Shakespeare Portal

Act 2, Scene 1

Messina. A Room in POMPEY'S house.

  1. [Enter POMPEY, MENECRATES, and MENAS.]
  2. Pompey (Sextus Pompeius)
  3. 572 If the great gods be just, they shall assist
  4. 573 The deeds of justest men.
  5. Menecrates
  6. 574 Know, worthy Pompey,
  7. 575 That what they do delay they not deny.
  8. Pompey (Sextus Pompeius)
  9. 576 Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays
  10. 577 The thing we sue for.
  11. Menecrates
  12. 578 We, ignorant of ourselves,
  13. 579 Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers
  14. 580 Deny us for our good; so find we profit
  15. 581 By losing of our prayers.
  16. Pompey (Sextus Pompeius)
  17. 582 I shall do well;
  18. 583 The people love me, and the sea is mine;
  19. 584 My powers are crescent, and my auguring hope
  20. 585 Says it will come to the full. Mark Antony
  21. 586 In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make
  22. 587 No wars without doors: Caesar gets money where
  23. 588 He loses hearts: Lepidus flatters both,
  24. 589 Of both is flatter'd; but he neither loves
  25. 590 Nor either cares for him.
  26. Menas
  27. 591 Caesar and Lepidus
  28. 592 Are in the field: a mighty strength they carry.
  29. Pompey (Sextus Pompeius)
  30. 593 Where have you this? 'tis false.
  31. Menas
  32. 594 From Silvius, sir.
  33. Pompey (Sextus Pompeius)
  34. 595 He dreams: I know they are in Rome together,
  35. 596 Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love,
  36. 597 Salt Cleopatra, soften thy wan'd lip!
  37. 598 Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both!
  38. 599 Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts,
  39. 600 Keep his brain fuming; Epicurean cooks
  40. 601 Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite;
  41. 602 That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour
  42. 603 Even till a Lethe'd dullness.
  43. [Enter VARRIUS.]
  44. Pompey (Sextus Pompeius)
  45. 604 How now, Varrius!
  46. Varrius
  47. 605 This is most certain that I shall deliver:—
  48. 606 Mark Antony is every hour in Rome
  49. 607 Expected: since he went from Egypt 'tis
  50. 608 A space for further travel.
  51. Pompey (Sextus Pompeius)
  52. 609 I could have given less matter
  53. 610 A better ear.—Menas, I did not think
  54. 611 This amorous surfeiter would have donn'd his helm
  55. 612 For such a petty war; his soldiership
  56. 613 Is twice the other twain: but let us rear
  57. 614 The higher our opinion, that our stirring
  58. 615 Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck
  59. 616 The ne'er lust-wearied Antony.
  60. Menas
  61. 617 I cannot hope
  62. 618 Caesar and Antony shall well greet together:
  63. 619 His wife that's dead did trespasses to Caesar;
  64. 620 His brother warr'd upon him; although, I think,
  65. 621 Not mov'd by Antony.
  66. Pompey (Sextus Pompeius)
  67. 622 I know not, Menas,
  68. 623 How lesser enmities may give way to greater.
  69. 624 Were't not that we stand up against them all,
  70. 625 'Twere pregnant they should square between themselves;
  71. 626 For they have entertained cause enough
  72. 627 To draw their swords: but how the fear of us
  73. 628 May cement their divisions, and bind up
  74. 629 The petty difference, we yet not know.
  75. 630 Be't as our gods will have't! It only stands
  76. 631 Our lives upon to use our strongest hands.
  77. 632 Come, Menas.
  78. [Exeunt.]