The servants who open the scene have no names but sharp eyes. They observe the powerful men with the irreverent clarity of those who carry their chairs and fill their cups. Their commentary on Lepidus — that he's been made drunk as a tool, that his dignity is a pretense — is the most honest analysis in the first half of the scene.
Here they’ll be, man. Some o’ their plants are ill-rooted already; the
least wind i’ th’ world will blow them down.
Here they’ll be, man. Some o’ their plants are ill-rooted already; the least wind i’ th’ world will blow them down.
Here they’ll be, man. Some o’ their plants are ill-rooted already; the least wind i’ th’ world will blow them down.
here they’ll be, man. some o’ their plants are ill-rooted already; the least wind i’ th’ world will blow them down.
Lepidus is high-coloured.
Lepidus is high-coloured.
Lepidus is high-coloured.
lepidus is high-coloured.
They have made him drink alms-drink.
They have made him drink alms-drink.
They have made him drink alms-drink.
they have made him drink alms-drink.
As they pinch one another by the disposition, he cries out “no more”,
reconciles them to his entreaty and himself to th’ drink.
As they pinch one another by the disposition, he cries out “no more”, reconciles them to his entreaty and himself to th’ drink.
As they pinch one another by the disposition, he cries out “no more”, reconciles them to his entreaty and himself to th’ drink.
as they pinch one another by the disposition, he cries out “no more”, reconciles them to his entreaty and himself to th’ drink.
But it raises the greater war between him and his discretion.
But it raises the greater war between him and his discretion.
But it raises the greater war between him and his discretion.
but it raises the greater war between him and his discretion.
Why, this it is to have a name in great men’s fellowship. I had as lief
have a reed that will do me no service as a partisan I could not heave.
Why, this it is to have a name in great men’s fellowship. I had as lief have a reed that will do me no service as a partisan I could not heave.
Why, this it is to have a name in great men’s fellowship. I had as lief have a reed that will do me no service as a partisan I could not heave.
why, this it is to have a name in great men’s fellowship. i had as lief have a reed that will do me no service as a partisan i could not heave.
To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in ’t, are
the holes where eyes should be, which pitifully disaster the cheeks.
A sennet sounded. Enter Caesar, Antony, Pompey, Lepidus, Agrippa,
Maecenas, Enobarbus, Menas with other Captains.
To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in ’t, are the holes where eyes should be, which pitifully disaster the cheeks. A sennet sounded. Enter Caesar, Antony, Pompey, Lepidus, Agrippa, Maecenas, Enobarbus, Menas with other Captains.
To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in ’t, are the holes where eyes should be, which pitifully disaster the cheeks. A sennet sounded. Enter Caesar, Antony, Pompey, Lepidus, Agrippa, Maecenas, Enobarbus, Menas with other Captains.
to be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in ’t, are the holes where eyes should be, which pitifully disaster the cheeks. a sennet s
By certain scales i’ th’ pyramid; they know
By th’ height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth
Or foison follow. The higher Nilus swells,
The more it promises. As it ebbs, the seedsman
Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain,
And shortly comes to harvest.
By certain scales i’ th’ pyramid; they know By th’ height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth Or foison follow. The higher Nilus swells, The more it promises. As it ebbs, the seedsman Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain, And shortly comes to harvest.
By certain scales i’ th’ pyramid; they know By th’ height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth Or foison follow. The higher Nilus swells, The more it promises. As it ebbs, the seedsman Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain, And shortly comes to harvest.
by certain scales i’ th’ pyramid; they know by th’ height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth or foison follow. the higher nilus swells, the more it
You’ve strange serpents there?
You’ve strange serpents there?
You’ve strange serpents there?
you’ve strange serpents there?
Ay, Lepidus.
Ay, Lepidus.
Ay, Lepidus.
ay, lepidus.
Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your
sun; so is your crocodile.
Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun; so is your crocodile.
Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun; so is your crocodile.
your serpent of egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun; so is your crocodile.
They are so.
They are so.
They are so.
they are so.
Sit, and some wine! A health to Lepidus!
Sit, and some wine! A health to Lepidus!
Sit, and some wine! A health to Lepidus!
sit, and some wine! a health to lepidus!
I am not so well as I should be, but I’ll ne’er out.
I am not so well as I should be, but I’ll ne’er out.
I am not so well as I should be, but I’ll ne’er out.
i am not so well as i should be, but i’ll ne’er out.
Not till you have slept. I fear me you’ll be in till then.
Not till you have slept. I fear me you’ll be in till then.
Not till you have slept. I fear me you’ll be in till then.
not till you have slept. i fear me you’ll be in till then.
Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies’ pyramises are very goodly
things. Without contradiction I have heard that.
Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies’ pyramises are very goodly things. Without contradiction I have heard that.
Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies’ pyramises are very goodly things. Without contradiction I have heard that.
nay, certainly, i have heard the ptolemies’ pyramises are very goodly things. without contradiction i have heard that.
Pompey's response to Menas's proposal is one of the most revealing moments in the play. He doesn't refuse on moral grounds — he explicitly says he would have been glad to find it done. He refuses because it was told to him: 'thou shouldst have done / And not have spoke on 't.' This is honor as a procedural fiction. Pompey can live with the result of murder; he can't be seen to have ordered it. His honor is not about what happens but about the paper trail of his knowledge. Shakespeare is not mocking this exactly — the distinction matters to Pompey, and it is a real distinction. But the play makes clear that this kind of procedural honor, maintained at the cost of the world, is also a form of self-deception. Pompey wants to be the earthly Jove. He just doesn't want to have decided to be.
And hear me speak a word.
And hear me speak a word.
And hear me speak a word.
and hear me speak a word.
This wine for Lepidus!
This wine for Lepidus!
This wine for Lepidus!
this wine for lepidus!
What manner o’ thing is your crocodile?
What manner o’ thing is your crocodile?
What manner o’ thing is your crocodile?
what manner o’ thing is your crocodile?
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.
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.
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.
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 whi
What colour is it of?
What colour is it of?
What colour is it of?
what colour is it of?
Of its own colour too.
Of its own colour too.
Of its own colour too.
of its own colour too.
’Tis a strange serpent.
’Tis a strange serpent.
’Tis a strange serpent.
’tis a strange serpent.
’Tis so, and the tears of it are wet.
’Tis so, and the tears of it are wet.
’Tis so, and the tears of it are wet.
’tis so, and the tears of it are wet.
Will this description satisfy him?
Will this description satisfy him?
Will this description satisfy him?
will this description satisfy him?
With the health that Pompey gives him, else he is a very epicure.
With the health that Pompey gives him, else he is a very epicure.
With the health that Pompey gives him, else he is a very epicure.
with the health that pompey gives him, else he is a very epicure.
Do as I bid you.—Where’s this cup I called for?
Do as I bid you.—Where’s this cup I called for?
Do as I bid you.—Where’s this cup I called for?
do as i bid you.—where’s this cup i called for?
Rise from thy stool.
Rise from thy stool.
Rise from thy stool.
rise from thy stool.
The scene opens and closes with Lepidus — first observed by servants as already drunk and being managed, then carried out unconscious, then referenced as the 'third part of the world' being borne to shore. This is deliberate comic structure. Lepidus being drunk is funny; it is also a preview of his political elimination. The servants who set up the scene understand his position precisely: 'a reed that will do no service.' When he is carried out, Enobarbus points to the servant carrying him: 'He bears the third part of the world.' The joke collapses Lepidus's political rank into his physical helplessness. Caesar will deal with Lepidus's actual political rank the same way — efficiently, without ceremony.
The matter?
The matter?
The matter?
the matter?
I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.
I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.
I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.
i have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.
Thou hast served me with much faith. What’s else to say?—
Be jolly, lords.
Thou hast served me with much faith. What’s else to say?— Be jolly, lords.
Thou hast served me with much faith. What’s else to say?— Be jolly, lords.
thou hast served me with much faith. what’s else to say?— be jolly, lords.
These quicksands, Lepidus,
Keep off them, for you sink.
These quicksands, Lepidus, Keep off them, for you sink.
These quicksands, Lepidus, Keep off them, for you sink.
these quicksands, lepidus, keep off them, for you sink.
Wilt thou be lord of all the world?
Wilt thou be lord of all the world?
Wilt thou be lord of all the world?
wilt thou be lord of all the world?
What sayst thou?
What sayst thou?
What sayst thou?
what sayst thou?
Wilt thou be lord of the whole world?
That’s twice.
Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That’s twice.
Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That’s twice.
wilt thou be lord of the whole world? that’s twice.
How should that be?
How should that be?
How should that be?
how should that be?
But entertain it,
And though you think me poor, I am the man
Will give thee all the world.
But entertain it, And though you think me poor, I am the man Will give thee all the world.
But entertain it, And though you think me poor, I am the man Will give thee all the world.
but entertain it, and though you think me poor, i am the man will give thee all the world.
Hast thou drunk well?
Hast thou drunk well?
Hast thou drunk well?
hast thou drunk well?
No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup.
Thou art, if thou dar’st be, the earthly Jove.
Whate’er the ocean pales or sky inclips
Is thine, if thou wilt have’t.
No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup. Thou art, if thou dar’st be, the earthly Jove. Whate’er the ocean pales or sky inclips Is thine, if thou wilt have’t.
No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup. Thou art, if thou dar’st be, the earthly Jove. Whate’er the ocean pales or sky inclips Is thine, if thou wilt have’t.
no, pompey, i have kept me from the cup. thou art, if thou dar’st be, the earthly jove. whate’er the ocean pales or sky inclips is thine, if thou wilt
Show me which way.
Show me which way.
Show me which way.
show me which way.
These three world-sharers, these competitors,
Are in thy vessel. Let me cut the cable,
And when we are put off, fall to their throats.
All then is thine.
These three world-sharers, these competitors, Are in thy vessel. Let me cut the cable, And when we are put off, fall to their throats. All then is thine.
These three world-sharers, these competitors, Are in thy vessel. Let me cut the cable, And when we are put off, fall to their throats. All then is thine.
these three world-sharers, these competitors, are in thy vessel. let me cut the cable, and when we are put off, fall to their throats. all then is thi
Ah, this thou shouldst have done
And not have spoke on ’t! In me ’tis villainy;
In thee ’t had been good service. Thou must know
’Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour;
Mine honour it. Repent that e’er thy tongue
Hath so betray’d thine act. Being done unknown,
I should have found it afterwards well done,
But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.
Ah, this thou shouldst have done And not have spoke on ’t! In me ’tis villainy; In thee ’t had been good service. Thou must know ’Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour; Mine honour it. Repent that e’er thy tongue Hath so betray’d thine act. Being done unknown, I should have found it afterward...
Ah, this thou shouldst have done And not have spoke on ’t! In me ’tis villainy; In thee ’t had been good service. Thou must know ’Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour; Mine honour it. Repent that e’er thy tongue Hath so betray’d thine act. Being done unknown, I should have found it afterward...
ah, this thou shouldst have done and not have spoke on ’t! in me ’tis villainy; in thee ’t had been good service. thou must know ’tis not my profit th
I’ll never follow thy palled fortunes more.
Who seeks, and will not take when once ’tis offered,
Shall never find it more.
I’ll never follow thy palled fortunes more. Who seeks, and will not take when once ’tis offered, Shall never find it more.
I’ll never follow thy palled fortunes more. Who seeks, and will not take when once ’tis offered, Shall never find it more.
i’ll never follow thy palled fortunes more. who seeks, and will not take when once ’tis offered, shall never find it more.
At every feast in this play, Caesar is uncomfortable. He drinks because he must, not because he wants to. His final speech in this scene — 'It's monstrous labour when I wash my brain / And it grows fouler' — is the most self-revealing thing he says in Act Two. Caesar is a man who does not lose himself in pleasure, who keeps his brain and his plans intact through every social occasion. This is both his strength and what makes him cold. In the Egyptian world of the play, where passion and excess are marks of life, Caesar's sobriety reads as something inhuman — and also as the quality that will let him win. He's the only person in this scene keeping score.
This health to Lepidus!
This health to Lepidus!
This health to Lepidus!
this health to lepidus!
Bear him ashore. I’ll pledge it for him, Pompey.
Bear him ashore. I’ll pledge it for him, Pompey.
Bear him ashore. I’ll pledge it for him, Pompey.
bear him ashore. i’ll pledge it for him, pompey.
Here’s to thee, Menas!
Here’s to thee, Menas!
Here’s to thee, Menas!
here’s to thee, menas!
Enobarbus, welcome!
Enobarbus, welcome!
Enobarbus, welcome!
enobarbus, welcome!
Fill till the cup be hid.
Fill till the cup be hid.
Fill till the cup be hid.
fill till the cup be hid.
There’s a strong fellow, Menas.
There’s a strong fellow, Menas.
There’s a strong fellow, Menas.
there’s a strong fellow, menas.
Why?
Why?
Why?
why?
’A bears the third part of the world, man. Seest not?
’A bears the third part of the world, man. Seest not?
’A bears the third part of the world, man. Seest not?
’a bears the third part of the world, man. seest not?
The third part, then, is drunk. Would it were all,
That it might go on wheels!
The third part, then, is drunk. Would it were all, That it might go on wheels!
The third part, then, is drunk. Would it were all, That it might go on wheels!
the third part, then, is drunk. would it were all, that it might go on wheels!
Drink thou. Increase the reels.
Drink thou. Increase the reels.
Drink thou. Increase the reels.
drink thou. increase the reels.
Come.
Come.
Come.
come.
This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.
This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.
This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.
this is not yet an alexandrian feast.
It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho!
Here is to Caesar!
It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho! Here is to Caesar!
It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho! Here is to Caesar!
it ripens towards it. strike the vessels, ho! here is to caesar!
I could well forbear’t.
It’s monstrous labour when I wash my brain
And it grows fouler.
I could well forbear’t. It’s monstrous labour when I wash my brain And it grows fouler.
I could well forbear’t. It’s monstrous labour when I wash my brain And it grows fouler.
i could well forbear’t. it’s monstrous labour when i wash my brain and it grows fouler.
Be a child o’ the time.
Be a child o’ the time.
Be a child o’ the time.
be a child o’ the time.
Possess it, I’ll make answer.
But I had rather fast from all, four days,
Than drink so much in one.
Possess it, I’ll make answer. But I had rather fast from all, four days, Than drink so much in one.
Possess it, I’ll make answer. But I had rather fast from all, four days, Than drink so much in one.
possess it, i’ll make answer. but i had rather fast from all, four days, than drink so much in one.
The song 'Come, thou monarch of the vine' seems like pure festivity — and it is. But its placement is exact. It comes immediately after Pompey has refused the world, after Menas has decided to leave, after Lepidus has been carried out, and while Caesar stands uncomfortable at the edge of the circle. The lords of the world dance in a ring on Pompey's galley, which Menas just proposed to turn into a murder ship. 'Cup us till the world go round' — the world is already going around, and none of them are in control of it. The Bacchanalian abandon that Antony loves and Caesar tolerates is, in this context, also a form of political blindness. The feast happens. The world turns. The cable was not cut. Pompey has laughed away his fortune.
Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals
And celebrate our drink?
Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals And celebrate our drink?
Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals And celebrate our drink?
shall we dance now the egyptian bacchanals and celebrate our drink?
Let’s ha’t, good soldier.
Let’s ha’t, good soldier.
Let’s ha’t, good soldier.
let’s ha’t, good soldier.
Come, let’s all take hands
Till that the conquering wine hath steeped our sense
In soft and delicate Lethe.
Come, let’s all take hands Till that the conquering wine hath steeped our sense In soft and delicate Lethe.
Come, let’s all take hands Till that the conquering wine hath steeped our sense In soft and delicate Lethe.
come, let’s all take hands till that the conquering wine hath steeped our sense in soft and delicate lethe.
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 beat as loud
As his strong sides can volley.
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 beat as loud As his strong sides can volley.
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 beat as loud As his strong sides can volley.
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 beat as l
Come, thou monarch of the vine,
Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne!
In thy vats our cares be drowned,
With thy grapes our hairs be crowned.
Cup us till the world go round,
Cup us till the world go round!
Come, thou monarch of the vine, Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne! In thy vats our cares be drowned, With thy grapes our hairs be crowned. Cup us till the world go round, Cup us till the world go round!
Come, thou monarch of the vine, Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne! In thy vats our cares be drowned, With thy grapes our hairs be crowned. Cup us till the world go round, Cup us till the world go round!
come, thou monarch of the vine, plumpy bacchus with pink eyne! in thy vats our cares be drowned, with thy grapes our hairs be crowned. cup us till the
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
Is weaker than the wine, and mine own tongue
Splits what it speaks. The wild disguise hath almost
Anticked us all. What needs more words. Good night.
Good Antony, your hand.
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 Is weaker than the wine, and mine own tongue Splits what it speaks. The wild disguise hath almost Antic...
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 Is weaker than the wine, and mine own tongue Splits what it speaks. The wild disguise hath almost Antic...
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. yo
I’ll try you on the shore.
I’ll try you on the shore.
I’ll try you on the shore.
i’ll try you on the shore.
And shall, sir. Give’s your hand.
And shall, sir. Give’s your hand.
And shall, sir. Give’s your hand.
and shall, sir. give’s your hand.
O Antony,
You have my father’s house.
But, what? We are friends. Come, down into the boat.
O Antony, You have my father’s house. But, what? We are friends. Come, down into the boat.
O Antony, You have my father’s house. But, what? We are friends. Come, down into the boat.
o antony, you have my father’s house. but, what? we are friends. come, down into the boat.
Take heed you fall not.
Take heed you fall not.
Take heed you fall not.
take heed you fall not.
No, to my cabin. These drums, these trumpets, flutes! What!
Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell
To these great fellows. Sound and be hanged, sound out!
No, to my cabin. These drums, these trumpets, flutes! What! Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell To these great fellows. Sound and be hanged, sound out!
No, to my cabin. These drums, these trumpets, flutes! What! Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell To these great fellows. Sound and be hanged, sound out!
no, to my cabin. these drums, these trumpets, flutes! what! let neptune hear we bid a loud farewell to these great fellows. sound and be hanged, sound
Hoo, says ’a! There’s my cap!
Hoo, says ’a! There’s my cap!
Hoo, says ’a! There’s my cap!
hoo, says ’a! there’s my cap!
Hoo! Noble captain, come.
Hoo! Noble captain, come.
Hoo! Noble captain, come.
hoo! noble captain, come.
The Reckoning
This scene is simultaneously comedy, political tragedy, and symbolic prophecy. Lepidus being drunk is funny — and it shows exactly what he is: the third wheel, tolerated and managed. Antony's crocodile speech is a masterpiece of comic evasion: every answer is technically true and completely meaningless. The Menas-Pompey exchange is the scene's dark heart. Pompey had one chance. Menas laid it before him. Pompey refused it on principle — and with a fatal honesty admitted he wished he hadn't been told. That 'thou shouldst have done / And not have spoke on 't' is one of the play's most revealing lines about the gap between wanting and honor. The song, the dancing, Caesar's discomfort — all of it is a world about to change, feasting while it can.
If this happened today…
A hostile takeover target has everyone who matters at a company dinner. An advisor pulls the acquiring CEO aside: 'We can lock the doors right now. They're all here. We do it tonight, it's done.' The CEO says: 'You should have just done it. The moment you told me, it became a decision, and I can't make that decision. But if you'd just done it — I'd have found it well done.' He goes back to dinner. The advisor walks out of the building.