Enter the Messenger as before.
Alex. Good Maiestie: Herod of Iury dare not looke vpon you, but when you are well pleas"d
Cleo. That Herods head, Ile haue: but how? When Anthony is gone, through whom I might commaund it: Come thou neere
Mes. Most gratious Maiestie
Cleo. Did"st thou behold Octauia?
Mes. I dread Queene
Cleo. Where?
Mes. Madam in Rome, I lookt her in the face: and saw her led betweene her Brother, and Marke Anthony
Cleo. Is she as tall as me?
Mes. She is not Madam
Cleo. Didst heare her speake?
Is she shrill tongu"d or low?
Mes. Madam, I heard her speake, she is low voic"d
Cleo. That"s not so good: he cannot like her long
Char. Like her? Oh Isis: "tis impossible
Cleo. I thinke so Charmian: dull of tongue, & dwarfish What Maiestie is in her gate, remember If ere thou look"st on Maiestie
Mes. She creepes: her motion, & her station are as one.
She shewes a body, rather then a life, A Statue, then a Breather
Cleo. Is this certaine?
Mes. Or I haue no obseruance
Cha. Three in Egypt cannot make better note
Cleo. He"s very knowing, I do perceiu"t, There"s nothing in her yet.
The Fellow ha"s good iudgement
Char. Excellent
Cleo. Guesse at her yeares, I prythee
Mess. Madam, she was a widdow
Cleo. Widdow? Charmian, hearke
Mes. And I do thinke she"s thirtie
Cle. Bear"st thou her face in mind? is"t long or round?
Mess. Round, euen to faultinesse
Cleo. For the most part too, they are foolish that are so. Her haire what colour?
Mess. Browne Madam: and her forehead As low as she would wish it
Cleo. There"s Gold for thee, Thou must not take my former sharpenesse ill, I will employ thee backe againe: I finde thee Most fit for businesse. Go, make thee ready, Our Letters are prepar"d
Char. A proper man
Cleo. Indeed he is so: I repent me much That so I harried him. Why me think"s by him, This Creature"s no such thing
Char. Nothing Madam
Cleo. The man hath seene some Maiesty, and should know
Char. Hath he seene Maiestie? Isis else defend: and seruing you so long
Cleopa. I haue one thing more to aske him yet good Charmian: but "tis no matter, thou shalt bring him to me where I will write; all may be well enough
Char. I warrant you Madam.
Exeunt.
Enter Anthony and Octauia.
Ant. Nay, nay Octauia, not onely that, That were excusable, that and thousands more Of semblable import, but he hath wag"d New Warres "gainst Pompey. Made his will, and read it, To publicke eare, spoke scantly of me, When perforce he could not But pay me tearmes of Honour: cold and sickly He vented then most narrow measure: lent me, When the best hint was giuen him: he not took"t, Or did it from his teeth
Octaui. Oh my good Lord, Beleeue not all, or if you must beleeue, Stomacke not all. A more vnhappie Lady, If this deuision chance, ne"re stood betweene Praying for both parts: The good G.o.ds wil mocke me presently, When I shall pray: Oh blesse my Lord, and Husband, Vndo that prayer, by crying out as loud, Oh blesse my Brother. Husband winne, winne Brother, Prayes, and distroyes the prayer, no midway "Twixt these extreames at all
Ant. Gentle Octauia, Let your best loue draw to that point which seeks Best to preserue it: if I loose mine Honour, I loose my selfe: better I were not yours Then your so branchlesse. But as you requested, Your selfe shall go between"s, the meane time Lady, Ile raise the preparation of a Warre Shall staine your Brother, make your soonest hast, So your desires are yours
Oct. Thanks to my Lord, The Ioue of power make me most weake, most weake, Your reconciler: Warres "twixt you twaine would be, As if the world should cleaue, and that slaine men Should soalder vp the Rift
Anth. When it appeeres to you where this begins, Turne your displeasure that way, for our faults Can neuer be so equall, that your loue Can equally moue with them. Prouide your going, Choose your owne company, and command what cost Your heart he"s mind too.
Exeunt.
Enter En.o.barbus, and Eros.
Eno. How now Friend Eros?
Eros. Ther"s strange Newes come Sir
Eno. What man?
Ero. Caesar & Lepidus haue made warres vpon Pompey
Eno. This is old, what is the successe?
Eros. Caesar hauing made vse of him in the warres "gainst Pompey: presently denied him riuality, would not let him partake in the glory of the action, and not resting here, accuses him of Letters he had formerly wrote to Pompey. Vpon his owne appeale seizes him, so the poore third is vp, till death enlarge his Confine
Eno. Then would thou hadst a paire of chaps no more, and throw betweene them all the food thou hast, they"le grinde the other. Where"s Anthony?
Eros. He"s walking in the garden thus, and spurnes The rush that lies before him. Cries Foole Lepidus, And threats the throate of that his Officer, That murdred Pompey