VENTIDIUS                            O, Silius, Silius, I have done enough. A lower place, note well, May make too great an act. For learn this, Silius: Better to leave undone than by our deed Acquire too high a fame when him we serve’s away. Caesar and Antony have ever won More in their officer than person. Sossius, One […]

Enter Ventidius, as it were in triumph [marching with Silius and other Roman soldiers]; the dead body of Pacorus borne before him VENTIDIUS    Now, darting Parthia, art thou struck; and now Pleased fortune does of Marcus Crassus’ death Make me revenger. Bear the King’s son’s body Before our army. Thy Pacorus, Orodes, Pays this for Marcus […]

ENOBARBUS                          Take heed you fall not. 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 [flutes, and trumpets] ENOBARBUS  [throwing his cap in the air] Hoo, […]

CAESAR                                  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. […]

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.        (2.7.106-112)   On the page it looks […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 then 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 […]

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           […]