Shakespeare - First Folio facsimile (1910)/The Tragedie of Anthonie, and Cleopatra/Act 3 Scene 6
Enter Agrippa, Mecenas, and Cæsar.
Cas.Contemning Rome he ha's done all this, & moreIn Alexandria: heere's the manner of't:I'th'Market-place on a Tribunall siluer'd,Cleopatra and himselfe in Chaires of GoldWere publikely enthron'd: at the feet, satCæsarion whom they call my Fathers Sonne,And all the vnlawfull issue, that their LustSince then hath made betweene them. Vnto her,He gaue the stablishment of Egypt, made herOf lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia, absolute Queene.
Mece.This in the publike eye?
Cæsar.I'th'common shew place, where they exercise,His Sonnes hither proclaimed the King of Kings,Great Media, Parthia, and ArmeniaHe gaue to Alexander. To Ptolomy he assign'd,Syria, Silicia, and Phœnetia: sheIn th'abiliments of the Goddesse IsisThat day appeer'd, and oft before gaue audience,As 'tis reported so.
Mece.Let Rome be thus inform'd.
Agri.Who queazie with his insolence already,Will their good thoughts call from him.
Cæsar.The people knowes it,And haue now receiu'd his accusations.
Agri.Who does he accuse?
Cæsar.Cæsar, and that hauing in CicilieSextus Pompeius spoil'd, we had not rated himHis part o'th'Isle. Then does he say, he lent meSome shipping vnrestor'd. Lastly, he fretsThat Lepidus of the Triumpherate, should be depos'd,And being that, we detaine all his Reuenue.Agri.Sir, this should be answer'd.Cæsar.'Tis done already, and the Messenger gone:I haue told him Lepidus was growne too cruell,
That he his high Authority abus'd,And did deserue his change: for what I haue conquer'd,I grant him part: but then in his Armenia,And other of his conquer'd Kingdoms, I demand the like
Mec.Hee'l neuer yeeld to that.
Cæs.Nor must not then be yeelded to in this.
Enter Octauia with her Traine.
Octa.Haile Cæsar, and my L. haile most deere Cæsar.
Cæsar.That euer I should call thee Cast-away.
Octa.You haue not call'd me so, nor haue you cause.
Cæs.Why haue you stoln vpon vs thus? you come notLike Cæsars Sister, The wife of AnthonyShould haue an Army for an Vsher, andThe neighes of Horse to tell of her approach,Long ere she did appeare. The trees by'th'wayShould haue borne men, and expectation fainted,Longing for what it had not. Nay, the dustShould haue ascended to the Roofe of Heauen,Rais'd by your populous Troopes: But you are comeA Market-maid to Rome, and haue preuentedThe ostentation of our loue; which left vnshewne,Is often left vnlou'd: we should haue met youBy Sea, and Land, supplying euery StageWith an augmented greeting.
Octa.Good my Lord,To come thus was I not constrain'd, but did itOn my free-will. My Lord Marke Anthony,Hearing that you prepar'd for Warre, acquaintedMy greeued eare withall: whereon I begg'dHis pardon for returne.
Cæs.Which soone he granted,Being an abstract 'tweene his Lust, and him.
Octa.Do not say so, my Lord.
Cæs.I haue eyes vpon him,And his affaires come to me on the wind: wher is he now?
Octa.My Lord, in Athens.
Cæsar.No my most wronged Sister, CleopatraHath nodded him to her. He hath giuen his EmpireVp to a whore, who now are leuyingThe Kings o'th'earth for Warre. He hath assembled,Bochus the King of Lybia, ArchilausOf Cappadocia, Philadelphos KingOf Paphlagonia: the Thracian King Adullas,King Mauchus of Arabia, King of Pont,Herod of Iewry, Mithridates KingOf Comageat, Polemen and Amintas,The Kings of Mede, and Licoania,With a more larger List of Scepters.
Octa.Aye me most wretched,That haue my heart parted betwixt two Friends,That does afflict each other.
Cæs.Welcom hither: your Letters did with-holde our breaking forthTill we perceiu'd both how you were wrong led,And we in negligent danger: cheere your heart,Be you not troubled with the time, which driuesO're your content, these strong necessities,But let determin'd things to destinieHold vnbewayl'd their way. Welcome to Rome,Nothing more deere to me: You are abus'dBeyond the marke of thought: and the high GodsTo do you Iustice, makes his MinistersOf vs, and those that loue you. Best of comfort,And euer welcom to vs.
Agrip.Welcome Lady.
Mec.Welcome deere Madam,Each heart in Rome does loue and pitty you,Onely th'adulterous Anthony, most largeIn his abhominations, turnes you off,And giues his potent Regiment to a TrullThat noyses it against vs.
Octa.Is it so sir?
Cæs.Most certaine: Sister welcome: pray youExeunt.Be euer knowne to patience. My deer'st Sister.