Dramatis Perfonæ. M. ANTONY. OCTAVIUS CESAR. EMILIUS LEPIDUS. SEX. POMPEIUS. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS, VENTIDIUS, CANIDIUS, EROS, SCARUS, DERCETAS, DEMETRIUS, DOLLABELLA, PROCULEIUS, THYREUS, GALLUS, MENÁS, MENECRATES, VARRIUS, Friends of Antony. Friends of Cæfar. Friends of Pompey. SILIUS, an officer in Ventidius's army. ALEXAS, MARDIAN, DIOMEDES, A Soothsayer. Clown. } Servants to Cleopatra. CLEOPATRA, Queen of Egypt. OCTAVIA, fifter to Cæfar, and wife to Antony. CHARMIAN, IRAS, Ladies attending on Cleopatra, Ambassadors from Antony to Cæfar, Captains, Soldiers, Meffengers, and other Attendants. The SCENE is difperfed in feveral parts of the Roman empire. A C T I. SCENE I. The Palace at Alexandria in Egypt. N Enter Demetrius and Philo. Philo. AY, but this dotage of our General That o'er the files and mufters of the war Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn Upon a tawny front. His captain's heart, * all temper; And is become the bellows, and the fan, Take but good note, and you fhall fee in him * 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 ftrumpet's stool. The pillar of the world, fays he, is transformed into a ftrumpet's fool. Alluding to the custom of ftrumpets fitting in the lap of their lovers. Ib. Ant. There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd. Cleo. I'll fet a bourn how far to be belov'd. Ant. Then must thou needs find out new heav'n, new earth. Enter a Messenger. Meff. News, my good Lord, from Rome. Cleo. Nay, hear it, Antony. Fulvia perchance is angry; or who knows If the fcarce bearded Cæfar have not fent His powerful mandate to you, "Do this, or this; "Take in that kingdom, and infranchise that; "Perform't, or elfe we damn thee.". Ant. How, my love? Cleo. Perchance, nay and most like, You must not stay here longer, your dismission Ant. Let Rome in Tyber melt, and the wide arch Cleo. afide.] Excellent falfhood! Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her? Will be himself. Ant. But stirr'd by Cleopatra *. I think Mr Upton's emendation can admit of no difpute: Will be himself, but stirr'd by Cleopatra. That is, Antony will act like himself,if he be bue incited by Cleopatra. Revifal Now for the love of Love, and his foft hours, Let's not confound the time with conference harfli; There's not a minute of our lives fhould stretch Without fome pleasure. Now, what fport to-night? Cleo. Hear the ambassadors. Ant. Fy, wrangling Queen! Whom every thing becomes; to chide, to laugh, [Exeunt with their train. Dem. Is Cæfar with Antonius priz'd so slight? Phil. Sir, fometimes, when he is not Antony, He comes too fhort of that great property Which still should go with Antony. Dem. I am full forry That he approves the common liar, who Enter Enobarbus, Charmian, Iras, Alexas, and a Soothsayer. Char. Lord Alexas, fweet Alexas, most any thing Alexas, almost most abfolute Alexas, where's the Soothsayer that you prais'd fo to th' Queen? Oh! that I knew this husband, which you fay 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. Wine enough, Cleopatra's health to drink. Char. Good Sir, give me good fortune. Sooth. I make not, but forefee. Char. Pray then, forefee me one. Sooth. You fhall be yet far fairer than you are. Iras. No, you fhall paint when you are old. Alex. Vex not his prescience, be attentive. Sooth. You fhall be more beloving, than beloved. Char. Good now, fome excellent fortune! let me be married to three Kings in a forenoon, and widow them all; let me have a child at fifty, to whom Herod of Jewry may do homage! find me, to marry me with Octavius Cæfar, and companion me with my miftrefs. Sooth. You fhall out-live the Lady whom you ferve. Char. Oh, excellent! I love long life better than figs. Sooth. You have feen and proved a fairer former fortune, than that which is to approach. Char. Then belike my children fhall have 'no names? Pr'ythee how many boys and wenches muft I have? Sooth. If every of your wishes had a womb, and foretell every wifh*, a million. Char. Out, fool! I forgive thee for a witch. Alex. You think none but your fheets 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 elfe. Char. Ev'n as the o'erflowing Nilus prefageth famine. And fertil ev'ry wish, &c. Warburton, |