Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare

Act 2 - Scene 7

On board POMPEY’s galley, off Misenum.

First Servant : Here they'll be, man. Some o' their plants are [p]ill-rooted already:
the least wind i' the world [p]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 [p]cries out 'No
more;' reconciles them to his [p]entreaty, and himself to the drink.

First Servant : But it raises the greater war between him and [p]his discretion.

Second Servant : Why, this is to have a name in great men's [p]fellowship: I had as
lief have a reed that will do [p]me no service as a partisan I could
not heave.

First Servant : To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen [p]to move in't,
are the holes where eyes should be, [p]which pitifully disaster the
cheeks. [p][A sennet sounded. Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, MARK] [p]ANTONY,
LEPIDUS, POMPEY, AGRIPPA, MECAENAS, [p]DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS, MENAS, with
other captains]

Pompey : Sit,--and some wine! A health to Lepidus!

Domitius Enobarus : Not till you have slept; I fear me you'll be in till then.

Menas : [Aside to POMPEY] Pompey, a word.

Pompey : [Aside to MENAS] Say in mine ear: [p]what is't?

Menas : [Aside to POMPEY] Forsake thy seat, I do beseech [p]thee,
captain, [p]And hear me speak a word.

Pompey : [Aside to MENAS] Forbear me till anon. [p]This wine for Lepidus!

Pompey : [Aside to MENAS] Go hang, sir, hang! Tell me of [p]that? away! [p]Do
as I bid you. Where's this cup I call'd for?

Menas : [Aside to POMPEY] If for the sake of merit thou [p]wilt hear
me, [p]Rise from thy stool.

Pompey : [Aside to MENAS] I think thou'rt mad. [p]The matter?

Menas : I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.

Pompey : Thou hast served me with much faith. What's else to say? [p]Be jolly,
lords.

Menas : Wilt thou be lord of all the world?

Pompey : What say'st thou?

Menas : Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That's twice.

Pompey : How should that be?

Menas : But entertain it, [p]And, though thou think me poor, I am the
man [p]Will give thee all the world.

Pompey : Hast thou drunk well?

Menas : Now, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup. [p]Thou art, if thou darest
be, the earthly Jove: [p]Whate'er the ocean pales, or sky
inclips, [p]Is thine, if thou wilt ha't.

Pompey : Show me which way.

Menas : These three world-sharers, these competitors, [p]Are in thy vessel:
let me cut the cable; [p]And, when we are put off, fall to their
throats: [p]All there is thine.

Pompey : Ah, this thou shouldst have done, [p]And not have spoke on't! In me
'tis villany; [p]In thee't had been good service. Thou must
know, [p]'Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour; [p]Mine
honour, it. Repent that e'er thy tongue [p]Hath so betray'd thine act:
being done unknown, [p]I should have found it afterwards well
done; [p]But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.

Menas : [Aside] For this, [p]I'll never follow thy pall'd fortunes
more. [p]Who seeks, and will not take when once 'tis offer'd, [p]Shall
never find it more.

Pompey : This health to Lepidus!

Domitius Enobarus : Here's to thee, Menas!

Menas : Enobarbus, welcome!

Pompey : Fill till the cup be hid.

Domitius Enobarus : There's a strong fellow, Menas.

Menas : Why?

Domitius Enobarus : A' bears the third part of the world, man; see'st [p]not?

Menas : The third part, then, is drunk: would it were all, [p]That it might go
on wheels!

Domitius Enobarus : Drink thou; increase the reels.

Menas : Come.

Pompey : This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.

Domitius Enobarus : Ha, my brave emperor! [p][To MARK ANTONY] [p]Shall we dance now the
Egyptian Bacchanals, [p]And celebrate our drink?

Pompey : Let's ha't, good soldier.

Domitius Enobarus : All take hands. [p]Make battery to our ears with the loud
music: [p]The while I'll place you: then the boy shall sing; [p]The
holding every man shall bear as loud [p]As his strong sides can
volley. [p][Music plays. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS places them] [p]hand in
hand] [p]THE SONG. [p]Come, thou monarch of the vine, [p]Plumpy
Bacchus with pink eyne! [p]In thy fats our cares be drown'd, [p]With
thy grapes our hairs be crown'd: [p]Cup us, till the world go
round, [p]Cup us, till the world go round!

Pompey : I'll try you on the shore.

Pompey : O Antony, [p]You have my father's house,--But, what? we are
friends. [p]Come, down into the boat.

Domitius Enobarus : Take heed you fall not. [p][Exeunt all but DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS and
MENAS] [p]Menas, I'll not on shore.

Menas : No, to my cabin. [p]These drums! these trumpets, flutes! what! [p]Let
Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell [p]To these great fellows: sound
and be hang'd, sound out!

Domitius Enobarus : Ho! says a' There's my cap.

Menas : Ho! Noble captain, come.

Previous: Act 2 - Scene 6

Next: Act 3 - Scene 1