ACT III
SCENE IV Athens. A room in MARK ANTONY's house.


 [Enter MARK ANTONY and OCTAVIA]

MARK ANTONY Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that,--
 That were excusable, that, and thousands more
 Of semblable import,--but he hath waged
 New wars 'gainst Pompey; made his will, and read it
 To public ear:
 Spoke scantly of me: when perforce he could not
 But pay me terms of honour, cold and sickly
 He vented them; most narrow measure lent me:
 When the best hint was given him, he not took't,
 Or did it from his teeth.

OCTAVIA O my good lord,
 Believe not all; or, if you must believe,
 Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady,
 If this division chance, ne'er stood between,
 Praying for both parts:
 The good gods me presently,
 When I shall pray, 'O bless my lord and husband!'
 Undo that prayer, by crying out as loud,
 'O, bless my brother!' Husband win, win brother,
 Prays, and destroys the prayer; no midway
 'Twixt these extremes at all.

MARK ANTONY Gentle Octavia,
 Let your best love draw to that point, which seeks
 Best to preserve it: if I lose mine honour,
 I lose myself: better I were not yours
 Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested,
 Yourself shall go between 's: the mean time, lady,
 I'll raise the preparation of a war
 Shall stain your brother: make your soonest haste;
 So your desires are yours.

OCTAVIA Thanks to my lord.
 The Jove of power make me most weak, most weak,
 Your reconciler! Wars 'twixt you twain would be
 As if the world should cleave, and that slain men
 Should solder up the rift.

MARK ANTONY When it appears to you where this begins,
 Turn your displeasure that way: for our faults
 Can never be so equal, that your love
 Can equally move with them. Provide your going;
 Choose your own company, and command what cost
 Your heart has mind to.

 [Exeunt]




 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA


ACT III