Dramatis Perfonæ.

M. ANTONY.

OCTAVIUS CÆSAR.

AMILIUS LEPIDUS.
SEX. POMPEIUS.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS,

VENTIDIUS,

CANIDIUS,

EROS,

SCARUS,

DERCETAS,

DEMETRIUS,

PHILO,

MECENAS,

AGRIPPA,

DOLLABELLA,

PROCULEIUS,

THYREUS,

GALLUS,

MENÁS,

MENECRATES,

VARRIUS,

Friends of Antony.

Friends of Casar.

Friends of Pompey.

SILIUS, an officer in Ventidius's army.

TAURUS, Lieutenant-general to Cæfar.

ALEXAS,

MARDIAN,

DIOMEDES,

A Soothsayer.

Clown.

}

CLEOPATRA, Queen of Ægypt.

Servants to Cleopatra.

OCTAVIA, filter to Cæfar, and wife 'to Antony.

CHARMIAN,

IRAS,

}

Ladies attending on Cleopatra.

Ambassadors from Antony to Cæfar, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants.

The SCENE is difperfed in several parts of the Roman empire.

ACTI.

SCENE Ι.

The Palace at Alexandria in Ægypt.

Enter Demetrius and Philo.

Philo.

AY, but this dotage of our General
O'erflows the measure. Those his goodly

N

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 breast, reneges * all temper;
And is become the bellows, and the fan,
To cool a gypsy's luft. Look where they come!
Flourish. Enter Antony and Cleopatra, her Ladies
in the train, Eunuchs fanning her.

Take but good note, and you shall fee in him
The triple + pillar of the world transform'd
Into a strumpet's fool . Behold, and fee.

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

* Renounces. Pope.

+ Triple is here used improperly for third, or one of three. One of the Triumvirs, one of the three masters of the world. Warburton.

† We should read, Into a strumpet's stool. The pillar of the world, says he, is transformed into a strumpet's stool. Alluding to the custom of strumpets fitting in the lap of their lovers. Ib.

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 heav'n,

new earth.

Enter a Messenger.

Meff. News, my good Lord, from Rome.
Ant. Grates me. The fum.

Cleo. Nay, hear it, Antony.

Fulvia perchance is angry; or who knows If the scarce bearded Cæfar have not fent His powerful mandate to you, "Do this, or this; "Take in that kingdom, and infranchise 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 dismission Is come from Cæfar; therefore hear it, Antony. Where's Fulvia's process? Cæfar's I'd say-Both? -Call in the messengers-As I'm Ægypt's Queen, Thou blushest, Antony, and that blood of thine Is Cæfar's homager; else so thy cheek pays shame When shrill-tongu'd Fulvia scolds. The meffen

gers.

Ant. Let Rome in Tybermelt, 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, [Embracing.
And fuch a twain can do't; in which, I bind,
On pain of punishment, the world to weet,
We ftand up peerless.

Cleo. afide.] Excellent falfhood!
Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?
I'll feem the fool I am not. Antony
Will be himself.

Ant. But stirr'd by Cleopatra *.

• I think Mr Upton's emendation can admit of no dispute: Will be himself, but stirr'd by Cleopatra.

That is, Antony will act like himself, if he be but incited by Cleopatra. Revifal.

Now for the love of Love, and his foft hours, Let's not confound the time with conference harflı; There's not a minute of our lives should ftretch Without fome pleasure. Now, what sport to-night? Cleo. Hear the ambassadors.

Ant. Fy, wrangling Queen!

Whom every thing becomes; to chide, to laugh,
To weep: whose every passion fully strives
To make itself in thee fair and admir'd.
No messenger, but thine. And all alone,
To-night we'll wander through the streets, and note
The qualities of people. Come, my Queen;
Last night you did defire it. -Speak not to us.

[Exeunt with their train.

Dem. Is Cæfar with Antonius priz'd so slight?
Phil. Sir, fometimes, when he is not Antony,
He comes too short of that great property
Which still should go with Antony.
Dem. I am full forry

That he approves the common liar, who
Thus speaks of him at Rome; but I will hope
Of better deeds to-morrow. Reft you happy!

SCENE II.

[Exeunt.

Enter Enobarbus, Charmian, Iras, Alexas, and an Soothfayer.

Char. Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most any thing Alexas, almost most absolute Alexas, where's the Soothsayer that you prais'd so to th' Queen? Oh! that I knew this husband, which you say muft change his horns with garlands. Alex. Soothsayer,

Sooth. Your will?

Char. Is this the man?-Is't you, Sir, that know

things?

Sooth. In Nature's infinite book of Secrecy,

A little I can read.

Alex. Shew him your hand.

Eno. Bring in the banquet quickly. Wine enough,

Cleopatra's health to drink.

Char. Good Sir, give me good fortune.

Sooth. I make not, but forefee.

Char. Pray then, foresee me one.

Sooth. You shall be yet far fairer than you are.

Char. He means, in flesh.

Iras. No, you shall paint when you are old.

Char. Wrinkles forbid!

Alex. Vex not his prescience, be attentive.
Char. Hush!

Sooth. You shall be more beloving, than beloved.
Char. I had rather heat my liver with drinking.
Alex. Nay, hear him.

Char. Good now, some excellent fortune! let me be married to three Kings in a forenoon, and widow them all; let me have a child at fifty, to whom Herod of Jewry may do homage! find me, to marry me with Octavius Cæfar, and companion me with my mistrefs.

Sooth. You shall out-live the Lady whom you ferve. Char. Oh, excellent! I love long life better than figs. Sooth. You have seen and proved a fairer former fortune, than that which is to approach.

Char. Then belike my children shall have no

names?

Pr'ythee how many boys and wenches must I have? Sooth. If every of your wishes had a womb, and

foretell every wish*, a million.

Char. Out, fool! I forgive thee for a witch.

Alex. You think none but your sheets are privy

to your wishes.

Char. Nay, come. Tell Iras hers.

Alex. We'll know all our fortunes.

Eno. Mine and most of our fortunes to-night shall

be to go drunk to bed.

Iras. There's a palm presages chastity, if nothing

elfe.

:

Char. Ev'n as the o'erflowing Nilus presageth famine.

• And fertil ev'ry with, &c. Warburton,