William Shakespeare: Antony and Cleopatra

ACT II. 7. SCENE VII. On board POMPEY'S Galley, lying near Misenum. (continued)

ENOBARBUS.
Here's to thee, Menas!

MENAS.
Enobarbus, welcome!

POMPEY.
Fill till the cup be hid.

ENOBARBUS.
There's a strong fellow, Menas.

[Pointing to the servant who carries off LEPIDUS.]

MENAS.
Why?

ENOBARBUS.
'A bears the third part of the world, man; see'st not?

MENAS.
The third part, then, is drunk; would it were all,
That it might go on wheels!

ENOBARBUS.
Drink thou; increase the reels.

MENAS.
Come.

POMPEY.
This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.

ANTONY.
It ripens towards it.--Strike the vessels, ho!--
Here is to Caesar!

CAESAR.
I could well forbear't.
It's monstrous labour when I wash my brain
And it grows fouler.

ANTONY.
Be a child o' the time.

CAESAR.
Possess it, I'll make answer:
But I had rather fast from all four days
Than drink so much in one.

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

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

ANTONY.
Come, let's all take hands,
Till that the conquering wine hath steep'd our sense
In soft and delicate Lethe.

ENOBARBUS.
All take hands.--
Make battery to our ears with the loud music:--
The while I'll place you: then the boy shall sing;
The holding every man shall bear as loud
As his strong sides can volley.

[Music plays. ENOBARBUS places them hand in hand.]