The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Part 30

CHARMIAN. He is afear'd to come.

CLEOPATRA. I will not hurt him.

These hands do lack n.o.bility, that they strike A meaner than myself; since I myself Have given myself the cause.

Enter the MESSENGER again

Come hither, sir.

Though it be honest, it is never good To bring bad news. Give to a gracious message An host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell Themselves when they be felt.

MESSENGER. I have done my duty.

CLEOPATRA. Is he married?

I cannot hate thee worser than I do If thou again say 'Yes.'

MESSENGER. He's married, madam.

CLEOPATRA. The G.o.ds confound thee! Dost thou hold there still?

MESSENGER. Should I lie, madam?

CLEOPATRA. O, I would thou didst, So half my Egypt were submerg'd and made A cistern for scal'd snakes! Go, get thee hence.

Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?

MESSENGER. I crave your Highness' pardon.

CLEOPATRA. He is married?

MESSENGER. Take no offence that I would not offend you; To punish me for what you make me do Seems much unequal. He's married to Octavia.

CLEOPATRA. O, that his fault should make a knave of thee That art not what th'art sure of! Get thee hence.

The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome Are all too dear for me. Lie they upon thy hand, And be undone by 'em! Exit MESSENGER CHARMIAN. Good your Highness, patience.

CLEOPATRA. In praising Antony I have disprais'd Caesar.

CHARMIAN. Many times, madam.

CLEOPATRA. I am paid for't now. Lead me from hence, I faint. O Iras, Charmian! 'Tis no matter.

Go to the fellow, good Alexas; bid him Report the feature of Octavia, her years, Her inclination; let him not leave out The colour of her hair. Bring me word quickly.

Exit ALEXAS Let him for ever go- let him not, Charmian- Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon, The other way's a Mars. [To MARDIAN]

Bid you Alexas Bring me word how tall she is.- Pity me, Charmian, But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber. Exeunt

SCENE VI.

Near Misenum

Flourish. Enter POMPEY and MENAS at one door, with drum and trumpet; at another, CAESAR, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, En.o.bARBUS, MAECENAS, AGRIPPA, with soldiers marching

POMPEY. Your hostages I have, so have you mine; And we shall talk before we fight.

CAESAR. Most meet That first we come to words; and therefore have we Our written purposes before us sent; Which if thou hast considered, let us know If 'twill tie up thy discontented sword And carry back to Sicily much tall youth That else must perish here.

POMPEY. To you all three, The senators alone of this great world, Chief factors for the G.o.ds: I do not know Wherefore my father should revengers want, Having a son and friends, since Julius Caesar, Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted, There saw you labouring for him. What was't That mov'd pale Ca.s.sius to conspire? and what Made the all-honour'd honest Roman, Brutus, With the arm'd rest, courtiers of beauteous freedom, To drench the Capitol, but that they would Have one man but a man? And that is it Hath made me rig my navy, at whose burden The anger'd ocean foams; with which I meant To scourge th' ingrat.i.tude that despiteful Rome Cast on my n.o.ble father.

CAESAR. Take your time.

ANTONY. Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails; We'll speak with thee at sea; at land thou know'st How much we do o'er-count thee.

POMPEY. At land, indeed, Thou dost o'er-count me of my father's house.

But since the cuckoo builds not for himself, Remain in't as thou mayst.

LEPIDUS. Be pleas'd to tell us- For this is from the present- how you take The offers we have sent you.

CAESAR. There's the point.

ANTONY. Which do not be entreated to, but weigh What it is worth embrac'd.

CAESAR. And what may follow, To try a larger fortune.

POMPEY. You have made me offer Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must Rid all the sea of pirates; then to send Measures of wheat to Rome; this 'greed upon, To part with unhack'd edges and bear back Our targes undinted.

ALL. That's our offer.

POMPEY. Know, then, I came before you here a man prepar'd To take this offer; but Mark Antony Put me to some impatience. Though I lose The praise of it by telling, you must know, When Caesar and your brother were at blows, Your mother came to Sicily and did find Her welcome friendly.

ANTONY. I have heard it, Pompey, And am well studied for a liberal thanks Which I do owe you.

POMPEY. Let me have your hand.

I did not think, sir, to have met you here.

ANTONY. The beds i' th' East are soft; and thanks to you, That call'd me timelier than my purpose hither; For I have gained by't.

CAESAR. Since I saw you last There is a change upon you.

POMPEY. Well, I know not What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face; But in my bosom shall she never come To make my heart her va.s.sal.

LEPIDUS. Well met here.

POMPEY. I hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed.

I crave our composition may be written, And seal'd between us.

CAESAR. That's the next to do.

POMPEY. We'll feast each other ere we part, and let's Draw lots who shall begin.

ANTONY. That will I, Pompey.

POMPEY. No, Antony, take the lot; But, first or last, your fine Egyptian cookery Shall have the fame. I have heard that Julius Caesar Grew fat with feasting there.

ANTONY. You have heard much.

POMPEY. I have fair meanings, sir.

ANTONY. And fair words to them.

POMPEY. Then so much have I heard; And I have heard Apollodorus carried- En.o.bARBUS. No more of that! He did so.

POMPEY. What, I pray you?

En.o.bARBUS. A certain queen to Caesar in a mattress.

POMPEY. I know thee now. How far'st thou, soldier?

En.o.bARBUS. Well; And well am like to do, for I perceive Four feasts are toward.

POMPEY. Let me shake thy hand.

I never hated thee; I have seen thee fight, When I have envied thy behaviour.

En.o.bARBUS. Sir, I never lov'd you much; but I ha' prais'd ye When you have well deserv'd ten times as much As I have said you did.

POMPEY. Enjoy thy plainness; It nothing ill becomes thee.

Aboard my galley I invite you all.

Will you lead, lords?

ALL. Show's the way, sir.

POMPEY. Come. Exeunt all but En.o.bARBUS and MENAS MENAS. [Aside] Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have made this treaty.- You and I have known, sir.

En.o.bARBUS. At sea, I think.

MENAS. We have, sir.

En.o.bARBUS. You have done well by water.

MENAS. And you by land.

En.o.bARBUS. I Will praise any man that will praise me; though it cannot be denied what I have done by land.

MENAS. Nor what I have done by water.

En.o.bARBUS. Yes, something you can deny for your own safety: you have been a great thief by sea.

MENAS. And you by land.

En.o.bARBUS. There I deny my land service. But give me your hand, Menas; if our eyes had authority, here they might take two thieves kissing.

MENAS. All men's faces are true, whatsome'er their hands are.

En.o.bARBUS. But there is never a fair woman has a true face.

MENAS. No slander: they steal hearts.

En.o.bARBUS. We came hither to fight with you.

MENAS. For my part, I am sorry it is turn'd to a drinking.

Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune.

En.o.bARBUS. If he do, sure he cannot weep't back again.

MENAS. Y'have said, sir. We look'd not for Mark Antony here. Pray you, is he married to Cleopatra?

En.o.bARBUS. Caesar' sister is call'd Octavia.

MENAS. True, sir; she was the wife of Caius Marcellus.

En.o.bARBUS. But she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius.

MENAS. Pray ye, sir?