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Music plays. Enter two or three SERVANTS with a banquet
Music plays. Two or three SERVANTS enter with a feast.

FIRST SERVANT

Here they’ll be, man. Some o’ their plants are ill-rooted already. The least wind i’ th’ world will blow them down.

FIRST SERVANT

Here’s where they’ll end up, on the floor. Some of them are leaning already. It won’t take much for them to fall over.

SECOND SERVANT

Lepidus is high-colored.

SECOND SERVANT

Lepidus is red in the face.

FIRST SERVANT

They have made him drink alms-drink.

FIRST SERVANT

They made him drink the leftover wine usually given to the poor.

SECOND SERVANT

As they pinch one another by the disposition, he cries out, “No more,” reconciles them to his entreaty and himself to th’ drink.

SECOND SERVANT

Their various personalities grate on one another. Lepidus cries, “No more arguing!” and then when they agree he resigns himself to drink.

FIRST SERVANT

But it raises the greater war between him and his discretion.

FIRST SERVANT

Which goes on to impede his judgment.

SECOND SERVANT

Why, this it is to have a name in great men’s fellowship. I had as lief have a reed that will do me no service as a partisan I could not heave.

SECOND SERVANT

That’s what happens when you partner with great men but lack their power. I’d rather carry a reed that obviously can’t protect me than a sword I cannot lift.

FIRST SERVANT

To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in ’t, are the holes where eyes should be, which pitifully disaster the cheeks.

FIRST SERVANT

To be so unimportant in the company of important men is like having a face without any eyes.
A sennet sounded. Enter CAESAR , ANTONY , POMPEY , LEPIDUS , AGRIPPA , MAECENAS , ENOBARBUS , and MENAS , with other captains and a BOY
A trumpet call sounds. CAESAR , ANTONY , POMPEY , LEPIDUS , AGRIPPA , MAECENAS , ENOBARBUS , and MENAS enter, along with other captains and a BOY .

ANTONY

Thus do they, sir: they take the flow o’ th’ Nile
By certain scales i’ th’ Pyramid. They know
By th’ height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth
20 Or foison follow. The higher Nilus swells
The more it promises. As it ebbs, the seedsman
Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain,
And shortly comes to harvest.

ANTONY

This is how they do it, sir: they measure the depth of the Nile, according to certain marks made on the walls of the Pyramid. They know by those measurements if there will be famine or plenty. The higher the Nile flows, the better the harvest. As the river ebbs, the farmer scatters his seeds on the remaining silt. The harvest comes shortly after that.

LEPIDUS

You’ve strange serpents there?

LEPIDUS

Do you have unusual snakes there?

ANTONY

25 Ay, Lepidus.

ANTONY

Yes, Lepidus.

LEPIDUS

Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun. So is your crocodile.

LEPIDUS

The Egyptian snake is born when the sun shines on the Nile mud, just like the crocodile.

ANTONY

They are so.

ANTONY

Yes, Lepidus.

POMPEY

(to LEPIDUS) Sit, and some wine. A health to Lepidus!

POMPEY

Let’s have a seat and some wine. A toast to Lepidus!
They sit and drink
They sit and drink.

LEPIDUS

I am not so well as I should be, but I’ll ne’er out.

LEPIDUS

I don’t feel so well, but I won’t stop.

ENOBARBUS

Not till you have slept. I fear me you’ll be in till then.

ENOBARBUS

Not until you pass out. I’m afraid you’ll keep going until then.

LEPIDUS

Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies’ pyramises are very goodly things. Without contradiction I have heard that.

LEPIDUS

No, I certainly won’t stop. I’ve heard that the pyramids build by the Ptolemies are splendid. Without doubt I’ve heard that.

MENAS

(aside to POMPEY) Pompey, a word.

MENAS

(aside to POMPEY) Pompey, could I have a word with you?

POMPEY

(aside to MENAS) Say in mine ear. What is ’t?

POMPEY

(aside to MENAS) Whisper it in my ear. What is it?

MENAS

(aside to POMPEY) Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, captain,
And hear me speak a word.

MENAS

(whispers in POMPEY’s ear) Please, captain, leave the feast and let me speak with you privately.

POMPEY

(aside to MENAS) Forbear me till anon.—This wine for Lepidus!

POMPEY

(aside to MENAS) Leave me alone awhile. Where’s the wine for Lepidus?

LEPIDUS

What manner o’ thing is your crocodile?

LEPIDUS

What does a crocodile look like?

ANTONY

It is shaped, sir, like itself, and it is as broad as it hath breadth. It is just so high as it is, and moves with its own organs. It lives by that which nourisheth it, and, the elements once out of it, it transmigrates.

ANTONY

Sir, it’s shaped like itself and is as wide as it has width. It is only as high as it is and moves with its own legs. It lives on what nourishes it, and when

the four elements

fire, air, earth, and water, thought to be the building blocks of all life

the four elements
leave it, its soul moves into another body.

LEPIDUS

What color is it of?

LEPIDUS

What color is it?

ANTONY

45 Of it own color too.

ANTONY

Its own color.

LEPIDUS

’Tis a strange serpent.

LEPIDUS

It’s a strange snake.

ANTONY

’Tis so. And the tears of it are wet.

ANTONY

It is that. And its tears are wet.

CAESAR

(aside to ANTONY) Will this description satisfy him?

CAESAR

(aside to ANTONY) Will that description satisfy him?

ANTONY

(aside to CAESAR) With the health that Pompey gives him, else he is a very epicure.

ANTONY

(aside to CAESAR) That last toast Pompey gave him will take care of him, unless he’s a raging glutton.
MENAS whispers again
MENAS whispers to POMPEY again.

POMPEY

(aside to MENAS) Go hang, sir, hang! Tell me of that? Away!
Do as I bid you.—Where’s this cup I called for?

POMPEY

(aside to MENAS) Go to hell, sir. Are you still here? Go away! Do what I tell you. Where’s the wine I ordered?

MENAS

(aside to POMPEY) If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me,
Rise from thy stool.

MENAS

(aside to POMPEY) If any service I’ve done you deserves a favor, get up from your stool and speak with me.

POMPEY

   (aside to MENAS)     I think th’ art mad.

POMPEY

(aside to MENAS) I think you’re crazy!
He rises, and they walk aside
He gets up and walks aside with MENAS .
The matter?
What is it?

MENAS

55 I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.

MENAS

I’ve always had great respect for your destiny.

POMPEY

Thou hast served me with much faith. What’s else to say?—
(to the others) Be jolly, lords.

POMPEY

You’ve served me faithfully. What else can I say? (to the others) Be happy, lords!

ANTONY

These quicksands, Lepidus,
Keep off them, for you sink.

ANTONY

Stay away from the quicksand of drink, Lepidus: you’re sinking.

MENAS

(aside to POMPEY) Wilt thou be lord of all the world?

MENAS

(to POMPEY) Would you like to be king of the entire world?

POMPEY

What sayst thou?

POMPEY

What are you saying?

MENAS

Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That’s twice.

MENAS

Would you like to be king of the entire world? Now I’ve said it twice.

POMPEY

How should that be?

POMPEY

How could that happen?

MENAS

But entertain it,
And, though thou think me poor, I am the man
Will give thee all the world.

MENAS

Just consider it. Though I seem poor, I am the man who will give you the world.

POMPEY

Hast thou drunk well?

POMPEY

Are you drunk?

MENAS

65 No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup.
Thou art, if thou dar’st be, the earthly Jove.
Whate’er the ocean pales or sky inclips
Is thine, if thou wilt ha ’t.

MENAS

No, Pompey, I haven’t had anything to drink. You can be the most powerful man on earth if you dare use your power. Both land and sea are yours if you will take them.

POMPEY

Show me which way.

POMPEY

Tell me how.

MENAS

These three world-sharers, these competitors,
70 Are in thy vessel. Let me cut the cable,
And, when we are put off, fall to their throats.
All there is thine.

MENAS

The three who share the known world are aboard your boat. Let me cut the anchor cable. When we are away from land, cut their throats. Everything that belongs to them is yours.

POMPEY

Ah, this thou shouldst have done
And not have spoke on ’t! In me ’tis villainy,
In thee ’t had been good service. Thou must know,
75 ’Tis not my profit that does lead mine honor;
Mine honor, it. Repent that e’er thy tongue
Hath so betrayed thine act. Being done unknown,
I should have found it afterwards well done,
But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.

POMPEY

Oh, you should have done it without telling me! For me to do such a thing would be dishonorable. For you to do it would be good service. You should know that to me, profit isn’t more important than honor, but the other way around. Regret that your mouth betrayed your actions. If you had acted without my knowledge, I would have approved your action later. But now I must condemn it. Give it up and go drink.
He returns to the feast
He returns to the feast.

MENAS

(aside) For this,
I’ll never follow thy palled fortunes more.
Who seeks and will not take when once ’tis offered
Shall never find it more.

MENAS

(to himself) For this, I’ll never be faithful to your declining fortunes again. A person who wants something but won’t take it when it materializes won’t get the opportunity again.

POMPEY

This health to Lepidus!

POMPEY

This toast is for Lepidus!

ANTONY

(to a servant) Bear him ashore.—I’ll pledge it for him, Pompey.

ANTONY

(to a servant) Help Lepidus ashore . . . I’ll accept it for him, Pompey.

ENOBARBUS

85 Here’s to thee, Menas!

ENOBARBUS

Here’s to you, Menas.
They drink
They drink.

MENAS

Enobarbus, welcome.

MENAS

I accept with thanks, Enobarbus.

POMPEY

Fill till the cup be hid.

POMPEY

Fill the cups until they run over.

ENOBARBUS

There’s a strong fellow, Menas.

ENOBARBUS

There goes a strong fellow, Menas.
Pointing to the servant who carries off LEPIDUS
He points to the servant carrying LEPIDUS away.

MENAS

Why?

MENAS

Why do you say that?

ENOBARBUS

He bears
The third part of the world, man. Seest not?

ENOBARBUS

He carries a third of the world. Can’t you see that?

MENAS

The third part, then, is drunk. Would it were all,
90 That it might go on wheels!

MENAS

Then a third of the world is drunk. I wish it were all drunk. Then everything would go more smoothly.

ENOBARBUS

Drink thou. Increase the reels.

ENOBARBUS

Drink up. Liven up the party.

MENAS

Come.

MENAS

All right, then.

POMPEY

This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.

POMPEY

This hasn’t reached the level of an Egyptian feast yet.

ANTONY

It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho!
95 Here’s to Caesar.

ANTONY

It’s getting there. Clink your cups together in a toast! Here’s to Caesar.

CAESAR

I could well forbear ’t.
It’s monstrous labor when I wash my brain
And it grows fouler.

CAESAR

I could do without another toast. It’s unnatural. I keep washing my brain with alcohol, and it keeps getting fouler and more muddled.

ANTONY

Be a child o’ th’ time.

ANTONY

Live in the moment.

CAESAR

Possess it, I’ll make answer.
But I had rather fast from all four days
100 Than drink so much in one.

CAESAR

I’d prefer to seize the day. But I would rather abstain from everything for four days than drink so much in one.

ENOBARBUS

              (to ANTONY)            Ha! My brave emperor,
Shall we dance now the Egyptian bacchanals
And celebrate our drink?

ENOBARBUS

(to ANTONY) Ha! Shall we dance Egyptian

bacchanals

bawdy dances honoring Bacchus, Roman god of wine

bacchanals
, my noble emperor, and celebrate our wine?

POMPEY

Let’s ha ’t, good soldier.

POMPEY

Let’s have one, good soldier.

ANTONY

Come, let’s all take hands
Till that the conquering wine hath steeped our sense
In soft and delicate Lethe.

ANTONY

Come, let’s join our hands until the overpowering wine makes us soft and forgetful.

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 beat as loud
110 As his strong sides can volley.

ENOBARBUS

Everyone join hands. Attack our ears with loud music, and I’ll position you for the dance. Then the boy will sing, and every man will sing the chorus at the top of his voice.
Music plays. ENOBARBUS places them hand in hand
Music plays. ENOBARBUS places each man in position, hand in hand.
The Song.
                                The Song.

BOY

(Sings)     Come, thou monarch of the vine,
               Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne!
               In thy vats our cares be drowned,
               With thy grapes our hairs be crowned.

BOY

(singing) Come, you king of the vine, plump Bacchus, with your pink eyes. Our troubles are drowned in your vats. We’ll crown ourselves with wreathes of grapes.

ALL

(Singing) Cup us till the world go round,
                Cup us till the world go round!

ALL

(singing) Give us cups until the world spins! Give us cups until the world spins!

CAESAR

What would you more?—Pompey, good night. (to ANTONY) 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
Anticked us all. What needs more words? Good night.
120 Good Antony, your hand.

CAESAR

How can you top that? Good night, Pompey. (to ANTONY) Dear brother-in-law, let’s leave together. This frivolity isn’t appropriate to the serious purpose that brought us here. Noble lords, let’s say good night. We’ve all gotten red in the face. Even the strong Enobarbus isn’t immune to the effects of wine, and I’m tongue-tied myself. This wild party has almost turned us all into clowns. What more need I say? Good night. Good Antony, shake my hand.

POMPEY

I’ll try you on the shore.

POMPEY

We’ll have a rematch at your feast on shore.

ANTONY

And shall, sir. Give ’s your hand.

ANTONY

Yes, we will. Let’s shake on it.

POMPEY

O Antony, You have my father’s house.
But what? We are friends. Come, down into the boat.

POMPEY

Oh, Antony, even if you’ve taken my father’s house, what is that to me? We’re friends! Come, this way to the rowboat.

ENOBARBUS

125 Take heed you fall not.

ENOBARBUS

Be careful not to fall in.
Exeunt all but MENAS and ENOBARBUS Everyone exits except MENAS and ENOBARBUS .
Menas, I’ll not on shore.
Menas, I’m not going back 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 hanged, sound out!

MENAS

No, come to my cabin. We’ll have the musicians play drums, trumpets, flutes. What do you say? We’ll make

Neptune

Roman god of the sea

Neptune
hear us bid a loud good night to these great men. Play and be damned. Play loud!
Sound a flourish, with drums
Trumpets and drums play a fanfare.

ENOBARBUS

Hoo! says ’a. There’s my cap.

ENOBARBUS

Hooray, I say. There’s my hat!
He flings it in the air
He throws his hat in the air.

MENAS

130 Hoo! Noble captain, come.

MENAS

Hooray! Come on, noble captain.
Exeunt They exit.

Original Text

Modern Text

Music plays. Enter two or three SERVANTS with a banquet
Music plays. Two or three SERVANTS enter with a feast.

FIRST SERVANT

Here they’ll be, man. Some o’ their plants are ill-rooted already. The least wind i’ th’ world will blow them down.

FIRST SERVANT

Here’s where they’ll end up, on the floor. Some of them are leaning already. It won’t take much for them to fall over.

SECOND SERVANT

Lepidus is high-colored.

SECOND SERVANT

Lepidus is red in the face.

FIRST SERVANT

They have made him drink alms-drink.

FIRST SERVANT

They made him drink the leftover wine usually given to the poor.

SECOND SERVANT

As they pinch one another by the disposition, he cries out, “No more,” reconciles them to his entreaty and himself to th’ drink.

SECOND SERVANT

Their various personalities grate on one another. Lepidus cries, “No more arguing!” and then when they agree he resigns himself to drink.

FIRST SERVANT

But it raises the greater war between him and his discretion.

FIRST SERVANT

Which goes on to impede his judgment.

SECOND SERVANT

Why, this it is to have a name in great men’s fellowship. I had as lief have a reed that will do me no service as a partisan I could not heave.

SECOND SERVANT

That’s what happens when you partner with great men but lack their power. I’d rather carry a reed that obviously can’t protect me than a sword I cannot lift.

FIRST SERVANT

To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in ’t, are the holes where eyes should be, which pitifully disaster the cheeks.

FIRST SERVANT

To be so unimportant in the company of important men is like having a face without any eyes.
A sennet sounded. Enter CAESAR , ANTONY , POMPEY , LEPIDUS , AGRIPPA , MAECENAS , ENOBARBUS , and MENAS , with other captains and a BOY
A trumpet call sounds. CAESAR , ANTONY , POMPEY , LEPIDUS , AGRIPPA , MAECENAS , ENOBARBUS , and MENAS enter, along with other captains and a BOY .

ANTONY

Thus do they, sir: they take the flow o’ th’ Nile
By certain scales i’ th’ Pyramid. They know
By th’ height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth
20 Or foison follow. The higher Nilus swells
The more it promises. As it ebbs, the seedsman
Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain,
And shortly comes to harvest.

ANTONY

This is how they do it, sir: they measure the depth of the Nile, according to certain marks made on the walls of the Pyramid. They know by those measurements if there will be famine or plenty. The higher the Nile flows, the better the harvest. As the river ebbs, the farmer scatters his seeds on the remaining silt. The harvest comes shortly after that.

LEPIDUS

You’ve strange serpents there?

LEPIDUS

Do you have unusual snakes there?

ANTONY

25 Ay, Lepidus.

ANTONY

Yes, Lepidus.

LEPIDUS

Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun. So is your crocodile.

LEPIDUS

The Egyptian snake is born when the sun shines on the Nile mud, just like the crocodile.

ANTONY

They are so.

ANTONY

Yes, Lepidus.

POMPEY

(to LEPIDUS) Sit, and some wine. A health to Lepidus!

POMPEY

Let’s have a seat and some wine. A toast to Lepidus!
They sit and drink
They sit and drink.

LEPIDUS

I am not so well as I should be, but I’ll ne’er out.

LEPIDUS

I don’t feel so well, but I won’t stop.

ENOBARBUS

Not till you have slept. I fear me you’ll be in till then.

ENOBARBUS

Not until you pass out. I’m afraid you’ll keep going until then.

LEPIDUS

Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies’ pyramises are very goodly things. Without contradiction I have heard that.

LEPIDUS

No, I certainly won’t stop. I’ve heard that the pyramids build by the Ptolemies are splendid. Without doubt I’ve heard that.

MENAS

(aside to POMPEY) Pompey, a word.

MENAS

(aside to POMPEY) Pompey, could I have a word with you?

POMPEY

(aside to MENAS) Say in mine ear. What is ’t?

POMPEY

(aside to MENAS) Whisper it in my ear. What is it?

MENAS

(aside to POMPEY) Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, captain,
And hear me speak a word.

MENAS

(whispers in POMPEY’s ear) Please, captain, leave the feast and let me speak with you privately.

POMPEY

(aside to MENAS) Forbear me till anon.—This wine for Lepidus!

POMPEY

(aside to MENAS) Leave me alone awhile. Where’s the wine for Lepidus?

LEPIDUS

What manner o’ thing is your crocodile?

LEPIDUS

What does a crocodile look like?

ANTONY

It is shaped, sir, like itself, and it is as broad as it hath breadth. It is just so high as it is, and moves with its own organs. It lives by that which nourisheth it, and, the elements once out of it, it transmigrates.

ANTONY

Sir, it’s shaped like itself and is as wide as it has width. It is only as high as it is and moves with its own legs. It lives on what nourishes it, and when

the four elements

fire, air, earth, and water, thought to be the building blocks of all life

the four elements
leave it, its soul moves into another body.

LEPIDUS

What color is it of?

LEPIDUS

What color is it?

ANTONY

45 Of it own color too.

ANTONY

Its own color.

LEPIDUS

’Tis a strange serpent.

LEPIDUS

It’s a strange snake.

ANTONY

’Tis so. And the tears of it are wet.

ANTONY

It is that. And its tears are wet.

CAESAR

(aside to ANTONY) Will this description satisfy him?

CAESAR

(aside to ANTONY) Will that description satisfy him?

ANTONY

(aside to CAESAR) With the health that Pompey gives him, else he is a very epicure.

ANTONY

(aside to CAESAR) That last toast Pompey gave him will take care of him, unless he’s a raging glutton.
MENAS whispers again
MENAS whispers to POMPEY again.

POMPEY

(aside to MENAS) Go hang, sir, hang! Tell me of that? Away!
Do as I bid you.—Where’s this cup I called for?

POMPEY

(aside to MENAS) Go to hell, sir. Are you still here? Go away! Do what I tell you. Where’s the wine I ordered?

MENAS

(aside to POMPEY) If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me,
Rise from thy stool.

MENAS

(aside to POMPEY) If any service I’ve done you deserves a favor, get up from your stool and speak with me.

POMPEY

   (aside to MENAS)     I think th’ art mad.

POMPEY

(aside to MENAS) I think you’re crazy!
He rises, and they walk aside
He gets up and walks aside with MENAS .
The matter?
What is it?

MENAS

55 I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.

MENAS

I’ve always had great respect for your destiny.

POMPEY

Thou hast served me with much faith. What’s else to say?—
(to the others) Be jolly, lords.

POMPEY

You’ve served me faithfully. What else can I say? (to the others) Be happy, lords!

ANTONY

These quicksands, Lepidus,
Keep off them, for you sink.

ANTONY

Stay away from the quicksand of drink, Lepidus: you’re sinking.

MENAS

(aside to POMPEY) Wilt thou be lord of all the world?

MENAS

(to POMPEY) Would you like to be king of the entire world?

POMPEY

What sayst thou?

POMPEY

What are you saying?

MENAS

Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That’s twice.

MENAS

Would you like to be king of the entire world? Now I’ve said it twice.

POMPEY

How should that be?

POMPEY

How could that happen?

MENAS

But entertain it,
And, though thou think me poor, I am the man
Will give thee all the world.

MENAS

Just consider it. Though I seem poor, I am the man who will give you the world.

POMPEY

Hast thou drunk well?

POMPEY

Are you drunk?

MENAS

65 No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup.
Thou art, if thou dar’st be, the earthly Jove.
Whate’er the ocean pales or sky inclips
Is thine, if thou wilt ha ’t.

MENAS

No, Pompey, I haven’t had anything to drink. You can be the most powerful man on earth if you dare use your power. Both land and sea are yours if you will take them.

POMPEY

Show me which way.

POMPEY

Tell me how.

MENAS

These three world-sharers, these competitors,
70 Are in thy vessel. Let me cut the cable,
And, when we are put off, fall to their throats.
All there is thine.

MENAS

The three who share the known world are aboard your boat. Let me cut the anchor cable. When we are away from land, cut their throats. Everything that belongs to them is yours.

POMPEY

Ah, this thou shouldst have done
And not have spoke on ’t! In me ’tis villainy,
In thee ’t had been good service. Thou must know,
75 ’Tis not my profit that does lead mine honor;
Mine honor, it. Repent that e’er thy tongue
Hath so betrayed thine act. Being done unknown,
I should have found it afterwards well done,
But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.

POMPEY

Oh, you should have done it without telling me! For me to do such a thing would be dishonorable. For you to do it would be good service. You should know that to me, profit isn’t more important than honor, but the other way around. Regret that your mouth betrayed your actions. If you had acted without my knowledge, I would have approved your action later. But now I must condemn it. Give it up and go drink.
He returns to the feast
He returns to the feast.

MENAS

(aside) For this,
I’ll never follow thy palled fortunes more.
Who seeks and will not take when once ’tis offered
Shall never find it more.

MENAS

(to himself) For this, I’ll never be faithful to your declining fortunes again. A person who wants something but won’t take it when it materializes won’t get the opportunity again.

POMPEY

This health to Lepidus!

POMPEY

This toast is for Lepidus!

ANTONY

(to a servant) Bear him ashore.—I’ll pledge it for him, Pompey.

ANTONY

(to a servant) Help Lepidus ashore . . . I’ll accept it for him, Pompey.

ENOBARBUS

85 Here’s to thee, Menas!

ENOBARBUS

Here’s to you, Menas.
They drink
They drink.

MENAS

Enobarbus, welcome.

MENAS

I accept with thanks, Enobarbus.

POMPEY

Fill till the cup be hid.

POMPEY

Fill the cups until they run over.

ENOBARBUS

There’s a strong fellow, Menas.

ENOBARBUS

There goes a strong fellow, Menas.
Pointing to the servant who carries off LEPIDUS
He points to the servant carrying LEPIDUS away.

MENAS

Why?

MENAS

Why do you say that?

ENOBARBUS

He bears
The third part of the world, man. Seest not?

ENOBARBUS

He carries a third of the world. Can’t you see that?

MENAS

The third part, then, is drunk. Would it were all,
90 That it might go on wheels!

MENAS

Then a third of the world is drunk. I wish it were all drunk. Then everything would go more smoothly.

ENOBARBUS

Drink thou. Increase the reels.

ENOBARBUS

Drink up. Liven up the party.

MENAS

Come.

MENAS

All right, then.

POMPEY

This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.

POMPEY

This hasn’t reached the level of an Egyptian feast yet.

ANTONY

It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho!
95 Here’s to Caesar.

ANTONY

It’s getting there. Clink your cups together in a toast! Here’s to Caesar.

CAESAR

I could well forbear ’t.
It’s monstrous labor when I wash my brain
And it grows fouler.

CAESAR

I could do without another toast. It’s unnatural. I keep washing my brain with alcohol, and it keeps getting fouler and more muddled.

ANTONY

Be a child o’ th’ time.

ANTONY

Live in the moment.

CAESAR

Possess it, I’ll make answer.
But I had rather fast from all four days
100 Than drink so much in one.

CAESAR

I’d prefer to seize the day. But I would rather abstain from everything for four days than drink so much in one.

ENOBARBUS

              (to ANTONY)            Ha! My brave emperor,
Shall we dance now the Egyptian bacchanals
And celebrate our drink?

ENOBARBUS

(to ANTONY) Ha! Shall we dance Egyptian

bacchanals

bawdy dances honoring Bacchus, Roman god of wine

bacchanals
, my noble emperor, and celebrate our wine?

POMPEY

Let’s ha ’t, good soldier.

POMPEY

Let’s have one, good soldier.

ANTONY

Come, let’s all take hands
Till that the conquering wine hath steeped our sense
In soft and delicate Lethe.

ANTONY

Come, let’s join our hands until the overpowering wine makes us soft and forgetful.

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 beat as loud
110 As his strong sides can volley.

ENOBARBUS

Everyone join hands. Attack our ears with loud music, and I’ll position you for the dance. Then the boy will sing, and every man will sing the chorus at the top of his voice.
Music plays. ENOBARBUS places them hand in hand
Music plays. ENOBARBUS places each man in position, hand in hand.
The Song.
                                The Song.

BOY

(Sings)     Come, thou monarch of the vine,
               Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne!
               In thy vats our cares be drowned,
               With thy grapes our hairs be crowned.

BOY

(singing) Come, you king of the vine, plump Bacchus, with your pink eyes. Our troubles are drowned in your vats. We’ll crown ourselves with wreathes of grapes.

ALL

(Singing) Cup us till the world go round,
                Cup us till the world go round!

ALL

(singing) Give us cups until the world spins! Give us cups until the world spins!

CAESAR

What would you more?—Pompey, good night. (to ANTONY) 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
Anticked us all. What needs more words? Good night.
120 Good Antony, your hand.

CAESAR

How can you top that? Good night, Pompey. (to ANTONY) Dear brother-in-law, let’s leave together. This frivolity isn’t appropriate to the serious purpose that brought us here. Noble lords, let’s say good night. We’ve all gotten red in the face. Even the strong Enobarbus isn’t immune to the effects of wine, and I’m tongue-tied myself. This wild party has almost turned us all into clowns. What more need I say? Good night. Good Antony, shake my hand.

POMPEY

I’ll try you on the shore.

POMPEY

We’ll have a rematch at your feast on shore.

ANTONY

And shall, sir. Give ’s your hand.

ANTONY

Yes, we will. Let’s shake on it.

POMPEY

O Antony, You have my father’s house.
But what? We are friends. Come, down into the boat.

POMPEY

Oh, Antony, even if you’ve taken my father’s house, what is that to me? We’re friends! Come, this way to the rowboat.

ENOBARBUS

125 Take heed you fall not.

ENOBARBUS

Be careful not to fall in.
Exeunt all but MENAS and ENOBARBUS Everyone exits except MENAS and ENOBARBUS .
Menas, I’ll not on shore.
Menas, I’m not going back 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 hanged, sound out!

MENAS

No, come to my cabin. We’ll have the musicians play drums, trumpets, flutes. What do you say? We’ll make

Neptune

Roman god of the sea

Neptune
hear us bid a loud good night to these great men. Play and be damned. Play loud!
Sound a flourish, with drums
Trumpets and drums play a fanfare.

ENOBARBUS

Hoo! says ’a. There’s my cap.

ENOBARBUS

Hooray, I say. There’s my hat!
He flings it in the air
He throws his hat in the air.

MENAS

130 Hoo! Noble captain, come.

MENAS

Hooray! Come on, noble captain.
Exeunt They exit.