Cæs.

I wrote to you,

When rioting in Alexandria; you

Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts
Did gibe my missive out of audience.
Ant.

He fell upon me, ere admitted; then

Sir,

Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want
Of what I was i' the morning: but, next day,
I told him of myself; which was as much
As to have ask'd him pardon: Let this fellow
Be nothing of our strife; if we contend,
Out of our question wipe him.

Cas.

The article of your oath; which
Have tongue to charge me with.
Lep.

You have broken shall never

you

Soft, Cæsar.

Ant. No, Lepidus, let him speak;

The honour's sacred' which he talks on now,
Supposing that I lack'd it: But on, Cæsar;
The article of my oath,-

Cæs. To lend me arms, and aid, when I requir'd

them;

The which you both denied.

Ant.

Neglected, rather;

5 I told him of myself;] i. e. told him the condition I was in, when he had his last audience.

• The honour's sacred-] The meaning appears to be this:-" Cæsar accuses Antony of a breach of honour in denying to send him aid when he required it, which was contrary to his oath. Antony says, in his defence, that he did not deny his aid, but, in the midst of dissipation, neglected to send it: that having now brought his forces to join him against Pompey, he had redeemed that error; and that therefore the honour which Cæsar talked of, was now sacred and inviolate, supposing that he had been somewhat deficient before, in the performance of that engagement." The adverb now refers to is, not to talks on; and the line should be pointed thus:

The honour's sacred that he talks on, now,
Supposing that I lack'd it. M. MASON.

And then, when poison'd hours had bound me up
From mine own knowledge. As nearly as I may,
I'll play the penitent to you: but mine honesty
Shall not make poor my greatness, nor my power
Work without it: Truth is, that Fulvia,
To have me out of Egypt, made wars here;
For which myself, the ignorant motive, do
So far ask pardon, as befits mine honour
To stoop in such a case.

Lep.

'Tis nobly spoken. Mec. If it might please you, to enforce no further The griefs between ye: to forget them quite, Were to remember that the present need

8

Speaks to atone you.9

Lep.

Worthily spoke, Mecænas. Eno. Or, if you borrow one another's love for the instant, you may, when you hear no more words of Pompey, return it again: you shall have time to wrangle in, when you have nothing else to do. Ant. Thou art a soldier only; speak no more. Eno. That truth should be silent, I had almost forgot.

Ant. You wrong this presence, therefore speak

no more.

Eno. Go to then; your considerate stone.' Cæs. I do not much dislike the matter, but The manner of his speech: for it cannot be, We shall remain in friendship, our conditions So differing in their acts. Yet, if I knew

7 — nor my power

Work without it:] Nor my greatness work without mine honesty.

The griefs-] i. e. grievances.

to atone you.] i. e. reconcile you.

your considerate stone.] Mr. Tollet explains the passage in question thus: "I will henceforth seem senseless as a stone, however I may observe and consider your words and actions."

What hoop should hold us staunch, from edge to

Cas. Speak, Agrippa.

Give me leave, Cæsar,

Agr. Thou hast a sister by the mother's side, Admir'd Octavia: great Mark Antony

Is now a widower.

Cæs.

Say not so, Agrippa;

If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof

Were well deserv'd of rashness.

Ant. I am not married, Cæsar: let me hear Agrippa further speak.

Agr. To hold you in perpetual amity,

To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts
With an unslipping knot, take Antony
Octavia to his wife: whose beauty claims
No worse a husband than the best of men ;
Whose virtue, and whose general graces, speak
That which none else can utter. By this marriage,
All little jealousies, which now seem great,

And all great fears, which now import their dangers,
Would then be nothing: truths would be but tales,
Where now half tales be truths: her love to both,
Would, each to other, and all loves to both,
Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke;
For 'tis a studied, not a present thought,
By duty ruminated.

Ant.

Will Cæsar speak?

Cas. Not till he hears how Antony is touch'd With what is spoke already.

Ant.

What power is in Agrippa,

If I would say, Agrippa, be it so, say, Agrippa,

To make this good?

Cas.

The power of Cæsar, and

His power unto Octavia.

Ant.

May I never

To this good purpose, that so fairly shows, Dream of impediment!-Let me have thy hand: Further this act of grace; and, from this hour, The heart of brothers govern in our loves,

And sway our great designs!

Cæs.

There is my hand.

A sister I bequeath you, whom no brother
Did ever love so dearly: Let her live

To join our kingdoms, and our hearts; and never
Fly off our loves again!

Lep.

Happily, amen!

Ant. I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst
Pompey;

For he hath laid strange courtesies, and great,
Of late upon me: I must thank him only,
Lest my remembrance suffer ill report;'
At heel of that, defy him,

Lep.

3

Of us3 must Pompey presently be sought,
Or else he seeks out us,

Ant.

Time calls upon us:

And where lies he?

What's his strength

Cæs. About the Mount Misenum.

Ant.

By land?

Cas.

Great, and increasing; but by sea

He is an absolute master.

Ant.

So is the fame.

'Would, we had spoke together? Haste we for it: Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, despatch we The business we have talk'd of.

Cæs.

With most gladness;

* Lest my remembrance suffer ill report;] Lest I be thought too willing to forget benefits, I must barely return him thanks, and then I will defy him.

3 Of us, &c. In the language of Shakspeare's time, meansby us.

And do invite you to my sister's view,
Whither straight I will lead you.

Ant.

Not lack your company.

Lep.

Let us, Lepidus,

Noble Antony,

Not sickness should detain me.

[Flourish. Exeunt CÆSAR, ANT. and LEPIDUS. Mec. Welcome from Egypt, sir.

Eno. Half the heart of Casar, worthy Mecanas! --my honourable friend, Agrippa!→→→→ Agr. Good Enobarbus!

Mec. We have cause to be glad, that matters are so well digested. You staied well by it in Egypt. Eno. Ay, sir; we did sleep day out of counte nance, and made the night light with drinking.

Mec. Eight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast, and but twelve persons there; Is this true?

Eno. This was but as a fly by an eagle: we had much more monstrous matter of feast, which worthily deserved noting.

Mec. She's a most triumphant lady, if report be square to her.

Eno. When she first met Mark Antony, she pursed up his heart, upon the river of Cydnus. Agr. There she appeared indeed; or my reporter

devised well for her.

Eno. I will tell you:

The barge she sat in, like a burnish'd throne, Burn'd on the water: the poop was beaten gold; Purple the sails, and so perfumed, that

The winds were love-sick with them: the oars were

silver;

Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made
The water, which they beat, to follow faster,
As amorous of their strokes. For her own person,

4be square to her.] i. e. if report quadrates with her, or suits with her merits.