Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

Mes. Wilt please you hear me?

Cleo. I have a mind to strike thee e'er thou speak'st;

Yet if thou say, Antony lives, 'tis well,
Or Friends with Cafar, or not Captain to him,

I'll fee thee in a showre of Gold, and hail

Rich Pearls upon thee.

Mes. Madam, he's well.

Cleo. Well faid.

Mes. And Friends with Cafar.
Cleo. Thou'rt an honest Man.

Mes. Cafar, and he, are greater Friends than ever.
Cleo. Mark thee a Fortune from me.

Mes. But yet, Madam

Cleo. I do not like but yet, it do's allay
The good precedence, fie upon but yet,
But yet, is as a Jaylor 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 Cafar,
In state of Health thou say'st, and thou say'st, free.
Mes. Free, Madam! no: I made no such sport,
He's bound unto Octavia.

Cleo. For what good turn?

Mes. For the best turn i'th' Bed.

Cleo. I am pale, Charmian.

Mes. Madam, he's married to Octavia.

Cleo. The most infectious Pestilence upon thee.

Mef. Good Madam, patience.

Cleo. What say you?

Hence horrible Villain, or I'll spurn thine Eyes

[She hales him up and down.

[Strikes him down.

[Strikes him.

Like Balls before me; I'll unhair thy Head:

Thou shalt be whipt with Wyre, and stew'd in Brine,

Smarting in lingring pickle.

Mes. Gracious Madam,

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

Cleo. Say 'tis not so, a Province I will give thee, 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 Thy modesty can beg.

Mes. He's married, Madam.

Cleo. Rogue, thou hast liv'd too long. [Draws & Dagger.

Mef. Nay then I'll run:

What mean you, Madam, I have made no fault.

[Exit.

Char. Good Madam, keep your self within your self,

The Man is innocent.

Cleo. Some Innocents scape not the Thunderbolt :

Melt Ægypt into Nile; and kindled 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,

These Hands do lack Nobility, that they ftrike
A meaner than my self: fince I my self

Have given my self the caufe. Come hither, Sir.

Re-Enter the Messenger.

Though it be honeft, 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.

Mes. I have done my duty.

Cleo. Is he married?

I cannot hate thee worser than I do,

If thou again say yes.

Mes. He's married, Madam.

Cleo. The gods confound thee, dost thou hold there still?

Mef. Should I lie, Madam?

Cleo. Oh, would thou didst:

So half my Ægypt were submerg'd, and made
A Ciftern for scal'd Snakes. Go get thee hence,
Hadst thou Narcissus in thy Face, to me

Thou wouldst appear most ugly: He is married?
Mef. I crave your Highness pardon.

Cleo. He is married?

Mes. 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.

Cleo. Oh that his fault should make a Knave of thee,

That art not what thou art fure of. Get thee hence,

The Merchandises which thou hast brought from Rome,

Are all too dear for me :

Lye they upon thy hand, and be undone by 'em. [Exit Mes.

Char. Good your Highness patience.

Cleo. In praising Antony, I have disprais'd Cafar.
Char. Many times, Madam.

Cleo. I am paid for't now: lead me from hence,
I faint; oh 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.
Let him for ever go let him not, Charmian,
Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
The other way's a Mars. 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 IV. The Coast of Italy, near

Misenum.

Enter Pompey and Menas at one Door with Drum and Trumpet: At another Cæfar, Lepidus, Antony, Enobarbus, Mecenas, Agrippa, with Soldiers marching.

Pom. Your Hostages I have, so have you mine;

And we shall talk before we fight.

Cas. 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.

Pom. To you all three,
The Senators alone of this great World,
Chief Factors for the gods. I do not know,
Wherefore my Father should revengers want,
Having a Son and Friends; fince Julius Cafar,
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghafted,
There saw you labouring for me. What was't
That mov'd pale Caffius 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 burthen,
The anger'd Ocean foams, with which I meant
To scourge th' ingratitude, that despiteful Rome
Cast on my Noble Father.

Cef. Take your time,

Ant. 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.

Pom. At Land indeed

Thou dost o'er-count me of my Father's House,

But fince the Cuckoo builds not for himself,

Remain in't as thou may'st.

Lep. Be pleas'd to tell us,

For this is from the present now you talk,

The offers we have fent you

Caf. There's the point.

Ant. Which do not be intreated to, but weigh

What it is worth embrac'd.

Caf. And what may follow

To try a larger Fortune.

Pom. 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 unhackt edges, and bear back

Our Targets undinted.

Omnes. That's our offer.

Pom. 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 Cafar and your Brother were at blows,
Your Mother came to Sicily, and did find
Her welcome friendly.

Ant. I have heard it, Pompey,

And am well studied for a liberal thanks,

Which I do owe you.

Pom. Let me have your Hand:

I did not think, Sir, to have met you here,

Where now half tales be truths: her love to both
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,
By duty ruminated.

Ant. Will Cafar speak?

Caf. Not 'till he hears how Antony is touch'd,

With what is spoken already.

Ant. What power is in Agrippa, If I would say Agrippa, be it fo, To make this good?

Caf. The power of Cafar,
And his power unto Octavia.
Ant. May I never

To this good purpose, that so fairly shews,
Dream of impediment; let me have thy hand
Further this Act of Grace: and from this hour,
The Heart of Brothers govern in our Loves,
And sway our great Designs.

Caf. There's my hand:

A Sifter I bequeath you, whom no Brother
Did ever love so dearly. Let her live

To join our Kingdoms, and our Hearts, and never

Fly off our Loves again.

Lep. Happily, Amen.

Ant. I did not think to draw my Sword against Pompey,

For he hath laid strange Courtefies, and great

Of late upon me. I must thank him only,

Left my remembrance fuffer ill report:

At heel of that defie him.

Lep. Time calls upon's,

Of us must Pompey presently be fought,

Or else he seeks out us.

Ant. Where lyes he?

Caf. About the Mount-Misenum.
Ant. What is his strength by Land?
Caf. Great, and increasing :
But by Sea he is an absolute Mafter.
Ant. So is the Frame,

Would we had spoke together. Haste we for it,
Yet e'er we put our selves in Arms, dispatch we

The

« EdellinenJatka »