Ant. Thank you.
Cæs. Sit.
Ant. Sit, sir.
Cæs. Nay, then. 32
Ant. I learn, you take things ill which are not so,
Or being, concern you not.
Cæs. I must be laugh'd at
If, or for nothing or a little, I
Should say myself offended, and with you 36
Chiefly i' the world; more laugh'd at that I should
Once name you derogately, when to sound your name
It not concern'd me.
Ant. My being in Egypt, Cæsar,
What was 't to you? 40
Cæs. No more than my residing here at Rome
Might be to you in Egypt; yet, if you there
Did practise on on my state, your being in Egypt
Might be my question.
Ant. How intend you, practis'd? 44
Cæs. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent
By what did here befall me. Your wife and brother
Made wars upon me, and their contestation
Was theme for you, you were the word of war. 48
Ant. You do mistake your business; my brother never
Did urge me in his act: I did inquire it;
And have my learning from some true reports,
That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather 52
Discredit my authority with yours,
And make the wars alike against my stomach,
Having alike your cause? Of this my letters
43 practise on: plot against
state: government
44 intend: mean
46–48 Your wife and brother . . . war; cf. n.
54 stomach: inclination
