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Scene VINear MisenumFlourish. Enter Pompey and Menas at one door, with drum and trumpet: at another, Octavius Caesar, Mark Antony, Lepidus, Domitius Enobarbus, Mecaenas, with Soldiers marchingPompeyYour hostages I have, so have you mine; And we shall talk before we fight.Octavius CaesarMost meet That first we come to words; and therefore have we Our written purposes before us sent; Which, if thou hast consider’d, let us know If ’twill tie up thy discontented sword, And carry back to Sicily much tall youth That else must perish here.PompeyTo 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; since Julius Caesar, Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted, There saw you labouring for him. What was’t That moved pale Cassius to conspire; and what Made the all-honour’d, honest Roman, Brutus, With the arm’d rest, courtiers and 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 the ingratitude that despiteful Rome Cast on my noble father.Octavius CaesarTake your time.Mark AntonyThou 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.PompeyAt 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.LepidusBe pleased to tell us— For this is from the present—how you take The offers we have sent you.Octavius CaesarThere’s the point.Mark AntonyWhich do not be entreated to, but weigh What it is worth embraced.Octavius CaesarAnd what may follow, To try a larger fortune.PompeyYou 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.Octavius Caesar, Mark Antony, LepidusThat’s our offer.PompeyKnow, then, I came before you here a man prepared 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.Mark AntonyI have heard it, Pompey; And am well studied for a liberal thanks Which I do owe you.PompeyLet me have your hand: I did not think, sir, to have met you here.Mark AntonyThe beds i’ the east are soft; and thanks to you, That call’d me timelier than my purpose hither; For I have gain’d by ’t.Octavius CaesarSince I saw you last, There is a change upon you.PompeyWell, I know not What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face; But in my bosom shall she never come, To make my heart her vassal.LepidusWell met here.PompeyI hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed: I crave our composition may be written, And seal’d between us.Octavius CaesarThat’s the next to do.PompeyWe’ll feast each other ere we part; and let’s Draw lots who shall begin.Mark AntonyThat will I, Pompey.PompeyNo, 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.Mark AntonyYou have heard much.PompeyI have fair meanings, sir.Mark AntonyAnd fair words to them.PompeyThen so much have I heard: And I have heard, Apollodorus carried—Domitius EnobarbusNo more of that: he did so.PompeyWhat, I pray you?Domitius EnobarbusA certain queen to Caesar in a mattress.PompeyI know thee now: how farest thou, soldier?Domitius EnobarbusWell; And well am like to do; for, I perceive, Four feasts are toward.PompeyLet me shake thy hand; I never hated thee: I have seen thee fight, When I have envied thy behavior.Domitius EnobarbusSir, I never loved you much; but I ha’ praised ye, When you have well deserved ten times as much As I have said you did.PompeyEnjoy thy plainness, It nothing ill becomes thee. Aboard my galley I invite you all: Will you lead, lords?Octavius Caesar, Mark Antony, LepidusShow us the way, sir.PompeyCome.Exeunt all but Menas and EnobarbusMenas [Aside] Thy father, Pompey, would ne’er have made this treaty.—You and I have known, sir.Domitius EnobarbusAt sea, I think.MenasWe have, sir.Domitius EnobarbusYou have done well by water.MenasAnd you by land.Domitius EnobarbusI will praise any man that will praise me; though it cannot be denied what I have done by land.MenasNor what I have done by water.Domitius EnobarbusYes, something you can deny for your own safety: you have been a great thief by sea.MenasAnd you by land.Domitius EnobarbusThere I deny my land service. But give me your hand, Menas: if our eyes had authority, here they might take two thieves kissing.MenasAll men’s faces are true, whatsome’er their hands are.Domitius EnobarbusBut there is never a fair woman has a true face.MenasNo slander; they steal hearts.Domitius EnobarbusWe came hither to fight with you.MenasFor my part, I am sorry it is turned to a drinking. Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune.Domitius EnobarbusIf he do, sure, he cannot weep’t back again.MenasYou’ve said, sir. We looked not for Mark Antony here: pray you, is he married to Cleopatra?Domitius EnobarbusCaesar’s sister is called Octavia.MenasTrue, sir; she was the wife of Caius Marcellus.Domitius EnobarbusBut she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius.MenasPray ye, sir?Domitius Enobarbus’Tis true.MenasThen is Caesar and he for ever knit together.Domitius EnobarbusIf I were bound to divine of this unity, I would not prophesy so.MenasI think the policy of that purpose made more in the marriage than the love of the parties.Domitius EnobarbusI think so too. But you shall find, the band that seems to tie their friendship together will be the very strangler of their amity: Octavia is of a holy, cold, and still conversation.MenasWho would not have his wife so?Domitius EnobarbusNot he that himself is not so; which is Mark Antony. He will to his Egyptian dish again: then shall the sighs of Octavia blow the fire up in Caesar; and, as I said before, that which is the strength of their amity shall prove the immediate author of their variance. Antony will use his affection where it is: he married but his occasion here.MenasAnd thus it may be. Come, sir, will you aboard? I have a health for you.Domitius EnobarbusI shall take it, sir: we have used our throats in Egypt.MenasCome, let’s away.Exeunt

William Shakespeare: Antony and Cleopatra, Act II

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William Shakespeare: Antony and Cleopatra, Act II, Scene II

  • William Shakespeare: Antony and Cleopatra, Act II, Scene II

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