Page 2465 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

(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 [105]
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. [110]
(Music plays. Enobarbus places them hand in hand.)

THE SONG

Come, thou monarch of the vine,

Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne!
In thy fats our cares be drown’d,
With thy grapes our hairs be crown’d:
Cup us till the world go round, [115]

Cup us till the world go round!

CÆSAR
What would you more? Pompey, good-night. Good brother,
Let me request you off: our graver business
Frowns at this levity. Gentle lords, let’s part,

You see we have burnt our cheeks. Strong Enobarb [120]
Is weaker than the wine, and mine own tongue
Splits what is speaks: the wild disguise hath almost
Antick’d us all. What needs more words? Good night.