Of late upon me: I muft thank him only,
Left my remembrance fuffer ill report ;
At heel of that, defy him.

LEP. Time calls upon us:

Of us muft Pompey presently be fought,
Or else he feeks out us.

ANT. Where lies he, Cafar?
CAS. About the mount Mifenum.
ANT.What's his ftrength

By land?

CAS.-Great, and encreafing: but by sea He is an abfolute mafter.

ANT. So is the fame :

'Would we had spoke together! hafte we for it: Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we The bufinefs we have talk'd of.

CAS.-With moft gladness;

And do invite you to my fifter's view,
Whither ftraight I'll lead you.
ANT. -Let us, Lepidus,

Not lack your company.
LEP. -Noble Antony,

Not ficknefs fhould detain me.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II. Alexandria. A Room in the Palace. Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, Iras, and Alexas. CLE. Give me fome mufick; mufick, moody food Of us that trade in love.

att. -The mufick, ho!

Enter MARDIAN.

CLE. Let it alone; let us to billiards :_come, Charmian.

CHA. My arm is fore, beft play with Mardian. CLE. As well a woman with an eunuch play'd, As with a woman :_Come, you'll play with me, fir? MAR. As well as I can, madam. [fhort, CLE. And when good will is fhew'd, though't come too The actor may plead pardon.. I'll none now:Give me mine angle,We'll to the river: there, My mufick playing far off, I will betray Tawny-fin'd fishes: my bended hook fhall pierce Their flimy jaws; and, as I draw them up, I'll think them every one an Antony,

And fay, Ah, ha! you're caught.

CHA. 'Twas merry, when

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

CLE. 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 fword Philippan. O, from Italy;-
Enter a Meffenger.
Rain thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
That long time have been barren.
Mef. Madam, madam,-

CLE. Antony's dead :_If thou fay so,

Villain, thou kill'ft thy mistress: but well, and free,
If thou fo yield him, there is gold, and here
My blueft veins to kifs; a hand, that Kings

Have lip'd, and trembl'd kiffing.

Mef. First, madam, he is well:

CLE. Why,there's more+gold. But, firrah,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.

Mef. Good madam, hear me.
CLE. Well, go to, I will;

But there's no goodness in thy face: If Antony
Be free, and healthful, Why fo tart a favour
To trumpet fuch good tidings? If not well,
Thou should'st come like a fury crown'd with fnakęs,
Not like a formal man.

Mef. Wilt please you hear me?

CLE. I have a mind to ftrike thee, ere thou speak'st: Yet if thou fay, Antony lives, is well,

Or friends with Cafar, or not captive to him,
I'll fet thee in a fhower of gold, and hail
Rich pearls upon thee.

Mef. Madam, he's well.

Mef. And friends with Cæfar.

CLE. Thou'rt an honest man.

Mef. Cæfar and he are greater friends than ever. CLE. Mark thee a fortune from me.

Mef. But yet, madam,

CLE. I do not like but yet, it does allay

The good precedence; fie upon but yet:
But yet is as a jailor, to bring forth

Some monftrous malefactor. Prythee, friend,

Pour out thy pack of matter to mine ear,

The good and bad together: He's friends with Cafar; In ftate of health, thou fay'ft; and, thou fay'ft, free. Mef. Free, madam? no; I made no fuch report.

He's bound unto Octavia.

CLE. I am pale, Charmian.

Mef. Madam, he's marry'd to Octavia.

CLE. The most infectious peftilence upon thee!

Mef. Good madam, patience.

[ftrikes him down.

CLE. What fay you? [ftriking him again.] Hence, Horrible villain! or I'll fpurn thine eyes

Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head:

[hales him up and down. Thou shalt be whip'd with wire, and stew'd in brine, Smarting in lingring pickle.

Mef. Gracious madam,

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

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

Mef. He's marry'd, madam.

CLE. Rogue, thou haft liv'd too long. [draws a Dagger: Mef. Nay, then I'll run :—

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

[Exit Meffenger.

CHA. Good madam, keep yourself within yourself; The man is innocent.

CLE. Some innocents 'fcape not the thunder-bolt.
Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures

Turn all to ferpents!_Call the flave again;
Though I am mad, I will not bite him; call.
CHA. He is afeard to come.

CLE. I will not hurt him :

Thefe hands do lack nobility, that they ftrike
A meaner than myfelf; fince I myself

Have giv'n myself the caufe. Come hither, fir:
Re-enter Meffenger.

Though it be honeft, it is never good

To bring bad news: Give to a gracious meffage
An hoft of tongues; but let ill tidings tell
Themselves, when they be felt.

Mef. I have but done my duty.
CLE. Is he marry'd?

I cannot hate thee worfer than I do,

If thou again fay, yes.

Mef. He's marry'd, madam.

CLE. The gods confound thee! doft thou hold there still? Mef. Should I lie, madam?

CLE. -O, I would thou did❜ft,

So half my Egypt were submerg'd, and made
A ciftern for fcal'd fnakes! Go, get thee hence ;
Had'ft thou Narciffus in thy face, to me

Thou would't appear most ugly. He is marry'd?
Mef. I crave your highnefs' pardon.

CLE. He is marry'd?

Mef. Take no offence, that I would not offend
To punish me for what you make me do,
Seems much unequal: He's marry'd to Octavia.

you:

CLE. O, that his fault should make a knave of thee, That fay'ft but what thou art fure of! Get thee hence: The merchandize, which thou haft brought from Rome, Are all too dear for me; Lie they upon thy hand, And be undone by 'em! [Exit Meffenger. CHA.-Good your highness, patience. CLE. In praifing Antony, I have difprais'd Cæfar.

C