[_Exeunt Caesar and Octavia._] Enter Soothsayer. ANTONY. Now, sirrah, you do wish yourself in Egypt? SOOTHSAYER. Would I had never come from thence, nor you thither! ANTONY. If you can, your reason. SOOTHSAYER. I see it in my motion, have it not in my tongue. But yet hie you to Egypt again. ANTONY. Say to me, Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Caesar’s or mine? SOOTHSAYER. Caesar’s. Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side. Thy dæmon—that thy spirit which keeps thee—is Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable, Where Caesar’s is not. But near him, thy angel Becomes afeard, as being o’erpowered. Therefore Make space enough between you. ANTONY. Speak this no more. SOOTHSAYER. To none but thee; no more but when to thee. If thou dost play with him at any game, Thou art sure to lose; and of that natural luck He beats thee ’gainst the odds. Thy lustre thickens When he shines by. I say again, thy spirit Is all afraid to govern thee near him; But, he away, ’tis noble. ANTONY. Get thee gone. Say to Ventidius I would speak with him. [_Exit Soothsayer._] He shall to Parthia. Be it art or hap, He hath spoken true. The very dice obey him, And in our sports my better cunning faints Under his chance. If we draw lots, he speeds; His cocks do win the battle still of mine When it is all to naught, and his quails ever Beat mine, inhooped, at odds. I will to Egypt: And though I make this marriage for my peace, I’ th’ East my pleasure lies. Enter Ventidius. O, come, Ventidius, You must to Parthia. Your commission’s ready. Follow me and receive ’t. [_Exeunt._] SCENE IV. Rome. A street. Enter Lepidus, Maecenas and Agrippa. LEPIDUS. Trouble yourselves no further. Pray you hasten Your generals after. AGRIPPA. Sir, Mark Antony Will e’en but kiss Octavia, and we’ll follow. LEPIDUS. Till I shall see you in your soldier’s dress, Which will become you both, farewell. MAECENAS. We shall, As I conceive the journey, be at the Mount Before you, Lepidus. LEPIDUS. Your way is shorter; My purposes do draw me much about. You’ll win two days upon me. BOTH. Sir, good success! LEPIDUS. Farewell. [_Exeunt._] SCENE V. Alexandria. A Room in the Palace. Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, Alexas. CLEOPATRA. Give me some music—music, moody food Of us that trade in love. ALL. The music, ho! Enter Mardian, the eunuch. CLEOPATRA. Let it alone. Let’s to billiards. Come, Charmian. CHARMIAN. My arm is sore. Best play with Mardian. CLEOPATRA. As well a woman with an eunuch played As with a woman. Come, you’ll play with me, sir? MARDIAN. As well as I can, madam. CLEOPATRA. And when good will is showed, though’t come too short, The actor may plead pardon. I’ll none now. Give me mine angle; we’ll to the river. There, My music playing far off, I will betray Tawny-finned fishes. My bended hook shall pierce Their slimy jaws, and as I draw them up I’ll think them every one an Antony, And say “Ah, ha! You’re caught.”