did practise on my State, your being in Egypt
Might be my question.
Ant.
How intend you, practis'd?
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 Brother
Made warres vpon me, and their contestation
Was Theame for you, you were the word of warre.
You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent,
By what did heere befall me. Your Wife and Brother
Made warres vpon me, and their contestation
Was Theame for you, you were the word of warre.
Ant.
You do mistake your busines, my Brother neuer
Did vrge me in his Act: I did inquire it,
And haue my Learning from some true reports
That drew their swords with you, did he not rather
Discredit my authority with yours,
And make the warres alike against my stomacke,
Hauing alike your cause. Of this, my Letters
Before did satisfie you. If you'l patch a quarrell,
As matter whole you haue to make it with,
It must not be with this.
You do mistake your busines, my Brother neuer
Did vrge me in his Act: I did inquire it,
And haue my Learning from some true reports
That drew their swords with you, did he not rather
Discredit my authority with yours,
And make the warres alike against my stomacke,
Hauing alike your cause. Of this, my Letters
Before did satisfie you. If you'l patch a quarrell,
As matter whole you haue to make it with,
It must not be with this.
Cæs.
You praise your selfe, by laying defects of
iudgement to me: but you patcht vp your excuses.
You praise your selfe, by laying defects of
iudgement to me: but you patcht vp your excuses.
Anth.
Not so, not so:
I know you could not lacke, I am certaine on't,
Very necessity of this thought, that I
Your Partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,
Could not with gracefull eyes attend those Warres
Which fronted mine owne peace. As for my wife,
I would you had her spirit, in such another,
The third oth'world is yours, which with a Snaffle,
You may pace easie, but not such a wife.
Not so, not so:
I know you could not lacke, I am certaine on't,
Very necessity of this thought, that I
Your Partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,
Could not with gracefull eyes attend those Warres
Which fronted mine owne peace. As for my wife,
I would you had her spirit, in such another,
The third oth'world is yours, which with a Snaffle,
You may pace easie, but not such a wife.
Enobar.
Would we had all such wiues, that the men
might go to Warres with the women.
Would we had all such wiues, that the men
might go to Warres with the women.
Anth.
So much vncurbable, her Garboiles (Cæsar)
Made out of her impatience: which not wanted
Shrodenesse of policie to: I greeuing grant,
Did you too much disquiet, for that you must,
But say I could not helpe it?
So much vncurbable, her Garboiles (Cæsar)
Made out of her impatience: which not wanted
Shrodenesse of policie to: I greeuing grant,
Did you too much disquiet, for that you must,
But say I could not helpe it?
Cæsar.
I wrote to you, when rioting in Alexandria you
Did pocket vp my Letters: and with taunts
Did gibe my Misiue out of audience.
I wrote to you, when rioting in Alexandria you
Did pocket vp my Letters: and with taunts
Did gibe my Misiue out of audience.
Ant.
Sir, he fell vpon me, ere admitted, then:
Three Kings I had newly feasted, and did want
Of what I was i'th'morning: but next day
I told him of my selfe, which was as much
As to haue askt him pardon. Let this Fellow
Be nothing of our strife: if we contend
Out of our question wipe him.
Sir, he fell vpon me, ere admitted, then:
Three Kings I had newly feasted, and did want
Of what I was i'th'morning: but next day
I told him of my selfe, which was as much
As to haue askt him pardon. Let this Fellow
Be nothing of our strife: if we contend
Out of our question wipe him.
Cæsar.
You haue broken the Article of your oath,
which you shall neuer haue tongue to charge me with.
You haue broken the Article of your oath,
which you shall neuer haue tongue to charge me with.
Lep.
Soft Cæsar.
Soft Cæsar.
Ant.
No Lepidus, let him speake,
The Honour is Sacred which he talks on now,
Supposing that I lackt it: but on Cæsar,
The Article of my oath.
No Lepidus, let him speake,
The Honour is Sacred which he talks on now,
Supposing that I lackt it: but on Cæsar,
The Article of my oath.
Cæsar.
To lend me Armes, and aide when I requir'd
them, the which you both denied.
To lend me Armes, and aide when I requir'd
them, the which you both denied.
Anth.
Neglected rather:
And then when poysoned houres had bound me vp
From mine owne knowledge, as neerely as I may,
Ile play the penitent to you. But mine honesty,
Shall not make poore my greatnesse, nor my power
Worke without it. Truth is, that Fuluia,
To haue me out of Egypt, made Warres heere,
For which my selfe, the ignorant motiue, do
So farre aske pardon, as befits mine Honour
To stoope in such a case.
Neglected rather:
And then when poysoned houres had bound me vp
From mine owne knowledge, as neerely as I may,
Ile play the penitent to you. But mine honesty,
Shall not make poore my greatnesse, nor my power
Worke without it. Truth is, that Fuluia,
To haue me out of Egypt, made Warres heere,
For which my selfe, the ignorant motiue, do
So farre aske pardon, as befits mine Honour
To stoope in such a case.
Lep.
'Tis Noble spoken.
'Tis Noble spoken.
Mece.
If it might please you, to enforce no further
The griefes betweene ye: to forget them quite,
Were to remember: that the present neede,
Speakes to attone you.
If it might please you, to enforce no further
The griefes betweene ye: to forget them quite,
Were to remember: that the present neede,
Speakes to attone you.
Lep.
Worthily spoken Mecenas.
Worthily spoken Mecenas.
Enobar.
Or if you borrow one anothers Loue for the
instant, you may when you heare no more words of
Pompey' returne it againe: you shall haue time to wrangle
in, when you haue nothing else to do.
Or if you borrow one anothers Loue for the
instant, you may when you heare no more words of
Pompey' returne it againe: you shall haue time to wrangle
in, when you haue nothing else to do.
Anth.
Thou art a Souldier, onely speake no more.
Thou art a Souldier, onely speake no more.
Enob.
That trueth should be silent, I had almost forgot.
That trueth should be silent, I had almost forgot.
Anth.
You wrong this presence, therefore speake no more.
You wrong this presence, therefore speake no more.
Enob.
Go too then: your Considerate stone.
Go too then: your Considerate stone.
Cæsar.
I do not much dislike the matter, but
The manner of his speech: for't cannot be,
We shall remaine in friendship, our conditions
So diffring in their acts. Yet if I knew,
What Hoope should hold vs staunch from edge to edge
Ath'world: I would persue it.
I do not much dislike the matter, but
The manner of his speech: for't cannot be,
We shall remaine in friendship, our conditions
So diffring in their acts. Yet if I knew,
What Hoope should hold vs staunch from edge to edge
Ath'world: I would persue it.
Agri.
Giue me leaue Cæsar.
Giue me leaue Cæsar.
Cæsar.
Speake Agrippa.
Speake Agrippa.
Agri.
Thou hast a Sister by the Mothers side, admir'd
Octauia: Great Mark Anthony is now a widdower.
Thou hast a Sister by the Mothers side, admir'd
Octauia: Great Mark Anthony is now a widdower.
Cæsar.
Say not, say Agrippa; if Cleopater heard you, your
proofe were well deserued of rashnesse.
Say not, say Agrippa; if Cleopater heard you, your
proofe were well deserued of rashnesse.
Anth.
I am not marryed Cæsar: let me heere Agrippa
further speake.
I am not marryed Cæsar: let me heere Agrippa
further speake.
Agri.
To hold you in perpetuall amitie,
To make you Brothers, and to knit your hearts
With an vn-slipping knot, take Anthony,
Octauia to his wife: whose beauty claimes
No worse a husband then the best of men: whose
Vertue, and whose generall graces, speake
That which none else can vtter. By this marriage,
All little Ielousies which now seeme great,
And all great feares, which now import their dangers,
Would then be nothing. Truth's would be tales,
Where now halfe tales be truth's: her loue to both,
Would each to other, and all loues to both
Draw after her. Pardon what I haue spoke,
For 'tis a studied not a present thought,
By duty ruminated.
To hold you in perpetuall amitie,
To make you Brothers, and to knit your hearts
With an vn-slipping knot, take Anthony,
Octauia to his wife: whose beauty claimes
No worse a husband then the best of men: whose
Vertue, and whose generall graces, speake
That which none else can vtter. By this marriage,
All little Ielousies which now seeme great,
And all great feares, which now import their dangers,
Would then be nothing. Truth's would be tales,
Where now halfe tales be truth's: her loue to both,
Would each to other, and all loues to both
Draw after her. Pardon what I haue spoke,
For 'tis a studied not a present thought,
By duty ruminated.
Anth.
Will Cæsar speake?
Will Cæsar speake?
Cæsar.
Not till he heares how Anthony is toucht,
With what is spoke already.
Not till he heares how Anthony is toucht,
With what is spoke already.
Anth.
What power is in Agrippa,
If I would say Agrippa, be it so,
To make this good?
What power is in Agrippa,
If I would say Agrippa, be it so,
To make this good?
Cæsar.
The power of Cæsar,
And his power, vnto Octauia.
The power of Cæsar,
And his power, vnto Octauia.
Anth.
May I neuer
(To this good purpose, that so fairely shewes)
Dreame of impediment: let me haue thy hand
Further this act of Grace: and from this houre,
The heart of Brothers gouerne in our Loues,
And sway our great Designes.
May I neuer
(To this good purpose, that so fairely shewes)
Dreame of impediment: let me haue thy hand
Further this act of Grace: and from this houre,
The heart of Brothers gouerne in our Loues,
And sway our great Designes.
Cæsar.
There's my hand:
A Sister I bequeath you, whom no Brother
Did euer loue so deerely. Let her liue
To ioyne our kingdomes, and our hearts, and neuer
Flie off our Loues againe.
There's my hand:
A Sister I bequeath you, whom no Brother
Did euer loue so deerely. Let her liue
To ioyne our kingdomes, and our hearts, and neuer
Flie off our Loues againe.
Lepi.
Happily, Amen.
Happily, Amen.
Ant.
I did not think to draw my Sword 'gainst Pompey,
For he hath laid strange courtesies, and great
Of late vpon me. I must thanke him onely,
Least my remembrance, suffer ill report:
At heele of that, defie him.
I did not think to draw my Sword 'gainst Pompey,
For he hath laid strange courtesies, and great
Of late vpon me. I must thanke him onely,
Least my remembrance, suffer ill report:
At heele of that, defie him.
Lepi.
Time cals vpon's,
Of vs must Pompey presently be sought,
Or else he seekes out vs.
Time cals vpon's,
Of vs must Pompey presently be sought,
Or else he seekes out vs.
Anth.
Where lies he?
Where lies he?
Cæsar.
About the Mount-Mesena.
About the Mount-Mesena.
Anth.
What is his strength by land?
What is his strength by land?
Cæsar.
Great, and increasing:
But by Sea he is an absolute Master.
Great, and increasing:
But by Sea he is an absolute Master.
Anth.
So is the Fame,
Would we had spoke together. Hast we for it,
Yet ere we put our selues in Armes, dispatch we
The businesse we haue talkt of.
So is the Fame,
Would we had spoke together. Hast we for it,
Yet ere we put our selues in Armes, dispatch we
The businesse we haue talkt of.
Cæsar.
With most gladnesse,
And do inuite you to my Sisters view,
Whether straight Ile lead you.
With most gladnesse,
And do inuite you to my Sisters view,
Whether straight Ile lead you.
Anth.
Let vs Lepidus not lacke your companie.
Let vs Lepidus not lacke your companie.
Lep.
Noble Anthony, not sickenesse should detaine
Flourish. Exit omnes.me.
Noble Anthony, not sickenesse should detaine
Flourish. Exit omnes.me.
Manet Enobarbus, Agrippa, Mecenas.
Mec.
Welcome from Ægypt Sir.
Welcome from Ægypt Sir.
Eno.
Halfe the heart of Cæsar, worthy Mecenas. My
honourable Friend Agrippa.
Halfe the heart of Cæsar, worthy Mecenas. My
honourable Friend Agrippa.
Agri.
Good Enobarbus.
Good Enobarbus.
Mece.
We haue cause to be glad, that matters are so
well disgested: you staid well by't in Egypt.
We haue cause to be glad, that matters are so
well disgested: you staid well by't in Egypt.
Enob.
I Sir, we did sleepe day out of countenaunce:
and made the night light with drinking.
I Sir, we did sleepe day out of countenaunce:
and made the night light with drinking.
Mece.
Eight Wilde-Boares rosted whole at a breakfast,
and but twelue persons there. Is this true?
Eight Wilde-Boares rosted whole at a breakfast,
and but twelue persons there. Is this true?
Eno.
This was but as a Flye by an Eagle: we had much
more monstrous matter of Feast, which worthily
deserued noting.
This was but as a Flye by an Eagle: we had much
more monstrous matter of Feast, which worthily
deserued noting.
Mecenas.
She's a most triumphant Lady, if report be
square to her.
She's a most triumphant Lady, if report be
square to her.
Enob.
When she first met Marke Anthony, she purst
vp his heart vpon the Riuer of Sidnis.
When she first met Marke Anthony, she purst
vp his heart vpon the Riuer of Sidnis.
Agri.
There she appear'd indeed: or my reporter
deuis'd well for her.
There she appear'd indeed: or my reporter
deuis'd well for her.
Eno.
I will tell you,
The Barge she sat in, like a burnisht Throne
Burnt on the water: the Poope was beaten Gold,
Purple the Sailes: and so perfumed that
The Windes were Loue-sicke.
With them the Owers were Siluer,
Which to the tune of Flutes kept stroke, and made
The water which they beate, to follow faster;
As amorous of their strokes. For her owne person,
It beggerd all discription, she did lye
In her Pauillion, cloth of Gold, of Tissue,
O're-picturing that Venus, where we see
The fancie out-worke Nature. On each side her,
Stood pretty Dimpled Boyes, like smiling Cupids,
With diuers coulour'd Fannes whose winde did seeme,
To gloue the delicate cheekes which they did coole,
And what they vndid did.
I will tell you,
The Barge she sat in, like a burnisht Throne
Burnt on the water: the Poope was beaten Gold,
Purple the Sailes: and so perfumed that
The Windes were Loue-sicke.
With them the Owers were Siluer,
Which to the tune of Flutes kept stroke, and made
The water which they beate, to follow faster;
As amorous of their strokes. For her owne person,
It beggerd all discription, she did lye
In her Pauillion, cloth of Gold, of Tissue,
O're-picturing that Venus, where we see
The fancie out-worke Nature. On each side her,
Stood pretty Dimpled Boyes, like smiling Cupids,
With diuers coulour'd Fannes whose winde did seeme,
To gloue the delicate cheekes which they did coole,
And what they vndid did.
Agrip.
Oh rare for Anthony.
Oh rare for Anthony.
Eno.
Her Gentlewoman, like the Nereides,
So many Mer-maides tended her i'th'eyes,
And made their bends adornings. At the Helme.
A seeming Mer-maide steeres: The Silken Tackle,
Swell with the touches of those Flower-soft hands,
That yarely frame the office. From the Barge
A strange inuisible perfume hits the sense
Of the adiacent Wharfes. The Citty cast
Her people out vpon her: and Anthony
Enthron'd i'th'Market-place, did sit alone,
Whisling to'th'ayre: which but for vacancie,
Had gone to gaze on Cleopater too,
And made a gap in Nature.
Her Gentlewoman, like the Nereides,
So many Mer-maides tended her i'th'eyes,
And made their bends adornings. At the Helme.
A seeming Mer-maide steeres: The Silken Tackle,
Swell with the touches of those Flower-soft hands,
That yarely frame the office. From the Barge
A strange inuisible perfume hits the sense
Of the adiacent Wharfes. The Citty cast
Her people out vpon her: and Anthony
Enthron'd i'th'Market-place, did sit alone,
Whisling to'th'ayre: which but for vacancie,
Had gone to gaze on Cleopater too,
And made a gap in Nature.
Agri.
Rare Egiptian.
Rare Egiptian.
Eno.
Vpon her landing, Anthony sent to her,
Inuited her to Supper: she replyed,
It should be better, he became her guest:
Which she entreated, our Courteous Anthony,
Whom nere the word of no woman hard speake,
Being barber'd ten times o're, goes to the Feast;
And for his ordinary, paies his heart,
For what his eyes eate onely.
Vpon her landing, Anthony sent to her,
Inuited her to Supper: she replyed,
It should be better, he became her guest:
Which she entreated, our Courteous Anthony,
Whom nere the word of no woman hard speake,
Being barber'd ten times o're, goes to the Feast;
And for his ordinary, paies his heart,
For what his eyes eate onely.
Agri.
Royall Wench:
She made great Cæsar lay his Sword to bed,
He ploughed her, and she cropt.
Royall Wench:
She made great Cæsar lay his Sword to bed,
He ploughed her, and she cropt.
Eno.
I saw her once
Hop forty Paces through the publicke streete,
And hauing lost her breath, she spoke, and panted,
That she did make defect, perfection,
And breathlesse powre breath forth.
I saw her once
Hop forty Paces through the publicke streete,
And hauing lost her breath, she spoke, and panted,
That she did make defect, perfection,
And breathlesse powre breath forth.
Mece.
Now Anthony, must leaue her vtterly.
Now Anthony, must leaue her vtterly.
Eno.
Neuer he will not:
Age cannot wither her, nor custome stale
Her infinite variety: other women cloy
The appetites they feede, but she makes hungry,
Where most she satisfies. For vildest things
Become themselues in her, that the holy Priests
Blesse her, when she is Riggish.
Neuer he will not:
Age cannot wither her, nor custome stale
Her infinite variety: other women cloy
The appetites they feede, but she makes hungry,
Where most she satisfies. For vildest things
Become themselues in her, that the holy Priests
Blesse her, when she is Riggish.
Mece.
If Beauty, Wisedome, Modesty, can settle
The heart of Anthony: Octauia is
A blessed Lottery to him.
If Beauty, Wisedome, Modesty, can settle
The heart of Anthony: Octauia is
A blessed Lottery to him.
Agrip.
Let vs go. Good Enobarbus, make your selfe
my guest, whilst you abide here.
Let vs go. Good Enobarbus, make your selfe
my guest, whilst you abide here.
Eno.
Exeunt.Humbly Sir I thanke you.
Exeunt.Humbly Sir I thanke you.