Page images
PDF
EPUB

Ant.

Speak this no more

Make space enough between you. Sooth. 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,

[blocks in formation]

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.

40

[Exeunt.

Scene IV.

The same. A street.

Enter Lepidus, Macenas, and Agrippa.

Lep. Trouble yourselves no further: pray you, hasten

Your generals after.

Agr.
Sir, Mark Antony
Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow.
Lep. Till I shall see you in your soldier's dress,
Which will become you both, farewell.

We shall,

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

Lep.

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

Mac.

Lep. Farewell.

Scene V.

Sir, good success!

[Exeunt. Io

Alexandria. Cleopatra's palace.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas.

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

All.

The music, ho!

Enter Mardian the Eunuch.

Cleo. Let it alone; let's to billiards: come, Charmian.
Char. My arm is sore: best play with Mardian.
Cleo. As well a woman with an eunuch play'd

As with a woman. Come, you 'll play with me, sir? Mar. As well as I can, madam.

Cleo. 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,

[ocr errors]

Char.

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.'

'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.

Cleo.

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.

20

Mess.

Enter a Messenger.

O, from Italy!

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

Madam, madam, Cleo. 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.

Mess. First, madam, he is well.
Cleo.

30

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.

Mess. Good madam, hear me.
Cleo.

Mess.

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.

Will 't please you hear me? 41

Cleo. I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak'st:
Yet, if thou say Antony lives, is well,

Mess.

Cleo.

Or friends with Cæsar, or not captive to him,

I'll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail

Rich pearls upon thee.

Madam, he's well.

Well said.

Mess. And friends with Cæsar.

Cleo.

Thou 'rt an honest man.

Mess. Cæsar and he are greater friends than ever.
Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me.

Mess.

But yet, madam,

Cleo. I do not like 'But yet,' it does allay

50

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 Cæsar,
In state of health, thou say'st, and thou say'st, free.

Mess. Free, madam! no; I made no such report :

Cleo.

He's bound unto Octavia.

For what good turn?

Mess. For the best turn i' the bed.
Cleo.

I am pale, Charmian.

[blocks in formation]

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.

Mess.
Gracious madam,
I that do bring the news made not the match.
Cleo. Say 'tis not so, a province I will give thee

70

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.

Mess.
He's married, madam.
Cleo. Rogue, thou hast lived too long.
Mess.

[Draws a knife. Nay, then I'll run.

What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.

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

Cleo. 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.

Char. He is afeard to come.
Cleo.

I will not hurt him.

[Exit.

80

[Exit Charmian.

« EelmineJätka »