Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you, [near. I'll have; but how? when Antony is gone, Mes. Moft gracious Majesty, Cleo. Didst thou behold Octavia? Mes. Ay, dread Queen. Mes. In Rome, Madam. I lookt her in the face; and saw her led Between her brother and Mark Antony. Cleo. Is she as tall as me? Mes. She is not, Madam. 1 [low ? Cleo. Didst hear her speak ? is she shrill-tongu'd, or Mes. Madam, I heard her speak, she is low-voic'd. Cleo. That's not so good; he cannot like her long. Char. Like her? oh Ifis! 'tis impoffible. [fish. Cleo. I think so, Charmian; dull of tongue and dwar What Majesty is in her gait? remember, Mes. She creeps; Her motion and her station are as one: Cleo. Is this certain ? Mes. Or I have no observance. Char. Three in Ægypt Cannot make better note. Cleo. He's very knowing, I do perceive't; there's nothing in her yet. The fellow has good judgment. Char. Excellent. Cleo. Guess at her years, I pr'ythee. Mes. Madam, she was a widow. Cleo. Widow? Charmian, hark. Mes. And I do think, she's thirty. [round? Cleo. Bear'st thou her face in mind? is't long, or Mes. Round even to faultiness. Cleo. Cleo. For th' most part too, They're foolish that are fo. Her hair, what colour? Cleo. There's gold for thee. Thou must not take my former sharpness ill, Char. A proper man. Cleo. Indeed, he is fo; I repent me much, That fo I harried him. Why, methinks, by him, This creature's no fuch thing. Char. O, nothing, Madam. [know. Cleo. The man hath feen fome Majefty, and fhould Char. Hath he seen Majefty? Ifis elfe defend! And ferving you so long? [mian: Cleo. I've one thing more to afk him yet, good CbarBut 'tis no matter, thou shalt bring him to me Where I will write: all may be well enough. Char. I warrant you, Madam. Ant. SCENE changes to Athens. Enter Antony and Octavia. AY, nay, Octavia, not only that, NA [Exeunt [more That were excufable, that and thousands Of femblable import, but he hath wag'd New wars 'gainst Pompey; made his will and read it When perforce he could not But pay me terms of honour, cold and fickly He vented them; moft narrow meafure lent me ; When the best hint was giv'n him, he not took't, (35) Or did it from his teeth. (35) When the best hint was giv'n him, he o’erlook'd, Or did it from bis teeth.] The first folio reads, not look'd. Dr. Thirlby advis'd the emendation which I have inferted in the text. VOL. VII. G Опа. Olta. Oh, my good Lord, Praying for both parts: the good Gods will mock me, "Oh, bless my brother!" Husband win, win brother, Prays, and destroys the prayer; no midway 'Twixt these extreams at all. Ant. Gentle Octavia, Let your best love draw to that point, which seeks Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested, Shall ftrain your brother; (36) make your soonest haste; Octa. Thanks to my Lord. The Jove of Power make me, most weak, most weak, Your reconciler! wars 'twixt you 'twain would be (36) - The mean time, lady, I'll raise the preparation of a war, Thus the printed copies unanimously. But, sure, Antony, whose business here is to mollify Otavia, does it with a very ill grace : and 'tis a very odd way of fatisfying her, to tell her, the war, he raises, shall ftain, i. e. caft an odium upon her brother. I have no doubt, but we must read, with the addition only of a single letter, Shall strain your brotber. i. e. fhall lay him under constraints; shall put him to such shifts, that he shall neither be able to make a progress against, or to prejudice, me. And this emendation is precisely confonant to what Plutarch says; that Octavius, understanding the fudden and wonderful preparations of Antony, was not a little astonish'd at it; for he him self was in many wants; and the people were forely oppress'd with the great and grievous exactions of money. For every person of condition was oblig'd to furnish the fourth part of his goods and revenues; and the very Libertines (i. e. those, whose fathers had once been bondmen, and were enfranchised) were taxed an eighth part of all their goods to be raised at one payment. As Should folder up the rift. Ant. When it appears to you where this begins, Can equally move with them. Provide your going; Enter Enobarbus and Eros. Eng. How now, friend Eros? Eros. There's strange news, come, Sir. Eno. What, man? [Exeunt. Eros. Cafar and Lepidus have made war upon Pompey. Eng. This is old; what is the success ? Eros. Cæfar, having made use of him in the wars 'gainst Pompey, presently denied him rivalty, would not let him partake in the glory of the action; and not refting here, accuses him of letters he had formerly wrote to Pompey. Upon his own appeal, seizes him; fo The poor Third is up, 'till death enlarge his confine. Eno. Then 'would thou hadst a pair of chaps, no more; and throw between them all the food thou haft, hey'll grind the other. Where's Antony? Eros. He's walking in the garden thus; and spurns The rush that lies before him. Cries, "fool Lepidus!" and threats the throat of that his officer, That murder'd Pompey. Eno. Our great Navy's rigg'd. Eros. For Italy and Cæfar; more, Domitius, y Lord defires you presently; my news might have told hereafter. Eno. 'Twill be naught; but let it be; bring me to tony. Eros. Come, Sir. Caf. SCENE changes to the Palace in Rome. Enter Cæfar, Agrippa, and Mecænas. Contemning Rome, he has done all this, and In Alexandria; here's the manner of it: Mec. This in the public eye? Caf. l' th' common shew-place, where they exercise. His fons were there proclaim'd the Kings of Kings; Great Medio, Parthia, and Armenia He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he afsign'd Syria, Cilicia, and Phænicia: she In the habiliments of the Goddess Ifis That day appear'd, and oft before gave audience, Mec. Let Rome be thus inform'd. A r. Who, queasy with his infolence already, Will their good thoughts call from him. Caf. The people know it, and have now receiv'd His accufations. Agr. Whom does he accuse? Caf. Cafar; and that having in Sicily Should be depos'd; and, being, that we detain Agr. Sir, this should be answer'd. Cas. |