Cle. He's very knowing, I do perceive't:-there's nothing in her yet:- Cha. Excellent. Cle. Guefs at her years, I pr'ythee. Cle. Widow t-Charmian, hark. In mind? is't long, or round? Mef. Round, even to faultinefs. Cle. For the most part too, they are foolish that are fo. Her hair, what colour? Mef. Brown, madam; and her forehead As low as he would with it. Cle. There's gold for thee. Thou must not take my former fharpness ill I will employ thee back again; I find thee Moft fit for bufinefs: go, make thee ready, while Cha. A proper man. [Exit Messenger. Cle. Indeed, he is fo: I repent me much That fo I harry'd him. Why, methinks, by him, This creature's no fuch thing. Cha. O, nothing, madam. Cle. The man hath feen fome majefty, and should know. Cha. Hath he feen majesty? Ifis elfe defend, And ferving you fo long! Cle. I have one thing more to ask him yet, good Charmian: But 'tis no matter; thou fhalt bring him to me [Exeunt t In this fhort fcene Shakespeare thows intimate knowledge of the feelings and caprice of fuch a woman as Cleopatra; one fo filled with vanity and ambition; her questions and conclufione, in her own favour, are admirably thrown out, SCENE IV. Athens. A Room in Antony's Houfe. Enter Antony, and Octavia. Ant. Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that,- New wars 'gainst Pompey; made his will, and read it Spoke fcant❜ly of me: when perforce he could not, O. O my good lord, Believe not all; or, if you must believe, If this divifion chance, ne'er ftood between, Praying for both parts: the good gods will mock me, O, bless my brother! Hufband win, win brother, Ant. Gentle Octavia, Let your best love draw to that point, which feeks I lofe myself better I were not yours, Than yours fo branchlefs. But, as you requested, Shall ftrain your brother: make your foonest hafte; Thanks to my lord. The Jove of power make me moft weak, most weak, Ant. When it appears to you where this begins, Can Can equally move with them. Provide your going; Choose your own company, and command what coft [Exeunt. "SCENE V. The fame. Another Room in the fame*. 66 66 66 "Enter Eros, and Enobarbus, meeting. "Eno. How now, friend Eros? "Ero. There's ftrange news come, fir. "Ena. What, man? "Ero. Cefar and Lepidus have made wars upon "Pompey Eno. This is old; what is the fuccefs? "Ero. Cefar, having made use of him in the wars gainst Pompey, prefently deny'd him rivalty; would not let him partake in the glory of the action: and not refting here, accufes him of letters he had formerly wrote to Pompey; upon his appeal, seizes him: fo the poor third is up, 'till death enlarge his confine. Eno. Then, world, thou haft a pair of chaps, no 66 more; "And throw between them all the food thou hast, "They'll grind the one the other.-Where is Antony? "Ero. He's walking in the garden thus; and spurns "The rush that lies before him: cries, Fool Lepidus ! "And threats the throat of that his officer, "That murder'd Pompey. "Eno. Our great navy's rigg'd. "Ero. For Italy, and Cæfar. More, Domitius; "My lord defires you prefently: my news "I might have told hereafter. "Eno. 'Twill be naught: "But let it be.-Bring me to Antony. "Ero. Come, fir. [Exeunt. This little fcene feems calculated merely to give Ottavia fome time for her journey; but the breaches of unity are fo frequent and fo violent in this piece, that fuch a point is of little confideration, SCENE VI. Rome. A Room in Cæfar's Houfe. Enter Cæfar, Mecænas, and Agrippa. Caf. Contemning Rome, he has done all this: and more; In Alexandria, here's the manner of it,— Unto her He gave the 'stablishment of Egypt; made her Abfolute queen. Mec. This in the public eye? Caf. I' the common fhew-place, where they exercife. His fons he there proclaim'd, The kings of kings: Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia, He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he affign'd Syria, Cilicia, and Phœnicia: The In the habiliments of the goddess Ifis That day appear'd; and oft before gave audience, As 'tis reported, fo. Mec. Let Rome be thus Inform'd. Agr. Who, queafy with his infolence Already, will their good thoughts call from him. Agr. Whom does he accuse? Caf. Cæfar and that having in Sicily Sextus Pompeius fpoil'd, we had not rated him His part o'the ifle: then does he fay, he lent me That Lepidus of the triumvirate Should be depos'd; and, being, that we detain Agr. Sir, this should be answer’d. Caf. 'Tis done already, and the meffenger gone, I have told him, Lepidus was grown too cruel; VOL. VI. P That That he his high authority abus'd, And did deferve his change: for what I have conquer'd, I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia, And other of his conquer'd kingdoms, I Demand the like. Mec. He'll never yield to that. Caf. Nor must not then be yielded to in this. Enter Octavia. Oa. Hail, Cefar, and my lord'! hall, moft dear Caf. That ever I fhould call thee, caft-away. Qa. You have not call'd me fo, nor have you caufe. Caf. Why haft thou ftoin upon us thus? You come not Like Cafar's fifter: the wife of Antong Should have an army for an ufher, and Oa. Good my lord, To come thus was I not conftrain'd, but did it Caf. Which foon he granted, Being an obftruct 'tween his luft and him. There is great exaltation of idea and fplendor of expreffion in this addrefs to Octavia: though external pomp is to found fenfe very immaterial, yet royal characters, without it, would lofe much of their confequence, |