Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again.

Though I am mad I will not bite him. Call!

CHARMIAN

He is afeard to come.

CLEOPATRA

I will not hurt him.

⌈Exit Charmian⌉

These hands do lack nobility that they strike

A meaner than myself, since I myself

Have given myself the cause.

Enter the Messenger again ⌈With Charmian⌉ Come hither, sir.

Though it be honest, it is never good

To bring bad news. Give to a gracious message

An host of tongues, but let ill tidings tell

Themselves when they be felt.

MESSENGER I have done my duty.

CLEOPATRA Is he married?

I cannot hate thee worser than I do

If thou again say ‘Yes’.

MESSENGER

He’s married, madam.

CLEOPATRA

The gods confound thee! Dost thou hold there still?

MESSENGER

Should I lie, madam?

CLEOPATRA O, I would thou didst,

So half my Egypt were submerged and made

A cistern for scaled snakes. Go, get thee hence.

Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me

Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?

MESSENGER

I crave your highness’ pardon.

CLEOPATRA

He is married?

MESSENGER

Take no offence that I would not offend you.

To punish me for what you make me do

Seems much unequal. He’s married to Octavia.

CLEOPATRA

O that his fault should make a knave of thee,

That act not what thou‘rt sure of! Get thee hence.

The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome

Are all too dear for me. Lie they upon thy hand,

And be undone by ’em.

Exit Messenger

CHARMIAN Good your highness, patience.

CLEOPATRA

In praising Antony I have dispraised Caesar.

CHARMIAN Many times, madam.

CLEOPATRA

I am paid for’t 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’s a Mars. ⌈To Mardian⌉ Bid you Alexas

Bring me word how tall she is. Pity me, Charmian,

But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.

Exeunt

2.6 Flourish. Enter Pompey and Menas at one door, with a drummer and a trumpeter; at another, Caesar, Lepidus, Antony, Enobarbus, Maecenas, Agrippa, with soldiers marching

POMPEY

Your hostages I have, so have you mine,

And we shall talk before we fight.

CAESAR

Most meet

That first we come to words, and therefore have we

Our written purposes before us sent,

Which if thou hast considered, let us know

If ’twill tie up thy discontented sword

And carry back to Sicily much tall youth

That else must perish here.

POMPEY

To you all three, The senators alone of this great world,

Chief factors for the gods: I do not know

Wherefore my father should revengers want,

Having a son and friends, since Julius Caesar,

Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted,

There saw you labouring for him. What was’t

That moved pale Cassius to conspire? And what

Made the all-honoured, honest Roman Brutus,

With the armed rest, 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 angered ocean foams; with which I meant

To scourge th’ingratitude that despiteful Rome

Cast on my noble father.

CAESAR

Take your time.

ANTONY

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’ercount thee.

POMPEY

At land indeed Thou dost o’ercount me of my father’s house,

But since the cuckoo builds not for himself,

Remain in’t as thou mayst.

LEPIDUS

Be pleased to tell us—

For this is from the present—how you take

The offers we have sent you.

CAESAR

There’s the point.

ANTONY

Which do not be entreated to, but weigh

What it is worth, embraced.

CAESAR

And what may follow, To try a larger fortune?

POMPEY

You have made me offer 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 unhacked edges, and bear back

Our targes undinted.

CAESAR, ANTONY, and LEPIDUS That’s our offer.

POMPEY

Know, then, I came before you here a man prepared

To take this offer. But Mark Antony

Put me to some impatience. Though I lose

The praise of it by telling, you must know,

When Caesar and your brother were at blows,

Your mother came to Sicily, and did find

Her welcome friendly.

ANTONY

I have heard it, Pompey, And am well studied for a liberal thanks

Which I do owe you.

POMPEY

Let me have your hand.

Pompey and Antony shake hands

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

ANTONY

The beds i’th’ East are soft; and thanks to you,

That called me timelier than my purpose hither;

For I have gained by’t.

CAESAR (to Pompey) Since I saw you last

There is a change upon you.

POMPEY

Well, I know not

What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face,

But in my bosom shall she never come