M. ANTONY.
OCTAVIUS CÆSAR.
ÆMILIUS LEPIDUS.
SEX. POMPEIUS.
DOMITIUS ENO BAR BUS,
VENTIDIUS,
CANIDIUS,
EROS,

Friends of Antony.
SCAR US,
DERCETAS,
DEMETRIUS,
PHILO,
MECENAS,
AGRIPPA,
DOLL ABELLA,

Friends of Casar.
PROCULEIUS,
THYR EUS,
GALLUS,
MENÁS,

Friends of Pompey.
MENECRATES,
VARRIUS,
SILIUS, an officer in Ventidius's army.
TAURUS, Lieutenant-general to Cæsár.
AL EXAS,
MARDIAN,

Servants to Cleopatra. DIOMEDES, A Soothsayer. Clown.

CLEOPATRA, Queen of Ægypt.
OCTAVIA, sister to Cæsar, and wife 'to Antony.
CHARMIAN, } Ladies attending on Cleopatra.
IRAS,
Ambassadors from Antony to Cæsar, Captains, Soldiers,

Messengers, and other Attendants.

The Scene is dispersed in several parts of the Roman empire.

A CT 1.

SCENE I.

The Palace at Alexandria in Ægypt.

Enter Demetrius and Philo.

N

Philo.
AY, but this dotage of our General
O'erflows the measure. Those his goodly

eyes,
That o'er the files and mullers of the war
Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn
The office and devotion of their view
Upon a tawny front. His captain's heart,
Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst
The buckles on his breali, reneges * all temper;
And is become the bellows, and the fan,
To cool a gypsy's luft. Look where they come!
Flourish. Enter Antony and Cleopatra, her Ladies

in the train, Eunuchs fanning her. Take but good note, and you shall see in him The triple + pillar of the world transform'd Into a strumpet's fool 1. Behold, and see.

Cleo. If it be love, indeed, tell me how much?

• Renounces. Pope.

+ Triple is here used improperly for third, or one of three. One of the Triumvirs, one of the three masters of the world. Warburton.

# We should read, -Into a strumpet's stool. The pillar of the world, says he, is transformed into a ftrumpet's stool. Alluding to the custom of strumpets fite ring in the lap of their lovers. Ib.

Ant. There's beggary in the love that can be

reckon'd.
Cleo. I'll set a bourn how far to bę belov'd.
Ant. Then must thou needs find out new heav'n,
new earth.

Enter a Melenger.
Mell. News, my good Lord, from Ronne.
Ant. Grates me. The sum.

Cleo. Nay, hear it, Antony, Fulvia perchance is angry; or who knows If the scarce bearded Cæfar have not fent His powerful mandate to you, “ Do this, or this; “ Take in that kingdom, and infranchise that ; “ Perform't, or else we damn thee."

Ant. How, my love?

Cleo. Perchance, nay and most like, You must not stay here longer, your dismission Is come from Cæsar ; therefore hear it, Antony. Where's Fulvia's process? Cæsar's I'd say-Both ? --Call in the messengers--As I'm Ægypt's Queen, Thou blushest, Antony, and that blood of thine Is Cæfar's homager; else fo thy. cheek pays shame When shrill-longu'd Fulvia scolds. The messen

gers,
Ant. Let Rome in Tyber melt, and the wide arch
Of the rang'd einpire fall! here is my space;
Kingdoms are clay; our dungy'earth alike
Feeds beast as man; the nobleness of life
Is to do thus, when fuch a mutual pair, [Embracing.
And such a twain can do't; in which, I bindy
On pain of punishment, the world to weet,
We stand up peerless.

Cleo. aside.] Excellent falfhood !
Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her ?
I'll seem the fool I am not. Antony
Will be himself.

Ant. But stirr'd by Cleopatra *.

* I think Mr Upton's emendation can admit of no dispute : Will be himself, but stirr'd by Cleopatra.

That is, Antony will act like himself, if he be but incited by Cleopatra. Revijah

Now for the love of Love, and his soft hours,
Let's not confound the time with conference harslı;
There's not a minute of our lives should stretch
Without some pleasure. Now, what sport to-night?

Cleo. Hear the ambassadors.

Ant. Fy, wrangling Queen! Whom every thing becomes; 10 chide, to laugh, To weep: whose every pallion fully strives To make itself in thee fair and admir'd. No messenger, but thine. And all alone, To-night we'll wander through the streets, and note The qualities of people. Come, my Queen; Last night you did desire it. --Speak not to us.

[Exeunt with their train. Dem. Is Cæsar with Antonius priz'd so flight?

Phil. Sir, sometimes, when he is not Antony,
He comes too short of that great property
Which still should go with Antony.

Dem. I am full sorry
That he approves the common liar, who
Thus speaks of him at Rome ; but I will hope
Of better deeds to-morrow. Rest you happy!

(Exeunt. SCE N E II. Enter Enobarbus, Charmian, Iras, Alexas, and de

Soothsayer. Char. Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most any thing Alexas, almost most absolute Alexas, where's the Soothsayer that you prais'd so to th' Queen? Oh! that I knew this husband, which you say must change his horns with garlands,

Alex. Soothsayer, : Sooth. Your will?

Char. Is this the man ?-Is't you, Sir, that know things?

Sooth. In Nature's infinite book of Secrecy, A little I can read.

Alex. Shew him your hand.

Eno. Bring in the banquet quickly. Winc enough, Cleopatra's health to drink.

Char. Good Sir, give me good fortune.
Sooth. I make not, but forelee.
Char. Pray then, foresee ine one.
Sooth. You shall be yet far fairer than you are.
Char. He means, in Helh.
Iras. No, you shall paint when you are old.
Char. Wrinkles forbid !
Alex. Vex not his prescience, be attentive.
Char. Hush!
Sooth. You shall be more beloving, than beloved.
Char. I had rather heat my liver with drinking.
Alex. Nay, hear him.

Char. Good now, some excellent fortune ! let me
be married to three Kings in a forenoon, and wi-
dow them all ; let me have a child at fifty, to whom
Herod of Jewry may do homage! find me, to mar,
ry me with O&avius Cæfar, and companion me
with my mistress.

Sooth. You shall out-live žbe Lady whom you ferve.

Char. Oh, excellent! I love long life better than
figs.

Socih. You have seen and proved a fairer former
fortune, than that which is to approach.
Char. Then belike my children shall have no

names?
Pr’ythee how many boys and wenches must I have ?
Sooth. If every

of your

wishes had a womb, and foretell every wish *, a million.

Char. Out, fool! í forgive thee for a witch.

Alex. You think none but your sheets are privy
to your wishes,

Char. Nay, come. Tell Iras hers.
Alex. We'll know all our fortunes.

Eno. Mine and most of our fortunes to-night shall
be to go drunk to bed.

Iras. There's a palm presages chastity, if nothing else.

Char. Ev'n as the o'erflowing Nilus presagech famine.

Add fertil ev'ry will,bo, Warburton,