Antony and Cleopatra

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. Bid you Alexas To Mardian.
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 side, with drum and trumpet: at another, Caesar, Antony, Lepidus, Enobarbas, Mecaenas, 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 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.
Pompey	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; 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.
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 pleased 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 embraced.
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.
Caesar Antony Lepidus	That’s our offer.
Pompey	Know, 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.
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’ the east are soft; and thanks to you, That call’d me timelier than my purpose hither; For I have gain’d 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 vassal.
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—
Enobarbas	No more of that: he did so.
Pompey	What, I pray you?
Enobarbas	A certain queen to Caesar in a mattress.
Pompey	I know thee now: how farest thou, soldier?
Enobarbas	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.
Enobarbas	Sir, 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.
Pompey	Enjoy thy plainness, It nothing ill becomes thee. Aboard my galley I invite you all: Will you lead, lords?
Caesar Antony Lepidus	Show us the way, sir.
Pompey	Come. Exeunt all but Menas and Enobarbus.
Menas	Aside. Thy father, Pompey, would ne’er have made this treaty.⁠—You and I have known, sir.
Enobarbas	At sea, I think.
Menas	We have, sir.
Enobarbas	You have done well by water.
Menas	And you by land.
Enobarbas	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.
Enobarbas	Yes, something you can deny for your own safety: you have been a great thief by sea.
Menas	And you by land.
Enobarbas	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.
Enobarbas	But there is never a fair woman has a true face.
Menas	No slander; they steal hearts.
Enobarbas	We came hither to fight with you.
Menas	For my part, I am sorry it is turned to a drinking. Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune.
Enobarbas	If he do, sure, he cannot weep’t back again.
Menas	You’ve said, sir. We looked not for Mark Antony here: pray you, is he married to Cleopatra?
Enobarbas	Caesar’s sister is called Octavia.
Menas	True, sir; she was the wife of Caius Marcellus.
Enobarbas	But she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius.
Menas	Pray ye, sir?
Enobarbas	’Tis true.
Menas	Then is Caesar and he for ever knit together.
Enobarbas	If I were bound to divine of this unity, I would not prophesy so.
Menas	I think the policy of that purpose made more in the marriage than the love of the parties.
Enobarbas	I think so