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 submerg’d, and made
A cistern for scal’d 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 art not what tho’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 disprais’d 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,
T’other way he’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.]
SCENE VI. Near Misenum.
[Flourish. Enter POMPEY and MENAS at one side, with drum and trumpet; at the other, CAESAR, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, ENOBARBUS, MAECENAS, 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 consider’d, 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 mov’d pale Cassius to conspire; and what
Made the all-honour’d, honest Roman, Brutus,
With the arm’d 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 anger’d ocean foams; with which I meant
To scourge the 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’er-count thee.
POMPEY.
At land, indeed,
Thou dost o’er-count me of my father’s house:
But, since the cuckoo builds not for himself,
Remain in’t as thou mayst.
LEPIDUS.
Be pleas’d 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 embrac’d.
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 unhack’d 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 prepar’d
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