1    Here they'll be, man. Some o' their plants are
2    ill-rooted already: the least wind i' the world
3    will blow them down.

4    Lepidus is high-coloured.

5    They have made him drink alms-drink.

6    As they pinch one another by the disposition, he
7    cries out 'No more;' reconciles them to his
8    entreaty, and himself to the drink.

9    But it raises the greater war between him and
10   his discretion.

11   Why, this is to have a name in great men's
12   fellowship: I had as lief have a reed that will do
13   me no service as a partisan I could not heave.

14   To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen
15   to move in't, are the holes where eyes should be,
16   which pitifully disaster the cheeks.

To OCTAVIUS CAESAR
17    Thus do they, sir: they take
18   the flow o' the Nile
19   By certain scales i' the pyramid; they know,
20   By the height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth
21   Or foison follow: the higher Nilus swells,
22   The more it promises: as it ebbs, the seedsman
23   Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain,
24   And shortly comes to harvest.

25   You've strange serpents there.

26   Ay, Lepidus.

27   Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the
28   operation of your sun: so is your crocodile.

29   They are so.

30   Sit,--and some wine! A health to Lepidus!

31   I am not so well as I should be, but I'll ne'er out.

32   Not till you have slept; I fear me you'll be in till then.

33   Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies'
34   pyramises are very goodly things; without
35   contradiction, I have heard that.

Aside to POMPEY
36    Pompey, a word.

Aside to MENAS
37    Say in mine ear:
38   what is't?

Aside to POMPEY
39    Forsake thy seat, I do beseech
40   thee, captain,
41   And hear me speak a word.

Aside to MENAS
42    Forbear me till anon.
43   This wine for Lepidus!

44   What manner o' thing is your crocodile?

45   It is shaped, sir, like itself; and it is as broad
46   as it hath breadth: it is just so high as it is,
47   and moves with its own organs: it lives by that
48   which nourisheth it; and the elements once out of
49   it, it transmigrates.

50   What colour is it of?

51   Of it own colour too.

52   'Tis a strange serpent.

53   'Tis so. And the tears of it are wet.

54   Will this description satisfy him?

55   With the health that Pompey gives him, else he is a
56   very epicure.

Aside to MENAS
57    Go hang, sir, hang! Tell me of
58   that? away!
59   Do as I bid you. Where's this cup I call'd for?

Aside to POMPEY
60    If for the sake of merit thou
61   wilt hear me,
62   Rise from thy stool.

Aside to MENAS
63    I think thou'rt mad.
64   The matter?

65   I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.

66   Thou hast served me with much faith. What's else to say?
67   Be jolly, lords.

68   These quick-sands, Lepidus,
69   Keep off them, for you sink.

70   Wilt thou be lord of all the world?

71   What say'st thou?

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

73   How should that be?

74   But entertain it,
75   And, though thou think me poor, I am the man
76   Will give thee all the world.

77   Hast thou drunk well?

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

82   Show me which way.

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

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

Aside
95    For this,
96   I'll never follow thy pall'd fortunes more.
97   Who seeks, and will not take when once 'tis offer'd,
98   Shall never find it more.

99   This health to Lepidus!

100  Bear him ashore. I'll pledge it for him, Pompey.

101  Here's to thee, Menas!

102  Enobarbus, welcome!

103  Fill till the cup be hid.

104  There's a strong fellow, Menas.

105  Why?

106  A' bears the third part of the world, man; see'st
107  not?

108  The third part, then, is drunk: would it were all,
109  That it might go on wheels!

110  Drink thou; increase the reels.

111  Come.

112  This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.

113  It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho?
114  Here is to Caesar!

115  I could well forbear't.
116  It's monstrous labour, when I wash my brain,
117  And it grows fouler.

118  Be a child o' the time.

119  Possess it, I'll make answer:
120  But I had rather fast from all four days
121  Than drink so much in one.

122  Ha, my brave emperor!
To MARK ANTONY
123  Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals,
124  And celebrate our drink?

125  Let's ha't, good soldier.

126  Come, let's all take hands,
127  Till that the conquering wine hath steep'd our sense
128  In soft and delicate Lethe.

129  All take hands.
130  Make battery to our ears with the loud music:
131  The while I'll place you: then the boy shall sing;
132  The holding every man shall bear as loud
133  As his strong sides can volley.
134  Come, thou monarch of the vine,
135  Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne!
136  In thy fats our cares be drown'd,
137  With thy grapes our hairs be crown'd:
138  Cup us, till the world go round,
139  Cup us, till the world go round!

140  What would you more? Pompey, good night. Good brother,
141  Let me request you off: our graver business
142  Frowns at this levity. Gentle lords, let's part;
143  You see we have burnt our cheeks: strong Enobarb
144  Is weaker than the wine; and mine own tongue
145  Splits what it speaks: the wild disguise hath almost
146  Antick'd us all. What needs more words? Good night.
147  Good Antony, your hand.

148  I'll try you on the shore.

149  And shall, sir; give's your hand.

150  O Antony,
151  You have my father's house,--But, what? we are friends.
152  Come, down into the boat.

153  Take heed you fall not.
Exeunt all but DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS and MENAS
154  Menas, I'll not on shore.

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

159  Ho! says a' There's my cap.

160  Ho! Noble captain, come.