Текст книги "William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition"

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2.3 Enter Antony and Caesar; Octavia between them

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.

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 th’ rule. Good night, dear lady.

Good night, sir.

CAESAR Good night.

Exeunt Caesar and Octavia

Enter Soothsayer

ANTONY

Now, sirrah. You do wish yourself in Egypt?

SOOTHSAYER

Would I had never come from thence, nor you

Gone thither.

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.

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 daemon, that thy spirit which keeps thee, is

Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable,

Where Caesar’s is not. But near him thy angel

Becomes afeard, as being o’erpowered. Therefore

Make space enough between you.

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.

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, inhooped, at odds. I will to Egypt;

And though I make this marriage for my peace,

I’th’ East my pleasure lies.

Enter Ventidius

O, come, Ventidius.

You must to Parthia, your commission’s ready.

Follow me, and receive’t.

Exeunt

2.4 Enter Lepidus, Maecenas, 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.

MAECENAS

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.

MAECENAS and AGRIPPA

Sir, good success.

LEPIDUS Farewell.

Exeunt Maecenas and Agrippa at one door, Lepidus at another

2.5 Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas

CLEOPATRA

Give me some music—music, moody food

Of us that trade in love.

CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS The music, ho!

Enter Mardian, the eunuch

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 played

As with a woman. Come, you’ll play with me, sir?

MARDIAN As well as I can, madam.

CLEOPATRA

And when good will is showed, though’t come too

short

The actor may plead pardon. I’ll none now.

Give me mine angle. We’ll to th’ river. There,

My music playing far off, I will betray

Tawny-finned fishes. My bended hook shall pierce

Their slimy jaws, and as I draw them up

I’ll think them every one an Antony,

And say ‘Ah ha, you’re caught!’

CHARMIAN

’Twas merry when

You wagered on your angling, when your diver

Did hang a salt fish on his hook, which he

With fervency drew up.

CLEOPATRA

That time—O times!—

I laughed him out of patience, and that night

I laughed him into patience, and next morn,

Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed,

Then put my tires and mantles on him whilst

I wore his sword Philippan.

Enter a Messenger

O, from Italy.

Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,

That long time have been barren.

MESSENGER

Madam, madam!

CLEOPATRA

Antonio’s dead. If thou say so, villain,

Thou kill’st thy mistress; but well and free,

If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here

My bluest veins to kiss—a hand that kings

Have lipped, and trembled kissing.

MESSENGER

First, madam, he is well.

CLEOPATRA

Why, there’s more gold. But, sirrah, mark: we use

To say the dead are well. Bring it to that,

The gold I give thee will I melt and pour

Down thy ill-uttering throat.

MESSENGER Good madam, hear me.

CLEOPATRA Well, go to, I will.

But there’s no goodness in thy face. If Antony

Be free and healthful, so tart a favour

To trumpet such good tidings! If not well,

Thou shouldst come like a Fury crowned with snakes,

Not like a formal man.

MESSENGER

Will’t please you hear me?

CLEOPATRA

I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak’st.

Yet if thou say Antony lives, is well,

Or friends with Caesar, or not captive to him,

I’ll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail

Rich pearls upon thee.

MESSENGER

Madam, he’s well.

CLEOPATRA

Well said.

MESSENGER

And friends with Caesar.

CLEOPATRA Thou’rt an honest man.

MESSENGER

Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.

CLEOPATRA

Make thee a fortune from me.

MESSENGER

But yet, madam—

CLEOPATRA

I do not like ‘But yet’; it does allay

The good precedence. Fie upon ‘But yet’.

‘But yet’ is as a jailer to bring forth

Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend,

Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,

The good and bad together. He’s friends with Caesar,

In state of health, thou sayst; and, thou sayst, free.

MESSENGER

Free, madam? No, I made no such report.

He’s bound unto Octavia.

CLEOPATRA

For what good turn?

MESSENGER

For the best turn i’th’ bed.

CLEOPATRA

I am pale, Charmian.

MESSENGER

Madam, he’s married to Octavia.

CLEOPATRA

The most infectious pestilence upon thee!

She strikes him down

MESSENGER

Good madam, patience!

CLEOPATRA

What say you?

She strikes him

Hence, horrible villain, or I’ll spurn thine eyes

Like balls before me. I’ll unhair thy head,

She hales him up and down

Thou shalt be whipped with wire and stewed in brine,

Smarting in ling’ring pickle.

MESSENGER

Gracious madam,

I that do bring the news made not the match.

CLEOPATRA

Say ’tis not so, a province I will give thee,

And make thy fortunes proud. The blow thou hadst

Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage,

And I will boot thee with what gift beside

Thy modesty can beg.

MESSENGER

He’s married, madam.

CLEOPATRA

Rogue, thou hast lived too long.

She draws a knife

MESSENGER

Nay then, I’ll run.

What mean you, madam? I have made no fault. Exit

CHARMIAN

Good madam, keep yourself within yourself.

The man is innocent.

CLEOPATRA

Some innocents ’scape not the thunderbolt.

Melt Egypt into Nile, and kindly creatures

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

To make my heart her vassal.

LEPIDUS

Well met here.

POMPEY

I hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed.

I crave our composition may be written

And sealed between us.

CAESAR

That’s the next to do.

POMPEY

We’ll feast each other ere we part, and let’s

Draw lots who shall begin.

ANTONY That will I, Pompey.

POMPEY No, Antony, take the lot.

But, first or last, your fine Egyptian cookery

Shall have the fame. I have heard that Julius Caesar

Grew fat with feasting there.

ANTONY

You have heard much.

POMPEY I have fair meanings, sir.

ANTONY And fair words to them.

POMPEY Then so much have I heard,

And I have heard Apollodorus carried—

ENOBARBUS

No more o’ that, he did so.

POMPEY

What, I pray you?

ENOBARBUS

A certain queen to Caesar in a mattress.

POMPEY

I know thee now. How far’st thou, soldier?

ENOBARBUS

Well, and well am like to do, for I perceive

Four feasts are toward.

POMPEY

Let me shake thy hand.

Pompey and Enobarbus shake hands

I never hated thee. I have seen thee fight

When I have envied thy behaviour.

ENOBARBUS

Sir, I never loved you much, but I ha’ praised ye

When you have well deserved ten times as much

As I have said you did.

POMPEY

Enjoy thy plainness. It nothing ill becomes thee.

Aboard my galley I invite you all.

Will you lead, lords?

CAESAR, ANTONY, and LEPIDUS Show’s the way, sir.

POMPEY

Come.

Exeunt all but Enobarbus and Menas

MENAS (aside)

Thy father, Pompey, would ne’er have made this

treaty.

(To Enobarbus) You and I have known, sir.

ENOBARBUS At sea, I think.

MENAS We have, sir.

ENOBARBUS You have done well by water.

MENAS And you by land.

ENOBARBUS I will praise any man that will praise me, though it cannot be denied what I have done by land.

MENAS Nor what I have done by water.

ENOBARBUS Yes, something you can deny for your own safety. You have been a great thief by sea.

MENAS And you by land.

ENOBARBUS There I deny my land service; but give me your hand, Menas. If our eyes had authority, here they might take two thieves kissing.

They shake hands

MENAS All men’s faces are true, whatsome’er their hands are.

ENOBARBUS But there is never a fair woman has a true face.

MENAS No slander; they steal hearts.

ENOBARBUS We came hither to fight with you.

MENAS For my part, I am sorry it is turned to a drinking.

Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune.

ENOBARBUS If he do, sure he cannot weep’t back again.

MENAS You’ve said, sir. We looked not for Mark Antony here. Pray you, is he married to Cleopatra?

ENOBARBUS Caesar’s sister is called Octavia.

MENAS True, sir. She was the wife of Caius Marcellus.

ENOBARBUS But she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius.

MENAS Pray ye, sir?

ENOBARBUS ’Tis true.

MENAS Then is Caesar and he for ever knit together.

ENOBARBUS If I were bound to divine of this unity I would not prophesy so.

MENAS I think the policy of that purpose made more in the marriage than the love of the parties.

ENOBARBUS I think so, too. But you shall find the band that seems to tie their friendship together will be the very strangler of their amity. Octavia is of a holy, cold, and still conversation.

MENAS Who would not have his wife so?

ENOBARBUS Not he that himself is not so, which is Mark Antony. He will to his Egyptian dish again; then shall the sighs of Octavia blow the fire up in Caesar, and, as I said before, that which is the strength of their amity shall prove the immediate author of their variance. Antony will use his affection where it is. He married but his occasion here.

MENAS And thus it may be. Come, sir, will you aboard? I have a health for you.

ENOBARBUS I shall take it, sir. We have used our throats in Egypt.

MENAS Come, let’s away.

Exeunt

2.7 Music plays. Enter two or three Servants with a banquet

FIRST SERVANT Here they’ll be, man. Some o’ their plants are ill rooted already; the least wind i’th’ world will blow them down.

SECOND SERVANT Lepidus is high-coloured.

FIRST SERVANT They have made him drink alms-drink.

SECOND SERVANT As they pinch one another by the disposition, he cries out ‘No more!’—reconciles them to his entreaty and himself to th’ drink.

FIRST SERVANT But it raises the greater war between him and his discretion.

SECOND SERVANT Why, this it 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 SERVANT 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 Caesar, Antony, Pompey, Lepidus, Agrippa, Maecenas,.Enobarbus, and Menas, with other captains ⌈and a boy⌉

ANTONY (to Caesar)

Thus do they, sir: they take the flow o’th’ Nile

By certain scales i’th’ pyramid. They know

By th’ 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.

LEPIDUS You’ve strange serpents there?

ANTONY Ay, Lepidus.

LEPIDUS Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun; so is your crocodile.

ANTONY They are so.

POMPEY

Sit, and some wine. A health to Lepidus!

⌈Antony, Pompey, and Lepidus sit⌉

LEPIDUS I am not so well as I should be, but I’ll ne’er out.

ENOBARBUS Not till you have slept—I fear me you’ll be in till then.

LEPIDUS Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies’ pyramises are very goodly things: without contradiction I have heard that.

MENAS (aside to Pompey)

Pompey, a word.

POMPEY (aside to Menas) Say in mine ear; what is’t?

MENAS (aside to Pompey)

Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, captain,

And hear me speak a word.

POMPEY (aside to Menas) Forbear me till anon.

(Aloud) This wine for Lepidus!

Menas whispers in Pompey’s ear

LEPIDUS What manner o’ thing is your crocodile?

ANTONY 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 it own organs. It lives by that which nourisheth it, and the elements once out of it, it transmigrates.

LEPIDUS What colour is it of?

ANTONY Of it own colour, too.

LEPIDUS ’Tis a strange serpent.

ANTONY ’Tis so, and the tears of it are wet.

CAESAR (to Antony)

Will this description satisfy him?

ANTONY With the health that Pompey gives him; else he is a very epicure.

POMPEY (aside to Menas)

Go hang, sir, hang! Tell me of that? Away,

Do as I bid you. (Aloud) Where’s this cup I called for?

MENAS (aside to Pompey)

If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me,

Rise from thy stool.

POMPEY ⌈rising⌉ I think thou’rt mad. The matter?

⌈Menas⌉ and Pompey stand apart⌉

MENAS

I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.

POMPEY

Thou hast served me with much faith. What’s else to

say?

Be jolly, lords.

ANTONY

These quicksands, Lepidus,

Keep off them, for you sink.

MENAS

Wilt thou be lord of all the world?

POMPEY

What sayst thou?

MENAS

Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That’s twice.

POMPEY

How should that be?

MENAS

But entertain it

And, though thou think me poor, I am the man

Will give thee all the world.

POMPEY

Hast thou drunk well?

MENAS

No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup.

Thou art, if thou dar‘st be, the earthly Jove.

Whate’er the ocean pales or sky inclips

Is thine, if thou wilt ha’t.

POMPEY

Show me which way!

MENAS

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.

POMPEY

Ah, this thou shouldst have done

And not have spoke on’t. In me ‘tis villainy,

In thee ’t had been good service. Thou must know

’Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour;

Mine honour, it. Repent that e’er thy tongue

Hath so betrayed thine act. Being done unknown,

I should have found it afterwards well done,

But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.

He returns to the others

MENAS (aside)

For this, I’ll never follow thy palled fortunes more.

Who seeks and will not take when once ’tis offered,

Shall never find it more.

POMPEY

This health to Lepidus!

ANTONY

Bear him ashore.—I’ll pledge it for him, Pompey.

ENOBARBUS

Here’s to thee, Menas!

MENAS

Enobarbus, welcome.

POMPEY

Fill till the cup be hid.

One lifts Lepidus, drunk, and carries him off

ENOBARBUS

There’s a strong fellow, Menas.

MENAS Why? 86

ENOBARBUS

A bears the third part of the world, man; seest not?

MENAS

The third part then is drunk. Would it were all,

That it might go on wheels.

ENOBARBUS

Drink thou, increase the reels.

MENAS Come.

POMPEY

This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.

ANTONY

It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho!

Here’s to Caesar!

CAESAR

I could well forbear’t.

It’s monstrous labour when I wash my brain,

An it grow fouler.

ANTONY Be a child o’th’ time.

CAESAR Possess it, I’ll make answer.

But I had rather fast from all, four days,

Than drink so much in one.

ENOBARBUS (to Antony)

Ha, my brave Emperor, Shall we dance now the Egyptian bacchanals,

And celebrate our drink?

POMPEY Let’s ha’t, good soldier.

ANTONY Come, let’s all take hands

Till that the conquering wine hath steeped our sense

In soft and delicate Lethe.

ENOBARBUS

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 beat as loud

As his strong sides can volley.

Music plays. Enobarbus places them hand in hand

⌈Boy⌉ (sings)

Come, thou monarch of the vine,

Plumpy Bacchus, with pink eyne!

In thy vats our cares be drowned,

With thy grapes our hairs be crowned!

Cup us till the world go round,

Cup us till the world go round!

CAESAR

What would you more? Pompey, good night.

(To Antony)

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

Is weaker than the wine, and mine own tongue

Splits what it speaks. The wild disguise hath almost

Anticked us all. What needs more words? Good night.

Good Antony, your hand.

POMPEY

I’ll try you on the shore.

ANTONY

And shall, sir. Give’s your hand.

POMPEY

O Antony,

You have my father’s house. But what, we are friends!

Come down into the boat.

Exeunt all but Enobarbus and Menas

ENOBARBUS

Take heed you fall not, Menas.

MENAS

I’ll not on shore.

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 hanged, sound out!

Sound a flourish, with drums

ENOBARBUS (throwing his cap in the air)

Hoo, says a! There’s my cap.

MENAS

Ho, noble captain, come!

Exeunt