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POMPEY
Ah, this thou shouldst have done,
And not have spoke on't! In me 'tis villany;
In thee't had been good service. Thou must know,
'Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour;
Mine honour, it. Repent that e'er thy tongue
Hath so betray'd thine act: being done unknown,
I should have found it afterwards well done;
But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.
MENAS
[Aside] For this,
I'll never follow thy pall'd fortunes more.
Who seeks, and will not take when once 'tis offer'd,
Shall never find it more.
POMPEY
This health to Lepidus!
MARK ANTONY
Bear him ashore. I'll pledge it for him, Pompey.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
Here's to thee, Menas!
MENAS
Enobarbus, welcome!
POMPEY
Fill till the cup be hid.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
There's a strong fellow, Menas.
Pointing to the Attendant who carries off LEPIDUS
MENAS
Why?
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
A' bears the third part of the world, man; see'st
not?
MENAS
The third part, then, is drunk: would it were all,
That it might go on wheels!
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
Drink thou; increase the reels.
MENAS
Come.
POMPEY
This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.
MARK ANTONY
It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho?
Here is to Caesar!
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
I could well forbear't.
It's monstrous labour, when I wash my brain,
And it grows fouler.
MARK ANTONY
Be a child o' the time.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
Possess it, I'll make answer:
But I had rather fast from all four days
Than drink so much in one.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
Ha, my brave emperor!
To MARK ANTONY
Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals,
And celebrate our drink?
POMPEY
Let's ha't, good soldier.
MARK ANTONY
Come, let's all take hands,
Till that the conquering wine hath steep'd our sense
In soft and delicate Lethe.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
All take hands.
Make battery to our ears with the loud music:
The while I'll place you: then the boy shall sing;
The holding every man shall bear as loud
As his strong sides can volley.
Music plays. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS places them hand in hand
[THE SONG]
Come, thou monarch of the vine,
Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne!
In thy fats our cares be drown'd,
With thy grapes our hairs be crown'd:
Cup us, till the world go round,
Cup us, till the world go round!
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
What would you more? Pompey, good night. 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
Antick'd us all. What needs more words? Good night.
Good Antony, your hand.
POMPEY
I'll try you on the shore.
MARK ANTONY
And shall, sir; give's your hand.
POMPEY
O Antony,
You have my father's house,--But, what? we are friends.
Come, down into the boat.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
Take heed you fall not.
Exeunt all but DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS and MENAS
Menas, I'll not on shore.
MENAS
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 hang'd, sound out!
Sound a flourish, with drums
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
Ho! says a' There's my cap.
MENAS
Ho! Noble captain, come.
Exeunt
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