Page:Antony and Cleopatra (1921) Yale.djvu/64

52

Eno. Here's to thee, Menas!

Men. Enobarbus, welcome!

Pom. Fill till the cup be hid.

Eno. There's a strong fellow, Menas.

[Pointing to the Attendant who carries off Lepidus.]

Men. Why?

Eno. A' bears the third part of the world,

man; see'st not?

Men. The third part then is drunk; would it were all,

That it might go on wheels!

Eno. Drink thou; increase the reels.

Men. Come.

Pom. This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.

Ant. It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho!

Here is to Cæsar!

Cæs. I could well forbear 't.

It's monstrous labour, when I wash my brain,

And it grows fouler.

Ant. Be a child o' the time.

Cæs. Possess it, I'll make answer;

But I had rather fast from all four days

Than drink so much in one.

Eno. [To Antony.] Ha! my brave emperor;

Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals,

And celebrate our drink?

Pom. Let's ha 't, good soldier.

Ant. Come, let's all take hands,

Till that the conquering wine hath steep'd our sense

In soft and delicate Lethe.

 97 A': he

108 Possess: be master of (?)

111 Bacchanals: dances in honor of Bacchus

114 steep'd: saturated

