Page:Antony and Cleopatra (1921) Yale.djvu/38

26

Ant. Thank you.

Cæs. Sit.

Ant. Sit, sir.

Cæs. Nay, then.

Ant. I learn, you take things ill which are not so,

Or being, concern you not.

Cæs. I must be laugh'd at

If, or for nothing or a little, I

Should say myself offended, and with you

Chiefly i' the world; more laugh'd at that I should

Once name you derogately, when to sound your name

It not concern'd me.

Ant. My being in Egypt, Cæsar,

What was 't to you?

Cæs. No more than my residing here at Rome

Might be to you in Egypt; yet, if you there

Did practise on on my state, your being in Egypt

Might be my question.

Ant. How intend you, practis'd?

Cæs. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent

By what did here befall me. Your wife and brother

Made wars upon me, and their contestation

Was theme for you, you were the word of war.

Ant. You do mistake your business; my brother never

Did urge me in his act: I did inquire it;

And have my learning from some true reports,

That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather

Discredit my authority with yours,

And make the wars alike against my stomach,

Having alike your cause? Of this my letters

 43 practise on: plot against

state: government

44 intend: mean

46–48 Your wife and brother war; cf. n.

54 stomach: inclination

