Serves for the matter that is then born in 't. Lep. But small to greater matters must give way. Eno. Not if the small come first. Lep. Eno. Your speech is passion: But, pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes Enter Antony and Ventidius. And yonder, Cæsar. Enter Casar, Macenas, and Agrippa. Ant. If we compose well here, to Parthia: Hark, Ventidius. Cas. I do not know, Mæcenas; ask Agrippa. Lep. Noble friends, That which combined us was most great, and let not A leaner action rend us. What's amiss, May it be gently heard: when we debate 20 Our trivial difference loud, we do commit Murder in healing wounds: then, noble partners, The rather for I earnestly beseech, Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms, Ant. Nor curstness grow to the matter. Were we before our armies and to fight, Cas. Welcome to Rome. Ant. Thank you. Cas. Sit. 'Tis spoken well. [Flourish. Ant. Sit, sir. Cas. Nay, then. Ant. I learn, you take things ill which are not so, Cas. Ant. Or being, concern you not. I must be laugh'd at, 30 If, or for nothing or a little, I Should say myself offended, and with you Chiefly i' the world; more laugh'd at, that I should Once name you derogately, when to sound your name It not concern'd me. My being in Egypt, Cæsar, What was 't to you? Might be to you in Egypt: yet, if you there Ant. By what did here befal me. Your wife and brother Ant. You do mistake your business; my brother never And have my learning from some true reports And make the wars alike against my stomach, Having alike your cause? of this my letters 50 Cas. You praise yourself By laying defects of judgement to me, but You patch'd up your excuses. Ant. Not so, not so; I know you could not lack, I am certain on 't, Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought, 60 Eno. Would we had all such wives, that the men might go to wars with the women! Ant. So much uncurbable, her garboils, Cæsar, Cas. Ant. Cas. Made out of her impatience, which not wanted I wrote to you When rioting in Alexandria; you Sir, He fell upon me ere admitted: then You have broken 70 80 Lep. Have tongue to charge me with. Ant. No, Lepidus, let him speak : Soft, Cæsar! The honour is sacred which he talks on now, Cas. To lend me arms and aid when I required them; Ant. Neglected rather, And then, when poison'd hours had bound me up 90 Work without it. Truth is, that Fulvia, To have me out of Egypt, made wars here; Lep. Lep. Ant. Thou art a soldier only: speak no more. Eno. That truth should be silent I had almost forgot. 100 Ant. You wrong this presence; therefore speak no more. Eno. Go to, then; your considerate stone. Cas. I do not much dislike the matter, but III The manner of his speech, for 't cannot be Agr. What hoop should hold us stanch, from edge to edge O' the world I would pursue it. Cas. Speak, Agrippa. Give me leave, Cæsar. Agr. Thou hast a sister by the mother's side, Cas. Admired Octavia: great Mark Antony Say not so, Agrippa: If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof Ant. I am not married, Cæsar: let me hear Agr. To hold you in perpetual amity, To make you brothers and to knit your hearts 120 130 Whose virtue and whose general graces speak And all great fears which now import their dangers, Would each to other and all loves to both Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke, For 'tis a studied, not a present thought, |