Cæs. 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 That else must perish here. Pom. To you all three, The senators alone of this great world, Cast on my noble father. Cas. Take your time. 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'er-count thee. Pom. At land, indeed, Thou dost o'er-count me of my father's house: Lep. Be pleas'd to tell us, (For this is from the present,) how you take The offers we have sent you. Cæs. There's the point. Ant. Which do not be entreated to, but weigh What it is worth embrac'd. Cæs. And what may follow, You have made me offer To try a larger fortune. 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 targe undinted. Cæs. Ant. & Lep. That's our offer. Know then, I came before you here, a man prepar'd Put me to some impatience:-Though I lose The praise of it by telling, You must know, Her welcome friendly. Ant. I have heard it, Pompey; And am well studied for a liberal thanks, Which I do owe you. Pom. Let me have your hand: I did not think, sir, to have met you here. Ant. 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 it. Cas. Since I saw you last, There is a change upon you. Pom. 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. Lep. Well met here. Pom. I hope so, Lepidus. -Thus we are agreed: I crave, our composition may be written, And seal'd 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 Pom. Then so much have I heard: And I have heard, Apollodorus carried Eno. No more of that: -He did so. Pom. What, I pray you? Eno. A certain queen to Cæsar in a mattress. Pom. I know thee now; How far'st thou, soldier? Eno. And well am like to do; for, I perceive, Four feasts, are toward. Well; Pom. Let me shake thy hand; I never hated thee: I have seen thee fight, When I have envied thy behaviour. Eno. Sir, I never lov'd you much; but I have prais'd you, When you have well deserv'd ten times as much As I have said you did. Pom. Enjoy thy plainness, It nothing ill becomes thee. Aboard my galley I invite you all: Will you lead, lords? Cæs. Ant. & Lep. Show us the way, sir. Pom. Come. [Exeunt Pompey, Cæsar, Antony, Lepidus, Soldiers, and Attendants. Men. Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have made this treaty.-[aside.] - You and I have known, sir. Eno. At sea, I think. Men. We have, sir. Eno. You have done well by water. Men. And you by land. Eno. I will praise any man that will praise me: though it cannot be denied what I have done by land. Men. Nor what I have done by water. Eno. Yes, something you can deny for your own safety: you have been a great thief by sea. Men. And you by land. Eno. There I deny my land service. But give me your hand, Menas: If our eyes had authority, here they might take two thieves kissing. Men. All men's faces are true, whatsoe'er their hands are. Eno. But there is never a fair woman has a true face. Men. No slander; they steal hearts. Eno. We came hither to fight with you. Men. For my part, I am sorry it is turn'd to a drinking. Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune. Eno. If he do, sure, he cannot weep it back again. Men. You have said, sir. We look'd not for Mark Antony here; Pray you, is he married to Cleopatra? Eno. Cæsar's sister is call'd Octavia. Men. True, sir; she was the wife of Caius Marcellus. Eno. But she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius. Men. Pray you, sir? Eno. 'Tis true. Men. Then is Cæsar, and he, for ever knit to Eno. If I were bound to divine of this unity, I would not prophecy so. Men. I think, the policy of that purpose made more in the marriage, than the love of the parties. Eno. I 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. Men. Who would not have his wife so? E |