Rome. A Room in Caesar's House.
 Enter AGRIPPA, MAECENAS, and CAESAR.

Caesar	Contemning Rome, he has done all this and more
	In Alexandria. Here's the manner of't:
	I'th' market-place, on a tribunal silvered,
	Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold
	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
	Of Lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia,
	Absolute queen.

Maecenas					This in the public eye?

Caesar	I'th' common showplace, where they exercise;
	His sons he there proclaimed the kings of kings.
	Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia,
	He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assigned
	Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia. She
	In th' habiliments of the goddess Isis
	That day appeared, and oft before gave audience,
	As 'tis reported, so.

Maecenas							Let Rome be thus informed.

Agrippa	Who, queasy with his insolence already,
	Will their good thoughts call from him.

Caesar	The people knows it, and have now received
	His accusations.

Agrippa						Who does he accuse?

Caesar	Caesar; and that, having in Sicily
	Sextus Pompeius spoiled, we had not rated him
	His part o'th' isle. Then does he say he lent me
	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 answered.

Caesar	'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 conquered,
	I grant him part; but then in his Armenia,
	And other of his conquered kingdoms, I
	Demand the like.

Maecenas						He'll never yield to that.

Caesar	Nor must not then be yielded to in this.

                      Enter OCTAVIA with her TRAIN.

Octavia	Hail, Caesar, and my lord! Hail, most dear Caesar!

Caesar	That ever I should call thee castaway!

Octavia	You have not called me so, nor have you cause.

Caesar	Why have you stol'n upon us thus? You come not
	Like Caesar's sister. The wife of Antony
	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 th' way
	Should have borne men, and expectation fainted,
	Longing for what it had not. Nay, the dust
	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
	By sea and land, supplying every stage
	With an augmented greeting.

Octavia									Good my lord,
	To come thus was I not constrained, but did it
	On my free will. My lord, Mark Antony,
	Hearing that you prepared for war, acquainted
	My grievd ear withal; whereon I begged
	His pardon for return.

Caesar							Which soon he granted,
	Being an obstruct 'tween his lust and him.

Octavia	Do not say so, my lord.

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

Octavia						My lord, in Athens.

Caesar	No, my most wrongd sister; Cleopatra
	Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire
	Up to a whore; who now are levying
	The kings o'th' earth for war. He hath assembled
	Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus
	Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king
	Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas;
	King Manchus of Arabia; King of Pont;
	Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, king
	Of Comagene; Polemon and Amyntas,
	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 does afflict each other!

Caesar									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
	O'er your content these strong necessities,
	But let determined things to destiny
	Hold unbewailed their way. Welcome to Rome;
	Nothing more dear to me. You are abused
	Beyond the mark of thought, and the high gods,
	To do you justice, makes his ministers
	Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort,
	And ever welcome to us.

Agrippa							Welcome, lady.

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

Octavia									Is it so, sir?

Caesar	Most certain. Sister, welcome. Pray you
	Be ever known to patience. My dear'st sister!
													[Exeunt.

