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Act 3, Scene 4

Athens. A Room in ANTONY'S House.

  1. [Enter ANTONY and OCTAVIA.]
  2. Mark Antony
  3. 1624 Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that,—
  4. 1625 That were excusable, that and thousands more
  5. 1626 Of semblable import—but he hath wag'd
  6. 1627 New wars 'gainst Pompey; made his will, and read it
  7. 1628 To public ear:
  8. 1629 Spoke scandy of me: when perforce he could not
  9. 1630 But pay me terms of honour, cold and sickly
  10. 1631 He vented them: most narrow measure lent me;
  11. 1632 When the best hint was given him, he not took't,
  12. 1633 Or did it from his teeth.
  13. Octavia
  14. 1634 O my good lord,
  15. 1635 Believe not all; or if you must believe,
  16. 1636 Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady,
  17. 1637 If this division chance, ne'er stood between,
  18. 1638 Praying for both parts:
  19. 1639 Sure the good gods will mock me presently
  20. 1640 When I shall pray 'O, bless my lord and husband!'
  21. 1641 Undo that prayer by crying out as loud
  22. 1642 'O, bless my brother!' Husband win, win brother,
  23. 1643 Prays and destroys the prayer; no mid-way
  24. 1644 'Twixt these extremes at all.
  25. Mark Antony
  26. 1645 Gentle Octavia,
  27. 1646 Let your best love draw to that point which seeks
  28. 1647 Best to preserve it: if I lose mine honour,
  29. 1648 I lose myself: better I were not yours
  30. 1649 Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested,
  31. 1650 Yourself shall go between's: the meantime, lady,
  32. 1651 I'll raise the preparation of a war
  33. 1652 Shall stain your brother: make your soonest haste;
  34. 1653 So your desires are yours.
  35. Octavia
  36. 1654 Thanks to my lord.
  37. 1655 The Jove of power make me, most weak, most weak,
  38. 1656 Your reconciler! Wars 'twixt you twain would be
  39. 1657 As if the world should cleave, and that slain men
  40. 1658 Should solder up the rift.
  41. Mark Antony
  42. 1659 When it appears to you where this begins,
  43. 1660 Turn your displeasure that way; for our faults
  44. 1661 Can never be so equal that your love
  45. 1662 Can equally move with them. Provide your going;
  46. 1663 Choose your own company, and command what cost
  47. 1664 Your heart has mind to.
  48. [Exeunt.]