SCENE VII
On board Pompey's galley, off Misenum.Music plays.
Enter two or three Servants with a banquet.
First Serv.
Here they'll be, man. Some o'
their plants are ill-rooted already; the least
wind i' the world will blow them down.
Sec. Serv.
Lepidus is high-colored.
First Serv.
They have made him drink
alms-drink.
Sec. Serv.
As they pinch one another by
the disposition, he cries out 'No more;' reconciles
them to his entreaty, and himself to
the drink.
First Serv.
But it raises the greater war (11)
between him and his discretion.
Sec. Serv.
Why, this is to have a name in
great men's fellowship: I had as lief have a
reed that will do me no service as a partisan
I could not heave.
First Serv.
To be called into a huge sphere,
and not to be seen to move in't, are the holes
where eyes should be, which pitifully disaster the cheeks. A sennet sounded. Enter CÆSAR, ANTONY,LEPIDUS, POMPEY, AGRIPPA, MECÆNAS, ENOBARBUS, MENAS, with other captains. (20)
Ant.
To Cæsar
Thus do they, sir: they take the flow o' the Nile
By certain scales i' the pyramid; they know,
By the height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth
Or foison follow: the higher Nilus swells,
The more it promises: as it ebbs, the seedsman
Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain,
And shortly comes to harvest.
Lep.
You've strange serpents there.
Ant.
Ay, Lepidus.
Lep.
Your serpent of Egypt is bred now
of your mud by the operation of your sun: so (31)
is your crocodile.
Ant.
They are so.
Pom.
Sit,—and some wine! A health to
Lepidus!
Lep.
I am not so well as I should be, but
I'll ne'er out.
Eno.
Not till you have slept; I fear me
you'll be in till then.
Lep.
Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies'
pyramises are very goodly things; without (41)
contradiction, I have heard that.
Men.
Aside to Pom.
Pompey, a word.
Pom.
Aside to Men.
Say in mine ear: what is't ?
Men.
Aside to Pom.
Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, captain,
And hear me speak a word.
Pom.
Aside to Men.
Forbear me till anon.
This wine for Lepidus!
Lep.
What manner o' thing is your crocodile ?
Ant.
It is shaped, sir, like itself; and it is
as broad as it hath breadth: it is just so high
as it is, and moves with its own organs: it
lives by that which nourisheth it; and the elements (51)
once out of it, it transmigrates.
Lep.
What color is it of?
Ant.
Of it own color too.
Lep.
'Tis a strange serpent.
Ant.
'Tis so. And the tears of it are wet.
Cæs.
Will this description satisfy him ?
Ant.
With the health that Pompey gives
him, else he is a very epicure.
Pom.
Aside to Men.
Go hang, sir, hang! Tell me of that? away!
Do as I bid you. Where's this cup I call'd for ? (61)
Men.
Aside to Pom.
If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me,
Rise from thy stool.
Pom.
Aside to Men.
I think thou'rt mad. The matter ? Rises, and walks aside.
Men.
I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.
Pom.
Thou hast served me with much faith. What's else to say ?
Be jolly, lords.
Ant.
These quick-sands, Lepidus,
Keep off them, for you sink.
Men.
Wilt thou be lord of all the world ?
Pom.
What say'st thou ?
Men.
Wilt thou be lord of the whole world ? That's twice.
Pom.
How should that be ?
Men.
But entertain it,
And, though thou think me poor, I am the man (71)
Will give thee all the world.
Pom.
Hast thou drunk well?
Men.
Now, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup.
Thou art, if thou darest be, the earthly Jove:
Whate'er the ocean pales, or sky inclips,
Is thine, if thou wilt ha't.
Pom.
Show me which way.
Men.
These three world-sharers, these competitors,
Are in thy vessel: let me cut the cable;
And, when we are put off, fall to their throats:
All there is thine.
Pom.
Ah, this thou shouldst have done,
And not have spoke on't! In me 'tis villany; (81)
In thee't had been good service. Thou must know,
'Tis not my profit that does lead mine honor;
Mine honor, it. Repent that e'er thy tongue
Hath so betray'd thine act: being done unknown,
I should have found it afterwards well done;
But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.
Men.
Aside
For this,
I'll never follow thy pall'd fortunes more.
Who seeks, and will not take when once 'tis offer'd,
Shall never find it more. (90)
Pom.
This health to Lepidus!
Ant.
Bear him ashore. I'll pledge it for him, Pompey.
Eno.
Here's to thee, Menas!
Men.
Enobarbus, welcome!
Pom.
Fill till the cup be hid.
Eno.
There's a strong fellow, Menas. Pointing to the Attendant who carries off Lepidus.
Men.
Why ?
Eno.
A' bears the third part of the world,
man; see'st not?
Men.
The third part, then, is drunk: would it were all,
That it might go on wheels! (100)
Eno.
Drink thou; increase the reels.
Men.
Come.
Pom.
This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.
Ant.
It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho ?
Here is to Cæsar!
Cæs.
I could well forbear 't.
It's monstrous labor, when I wash my brain,
And it grows fouler.
Ant.
Be a child o' the time.
Cæs.
Possess it, I'll make answer:
But I had rather fast from all four days
Than drink so much in one.
Eno.
Ha, my brave emperor! To Antony.
Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals,
And celebrate our drink ? (111)
Pom.
Let's ha't, good soldier.
Ant.
Come, let's all take hands,
Till that the conquering wine hath steep'd our sense
In soft and delicate Lethe.
Eno.
All take hands.
Make battery to our ears with the loud music:
The while I'll place you: then the boy shall sing;
The holding every man shall bear as loud
As his strong sides can volley. Music plays. Enobarbus places them hand in hand.
THE SONG. (120)
Come, thou monarch of the vine,
Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne!
In thy fats our cares be drown'd,
With thy grapes our hairs be crown'd:
Cup us, till the world go round,
Cup us, till the world go round!
Cæs.
What would you more? Pompey, good night. Good brother,
Let me request you off: our graver business
Frowns at this levity. Gentle lords, let's part;
You see we have burnt our cheeks: strong Enobarb (130)
Is weaker than the wine; and mine own tongue
Splits what it speaks: the wild disguise hath almost
Antick'd us all. What needs more words ? Good night.
Good Antony, your hand.
Pom.
I'll try you on the shore.
Ant.
And shall, sir; give's your hand.
Pom.
O Antony,
You have my father's house,--But, what ? we are friends.
Come, down into the boat.
Eno.
Take heed you fall not. Exeunt all but Enobarbus and Menas.
Menas, I'll not on shore.
Men.
No, to my cabin.
These drums! these trumpets, flutes! what!
Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell
To these great fellows: sound and be hang'd, sound out! Sound a flourish, with drums. (141)
Eno.
Ho ! says a'. There's my cap.
Men.
Ho! Noble captain, come. Exeunt.
