Act III, Scene 6

Rome. OCTAVIUS CAESAR’s house.

[Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, AGRIPPA, and MECAENAS]

• Octavius. Contemning Rome, he has done all this, and more,
  In Alexandria: here's the manner of 't:
  I' the market-place, on a tribunal silver'd,
  Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold 1825
  Were publicly enthroned: at the feet sat
  Caesarion, whom they call my father's son,
  And all the unlawful issue that their lust
  Since then hath made between them. Unto her
  He gave the stablishment of Egypt; made her 1830
  Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia,
  Absolute queen.

• Mecaenas. This in the public eye?

• Octavius. I' the common show-place, where they exercise.
  His sons he there proclaim'd the kings of kings: 1835
  Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia.
  He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assign'd
  Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia: she
  In the habiliments of the goddess Isis
  That day appear'd; and oft before gave audience, 1840
  As 'tis reported, so.

• Mecaenas. Let Rome be thus Inform'd.

• Agrippa. Who, queasy with his insolence
  Already, will their good thoughts call from him.

• Octavius. The people know it; and have now received 1845
  His accusations.

• Agrippa. Who does he accuse?

• Octavius. Caesar: and that, having in Sicily
  Sextus Pompeius spoil'd, we had not rated him
  His part o' the isle: then does he say, he lent me 1850
  Some shipping unrestored: lastly, he frets
  That Lepidus of the triumvirate
  Should be deposed; and, being, that we detain
  All his revenue.

• Agrippa. Sir, this should be answer'd. 1855

• Octavius. 'Tis done already, and the messenger gone.
  I have told him, Lepidus was grown too cruel;
  That he his high authority abused,
  And did deserve his change: for what I have conquer'd,
  I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia, 1860
  And other of his conquer'd kingdoms, I
  Demand the like.

• Mecaenas. He'll never yield to that.

• Octavius. Nor must not then be yielded to in this.

[Enter OCTAVIA with her train]

• Octavia. Hail, Caesar, and my lord! hail, most dear Caesar!

• Octavius. That ever I should call thee castaway!

• Octavia. You have not call'd me so, nor have you cause.

• Octavius. Why have you stol'n upon us thus! You come not
  Like Caesar's sister: the wife of Antony 1870
  Should have an army for an usher, and
  The neighs of horse to tell of her approach
  Long ere she did appear; the trees by the way
  Should have borne men; and expectation fainted,
  Longing for what it had not; nay, the dust 1875
  Should have ascended to the roof of heaven,
  Raised by your populous troops: but you are come
  A market-maid to Rome; and have prevented
  The ostentation of our love, which, left unshown,
  Is often left unloved; we should have met you 1880
  By sea and land; supplying every stage
  With an augmented greeting.

• Octavia. Good my lord,
  To come thus was I not constrain'd, but did
  On my free will. My lord, Mark Antony, 1885
  Hearing that you prepared for war, acquainted
  My grieved ear withal; whereon, I begg'd
  His pardon for return.

• Octavius. Which soon he granted,
  Being an obstruct 'tween his lust and him. 1890

• Octavia. Do not say so, my lord.

• Octavius. I have eyes upon him,
  And his affairs come to me on the wind.
  Where is he now?

• Octavia. My lord, in Athens. 1895

• Octavius. No, my most wronged sister; Cleopatra
  Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire
  Up to a whore; who now are levying
  The kings o' the earth for war; he hath assembled
  Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus, 1900
  Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king
  Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas;
  King Malchus of Arabia; King of Pont;
  Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, king
  Of Comagene; Polemon and Amyntas, 1905
  The kings of Mede and Lycaonia,
  With a more larger list of sceptres.

• Octavia. Ay me, most wretched,
  That have my heart parted betwixt two friends
  That do afflict each other! 1910

• Octavius. Welcome hither:
  Your letters did withhold our breaking forth;
  Till we perceived, both how you were wrong led,
  And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart;
  Be you not troubled with the time, which drives 1915
  O'er your content these strong necessities;
  But let determined things to destiny
  Hold unbewail'd their way. Welcome to Rome;
  Nothing more dear to me. You are abused
  Beyond the mark of thought: and the high gods, 1920
  To do you justice, make them ministers
  Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort;
  And ever welcome to us.

• Agrippa. Welcome, lady.

• Mecaenas. Welcome, dear madam. 1925
  Each heart in Rome does love and pity you:
  Only the adulterous Antony, most large
  In his abominations, turns you off;
  And gives his potent regiment to a trull,
  That noises it against us. 1930

• Octavia. Is it so, sir?

• Octavius. Most certain. Sister, welcome: pray you,
  Be ever known to patience: my dear'st sister!

[Exeunt]