Ant. If you can, your reason ?

Sooth: I see it in iny motion *, have it not in my tongue ;

but yet

hie

you to Ægypt again. Ant. Say to me, whose fortunes Thall rise higher, Cæsar's or mine?

Sooth. Cæsar's-
Therefore, oh Antony, stay not by his side.
Thy Dæmon, that thy spirit which keeps thee, is :
Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable,
Where Cæsar'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 sure to lose : and, of that natural luck,
He beats thee 'gainst the odds; thy lustre thickens,
When he lines by. I lay again, thy spirit
Is all afraid to govern thee near hiin,
But, he away, 'tis noble.

Ant. Get thee gone.
Say to Ventidius, I would speak with him.

[Exit Soothsayer.
He shall to Parthia.--Be it art, or hap,
He hath spoke true. The very dice obey him;
And, in our sports, iny better cunning faints
Under his chance ; if we draw lots, he speeds ;
His cocks do win the battle still of mine,
When it is all to nought; and his quails + ever
Beat mine, inhoop'd, at odds. I will to Ægypt ;
And though I make this marriage for my peace,

Enter Ventidius. l'th' east my pleasure lyes. Oh, come, Ventidius. You must to Parthia, your coinmillion's ready : Follow me, and receive't.

[Exeunt. * I see it in my notion. Theobald.

+ 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 kiss Octavia, and we'll follow.

Lep. 'Till I thall see you in your soldier's dress, Which will become you both, farewell.

Mec. We shall,
As I conceive the journey, be at th* niount
Before you, Lepidus.

Lep. Your way is shorter,
My purposes do draw me much about ;.
You'll win two days lipon me.

Both. Sir, good fuccess.
Lep. Farewell.

SCE NE V.
Changes to the Palace in Alexandria.
Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas.

Cleo. Give me some music; music, moody food
Of us that trade in love.com
Omnes. The music, hoa!

Enter Mardian the eunuch. Cleo. Let it alone, let's to billiards: come, Char

mian. Char. My arm is fore, best 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 shew'd, tho't come

too short,
The actor may plead pardon, l'il none now.
Give me mine angle, we'll to the rirer; there,
My music playing far off, I will betray
Tawny-finn'd fiili; my bended hook thall pierce
Their finy jays; and, as I draw them up,

I'll think them every one an Antony, -
And say, ah, ha! you're caught.

Char. 'Twas merry when
You wager'd on your angling; when your divers
Did hang a salt fish on his hook, which he
With fervency drew up.

Clso. 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 hiin to his bed :
Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst
I wore his sword Philippin. Oh! From Italy-

Enter a Mefrenger.
Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears, -
Tlrat long tiine have been barren.

Mell. Madam! Madam !

Cleo. Antony's dead?
If thou say so, villain, thou kill’At thy mistress :
But well and free,
If so thou yield him, there is gold, and here
My bluest veins to kiss; a hand that kings
Have lip'd, and trembled kisling:

Mell. First, Madam, he is well.

Cleo. Why, there's more gold. But, sirrah, mark, To say the dead are well ; bring it to that, The gold I give thee will I melt and pours Down thy ill-uttering throat.

Mell. Good Madam, hear me.

Gled. Well, go tu, I will: But there's no goodness in thy face. If Antony Be free and healthful, why lo tart a favour To trumpet such good tidings ? if not well, Thou shouldst come like a fury crown'd with

snakes,
Not like a formal man.

Mell. Will’t please you hear me?
Cleo I have a mind to strike thee ere thou

speak'it;
Yet, if thou say Antony lives, "is well,
Or friends with Cxaror. noi captise to him,

we use

I'll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail
Rich pearls upon thee *.

Mej. Madam, he's well.
Cleo. Well said.
Mer. And friends with Cæsar,
Cleo. Thou’rt an honest man.
Mill. Cæsar and he are greater friends than ever.
Cl20. Make thee a fortune from me.
Mel. 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. Prythee, friend,
Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,
The good and bad together. He's friends with Cæsar,
In state of health, thou say'st; and thou say'st, free.

Mell. Free, Madam! no: I made no such report. He's bound unto Octavia.

Cleo. For what good turn?
Mell. For the best turn i' th' bed.
Cleo. I ain pale, Charmian.
Mel. Madam, he's married to o&avia.
Cleo. The most infectious pestilence upon thee !

[Strikes him down. Mell. Good Madam, patience. Cleo. What say you?

[Strikes him. Hence, horrible villain, or I'll spurn thine eyes Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head;

[She hale's hin 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-dust and feed-pearl; fo Milton,

--the gorgeous East with liberal hand

Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold. In the life of Timur-bec or Tamerlane, written by a Persian contemporary author, are the following words, as translated by Monsieur Petit de la Croix, in the account there given of his coronation, book II. ch. i. Les. princes du sang royal et les emirs repandirent à pleines mains Jar la tete quantité d'cr et. de pierreries, selon la coûtume.

Warburtou..

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

Mell. Gracious Madam, 1, that do bring the news, made not the match.

Cleo. Say 'tis not so, a province I will give thee,
And make thy fortunes proud ; the blow thou hadít,
Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage,
And I will boot thee with what gift beside
Thy modesty can beg.

Mel. He's married, Madam.
Cleo. Rogue, thou hast liv’d too long.

[Draws a knife. Mel. Nay, then I'll run : What mean you, Madam? I have made no fault,

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

Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thunderboltMelt Ægypt into Nile; and kindly creatures Turn all to serpents ! Call the slave 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, since I myself Have given myself the cause. Come hither, Sir.

Re-enter the Messenger. Though it be honeft, it is never good To bring bad news. Give to a gracious message An host of tongues, but let ill tidings tell Themselves, when they be felt.

Mell. I have done my duty.

Cleo. Is he married?
I cannot hate thee worser than I do,
If you again say, Yes.

Mell. He's married, Madam.
Cleo. The gods confound thee! dost thou hold

there still ?
Mell. Should I lie, Madam?

Cleo. Oh, I would thou didst;
So half my Ægypt were submerg'd, and made