Shall pass on thy approof. Moft noble Antony,
Let not the piece of virtue, which is fet
Betwixt us, as the cement of our love,
To keep it builded, be the Ram to batter
The Fortress of it: for better might we

Have lov'd without this mean, if on both parts
This be not cherisht.

Ant. Make me not offended

In your distruft.

Caef. I've faid.

Ant. You fhall not find,

Though you be therein curious, the leaft caufe
For what you feem to fear; fo the Gods keep you,
And make the hearts of Romans serve your ends!
We will here part.

Caf. Farewel, my dearest fifter, fare thee well;
7 The elements be kind to thee, and make
Thy fpirits all of comfort! Fare thee well.
Octa. My noble brother!

Ant. The April's in her eyes: it is love's Spring, And these the showers to bring it on.

Be chearful. Ota. Sir, look well to my husband's houfe; andCaf. What, Qavia?

Oda. I'll tell you in your ear.`

Ant. Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can Her heart inform her tongue; the fwan's down

feather,

That ftands upon the fwell at full of tide,

And neither way inclines.

Eno. Will Cafar weep?

Agr. He has a cloud in's face.

Eno. He were the worfe for that, were he a horfe; So is he, being a man.

7. The elements be kind, &c.] This is obfcure. It seems to mean, May the different elements

of the body, or principles of life, maintain fuch proportion and har mony as many keep you cheerful.

Agr.

Agr. Why, Enobarbus?

When Antony found Julius Cafar dead,
He cried almost to roaring; and he wept,
When at Philippi he found Brutus slain,

Eno. That year, indeed, he was troubled with a rheum;

What willingly he did confound, he wail'd; 8 Believe't, 'till I wept too.

Caf. No, fweet Octavia,

You fhall hear from me ftill; the time fhall not
Out-go my thinking on you.

Ant. Come, Sir, come,

I'll wrestle with you in my ftrength of love.
Look, here I have you; thus I let you go,
And give you to the Gods.

Caf. Adieu, be happy!

Lep. Let all the number of the Stars give light

To thy fair way! ·

Caf. Farewel, farewel!

[Kiffes Octavia.

Ant. Farewel!

[Trumpets found. Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Changes to the Palace in Alexandria.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmion, Iras, and Alexas.

Enter the Meffenger as before.

Alex. Good Majesty!

Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you,

But when you are well pleas'd.

Cleo. That Herod's head

I'll have; but how? when Antony is gone,
Through whom I might command it.-Come thou

near.

Mef. Moft gracious Majefty,

Cleo. Didft thou behold

Octavia?

Mef. Ay, dread Queen.
Cleo. Where?

Mef. In Rome, Madam.

I look'd her in the face; and faw her led
Between her brother and Mark Antony.

Cleo. Is the as tall as me?.

Mef. She is not, Madam.

Cleo. Didft hear her fpeak? Is fhe fhrill-tongu'd, or low?

Mef. Madam, I heard her fpeak; he is low-voic'd. Cleo. That's not fo good. He cannot like her long.

Char. Like her? oh Ifis! 'tis impoffible.

Cleo. I think fo, Charmion. Dull of tongue and dwarfish.

What Majefty is in her gait? Remember,
If e'er thou look'dft on Majefty.

Mef. She creeps;

Her motion and her station are as one;

She fhews a body rather than a life,

A ftatue than a breather.

Cleo. Is this certain?

Mef. Or I have no observance.
Char. Three in Ægypt

Cannot make better note.

Cleo.

Cleo. He's very knowing,

I do perceive't. There's nothing in her yet.
The fellow has good judgment.

Char. Excellent.

Cleo. Guefs at her years, I pr'ythee.
Mef. Madam, fhe was a widow.
Cleo. Widow? Charmion, hark.
Mef. And I do think he's thirty.

Cleo. Bear'ft thou her face in mind? It's long, or round?

Mef. Round even to faultinefs.

Cleo. For th' most part too,

They're foolish that are fo. Her hair, what colour?
Mef. Brown, Madam; and her forehead
As low as fhe would with it.

Cleo. 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;
Our letters are prepar❜d.

Char. A proper man.

Cleo. Indeed, he is fo. I repent me much, That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him, This creature's no fuch thing.

Char. O, nothing, Madam..

Cleo. The man hath feen fome Majefty, and should know.

Char. Hath he feen Majefty? Ifis elfe defend!

And ferving you fo long?

Cleo. I've one thing more to afk him yet, good
Charmion;

But 'tis no matter, thou fhalt bring him to me
Where I will write. All may be well enough.
Char. I warrant you, Madam,

[Exeunt.

SCENE

Ant.

N

SCENE IV.

Changes to Athens.

Enter Antony and Octavia.

AY, nay, Octavia, not only that,
That were excufable, that and thousands

more

Of femblable import, but he hath wag'd

New wars 'gainst Pompey; made his Will and read it To publick ear; fpoke fcantily of me:

When perforce he could not

But pay me terms of honour, cold and fickly He vented them; moft narrow measure lent me ; 9 When the best hint was giv'n him, he not took't, 'Or did it from his teeth.

Ota. Oh, my good Lord,
Believe not all; or, if you

must believe,
Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady,
If this divifion chance, ne'er ftood between,
Praying for both parts:

The good Gods will mock me presently,

When I fhall pray, "Oh, blefs my Lord and husband!" Undo that prayer, by crying out as loud,

"Ob, bless my brother!" Hufband win, win brother, Prays, and deftroys the prayer; no midway

'Twixt these extreams at all.

Ant. Gentle Octavia,

Let your beft love draw to that point, which feeks
Best to preserve it; if I lofe mine honour,

9 When the best hint was giv'n him, he o'erlook'd, Or did it from his teeth.] The firft folio reads, not look'd. Dr.

Thirlby advis'd the emendation which I have inferted in the text. THEOBALD.