Varrius.

}

Friends to Pompey.

Silias, an Officer in Ventidius's Army.

Taurus, Lieutenant-General to Cæfar.

Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt.

Octavia, Sifter to Cæfar, and Wife to Antony.

Charmian,

Iras,

Ladies attending on Cleopatra.

Amballadors from Antony to Cæfar, Captains, Soldiers, Meffengers, and other Attendants.

The SCENE is difpers'd in feveral Parts of the Roman Empire.

ANTON Y,

AND

CLEOPATRA.

ACTI.

SCENE, the Palace at Alexandria in Ægypt.

Enter Demetrius and Philo.

PHILO.

AY, but this dotage of our General
O'er-flows the measure; thofe his goodly

eyes,

That o'er the files and mufters 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 fcuffles of great fights hath burft
The buckles on his breaft, reneges all temper;
And is become the bellows and the fan

To cool a Gypfy's luft. Look, where they come! Flourish. Enter Antony, and Cleopatra, ber Ladies in the train, Eunuchs fanning ber.

(1) Take but good note, and you fhall see in hima
The triple pillar of the world transform'd
Into a Strumpet's fool. Behold, and fee.

(1) Take but good Note, and you shall fee in him
The triple Pillar of the World transform'd

Cleo.

Into a Strumpet's Fool.] I have not difturb'd the Text, because of the Concurrence of the Copies; because it is Sense, as the Paffage may

Cleo. If it be love, indeed, tell me, how much? Ant. (2) 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 muft thou needs find out new heav'n, new earth.

Enter a Messenger.

Meff. News, my good Lord, from Rome.
Ant. It grates me. Tell the fum.
Cleo. Nay, hear it, Antony.

Fulvia, perchance, is angry; or who knows,
If the scarce-bearded Cæfar have not sent
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 moft like,)
You must not stay here longer, your difmiffion
Is come from Cæfar; therefore hear it, Antony.

be commented; and because our Author is fo licentious in his Metaphors. I muft not, however, ftifle my ingenious Friend Mr. Warbur ton's Note and Emendation on it. "A Pillar turn'd into a Fool? This "is as odd a Transformation as any in all Ovid. But I am much in"clin'd to think that Shakespeare wrote,

66

The triple Pillar of the World transform'd
Into a Strumpet's Stool.

pre

Alluding to the common Cuftom of Strumpets fitting on the Laps of "their Lovers. By this Correction the Metaphor is admirably well "ferv'd, (for both Stool and Pillar are Things for Support,) and the "Contraft in this Image is beautiful. The Supporter of the World "turn'd to the Supporter of a Strumpet. And if we may fuppofe,. "Shakespeare had Regard, in the Ufe of this Word, to the Etymology, "it will add a Quaintnefs to the Thought not unlike his Way, nor " that of the Time he liv'd in; for Stool is deriv'd from ETÚλO, Co- ́ ̈ "lumna; the Bafe or Pedestal of a Pillar having always been used for "a Seat, where it was broad enough for that Purpose.

(2) There's Beggary in the love, that can be reckon'd.] So Juliet fays, much to the fame Effect, to Romeo.

They are but Beggars, that can count their Worth.

I will not venture to affirm these an Imitation from the Claffics; but I'll quote Two Hemiftichs that might very probably have given Rise to our Author's Reflexion on this Topick.

Pauperis eft numerare pecus

Populus numerabilis utpote parvus.

Ovid.

Horat.

Where's

Where's Fulvia's Procefs? Cæfar's? I'd fay, both?
Call in the Meffengers; as I'm Egypt's Queen,
Thou blufheft, Antony, and that blood of thine
Is Cæfar's homager: elfe, fo thy cheeks pay fhame,
When fhrill-tongu'd Fulvia fcolds. The Meffengers -
Ant. Let Rome in Tyber melt, and the wide arch
Of the rais'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 stand up peerless.

Cleo. 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 ftirr'd by Cleopatra.

Now for the love of love, and his foft hours,
Let's not confound the time with conference harsh;
There's not a minute of our lives fhould stretch
Without fome pleasure now: what sport to night?
Cleo. Hear the Ambaffadors.

Ant. Fie, wrangling Queen!

Whom every thing becomes, to chide, to laugh,
To weep: whofe every paffion fully trives
To make it self in thee fair and admir'd.
No Meffenger, but thine; and all alone,

To night we'll wander through the streets, and note
The qualities of People. Come, my Queen,
Laft night you did defire it. Speak not to us.

[Exeunt, with their Train,
Dem. Is Cafar with Antonius priz'd so flight?
Phil. Sir, fometimes, when he is not Antony,
He comes too fhort of that great property
Which still should go with Antony.

Dem. I'm forry,

That he approves the common liar Fame,
Who fpeaks him thus at Rome; but I will hope
Of better deeds to morrow. Reft you happy!

P 3

[Exe, Enter

Enter Enobarbus, Charmian, Iras, Alexas, and a Sooth-fayer.

Char. Alexas, fweet Alexas, moft any thing Alexas, almost most abfolute Alexas, where's the Sooth-fayer that you prais'd fo to th' Queen? (3) Oh! that I knew this husband, which you fay, muft charge 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 fhall paint when you are old.

Char. Wrinkles forbid !

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

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

Char. Good now, fome 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 He

(3) Oh, that I knew this Husband, which, you say, must change his Horns with Garlands.] Changing Horns with Garlands, is furely, a fenfeless unintelligible Phrafe. We must reftore, in Oppofition to all the printed Copies, which you fay, muft charge his Horns with Garlands. i. e. must be an honourable Cuckold, must have his Horns hung with Garlands. Charge and change frequently ufurp each others Place in our Author's old Editions. I ought to take Notice, that Mr. Warburton likewife ftarted this Emendation.

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