Ant. If you can, your reafon ?

Sooth I fee it in my motion, have it not in my tongue; but yet hie you to Egypt again.

Ant. Say to me, whofe fortunes fhall rife higher, Cæfar's or mine?

Sooth. Cæfar's

Therefore, oh Antony, ftay not by his fide.
Thy Dæmon, that thy fpirit which keeps thee, is
Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable,

Where Cæfar's is not: but, near him, thy angel
Becomes a fear, as being o'erpowered; therefore
Make space enough between you.

Ant. Speak this no more.

Sooth. To.none but thee; no more, but when to thee.

If thou dost play with him at any game,

Thou'rt fure to lofe: and, of that natural luck,
He beats thee 'gainst the odds; thy luftre thickens,
When he fhines by. I fay again, thy fpirit
Is all afraid to govern thee near him,
But, he away, 'tis noble.

Ant. Get thee gone.

Say to Ventidius, I would fpeak with him.

[Exit Soothsayer. He fhall to Parthia.-Be it art, or hap, He hath spoke true. The very dice obey him; And, in our sports, my better cunning faints Under his chance; if we draw lots, he speeds; His cocks do win the battle ftill of mine,

When it is all to nought; and his quails + ever Beat mine, inhoop'd, at odds. I will to Egypt; And though I make this marriage for my peace,

Enter Ventidius.

I' th' eaft my pleasure lyes. Oh, come, Ventidius. You must to Parthia, your commitlion's ready: Follow me, and receive't.

I fee it in my notion. Theobald.

[Exeunt.

+ The Ancients used to match quails, as we match

cocks. Johnson.

Enter Lepidus, Mecanas, and Agrippa.

Lep. Trouble yourselves no farther. Pray you,

haften

Your generals after.

Agr. Sir, Mark Antony

Will e'en but kifs Octavia, and we'll follow.
Lep. 'Till I shall fee you in your foldier's drefs,
Which will become you both, farewell.

Mec. We fhall,

As I conceive the journey, be at the mount
Before you, Lepidus.

Lep. Your way is fhorter,

My purpofes do draw me much about ;.
You'll win two days upon me.
Both. Sir, good fuccefs.

Lep. Farewell.

SCENE V.

Changes to the Palace in Alexandria.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas.

Cleo. Give me fome mufic; music, moody food Of us that trade in love

Omnes. The music, hoa!

Enter Mardian the eunuch.

Cleo. Let it alone, let's to billiards: come, Charmian.

Char. My arm is fore, beft play with Mardian. Cleo. As well a woman with an eunuch play'd, As with a woman. Come, you'll play with me, Sir? Mar. As well as I can, Madam.

Cleo. And when good will is fhew'd, tho't come too fhort,

The actor may plead pardon.

I'll none now.

Give me mine angle, we'll to the river; there,
My mufic playing far off, I will betray
Tawny-finn'd fili; my bended hook fhall pierce
Their flimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,

I'll think them every one an Antony,.
And fay, ah, ha! you're caught.
Char. 'Twas merry when

You wager'd on your angling; when your diver
Did hang a falt fifh on his hook, which he
With fervency drew up.

Cleo. That time! -oh times!.

I laugh'd him out of patience, and that night
I laugh'd him into patience; and next morn,
Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed:
Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst
I wore his fword Philippin. Oh! Froin Italy-
Enter a Meffenger.

Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
That long time have been barren.
Mel. Madam! Madam!.

Cleo. Antony's dead?.

If thou fay fo, villain, thou kill'ft thy mistress:
But well and free,

If fo thou yield him, there is gold, and here
My blueft veins to kifs; a hand that kings
Have lip'd, and trembled kiffing.

Melf. Firft, Madam, he is well.

Cleo. Why, there's more gold. But, firrah, mark, we ufe

To fay the dead are well; bring it to that,
The gold I give thee will I melt and pour
Down thy ill-uttering throat.

Mef. Good Madam, hear me.
Gleo. Well, go to, I will:

But there's no goodness in thy face. If Antony
Be free and healthful, why fo tart a favour
To trumpet fuch good tidings? if not well,
Thou shouldft come like a fury crown'd with
fnakes,

Not like a formal man.

Mel. Will' please you hear me?

Cleo I have a mind to ftrike thee ere thou fpeak'ft;

Yet, if thou fay Antony lives, 'tis well,

Or friends with Cæfar, or not captive to him,

I'll fet thee in a fhower of gold, and hail

Cleo. Well faid.

Me. And friends with Cæfar.

Cleo. Thou'rt an honest man.

Mef. Cæfar and he are greater friends than ever. Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me.

Melf. But yet, Madam

Cleo. I do not like but yet; it does allay
The good precedence; fy upon but yet;
But yet is as a jaylor to bring forth

Some monstrous malefactor. Pr'ythee, friend,
Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,

The good and bad together. He's friends with Cæfar,
In state of health, thou fay'ft; and thou fay'ft, free.
Meff. Free, Madam! no: I made no fuch report.
He's bound unto Octavia.

Cleo. For what good turn?

Meff. For the best turn i' th' bed.

Cleo. I am pale, Charmian.

Meff. Madam, he's married to Octavia.

Cleo. The most infectious peftilence upon thee!

Melf. Good Madam, patience.

Cleo. What fay you?

[Strikes him down.

[Strikes him.

Hence, horrible villain, or I'll fpurn thine eyes
Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head;

[She hales him up and down.

That is, I will give thee a kingdom; it being the castern ceremony, at the coronation of their kings, to powder them with gold-duft and feed-pearl; fo Milton, -the gorgeous Eaft with liberal hand

Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold.

In the life of Timur-bec or Tamerlane, written by a Perfian contemporary author, are the following words, as tranflated by Monfieur Petit de la Croix, in the account there given of his coronation, book II. ch. 1. Les princes du fang royal et les emirs repandirent à pleines mains Jar la tète quantite d'or et de pierreries, felon la coûtume. Warburtou..

Thou fhalt be whipt with wire, and stew'd in brine, Smarting in ling'ring pickle.

Melf. Gracious Madam,

I, that do bring the news, made not the match.
Cleo. Say 'tis not fo, a province I will give thee,
And make thy fortunes proud; the blow thou hadft,
Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage,
And I will boot thee with what gift befide
Thy modefty can beg.

Me. He's married, Madam.

Cleo. Rogue, thou hast liv'd too long.

Me. Nay, then I'll run :

[Draws a knife.

What mean you, Madam? I have made no fault.

[Exit. Char. Good Madam, keep yourself within yourself, The man is innocent.

Cleo. Some innocents "fcape not the thunderboltMelt Egypt into Nile; and kindly creatures Turn all to ferpents! Call the flave again; Though I am mad, I will not bite him. Call. Char. He is afraid to come.

Cleo. I will not hurt him.

These hands do lack nobility, that they strike
A meaner than myself, fince I myself

Have given myself the cause.

Come hither, Sir.

Re-enter the Meffenger.

Though it be honeft, it is never good

To bring bad news. Give to a gracious message An hoft of tongues, but let ill tidings tell Themselves, when they be felt.

Melf. I have done my duty.

Cleo. Is he married?

I cannot hate thee worfer than I do,

If you again fay, Yes.

Me. He's married, Madam.

Cleo. The gods confound thee! doft thou hold

there ftill?

Meff. Should I lie, Madam?

Cleo. Oh, I would thou didft;

So half my Ægypt were fubmerg'd, and made