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, It beggar'd all deion: she did lie In her pavilion--cloth-of-gold of tissue--O'er-picturing that Venus where we see The fancy outwork nature: on each side her Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids, With divers-colour'd fans, whose wind did seem To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool, And what they undid did. AGRIPPA O, rare for Antony! DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides, So many mermaids, tended her i' the eyes, And made their bends adornings: at the helm A seeming mermaid steers: the silken tackle Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands, That yarely frame the office. From the barge A strange invisible perfume hits the sense Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast Her people out upon her; and Antony, Enthroned i' the market-place, did sit alone, Whistling to the air; which, but for vacancy, Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too, And made a gap in nature. AGRIPPA Rare Egyptian! DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS Upon her landing, Antony sent to her, Invited her to supper: she replied, It should be better he became her guest;Which she entreated: our courteous Antony, Whom ne'er the word of 'No' woman heard speak, Being barber'd ten times o'er, goes to the feast, And for his ordinary pays his heart For what his eyes eat only. AGRIPPA Royal wench!
She made great Caesar lay his sword to bed:
He plough'd her, and she cropp'd. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS I saw her once Hop forty paces through the public street;And having lost her breath, she spoke, and panted, That she did make defect perfection, And, breathless, power breathe forth. MECAENAS Now Antony must leave her utterly. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS Never; he will not:
Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety: other women cloy The appetites they feed: but she makes hungry Where most she satisfies; for vilest things Become themselves in her: that the holy priests Bless her when she is riggish. MECAENAS If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle The heart of Antony, Octavia is A blessed lottery to him. AGRIPPA Let us go.
Good Enobarbus, make yourself my guest Whilst you abide here. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS Humbly, sir, I thank you.
Exeunt SCENE III. The same. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's house. Enter MARK ANTONY, OCTAVIUS CAESAR, OCTAVIA between them, and Attendants MARK ANTONY The world and my great office will sometimes Divide me from your bosom. OCTAVIA All which time Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers To them for you. MARK ANTONY Good night, sir. My Octavia, Read not my blemishes in the world's report:
I have not kept my square; but that to come Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear lady.
Good night, sir. OCTAVIUS CAESAR Good night.
Exeunt OCTAVIUS CAESAR and OCTAVIA
Enter Soothsayer MARK ANTONY Now, sirrah; you do wish yourself in Egypt? Soothsayer Would I had never come from thence, nor you Thither! MARK ANTONY If you can, your reason? Soothsayer I see it in My motion, have it not in my tongue: but yet Hie you to Egypt again. MARK ANTONY Say to me, Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Caesar's or mine? Soothsayer Caesar's.
Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side:
Thy demon, that's thy spirit which keeps thee, is Noble, courageous high, unmatchable, Where Caesar's is not; but, near him, thy angel Becomes a fear, as being o'erpower'd: therefore Make space enough between you. MARK ANTONY Speak this no more. Soothsayer To none but thee; no more, but when to thee.
If thou dost play with him at any game, Thou art sure to lose; and, of that natural luck, He beats thee 'gainst the odds: thy lustre thickens, When he shines by: I say again, thy spirit Is all afraid to govern thee near him;But, he away, 'tis noble. MARK ANTONY Get thee gone:
Say to Ventidius I would speak with him:
Exit Soothsayer He shall to Parthia. Be it art or hap, He hath spoken true: the very dice obey him;And in our sports my better cunning faints Under his chance: if we draw lots, he speeds;His cocks do win the battle still of mine, When it is all to nought; and his quails ever Beat mine, inhoop'd, at odds. I will to Egypt:
And though I make this marriage for my peace, I' the east my pleasure lies.
Enter VENTIDIUS
O, come, Ventidius, You must to Parthia: your commission's ready;Follow me, and receive't.
Exeunt SCENE IV. The same. A street. Enter LEPIDUS, MECAENAS, and AGRIPPA LEPIDUS Trouble yourselves no further: pray you, hasten Your generals after. AGRIPPA Sir, Mark Antony Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow. LEPIDUS Till I shall see you in your soldier's dress, Which will become you both, farewell. MECAENAS We shall, As I conceive the journey, be at the Mount Before you, Lepidus. LEPIDUS Your way is shorter;My purposes do draw me much about:
You'll win two days upon me. MECAENAS AGRIPPA Sir, good success! LEPIDUS Farewell.
Exeunt SCENE V. Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace. Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS CLEOPATRA Give me some music; music, moody food Of us that trade in love. Attendants The music, ho!
Enter MARDIAN CLEOPATRA Let it alone; let's to billiards: come, Charmian. CHARMIAN My arm is sore; best play with Mardian. CLEOPATRA As well a woman with an eunuch play'd As with a woman. Come, you'll play with me, sir? MARDIAN As well as I can, madam. CLEOPATRA And when good will is show'd, though't come too short, The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now:
