_Ant._ Thank thy love. Some four or five such victories as this Will save thy farther pains. _Vent._ Expect no more; Caesar is on his guard: I know, sir, you have conquered against odds; But still you draw supplies from one poor town, And of Egyptians: he has all the world, And, at his beck, nations come pouring in, To fill the gaps you make. Pray, think again. _Ant._ Why dost thou drive me from myself, to search For foreign aids? to hunt my memory, And range all o'er a waste and barren place, To find a friend? the wretched have no friends. Yet I had one, the bravest youth of Rome, Whom Caesar loves beyond the love of women: He could resolve his mind, as fire does wax, From that hard rugged image melt him down, And mould him in what softer form he pleased. _Vent._ Him would I see; that man, of all the world; Just such a one we want. _Ant._ He loved me too; I was his soul; he lived not but in me: We were so closed within each others breasts, The rivets were not found, that joined us first. That does not reach us yet: we were so mixt, As meeting streams, both to ourselves were lost; We were one mass; we could not give or take, But from the same; for he was I, I he. _Vent._ He moves as I would wish him. [_Aside._ _Ant._ After this, I need not tell his name;--'twas Dolabella. _Vent._ He's now in Caesar's camp. _Ant._ No matter where, Since he's no longer mine. He took unkindly, That I forbade him Cleopatra's sight, Because I feared he loved her: he confest, He had a warmth, which, for my sake, he stifled; For 'twere impossible that two, so one, Should not have loved the same. When he departed, He took no leave; and that confirmed my thoughts. _Vent._ It argues, that he loved you more than her, Else he had staid; but he perceived you jealous, And would not grieve his friend: I know he loves you. _Ant._ I should have seen him, then, ere now. _Vent._ Perhaps He has thus long been labouring for your peace. _Ant._ Would he were here! _Vent._ Would you believe he loved you? I read your answer in your eyes, you would. Not to conceal it longer, he has sent A messenger from Caesar's camp, with letters. _Ant._ Let him appear. _Vent._ I'll bring him instantly. [_Exit_ VENTIDIUS, _and re-enters immediately with_ DOLABELLA. _Ant._ 'Tis he himself! himself, by holy friendship! [_Runs to embrace him._ Art thou returned at last, my better half? Come, give me all myself! Let me not live, If the young bridegroom, longing for his night, Was ever half so fond. _Dola._ I must be silent, for my soul is busy About a noble work: she's new come home, Like a long-absent man, and wanders o'er Each room, a stranger to her own, to look If all be safe.