You’ve strange serpents there?
Lepidus
You’ve strange serpents there?
Antony
Ay, Lepidus.
Lepidus
Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your
mud by the operation of your sun; so is your
crocodile.
Antony
They are so.
What manner o’ thing is your crocodile?
Pompey
Sit, and some wine. A health to Lepidus!
Lepidus
I am not so well as I should be, but I’ll ne’er out.
Enobarbus, aside
Not till you have slept. I fear me
you’ll be in till then.
Lepidus
Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies’ pyramises
are very goodly things. Without contradiction I have
heard that.
Menas, aside to Pompey
Pompey, a word.
Pompey, aside to Menas
Say in mine ear what is ’t.
Menas (whispers in ’s ear)
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!
Lepidus
What manner o’ thing is your crocodile?
Antony
It is shaped, sir, like itself, and it is as broad as
it hath breadth. It is just so high as it is, and moves
with it own organs. It lives by that which nourisheth
it, and the elements once out of it, it transmigrates.
Lepidus
What color is it of?
Antony
Of it own color too.
Lepidus
’Tis a strange serpent.
Antony
’Tis so, and the tears of it are wet.
Caesar, aside to Antony
Will this description satisfy him?
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 called for?
Menas, aside to Pompey
If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me,
Rise from thy stool.
Pompey
I think th’ art mad!
He rises, and they walk aside.