If, or for nothing, or a little, I

Should fay myfelf offended, and with you
Chiefly i'th' world; More laught at, that I should
Once name you derogately, when to found

Your name it not concern'd me.

Ant. My being in Egypt, Cefar, what was't to you? Cef. No more than my refiding here at Rome Might be to you in Egypt: yet, if you there Did practife on my ftate, your being in Ægypt Might be my question.

Ant. How intend you, practis'd?

Caf. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent, By what did here befal. (10) Your Wife and Brother Made wars upon me; and their contestation

Was theam'd for you, you were the word of war.

Ant. You do miftake your bufinefs: my brother never Did urge me in his act: I did require it,

And have my learning from fome true reports
That drew their fwords with you. Did he not rather
Difcredit my authority with yours,

And make the wars alike against my ftomach,
Having alike your caufe of this, my letters
Before did fatisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel,
(As matter whole you've not to make it with,)
It must not be with this.

Caf. You praise yourself,

(10)

Your Wife and Brother

Made Wars upon me, and their Conteftation

Was theam for you, you were the Word of War.]

But

The only Meaning of this can be, that the War, which Antony's Wife and Brother made upon Cæfar, was Theam for Antony too to make War; or was the Occafion why he did make War. this is directly contrary to the Context, which fhews, Antony did neither encourage them to it, nor fecond them in it. We cannot doubt then, but the Poet wrote;

and their Conteftation

Was theam'd for 2 ou ;

i. e. The Pretence of their War was on your Account, they took up Arms in your Name, and You were made the Theam and Subject of their Insurrection.

Mr. Warburton.

By

4

By laying defects of Judgment to me: but
You patch up your excufes.

Ant. Not fo, not fo;

I know you could not lack, (I'm certain on't,)
Very neceffity of this thought, that I,

Your Partner in the caufe 'gainft which he fought,
Could not with grateful eyes attend those wars,
Which fronted mine own peace. As for my Wife,
I would, you had her spirit in fuch another;
The third o'th' world is yours, which with a fnaffle
You may pace eafy; but not fuch a Wife.

Eno. 'Would, we had all fuch Wives, that the Men · might go to wars with the Women!

Ant. So much uncurbable her garboiles, Cafar,
Made out of her impatience, which not wanted
Shrewdness of policy too, I grieving grant,

Did you too much difquiet: For that you must
But fay, I could not help it.

Caf. I wrote to you,

When rioting in Alexandria, you

Did pocket up my letters; and with taunts
Did gibe my miffive out of audience.

Ant. Sir, he fell on me, ere admitted: then
Three Kings I had newly feafted, and did want
Of what I was i'th' morning: but, next day,
I told him of myself; which was as much
As to have afk'd him pardon. Let this fellow
Be nothing of our ftrife: if we contend,
Out of our question wipe him.
Caf. You have broken

The article of your oath, which you
Have tongue to charge me with.
Lep. Soft, Cafar.

Ant. No, Lepidus, let him speak;

fhall never

The Honour's facred which he talks on now,
Suppofing, that I lackt it: but on, Cæfar,

The article of my oath

Caf. To lend me arms and aid, when I requir'd them, The which you both deny'd.

Ant. Neglected, rather:

And

And then, when poison'd hours had bound me up
From mine own knowledge; as nearly as I may,
I'll play the Penitent to you. But mine honesty
Shall not make poor my Greatness; nor my Power
Work without it. Truth is, that Fulvia,
To have me out of Egypt, made wars here;
For which myself, the ignorant motive, do
So far afk pardon, as befits mine Honour
To stoop in fuch a case.

Lep. "Tis nobly spoken.

Mec. If it might please you, to enforce no further The griefs between ye: to forget them quite,

Were to remember, that the present Need

Speaks to attone you.

Lep. Worthily fpoken, Mecanas.

Eno. Or, if you borrow one another's love for the inftant, you may, when you hear no more words of Pompey, return it again: you fhall have time to wrangle in, when you have nothing else to do.

Ant. (11) Thou art a Soldier only; fpeak no more. Eno. That truth fhould be filent, I had almoft forgot. Ant. You wrong this Prefence, therefore fpeak no

more.

Eno. Go to then: your confiderate ftone.Caf. I do not much dislike the matter, but The manner of his fpeech: for't cannot be, We shall remain in friendship, our conditions So differing in their acts. Yet, if I knew

What hoop would hold us ftaunch, from edge to edge O'th' world, I would pursue it.

Agr. Give me leave, Cafar.

(11) Thou art a Soldier, only speak no more.] I think, the Tranfpofition of the Comma here is abfolutely neceffary, because the Remove will give a Sense which the Context seems to require. The Argument betwixt Antony and Cafar turns upon high Matters of State; and Enobarbus bufily interpofing with his blunt Reflections, Antony checks him, and would fay, "Don't you pretend to mix your Counsel in these Affairs, that are only a Soldier, and Ac"tion all your Talent.

Caf

Caf. Speak, Agrippa.

Agr. Thou haft a Sifter by the Mother's fide,
Admir'd Octavia! great Mark Antony
Is now a Widower.

Caf. Say not fo, Agrippa;

(12) If Cleopatra heard you, your Approof Were well deferv'd of rashness.

Ant. I am not married, Cafar, let me hear
Agrippa further speak.

Agr. To hold you in perpetual Amity,
To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts
With an unflipping knot, take Antony
Octavia to his Wife; whofe Beauty claims
No worfe a Hufband than the best of men ;
Whofe Virtue, and whofe general Graces speak
That which none elfe can utter. By this marriage,
All little jealoufies, which now feem great,

And all great fears, which now import their dangers,
Would then be nothing. Truths would be but tales,
Where now half tales be truths: her love to both,
Would each to other, and all loves to both
Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke,
For 'tis a ftudied, not a prefent thought,
By duty ruminated.

Ant. Will Cafar speak?

Cmf. Not 'till he hears, how Antony is touch'd With what is fpoke already.

Ant. What Power is in Agrippa

(If I would fay," Agrippa, be it fo",}

To make this good?

(12) If Cleopatra beard You, your proof were

Well deferved of Rafonefs.] But was Agrippa's barely fay ing, that Antony was a Widower, any Proof that he was fo? Befides, will Well deferved of Rafbness run, as the initial Part of a Verfe, in Mr. Pope's Ear? If fo, Emphafis and Cadence are tuned peculiarly, to his Service. I make no Scruple to restore,

If Cleopatra beard You, your Approof

Were well deferv'd of Rabness.

I have in a former Note juftified our Author's Ufage of this Word, Approof, i. e. Allowance, admitting.

Caf.

Caf. The Power of Cæfar, and His Power unto Octavia.

Ant. May I never

To this good purpose, that so fairly fhews,
Dream of impediment! let me have thy hand;
Further this act of grace: and, from this hour,
The heart of brothers govern in our loves,
And fway our great defigns!

Caf. There is my hand:

t

A Sifter I bequeath you, whom no Brother
Did ever love fo dearly. Let her live

To join our kingdoms, and our Hearts, and never
Fly off our loves again!

Lep. Happily, amen.

Ant. I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst Pompey, For he hath laid ftrange courtefies and great

Of late upon me.

I must thank him only,

Left my remembrance fuffer ill report;

At heel of that, defy him.

Lep. Time calls upon's:

Of us must Pompey presently be fought,
Or elfe he feeks out us.

Ant. Where lies he?

Caf. About the Mount Mifenum.
Ant. What is his ftrength by Land?
Caef. Great, and increafing: but by Sea

He is an abfolute Mafter.

Ant. So is the fame.

'Would, we had spoke together! hafte we for it; Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we The bufinefs we have talk'd of.

Caf. With most gladness;

And do invite you to my Sifter's view,
Whither ftraight I'll lead you.

Ant. Let us, Lepidus, not lack your company.
Lep. Noble Antony, not fickness fhould detain me.
[Flourish. Exeunt.

Manent