| |
The Same. A Room in CÆSAR’S House. | |
| |
Enter CÆSAR, ANTONY, OCTAVIA between them; Attendants. | |
| Ant. The world and my great office will sometimes | |
| Divide me from your bosom. | |
| Oct. All which time | 5 |
| Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers | |
| To them for you. | |
| Ant. Good night, sir. My Octavia, | |
| Read not my blemishes in the world’s report; | |
| I have not kept my square, but that to come | 10 |
| Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear lady. | |
| Oct. Good night, sir. | |
| Cæs. Good night. [Exeunt CÆSAR and OCTAVIA. | |
| |
Enter Soothsayer. | |
| Ant. Now, sirrah; you do wish yourself in Egypt? | 15 |
| Sooth. Would I had never come from thence, nor you | |
| Thither! | |
| Ant. If you can, your reason? | |
| Sooth. I see it in | |
| My motion, have it not in my tongue: but yet | 20 |
| Hie you to Egypt again. | |
| Ant. Say to me, | |
| Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Cæsar’s or mine? | |
| Sooth. Cæsar’s. | |
| Therefore, O Antony! stay not by his side; | 25 |
| Thy demon—that’s thy spirit which keeps thee,—is | |
| Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable, | |
| Where Cæsar’s is not; but near him thy angel | |
| Becomes a fear, as being o’erpower’d; therefore | |
| Make space enough between you. | 30 |
| Ant. Speak this no more. | |
| Sooth. 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 | 35 |
| When he shines by. I say again, thy spirit | |
| Is all afraid to govern thee near him, | |
| But he away, ’tis noble. | |
| Ant. Get thee gone: | |
| Say to Ventidius I would speak with him. [Exit Soothsayer. | 40 |
| 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 | 45 |
| When it is all to nought, and his quails ever | |
| Beat mine, inhoop’d, at odds. I will to Egypt; | |
| And though I make this marriage for my peace, | |
| I’ the east my pleasure lies. | |
| |
Enter VENTIDIUS. | 50 |
| O! come, Ventidius, | |
| You must to Parthia; your commission’s ready; | |
| Follow me, and receive ’t. [Exeunt. | |
| |
