Cleo.

That Herod's head

I'll have but how? when Antony is gone Through whom I might command it.-Come thou near.

Mess. Most gracious majesty,—

Cleo.

Didst thou behold

Where?

Madam, in Rome

I look'd her in the face; and saw her led
Between her brother and Mark Antony.
Cleo. Is she as tall as me?

Mess.

She is not, madam. Cleo. Didst hear her speak? Is she shrilltongued, or low?

Mess. Madam, I heard her speak; she is low-voiced.

Cleo. That's not so good:-he cannot like her long.

Char. Like her? O Isis! 'tis impossible. Cleo. I think so, Charmian : dull of tongue, and dwarfish!

What majesty is in her gait? Remember,
If e'er thou look'dst on majesty.

Mess.

She creeps:

Her motion and her station are as one:
She shows a body rather than a life;

A statue, than a breather.

Cleo.

Is this certain ?

Three in Egypt

Mess. Or I have no observance.
Char.

Cannot make better note.

Cleo.

He's very knowing, I do perceive't:-there's nothing in her yet :The fellow has good judgment.

Char.

Excellent.

Madan,

Cleo. Guess at her years, I pr'ythee.
Mess.

She was a widow.

Cleo.

Widow?-Charmian, hark.

Mess. And I do think she's thirty.

Cleo. Bear'st thou her face in mind? is't long, or round.

Mess. Round even to faultiness.

Cleo. For the most part too, they are fool

ish that are so.

Her hair, what color?

Mess. Brown, madam: and her forehead As low as she would wish it.

Cleo. There's gold for thee. Thou must not take my former sharpness ill :I will employ thee back again; I find thee Most fit for business: go, make thee ready; Our letters are prepared. [Exit Messenger. Char. A proper man.

Cleo. Indeed, he is so: I repent me much That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him,

This creature's no such thing.

Char.

Nothing, madam. Cleo. The man hath seen some majesty,

and should know.

Char. Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend,

And serving you so long!

1

Cleo. I have one thing more to ask him yet, good Charmian :

[me But 'tis no matter: thou shalt bring him to Where I will write all may be well enough. Char. I warrant you, madam. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV.—Athens. A Room in Antony's House.

Enter ANTONY and OCTAVIA.

Ant. Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that,That were excusable, that, and thousands

more

Of semblable import,—but he hath waged New wars 'gainst Pompey; made his will, and read it

To public ear: [not Spoke scantly of me: when perforce he could But pay me terms of honor, cold and sickly He vented them; most narrow measure lent [look'd,

me,

When the best hint was
Or did it from his teeth.

given him: he not

Oct.
O my good lord,
Believe not all; or, if you must believe,
Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady,
If this division chance, ne'er stood between,
Praying for both parts:

The good gods will mock me presently,
When I shall pray, O, bless my lord and hus-
band!

Undo that prayer, by crying out as loud,

O, bless my brother!

Husband win, win

brother,

Prays, and destroys the prayer; no midway Twixt these extremes at all.

Ant.

Gentle Octavia,

Let your best love draw to that point which seeks

Best to preserve it: if I lose mine honor,
I lose myself; better I were not yours,
Than yours so branchless. But, as you re-

quested, [lady, Yourself shall go between us: the mean time, I'll raise the preparation of a war [haste; Shall stain your brother: make your soonest So your desires are yours.

Oct.

Thanks to my lord. The Jove of power make me most weak, most

weak,

[be

Your reconciler! Wars 'twixt you twain would As if the world should cleave, and that slain

men

Should solder up the rift.

Ant. When it appears to you where this begins,

Turn your displeasure that way; for our faults
Can never be so equal, that your love
Can equally move with them.

going;

Provide your

[what cost

[Exeunt.

Choose your own company, and command

Your heart has mind to.

SCENE V.-The same.

Another Room in

the same.

Enter ENOBARBUS and EROS, meeting.

Eno. How now, friend Eros?

Eros. There's strange news come, sir.
Eno. What, man?

Eros. Cæsar and Lepidus have made wars upon Pompey.

Eno. This is old: what is the success?

Eros. Cæsar, having made use of him in the wars 'gainst Pompey, presently denied him rivality; would not let him partake in the glory of the action: and, not resting here, accuses him of letters he had formerly wrote to Pompey; upon his own appeal, seizes him: so the poor third is up, till death enlarge his confine.

Eno. Then, world, thou hast a pair of chaps, no more; [hast, Aud throw between them all the food thou They'll grind the one the other. Where's Antony?

Eros. He's walking in the garden-thus and spurns [Lepidus! The rush that lies before him; cries, Fool, And threats the throat of that his officer,

That murder'd Pompey.

Eno.

Our great navy's rigg'd.

Eros. For Italy and Cæsar. More, Do

mitius;