Page 2231 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

Or here, or at the Capitol.
Exit Lepidus.

ANTONY
This is a slight unmeritable man,
Meet to be sent on errands. Is it fit,
The threefold world divided, he should stand

One of the three to share it?

OCTAVIUS
So you thought him, [15]
And took his voice who should be pricked to die
In our black sentence and proscription.

ANTONY

Octavius, I have seen more days than you;
And though we lay these honours on this man
To ease ourselves of divers sland’rous loads, [20]
He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold,
To groan and sweat under the business,

Either led or driven as we point the way;
And having brought our treasure where we will,
Then take we down his load, and turn him off, [25]

Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears
And graze in commons.

OCTAVIUS
You may do your will;
But he’s a tried and valiant soldier.

ANTONY
So is my horse, Octavius, and for that
I do appoint him store of provender. [30]

It is a creature that I teach to fight,
To wind, to stop, to run directly on,
His corporal motion governed by my spirit.

And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so: