Speeches (Lines) for Pompey
in "Antony and Cleopatra"
Total: 41

1

II,1,616

(stage directions). [Enter POMPEY, MENECRATES, and MENAS, in]
warlike manner]

Pompey. If the great gods be just, they shall assist
The deeds of justest men.

2

II,1,620

Menecrates. Know, worthy Pompey,
That what they do delay, they not deny.

Pompey. Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays
The thing we sue for.

3

II,1,626

Menecrates. We, ignorant of ourselves,
Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers
Deny us for our good; so find we profit
By losing of our prayers.

Pompey. I shall do well:
The people love me, and the sea is mine;
My powers are crescent, and my auguring hope
Says it will come to the full. Mark Antony
In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make
No wars without doors: Caesar gets money where
He loses hearts: Lepidus flatters both,
Of both is flatter'd; but he neither loves,
Nor either cares for him.

4

II,1,637

Menas. Caesar and Lepidus
Are in the field: a mighty strength they carry.

Pompey. Where have you this? 'tis false.

5

II,1,639

Menas. From Silvius, sir.

Pompey. He dreams: I know they are in Rome together,
Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love,
Salt Cleopatra, soften thy waned lip!
Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both!
Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts,
Keep his brain fuming; Epicurean cooks
Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite;
That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour
Even till a Lethe'd dulness!
[Enter VARRIUS]
How now, Varrius!

6

II,1,654

Varrius. This is most certain that I shall deliver:
Mark Antony is every hour in Rome
Expected: since he went from Egypt 'tis
A space for further travel.

Pompey. I could have given less matter
A better ear. Menas, I did not think
This amorous surfeiter would have donn'd his helm
For such a petty war: his soldiership
Is twice the other twain: but let us rear
The higher our opinion, that our stirring
Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck
The ne'er-lust-wearied Antony.

7

II,1,667

Menas. I cannot hope
Caesar and Antony shall well greet together:
His wife that's dead did trespasses to Caesar;
His brother warr'd upon him; although, I think,
Not moved by Antony.

Pompey. I know not, Menas,
How lesser enmities may give way to greater.
Were't not that we stand up against them all,
'Twere pregnant they should square between
themselves;
For they have entertained cause enough
To draw their swords: but how the fear of us
May cement their divisions and bind up
The petty difference, we yet not know.
Be't as our gods will have't! It only stands
Our lives upon to use our strongest hands.
Come, Menas.

8

II,6,1212

(stage directions). [Flourish. Enter POMPEY and MENAS at one door,]
with drum and trumpet: at another, OCTAVIUS CAESAR,
MARK ANTONY, LEPIDUS, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS, MECAENAS,
with Soldiers marching]

Pompey. Your hostages I have, so have you mine;
And we shall talk before we fight.

9

II,6,1221

Octavius. Most meet
That first we come to words; and therefore have we
Our written purposes before us sent;
Which, if thou hast consider'd, let us know
If 'twill tie up thy discontented sword,
And carry back to Sicily much tall youth
That else must perish here.

Pompey. To you all three,
The senators alone of this great world,
Chief factors for the gods, I do not know
Wherefore my father should revengers want,
Having a son and friends; since Julius Caesar,
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted,
There saw you labouring for him. What was't
That moved pale Cassius to conspire; and what
Made the all-honour'd, honest Roman, Brutus,
With the arm'd rest, courtiers and beauteous freedom,
To drench the Capitol; but that they would
Have one man but a man? And that is it
Hath made me rig my navy; at whose burthen
The anger'd ocean foams; with which I meant
To scourge the ingratitude that despiteful Rome
Cast on my noble father.

10

II,6,1241

Antony. Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails;
We'll speak with thee at sea: at land, thou know'st
How much we do o'er-count thee.

Pompey. At land, indeed,
Thou dost o'er-count me of my father's house:
But, since the cuckoo builds not for himself,
Remain in't as thou mayst.

11

II,6,1253

Octavius. And what may follow,
To try a larger fortune.

Pompey. You have made me offer
Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must
Rid all the sea of pirates; then, to send
Measures of wheat to Rome; this 'greed upon
To part with unhack'd edges, and bear back
Our targes undinted.

12

II,6,1260

Octavius. [with Antony and Lepidus] That's our offer.

Pompey. Know, then,
I came before you here a man prepared
To take this offer: but Mark Antony
Put me to some impatience: though I lose
The praise of it by telling, you must know,
When Caesar and your brother were at blows,
Your mother came to Sicily and did find
Her welcome friendly.

13

II,6,1271

Antony. I have heard it, Pompey;
And am well studied for a liberal thanks
Which I do owe you.

Pompey. Let me have your hand:
I did not think, sir, to have met you here.

14

II,6,1278

Octavius. Since I saw you last,
There is a change upon you.

Pompey. Well, I know not
What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face;
But in my bosom shall she never come,
To make my heart her vassal.

15

II,6,1283

Lepidus. Well met here.

Pompey. I hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed:
I crave our composition may be written,
And seal'd between us.

16

II,6,1287

Octavius. That's the next to do.

Pompey. We'll feast each other ere we part; and let's
Draw lots who shall begin.

17

II,6,1290

Antony. That will I, Pompey.

Pompey. No, Antony, take the lot: but, first
Or last, your fine Egyptian cookery
Shall have the fame. I have heard that Julius Caesar
Grew fat with feasting there.

18

II,6,1295

Antony. You have heard much.

Pompey. I have fair meanings, sir.

19

II,6,1297

Antony. And fair words to them.

Pompey. Then so much have I heard:
And I have heard, Apollodorus carried—

20

II,6,1300

Domitius Enobarus. No more of that: he did so.

Pompey. What, I pray you?

21

II,6,1302

Domitius Enobarus. A certain queen to Caesar in a mattress.

Pompey. I know thee now: how farest thou, soldier?

22

II,6,1306

Domitius Enobarus. Well;
And well am like to do; for, I perceive,
Four feasts are toward.

Pompey. Let me shake thy hand;
I never hated thee: I have seen thee fight,
When I have envied thy behavior.

23

II,6,1313

Domitius Enobarus. Sir,
I never loved you much; but I ha' praised ye,
When you have well deserved ten times as much
As I have said you did.

Pompey. Enjoy thy plainness,
It nothing ill becomes thee.
Aboard my galley I invite you all:
Will you lead, lords?

24

II,6,1318

Octavius. [with Antony and Lepidus]

Pompey. Come.

25

II,7,1405

Antony. They are so.

Pompey. Sit,—and some wine! A health to Lepidus!

26

II,7,1412

Menas. [Aside to POMPEY] Pompey, a word.

Pompey. [Aside to MENAS] Say in mine ear:
what is't?

27

II,7,1417

Menas. [Aside to POMPEY] Forsake thy seat, I do beseech
thee, captain,
And hear me speak a word.

Pompey. [Aside to MENAS] Forbear me till anon.
This wine for Lepidus!

28

II,7,1432

Antony. With the health that Pompey gives him, else he is a
very epicure.

Pompey. [Aside to MENAS] Go hang, sir, hang! Tell me of
that? away!
Do as I bid you. Where's this cup I call'd for?

29

II,7,1438

Menas. [Aside to POMPEY] If for the sake of merit thou
wilt hear me,
Rise from thy stool.

Pompey. [Aside to MENAS] I think thou'rt mad.
The matter?

30

II,7,1442

Menas. I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.

Pompey. Thou hast served me with much faith. What's else to say?
Be jolly, lords.

31

II,7,1447

Menas. Wilt thou be lord of all the world?

Pompey. What say'st thou?

32

II,7,1449

Menas. Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That's twice.

Pompey. How should that be?

33

II,7,1453

Menas. But entertain it,
And, though thou think me poor, I am the man
Will give thee all the world.

Pompey. Hast thou drunk well?

34

II,7,1458

Menas. Now, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup.
Thou art, if thou darest be, the earthly Jove:
Whate'er the ocean pales, or sky inclips,
Is thine, if thou wilt ha't.

Pompey. Show me which way.

35

II,7,1463

Menas. These three world-sharers, these competitors,
Are in thy vessel: let me cut the cable;
And, when we are put off, fall to their throats:
All there is thine.

Pompey. Ah, this thou shouldst have done,
And not have spoke on't! In me 'tis villany;
In thee't had been good service. Thou must know,
'Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour;
Mine honour, it. Repent that e'er thy tongue
Hath so betray'd thine act: being done unknown,
I should have found it afterwards well done;
But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.

36

II,7,1475

Menas. [Aside] For this,
I'll never follow thy pall'd fortunes more.
Who seeks, and will not take when once 'tis offer'd,
Shall never find it more.

Pompey. This health to Lepidus!

37

II,7,1479

Menas. Enobarbus, welcome!

Pompey. Fill till the cup be hid.

38

II,7,1489

Menas. Come.

Pompey. This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.

39

II,7,1503

Domitius Enobarus. Ha, my brave emperor!
[To MARK ANTONY]
Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals,
And celebrate our drink?

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

40

II,7,1529

Octavius. What would you more? Pompey, good night. Good brother,
Let me request you off: our graver business
Frowns at this levity. Gentle lords, let's part;
You see we have burnt our cheeks: strong Enobarb
Is weaker than the wine; and mine own tongue
Splits what it speaks: the wild disguise hath almost
Antick'd us all. What needs more words? Good night.
Good Antony, your hand.

Pompey. I'll try you on the shore.

41

II,7,1531

Antony. And shall, sir; give's your hand.

Pompey. O Antony,
You have my father's house,—But, what? we are friends.
Come, down into the boat.