My lord desires you presently: my news
I might have told hereafter.

Eno.

'Twill be naught:

But let it be.-Bring me to Antony.
Eros. Come, sir.

[Exeunt

SCENE VI.-Rome. A Room in Cæsar's House.

Enter CESAR, Agrippa, and MECENAS.

Cas. Contemning Rome, he has done all this and more;

In Alexandria-here's the manner of it,-
I' the market-place, on a tribúnal silver'd,
Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold
Were publicly enthroned: at the feet, sat
Cæsarion, whom they call my father's son;
And all the unlawful issue, that their lust
Since then hath made between them. Unto
[her
He gave the 'stablishment of Egypt; made
Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia,

her

Absolute queen.

Mec. This in the public eye? Cas. I' the common show-place, where they exercise. [kings: His sons he there proclaim'd, The kings of Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia, [sign'd He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he as Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia. She

In the habiliments of the goddess Isis

That day appear'd; and oft before gave au

dience,

As 'tis reported, so.

Mec.

Let Rome be thus inform'd. Agr. Who, queasy with his insolence al ready,

Will their good thoughts call from him. Cas. The people know it; and have now received

His accusations.

Agr.

Whom does he accuse? Cas. Cæsar: and that, having in Sicily Sextus Pompeius spoil'd, we had not rated

him

[me His part o' the isle: then does he say, he Ïent Some shipping unrestored: lastly, he frets That Lepidus of the triumvirate [tain Should be deposed; and, being, that we deAll his revénue.

Agr.

Sir, this should be answer'd. Cas. 'Tis done already, and the messenger

gone.

[cruel; I have told him, Lepidus was grown too That he his high authority abused,

And did deserve his change; for what I have conquer'd,

I grant him part: but then, in his Armenia, And other of his conquer'd kingdoms, I

Demand the like.

Mec.

He'll never yield to that. Cæs. Nor must not then be yielded to in

this.

Enter OCTAVIA, with her Train.

Oct. Hail, Cæsar, and my lord! hail, most dear Cæsar!

Cas. That ever I should call thee, castaway!

Oct. You have not call'd me so, nor have you cause.

Cas Why have you stolen upon us thus?
You come not

Like Cæsar's sister: the wife of Antony
Should have an army for an usher, and
The neighs of horses to tell of her approach,
Long ere she did appear; the trees by the
[fainted,
Should have borne men; and expectation
Longing for what it had not: nay, the dust
Should have ascended to the roof of heaven,
Raised by your populous troops; but

way

come

you are [vented A market-maid to Rome; and have preThe ostentation of our love, which, left un

shown,

[you Is often left unloved: we should have met By sea and land; supplying every stage With an augmented greeting.

Oct. Good, my lord, To come. thus was I not constrain'd, but did

it

On my free-will. My lord, Mark Antony, Hearing that you prepared for war, acquaint. ed

My grieved ear withal: whereon, I begg'd His pardon for return.

Cas. Which soon he granted,

Being an abstract 'tween his lust and him.
Oct. Do not say so, my lord.

Cas.
I have eyes upon žim,
And his affairs come to me on the wind.
Where is he now?

Oct.

My lord, in Athens.

Cas. No, my most wronged sister; Cleo

patra [empire Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his Up to a whore; who now are levying

The kings o' the earth for war: he hath assembled

Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus,
Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king

Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas;
King Malchus of Arabia; king of Pont;
Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, king
Of Comagene; Polemon and Amintas,
The kings of Mede, and Lycaonia,
With a more larger list of sceptres.

Oct.

Ah me, most wretched, That have my heart parted betwixt two

friends,

That do afflict each other!

Cæs.

Welcome hither: Your letters did withhold our breaking forth; Till we perceived, both how you were wrong [heart: And we in negligent danger. Cheer your Be you not troubled with the time, which

led,

drives

O'er your content these strong necessities;

But let determined things to destiny
Hold unbewail'd their way. Welcome to

Rome:

Nothing more dear to me.

You are abused

Beyond the mark of thought: and the high

gods,

To do you justice, make their ministers
Of us, and those that love you.

comfort;

And ever welcome to us.

Agr.

Best of

Welcome, lady.

Mec. Welcome, dear madam.

Each heart in Rome does love and pity you.
Only the adulterous Antony, most large
In his abominations, turns you off;

And gives his potent regiment to a trull,
That noises it against us.

Oct.

Is it so, sir?

Cas. Most certain. Sister, welcome: pray

you, [sister! Be ever known to patience. My dearest

[Exeunt.

SCENE VII.-Antony's Camp, near to the Promontory of Actium.

Enter CLEOPATRA and ENOBARBUS.

Cleo. I will be even with thee, doubt it not. Eno. But, why, why, why?

Cleo. Thou hast forespoke my being in these wars;

And say'st, it is not fit.

Eno.

Well, is it, is it?