Cleo. The most infectious pestilence upon thee! [Strikes him down. What say you?-Hence, [Strikes him again. Mess. Good madam, patience. Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine eyes Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head; [She hales him up and down. Thou shalt be whipped with wire, and stewed in brine, Smarting in lingering pickle. Mess. 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 boot1 thee with what gift beside Thy modesty can beg. Mess. Cleo. Rogue, thou hast lived too long. He's married, madam. [Draws a dagger. [Exit. Mess. Nay, then I'll run.— What mean you, madam? I have made no fault. Char. Good madam, keep yourself within yourself; 2 The man is innocent. Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thunderbolt. Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly 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 strike A meaner than myself; since I myself Have given myself the cause.-Come hither, sir. Re-enter Messenger. Though it be honest, it is never good To bring bad news. Give to a gracious message 1 Profit thee, recompense thee. 2 "Contain yourself, restrain your passion within bounds." An host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell Mess. Cleo. Is he married? I have done my duty. I cannot hate thee worser than I do, If thou again say, Yes. Mess. He is married, madam. Cleo. The gods confound thee! dost thou hold there still? Mess. Should I lie, madam? Cleo. Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married? He is married? Mess. Take no offence that I would not offend you. Cleo. O that his fault should make a knave of thee, That art not!-What? thou'rt sure ofGet thee hence; 1 The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome, Are all too dear for me. Lie they upon thy hand, And be undone by 'em! Char. [Exit Messenger. Good your highness, patience. Cleo. In praising Antony, I have dispraised Cæsar. Char. Many times, madam. Cleo. Lead me from hence, I am paid for't now. I faint; O Iras,-Charmian,─'Tis no matter.- 1 The old copy thus exhibits this line: "That art not what thou'rt sure of. Get thee hence." The emendation admitted in the text is partly that of Monck Mason. 2 Feature was anciently used for the form or fashion of the whole body. The color of her hair :-bring me word quickly.- Let him forever go.-Let him not—Charmian,1 [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. Enter POMPEY and MENAS, at one side, with drum Cæs. Most meet That first we come to words; and therefore have we Which if thou hast considered, let us know Pom. 1 Cleopatra is now talking in broken sentences, not of the messenger, but of Antony. 2 Brave, courageous. 3 This verb is used by Burton in his Anatomy of Melancholy. Have one man but a man? And that is it, Cæs. 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'ercount thee. Pom. At land, indeed, Thou dost o'ercount me of my father's house: 2 But, since the cuckoo builds not for himself, Remain in't as thou mayst.3 Lep. Be pleased to tell us There's the point. (For this is from the present1) how you take The offers we have sent you. Cæs. Ant. Which do not be entreated to, but weigh What it is worth embraced. And what may follow, 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 unhacked edges, and bear back Our targe undinted. Cæs. Ant. Lep. That's our offer. Pom. Know then, I came before you here, a man prepared Put me to some impatience. Though I lose 1 Affright. 2 "At land, indeed, thou dost exceed me in possessions; having added to thy own my father's house." 3 "Keep it while you can." 4 i. e. foreign to the object of our present discussion. Your mother came to Sicily, and did find Ant. I have heard it, Pompey; And am well studied for a liberal thanks, Which I do owe you. Pom. I did not think, sir, to Let me have your hand. have met you here. Ant. The beds i'the East are soft; and thanks to you, That called me, timelier than my purpose, hither; For I have gained by it. Cæs. Since I saw you last, Well, I know not There is a change upon you. Pom. What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face; To make my heart her vassal. Lep. Well met here. Pom. I hope so, Lepidus.-Thus we are agreed; I crave our composition may be written, And sealed between us. Cæs. That's the next to do. Pom. We'll feast each other, ere we part; and let us Draw lots who shall begin. Ant. That will I, Pompey. Pom. No, Antony, take the lot; but, first, Or last, your fine Egyptian cookery Shall have the fame. I have heard that Julius Cæsar Grew fat with feasting there. Ant. You have heard much. Pom, I have fair meanings, sir. And fair words to them. Pom. Then so much have I heard ;And I have heard Apollodorus carriedEno. No more of that;-he did so. Pom. What, I pray you? Eno. A certain queen to Cæsar in a mattress.2 1 A metaphor from making marks or lines in casting accounts in arithmetic. 2 i. e. to Julius Cæsar. This is derived from the margin of North's |