I'll fet thee in a fhower of gold, and hail
Rich pearls upon thee.

Mef. Madam, he's well.

Cleo. Well faid.

Mef. And friends with Cæfar.

Cleo. Thou art an honest man.

Mef. Cæfar and he are greater friends than ever. Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me.

Mef. But yet, madam,————

Cleo. I do not like but yet, it does allay
The good precedence; fye upon but yet:
But yet is as a jailor to bring forth

Some monftrous malefactor. Pr'ythee, friend,
Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,

The good and bad together: He's friends with Cæfar; In ftate of health, thou fay'ft; and, thou fay'ft, free, Mef. Free, madam! no; I made no fuch report: He's bound unto Octavia.

Cleo. For what good turn?

Mef. For the best turn i' the bed.

Cleo. I am pale, Charmian.

Mef. Madam, he's married to Octavia.

Cleo. The most infectious peftilence upon thee!

Mef. Good madam, patience.

[Strikes him down.

Cleo. What fay you?Hence, [Strikes him again. Horrible villain! or I'll fpurn thine eyes

Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head;

[She hales him up and down.

Thou shalt be whipt with wire, and stew'd in brine, Smarting in ling'ring pickle.

Mef. Gracious madam,

I, that do bring the news, made not the match.
Cleo. Say, 'tis not fo, a province I will give thee,
P

And

And make thy fortunes proud: the blow thou hadst,
Shall make thy peace, for moving me to rage;
And I will boot thee with what gift befide

Thy modefty can beg.

Mef. He's married, madam.

Cleo. Rogue, thou haft liv'd too long.

Mef. Nay, then I'll run :

[Draws a dagger.

What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.

[Exit. Char. Good madam, keep your felf within yourself, The man is innocent.

Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thunderbolt.Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures Turn all to ferpents!-Call the flave again; Though I am mad, I will not bite him :-Call. Char. He is afeard to come.

Cleo. I will not hurt him :

Thefe hands do lack nobility, that they strike
A meaner than myfelf; fince I myself

Have given myself the cause.-Come hither, fir.-
Re-enter Messenger.

Though it be honeft, it is never good

To bring bad news: Give to a gracious meffage
An hoft of tongues; but let ill tidings tell
Themselves, when they be felt.

Mef. I have done my duty.

Cleo. Is he married?

I cannot hate thee worfer than I do,

If thou again fay, Yes.

Mef. He is married, madam.

Cleo. The gods confound thee! doft thou hold there

Mef. Should I lie, madam?

Eftill?

Cleo

Cleo. O, I would, thou didft;

So half my Egypt were fubmerg'd, and made
A ciftern for fcal'd fnakes! Go, get thee hence;
Hadft thou Narciffus in thy face, to me

Thou wouldst appear moft ugly. He is married?
Mef. I crave your highnefs' pardon.

Cleo. He is married?

Mef. Take no offence, that I would not offend you: To punish me for what you make me do,

Seems much unequal: He is married to Octavia.

Cleo. O, that his fault should make a knave of thee, That art not what thou'rt fure of!-Get thee hence, The merchandise, which thou haft brought from Rome, Are all too dear for me; Lie they upon thy hand, And be undone by 'em! [Exit Meffenger. Char. Good your highnefs, patience. Cleo. In praifing Antony, I have difprais'd Cæfar. Char. Many times, madam.

Cleo. I am paid for it now. Lead me from hence, I faint; O Iras! Charmian!-'Tis no matter :-Go to the fellow, good Alexas; bid him Report the feature of Octavia, her years, Her inclination, let him not leave out

The colour of her hair :-bring me word quickly.[Exit ALEXAS. Let him for ever go:-Let him not--Charmian ; Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon, The other way he is a Mars :- -Bid you Alexas [To MARDIAN.

Bring me word, how tall the is.--Pity me, Charmian, But do not speak to me.-Lead me to my chamber.

[Exeunt. SCENE

SCENE IV. Near Mifenum.

Enter POMPEY, and MENAS, at one fide, with Drum and Trumpet: at another, CÆSAR, LEPIDUS, ANTONY, ENOBARBUS, MECENAS, with Soldiers marching.

Pom. Your hoftages I have, so have you mine; And we shall talk before we fight.

Caf. Most meet,

That first we come to words; and therefore have we Our written purposes before us fent:

Which, if thou haft confider'd, let us know

If 'twill tie up thy difcontented fword;
And carry back to Sicily much tall youth,
That elfe must perish here,

Pom. To you all three,

The fenators alone of this great world,
Chief factors for the gods,-I do not know,
Wherefore my father should revengers want,
Having a fon, and friends; fince Julius Cæfar,
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghofted,
There faw you labouring for him. What was it,
That mov'd pale Caflius to confpire? And
What made, all-honour'd, honest, Roman Brutus,
With the arm'd reft, courtiers of beauteous freedom,
To drench the Capitol; but that they would
Have one man but a man? And that is it,
Hath made me rig my navy; at whose burden
The anger'd ocean foams; with which I meant
To fcourge the ingratitude that defpightful Rome
Caft on my noble father.

Caf. Take your time.

Ant. Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy fails,

We'll

We'll speak with thee at fea: at land, thou know'st How much we do o'ercount thee.

Pom. At land, indeed,

Thou doft o'ercount me of my father's house:

But, fince the cuckoo builds not for himself,
Remain in't, as thou may'st.

Lep. Be pleas'd to tell us,

(For this is from the prefent,) how you take The offers we have sent you.

Caf. There's the point.

Ant. Which do not be entreated to, but weigh What it is worth embrac'd.

Caf. And what may follow, To try a larger fortune.

Pom. You have made me offer
Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must

Rid all the fea of pirates: then, to fend
Measures of wheat to Rome: This 'greed upon
To part with unhack'd edges, and bear back
Our targes undinted.

Caf. Ant. Lep. That's our offer.

Pom. Know then,

I came before you here, a man prepar'd
To take this offer: But Mark Antony
Put me to fome impatience :-Though I lofe
The praise of it by telling, You must know,
When Cæfar and your brother were at blows,
Your mother came to Sicily, and did find
Her welcome friendly.

Ant. I have heard it, Pompey;

And am well ftudied for a liberal thanks,
Which I do owe you.

Pom. Let me have your hand:

I did not think, fir, to have met you here.

Ant