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Act 2, Scene 3

Rome. A Room in CAESAR'S House.

  1. [Enter CAESAR, ANTONY, OCTAVIA between them, and Attendants.]
  2. Mark Antony
  3. 920 The world and my great office will sometimes
  4. 921 Divide me from your bosom.
  5. Octavia
  6. 922 All which time
  7. 923 Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers
  8. 924 To them for you.
  9. Mark Antony
  10. 925 Good night, sir.—My Octavia,
  11. 926 Read not my blemishes in the world's report:
  12. 927 I have not kept my square; but that to come
  13. 928 Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear lady.—
  14. Octavia
  15. 929 Good night, sir.
  16. Octavius Caesar
  17. 930 Good night.
  18. [Exeunt CAESAR and OCTAVIA.]
  19. [Enter SOOTHSAYER.]
  20. Mark Antony
  21. 931 Now, sirrah, you do wish yourself in Egypt?
  22. Soothsayer
  23. 932 Would I had never come from thence, nor you
  24. 933 Thither!
  25. Mark Antony
  26. 934 If you can, your reason.
  27. Soothsayer
  28. 935 I see it in my motion, have it not in my tongue; but yet
  29. 936 Hie you to Egypt again.
  30. Mark Antony
  31. 937 Say to me,
  32. 938 Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Caesar's or mine?
  33. Soothsayer
  34. 939 Caesar's.
  35. 940 Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side:
  36. 941 Thy demon, that thy spirit which keeps thee, is
  37. 942 Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable,
  38. 943 Where Caesar's is not; but near him thy angel
  39. 944 Becomes a fear, as being o'erpower'd: therefore
  40. 945 Make space enough between you.
  41. Mark Antony
  42. 946 Speak this no more.
  43. Soothsayer
  44. 947 To none but thee; no more but when to thee.
  45. 948 If thou dost play with him at any game,
  46. 949 Thou art sure to lose; and of that natural luck
  47. 950 He beats thee 'gainst the odds: thy lustre thickens
  48. 951 When he shines by: I say again, thy spirit
  49. 952 Is all afraid to govern thee near him;
  50. 953 But, he away, 'tis noble.
  51. Mark Antony
  52. 954 Get thee gone:
  53. 955 Say to Ventidius I would speak with him:—
  54. [Exit SOOTHSAYER.]
  55. Mark Antony
  56. 956 He shall to Parthia.—Be it art or hap,
  57. 957 He hath spoken true: the very dice obey him;—
  58. 958 And in our sports my better cunning faints
  59. 959 Under his chance: if we draw lots, he speeds;
  60. 960 His cocks do win the battle still of mine,
  61. 961 When it is all to nought; and his quails ever
  62. 962 Beat mine, inhoop'd, at odds. I will to Egypt:
  63. 963 And though I make this marriage for my peace,
  64. 964 I' the East my pleasure lies.
  65. [Enter VENTIDIUS.]
  66. Mark Antony
  67. 965 O, come, Ventidius,
  68. 966 You must to Parthia: your commission's ready;
  69. 967 Follow me and receive it.
  70. [Exeunt.]