Agr. Let us go.

Good Enobarbus, make your felf my guest,

Whilft you abide here.

Eno. Humbly, Sir, I thank you.

[Exeunt.

Enter Antony, Cæfar, Octavia between them.

Ant. The world, and my great office, will fometimes Divide me from your bofom."

Oda. All which time,

Before the Gods my knee shall bow in prayers
To them for you.

Ant. Good night, Sir. My Octavia,

Read not my blemishes in the world's report:
I have not kept my fquare, but That to come
Shall all be done by th' rule; good night, dear Lady.
Ota. Good night, Sir.

Caf. Good night.

[Exeunt Cæfar and Octavia. Enter Soothsayer.

Ant. Now, firrah! do you wish your felf in Egypt? Sooth. Would I had never come from thence, nor you thither!

Ant. If you can, your reason ?

Sooth. (14) I fee it in my Notion, have it not in my
Tongue; but yet hie you to Egypt again.

Ant. Say to me, whofe fortune fhall rise higher,
Cafar's or mine?

Sooth.

A bleffed Lottery to him.] Methinks, it is a very indifferent Compliment in Mecanas to call Octavia a Lottery, as if She might turn up blank, as well as prove a Prize to Antony. Mr. Warburton ingeniously conjectur'd, that the Poet wrote as 1 have reform'd the Text: there being as much Difference between Lottery and Allottery, as between a prefent Defignation and a future Chance.

(14) I fee it in my Motion, have it not in my tongue.] What Motion? I can trace no Sense in this Word here, unless the Author were alluding to that Agitation of the Divinity, which Di viners pretend to when the Fit of Foretelling is upon them; but then, I think verily, he would have wrote, Emotion. I

am

Sooth. Cafar's.Therefore, oh Antony, ftay not by his fide.

Thy Damon, that's thy fpirit which keeps thee, is
Noble, couragious, high, unmatchable,

Where Cafar's is not. But, near him, thy angel
Becomes a Fear, as being o'erpower'd; and therefore
Make frace enough between you.

Ant. Speak this no more.

Sooth. To none but thee; no more, but when to thee.

If thou doft play with him at any game,

Thou'rt fure to lofe: and, of that natural luck,
He beats thee 'gainst the odds. Thy luftre thickens,
When he shines by: I fay again, thy Spirit

Is all afraid to govern thee near him.

But, he away, 'tis noble..

Ant. Get thee gone :

Say to Ventidius, I would fpeak with him. [Exit Sooth. He fhall to Parthia ;

be it art, or hap,

He hath spoke true. The very dice obey him;
And, in our Sports, my better cunning faints
Under his chance; if we draw lots, he speeds;
His cocks do win the battle ftill of mine,
When it is all to nought: and his quails ever
Beat mine, in-hoop'd at odds. I will to Ægypt;
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
I'th east my pleasure lies. Oh, come, Ventidius.
Enter Ventidius.

You muft to Parthia, your commiffion's ready:
Follow me and receiv't.

[Exeunt.

Enter Lepidus, Mecenas, and Agrippa.

Lep. Trouble your felves no farther: pray you, hasten Your Generals after.

Agr. Sir, Mark Antony

Will e'en but kifs Octavia, and we'll follow.

am perfuaded, Shakespeare meant that the Soothsayer should fay, he faw a Reafon in his Thought or Opinion, tho' he gave that Thought or Opinion no Utterance.

Lep.

Lep. 'Till I fhall fee you in your Soldiers' dress, Which will become you Both, farewel.

Mec. We fhall,

As I conceive the journey, be at th' mount

Before you, Lepidus.

Lep. Your way is shorter,

My purposes do draw me much about ;

You'll win two days upon me.

Both. Sir, good fuccefs.

Lep. Farewel.

[Exeunt.

SCENE changes to the Palace in Alexandria.

Cleo.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras and Alexas.

G

IVE me fome mufick: mufick, moody food
Of us that trade in love-n con

Omnes. The mufick, hoa!

Enter Mardian the Eunuch.

Cleo. Let it alone, let's to billiards: come, Charmian. Char. My arm is fore, best play with Mardian. Cleo. As well a woman with an Eunuch play'd, As with a woman. Come, you'll play with me, Sir? Mar. As well as I can, Madam.

Cleo. And when good will is fhew'd, tho't come too fhort,

The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now.

Give me mine angle, we'll to th' river, there,
My mufick playing far off, I will betray
Tawny-finn'd fifh; my bended hook fhall pierce
Their flimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,
I'll think them every one an Antony,
And fay, ah, ha! you're caught.

Char. 'Twas merry, when

You wager'd on your angling; when your diver
Did hang a falt fish on his hook, which he
With fervency drew up.

Cleo. That time!————oh times!

I laught him out of patience, and that night

I laught him into patience; and next morn,
Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed :
Then put my tires and mantles on him, (15) whilft
I wore his fword Philippan. Oh, from Italy;

Enter a Meffenger.

Ram thou thy faithful tidings in mine ears,
That long time have been barren.
Mef. Madam! Madam!-

Cleo. Antony's dead?

If thou fay fo, villain, thou kill'ft thy mistress:
But well and free,

If thou fo yield him, there is gold, and here
My blueft veins to kifs: a hand, that Kings
Have lipt, and trembled killing.

Mef. First, Madam, he is well.

Cleo. Why, there's more gold. But, firrah, mark, we use

To fay, the dead are well: bring it to that,

The gold, I give thee, will I melt and pour
Down thy ill-uttering throat.

Mef. Good Madam, hear me.

Cleo. Well, go to, I will:

But there's no goodness in thy face. If Antony

(15)

whilft

I wore his Sword Philippan.] We are not to suppose, nor is there any Warrant from Hiftory, that Antony had any particular Sword fo call'd. The dignifying Weapons, in this Sort, is a Cuftom of much more recent Date. This therefore feems a Compliment à pofteriori. We find Antony afterwards, in this Play, boäfting of his own Prowess at Philippi.

Ant. Yes, my Lord, yes; he at Philippi kept

His Sword e'en like a Dancer, while I ftrook
The lean and wrinkled Caffius; &c.

That was the greatest Action of Antony's Life; and therefore This seems a fine Piece of Flattery, intimating, that his Sword ought to be denominated from that illuftrious Battle, in the fame manner as modern Heroes in Romance are made to give their Swords pompous Names.

Be

Be free and healthful; why fo tart a favour
To trumpet fuch good tidings? if not well,
Thou should'st come like a fury crown'd with fnakes,
Not like a formal man.

Mef. Will't please you hear me?

Cleo. I have a mind to ftrike thee, ere thou speak'sts Yet, if thou fay Antony lives, 'tis well,

Or friends with Cafar, or not captive to him,
I'll fet thee in a fhower of gold, and hail
Rich pearls upon thee.

Mef. Madam, he's well.

Cleo. Well faid.

Me. And friends with Cafar.

Cleo. Thou'rt an honeft man.

Mef. Cafar, and he, are greater friends than ever.
Cleo. Make thee à fortune from me.

Mef. But yet, Madaṁ →→

Cleo. I do not like but yet, it does allay

The good precedence; fie upon but yết;

But yet is as a jaylor to bring forth

Some monftrous Malefactor. Pr'ythee, friend,

Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,

The good and bad together: he's friends with Cafar,
In state of health, thou fay'ft; and thou fay'ft, free.
Mef. Free, Madam! no: I made no fuch report.
He's bound unto Octavia.

Cleo. For what good turn ?

Mef. For the beft turn i'th' bed.

Cleo. I am pale, Charmian.

Mef. Madam, he's married to Octavia.

Cleo. The most infectious peftilence upon thee!

Mef. Good Madam, patience.

Cleo. What fay you?

[Strikes him down.

[Strikes him.

Hence, horrible villain, or I'll fpurn thine eyes

Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head:

She bales him up and down.

Thou shalt be whipt with wire, and itew'd in brine,
Smarting in lingring pickle.

Mef.