TPTT The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra: ACT II
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
SCENE I. Messina. POMPEY's house.
SCENE II. Rome. The house of LEPIDUS.
SCENE III. The same. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's house.
SCENE IV. The same. A street.
SCENE V. Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace.
SCENE VI. Near Misenum.
SCENE VII. On board POMPEY's galley, off Misenum.
ACT III
ACT IV
ACT V
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SCENE I. Messina. POMPEY's house.
Enter POMPEY, MENECRATES, and MENAS, in warlike manner
POMPEY
      If the great gods be just, they shall assist
      The deeds of justest men.
MENECRATES
      Know, worthy Pompey,
      That what they do delay, they not deny.
POMPEY
5     Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays
      The thing we sue for.
MENECRATES
      We, ignorant of ourselves,
      Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers
      Deny us for our good; so find we profit
10    By losing of our prayers.
POMPEY
      I shall do well:
      The people love me, and the sea is mine;
      My powers are crescent, and my auguring hope
      Says it will come to the full. Mark Antony
15    In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make
      No wars without doors: Caesar gets money where
      He loses hearts: Lepidus flatters both,
      Of both is flatter'd; but he neither loves,
      Nor either cares for him.
MENAS
20    Caesar and Lepidus
      Are in the field: a mighty strength they carry.
POMPEY
      Where have you this? 'tis false.
MENAS
      From Silvius, sir.
POMPEY
      He dreams: I know they are in Rome together,
25    Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love,
      Salt Cleopatra, soften thy waned lip!
      Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both!
      Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts,
      Keep his brain fuming; Epicurean cooks
30    Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite;
      That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour
      Even till a Lethe'd dulness!

Enter VARRIUS

      How now, Varrius!
VARRIUS
      This is most certain that I shall deliver:
35    Mark Antony is every hour in Rome
      Expected: since he went from Egypt 'tis
      A space for further travel.
POMPEY
      I could have given less matter
      A better ear. Menas, I did not think
40    This amorous surfeiter would have donn'd his helm
      For such a petty war: his soldiership
      Is twice the other twain: but let us rear
      The higher our opinion, that our stirring
      Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck
45    The ne'er-lust-wearied Antony.
MENAS
      I cannot hope
      Caesar and Antony shall well greet together:
      His wife that's dead did trespasses to Caesar;
      His brother warr'd upon him; although, I think,
50    Not moved by Antony.
POMPEY
      I know not, Menas,
      How lesser enmities may give way to greater.
      Were't not that we stand up against them all,
      'Twere pregnant they should square between
55    themselves;
      For they have entertained cause enough
      To draw their swords: but how the fear of us
      May cement their divisions and bind up
      The petty difference, we yet not know.
60    Be't as our gods will have't! It only stands
      Our lives upon to use our strongest hands.
      Come, Menas.
Exeunt
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