How lesser enmities may give way to greater. selves; 14 between them For they have entertained cause enough To draw their swords: but how the fear of us SCENE II. [Exeunt. Rome. A Room in the House of Lepidus. Enter ENOBARBUS and Lepidus. Lep. Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed, And shall become you well, to entreat your captain To soft and gentle speech. Eno. I shall entreat him To answer like himself: if Cæsar move him, Let Antony look over Cæsar's head, And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter, Were I the wearer of Antonius' beard, I would not shav't to-day. Lep. For private stomaching.. Eno. 'Tis not a time Every time Serves for the matter that is then born in it. Lep. But small to greater matters must give way. Eno. Not if the small come first. Lep. Your speech is passion: But, pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes Enter ANTONY and VENTIDIUS. Eno. And yonder, Cæsar. Enter CESAR, MECENAS, and AGRIPPA. Ant. If we compose well here, to Parthia: Hark you, Ventidius. Cœs. Mecænas; ask Agrippa. Lep. I do not know, Noble friends, That which combin'd us was most great, and let not A leaner action rend us. What's amiss, May it be gently heard: When we debate Our trivial difference loud, we do commit Murder in healing wounds: Then, noble partners, Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms, Ant. 'Tis spoken well: Were we before our armies, and to fight, Caes. Nay, Then Ant. I learn, you take things ill, which are not so; Or, being, concern you not. Cœs. If, or for nothing, or a little, I I must be laugh'd at, Should say myself offended; and with you Chiefly i' the world: more laugh'd at, that I should Once name you derogately, when to sound your name It not concern'd me. Ant. What was't to you? My being in Egypt, Cæsar, Cas. No more than my residing here at Rome Did practise on my state, your being in Egypt Ant. How intend you, practis'd? Caes. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent, By what did here befal me. Your wife, and brother, Made wars upon me; and their contestation Was theme for you, you were the word of war. Ant. You do mistake your business; my brother never Did urge me in his act: I did enquire it; And have my learning from some true reports 15, That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather Discredit my authority with yours; And make the wars alike against my stomach, Having alike your cause? Of this, my letters As matter whole you have not to make it with, It must not be with this. Cœs. You praise yourself By laying defects of judgement to me; but Ant. Not so, not so: Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought, Eno. 'Would, we had all such wives, that the men might go to wars with the women! Ant. So much uncurbable, her garboils 16, Cæsar, Made out of her impatience, (which not wanted Shrewdness of policy too,) I grieving grant, Did you too much disquiet: for that, you must But say, I could not help it. Cæs. I wrote to you, Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts Ant. He fell upon me, ere admitted; then Sir, Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want As to have ask'd him pardon: Let this fellow Out of our question wipe him. Lepidus, let him speak; The honour's sacred which he talks on now, Cas. To lend me arms, and aid, when I requir'd them; The which you both deny'd. Ant. Lep. "Tis nobly spoken. Mec. If it might please you, to enforce no further The griefs between ye: to forget them quite, Were to remember that the present need Speaks to atone you. |