OBSERVATIONS.

AMONG the entries in the books of the Stationers' Company, Octo ber 19, 1593, I find "A Booke entituled the Tragedie of Cleopatra." It is entered by Symon Waterfon, for whom fome of Daniel's works were printed; and therefore it is probably by that author, of whofe Cleopatra there are feveral editions; and, among others, one in 1594.

In the fame volumes, May 2, 1608, Edward Blount entered "Ą Booke called Anthony and Cleopatra." This is the first notice I have met with concerning any edition of this play more ancient than the folio, 1623. STEEVENS.

Antony and Cleopatra was written, I imagine, in the

year 1608.

MALONE.

TAURUS, Lieutenant-General to Cæfar.
CANIDIUS, Lieutenant-General to Antony.
SILIUS, an Officer in Ventidius's army.
An Ambassador from Antony to Cæfar.

Alexas, Mardian, Seleucus, and Diomedes; Attendants on
Cleopatra.

A Soothsayer. A Clown.

CLEOPATRA, Queen of Egypt.

OCTAVIA, Sifter to Cæfar, and Wife to Antony.

CHARMIAN,

IRAS,

IAN,} Attendants on Cleopatra.

Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants.

SCENE, difperfed; in feveral parts of the Roman Empire.

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.

ACT I. SCENE 1.

Alexandria. A Room in Cleopatra's Palace.

Enter DEMETRIUS and PHILO.

Philo.

NAY, but this dotage of our general's,

O'erflows the measure: thofe his goodly eyes,

That o'er the files and musters 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 breaft, reneges all temper; And is become the bellows, and the fan,

To cool a gipfey's luft. Look, where they come !

Flourish. Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, with their trains; Eunuchs fanning her.

Take but good note, and you shall see in him
The triple pillar of the world transform'd
Into a ftrumpet's fool: behold and fee.

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

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 heaven, new

earth.

Enter an Attendant.

Att. News, my good lord, from Rome.

Ant.

'Grates me :-The fum.

Cleo. Nay, hear them, Antony:

Fulvia, perchance, is angry; Or, who knows
If the scarce-bearded Cæfar have not sent
His powerful mandate to you, Do this, or this;
Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise 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 difmiffion Is come from Cæfar; therefore hear it, Antony.Where's Fulvia's procefs? Cæfar's, I would say?-Both ?Call in the meffengers.-As I am Egypt's queen, Thou blushest, Antony; and that blood of thine Is Cæfar's homager: else so thy cheek pays shame, When fhrill tongu'd Fulvia fcolds.-The meffengers. Ant. Let Rome in Tiber melt! and the wide arch Of the rang'd empire fall! Here is my space; Kingdoms are clay: our dungy earth alike Feeds beaft as man: the nobleness of life Is, to do thus; when fuch a mutual pair, And fuch a twain can do't, in which, I bind On pain of punishment, the world to weet, We stand up peerless.

Cleo.

Excellent falfhood!

[Embracing.

Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her ?—