The Tragedy Of Antony And Cleopatra

1 Enter Agrippa, Maecenas and Caesar.
2 CAESAR.
3 Contemning Rome, he has done all this, and more
4 In Alexandria. Here’s the manner of ’t:
5 I’ th’ market-place, on a tribunal silvered,
6 Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold
7 Were publicly enthroned. At the feet sat
8 Caesarion, whom they call my father’s son,
9 And all the unlawful issue that their lust
10 Since then hath made between them. Unto her
11 He gave the stablishment of Egypt; made her
12 Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia,
13 Absolute queen.
14 MAECENAS.
15 This in the public eye?
16 CAESAR.
17 I’ th’ common showplace where they exercise.
18 His sons he there proclaimed the kings of kings:
19 Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia
20 He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assigned
21 Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia. She
22 In th’ habiliments of the goddess Isis
23 That day appeared, and oft before gave audience,
24 As ’tis reported, so.
25 MAECENAS.
26 Let Rome be thus informed.
27 AGRIPPA.
28 Who, queasy with his insolence already,
29 Will their good thoughts call from him.
30 CAESAR.
31 The people knows it and have now received
32 His accusations.
33 AGRIPPA.
34 Who does he accuse?
35 CAESAR.
36 Caesar, and that, having in Sicily
37 Sextus Pompeius spoiled, we had not rated him
38 His part o’ th’ isle. Then does he say he lent me
39 Some shipping, unrestored. Lastly, he frets
40 That Lepidus of the triumvirate
41 Should be deposed and, being, that we detain
42 All his revenue.
43 AGRIPPA.
44 Sir, this should be answered.
45 CAESAR.
46 ’Tis done already, and messenger gone.
47 I have told him Lepidus was grown too cruel,
48 That he his high authority abused,
49 And did deserve his change. For what I have conquered
50 I grant him part; but then in his Armenia
51 And other of his conquered kingdoms, I
52 Demand the like.
53 MAECENAS.
54 He’ll never yield to that.
55 CAESAR.
56 Nor must not then be yielded to in this.
57 Enter Octavia with her train.
58 OCTAVIA.
59 Hail, Caesar, and my lord! Hail, most dear Caesar!
60 CAESAR.
61 That ever I should call thee castaway!
62 OCTAVIA.
63 You have not called me so, nor have you cause.
64 CAESAR.
65 Why have you stolen upon us thus? You come not
66 Like Caesar’s sister. The wife of Antony
67 Should have an army for an usher, and
68 The neighs of horse to tell of her approach
69 Long ere she did appear. The trees by th’ way
70 Should have borne men, and expectation fainted,
71 Longing for what it had not. Nay, the dust
72 Should have ascended to the roof of heaven,
73 Raised by your populous troops. But you are come
74 A market-maid to Rome, and have prevented
75 The ostentation of our love, which, left unshown,
76 Is often left unloved. We should have met you
77 By sea and land, supplying every stage
78 With an augmented greeting.
79 OCTAVIA.
80 Good my lord,
81 To come thus was I not constrained, but did it
82 On my free will. My lord, Mark Antony,
83 Hearing that you prepared for war, acquainted
84 My grieved ear withal, whereon I begged
85 His pardon for return.
86 CAESAR.
87 Which soon he granted,
88 Being an abstract ’tween his lust and him.
89 OCTAVIA.
90 Do not say so, my lord.
91 CAESAR.
92 I have eyes upon him,
93 And his affairs come to me on the wind.
94 Where is he now?
95 OCTAVIA.
96 My lord, in Athens.
97 CAESAR.
98 No, my most wronged sister. Cleopatra
99 Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire
100 Up to a whore, who now are levying
101 The kings o’ th’ earth for war. He hath assembled
102 Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus
103 Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king
104 Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas;
105 King Manchus of Arabia; King of Pont;
106 Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, king
107 Of Comagene; Polemon and Amyntas,
108 The kings of Mede and Lycaonia,
109 With a more larger list of sceptres.
110 OCTAVIA.
111 Ay me, most wretched,
112 That have my heart parted betwixt two friends
113 That does afflict each other!
114 CAESAR.
115 Welcome hither.
116 Your letters did withhold our breaking forth
117 Till we perceived both how you were wrong led
118 And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart.
119 Be you not troubled with the time, which drives
120 O’er your content these strong necessities,
121 But let determined things to destiny
122 Hold unbewailed their way. Welcome to Rome,
123 Nothing more dear to me. You are abused
124 Beyond the mark of thought, and the high gods,
125 To do you justice, make their ministers
126 Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort,
127 And ever welcome to us.
128 AGRIPPA.
129 Welcome, lady.
130 MAECENAS.
131 Welcome, dear madam.
132 Each heart in Rome does love and pity you.
133 Only th’ adulterous Antony, most large
134 In his abominations, turns you off
135 And gives his potent regiment to a trull
136 That noises it against us.
137 OCTAVIA.
138 Is it so, sir?
139 CAESAR.
140 Most certain. Sister, welcome. Pray you
141 Be ever known to patience. My dear’st sister!
142 [_Exeunt._]