Cleo. How much unlike art thou Mark Antony!
Yet, coming from him, that great medicine hath
With his tinct gilded thee1.—

How goes it with my brave Mark Antony?
Alex. Last thing he did, dear queen,
He kiss'd, the last of many doubled kisses,
This orient pearl !—His speech sticks in my heart.
Cleo. Mine ear must pluck it thence.
Alex. Good friend, quoth he,

Say," the firm Roman to great Egypt sends
This treasure of an oyster: at whose foot,
"To mend the petty present, I will piece
"Her opulent throne with kingdoms: All the east,
"Say thou,shall call her mistress." So he nodded,
And soberly did mount an arm-gaunt 2 steed,
Who neigh'd so high, that what I would have spoke
Was beastly dumb'd' by him.

Cleo. What, was he sad, or merry?

Alex. Like to the time o' the year between the extremes

Of hot and cold; he was nor sad, nor merry.

Cleo. O well-divided disposition !-Note him, Note him, good Charinian, 'tis the man; but note

him:

He was not sad; for he would shine on those
That make their looks by his: he was not merry;
Which seem'd to tell them, his remembrance lay

5

In Egypt with his joy; but between both:
O heavenly mingle! Be'st thou sad, or merry,
The violence of either thee becomes;
So does it no man else.-Met'st thou my posts?
Alex. Ay, madam, twenty several messengers :`
Why do you send so thick?

Cleo. Who's born that day

When I forget to send to Antony,

Shall die a beggar.-Ink and paper, Charmian.10 Welcome, my good Alexas.-Did I, Charmian, Ever love Casar so?

SCENE

АСТ

I.

Messina. Pompey's House.

Enter Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas.

II.

He loses hearts: Lepidus flatters both,
Of both is flatter'd; but he neither loves,
Nor either cares for him.

Men. Cæsar and Lepidus are in the field;

the great gods be just, they shall assist 40 A mighty strength they carry.

Pomp.

The deeds of justest men.

Men. Know, worthy Pompey,

That what they do delay, they not deny. [cays
Pomp. Whiles we are suitors to their throne, de-

The thing we sue for ".

Men. We, ignorant of ourselves,

Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers
Deny us, for our good: so find we profit,
By losing of our prayers.

Pomp. I shall do well:

The people love me, and the sea is mine;

My power's a crescent, and my auguring hope

Says, it will come to the full. Mark Antony

In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make

45

Pomp. Where have you this? 'tis false.
Men. From Silvius, sir.

Pomp. He dreams; I know, they are in Rome

together,

Looking for Antony: But all the charms of love,
Salt Cleopatra, soften thy wan lip!

Let witchcraft join with beauty, fust with both;
Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts,
Keep his brain fuming: Epicurean cooks,

50 Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite;
That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour,
Even 'till a Lethe'd dulness-How now, Varrius?
Enter Varrius.

Var. This is most certain, that I shall deliver;

No wars without doors: Cæsar gets money, where 55 Mark Antony is every hour in Rome

• Alluding to the philosopher's stone, which, by its touch, converts base metal into gold. The alchemists call the matter, whatever it be, by which they perform transmutation, a medicine. 2 Armgaunt, perhaps means, a horse so slender that a man might clasp him, and therefore formed for expedition.-In Chaucer's description of a king of Thrace in the Knight's Tale, armgrete is used to signify as big as the arm; arm-gaunt therefore may mean as slender as the arm. We still say, in vulgar comparison, as long as my arm, as thick as my leg, &c. 1i. e. put to silence by him. 4 The meaning is, Those were my sallad days, when I was green in judgement; but your blood is as cold as my judgement, if you have the same opinion of things now as I had then. By sending out messengers. The meaning is, While we are praying, the thing for which we pray is losing its value.

3D 3

Expected;

Lep. Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed,

And shall become you well, to entreat your captain
To soft and gentle speech.

Serves for the matter that is then born in it.
Lep. But small to greater matters must give 45
Eno. Not if the small come first.

I know you could not lack, I am certain on't,
Very necessity of this thought, that I,

Hope for expect. 3 i. e. quarrel.

him undressed, without shew of respect. i. e. Let not ill humour be added to the subject of our difference. To practise means to employ unwarrantable arts or stratagems. 'i.e. my theme or subject of conversation. i. e. The pretence of the war was on your account; they took up aris in your name, and you were made the theme and subject of their insurrection.

Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,
Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars
Which fronted' mine own peace. As for my wife,
I would you had her spirit in such another:
The third o' the world is yours; which with a

Eno. 'Would we had all such wives, that the
men might go to wars with the women!
Ant. So much uncurbable, her garboils, Cæsar, 10
Made out of her impatience (which not wanted
Shrewdness of policy too) I grieving grant,
Did you too much disquiet: for that, you must
But say I could not help it.

135

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 40
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 ask pardon as bents mine honour
To stoop in such a case.

Lep. "Tis nobly spoken.

Eno. Or, if you borrow one another's love for the instant, you may, when you hear no more words of Pompey, return it again: you shall have 55 time to wrangle in, when you have nothing else

1i. e. opposed. f. e. told him the condition I was in, when he had his last audience. ing, the religion of an oath. i. e. "I will henceforth seem senseless as a stone, however I may observe and consider your words and actions.”

Mec. We have cause to be glad, that matters are so well digested. You staid well by it in Egypt. Eno. Ay, sir; we did sleep day out of countenance, and made the night light with drinking. Mee. Eight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast, and but twelve persons there;-Is this true? Eno. This was but as a fly by an eagle: we had much more monstrous matter of feast, which worthily deserved noting.

Mec. She's a most triumphant lady, if report be square to her1.

20 She made great Cæsar lay his sword to bed; He plough'd her, and she cropt.

25

30

Eno. When she first met Mark Antony, she
purs'd up his heart, upon the river of Cydnus.
Agr. There she appear'd indeed; or my reporter 35
Devis'd well for her.

Eno. I saw her once

Hop forty paces through the publick street:
And having lost her breath, she spoke,and panted,
That she did make.defect, perfection,

And, breathless, power breathe forth.

Mec. Now Antony must leave her utterly.
Eno. Never; he will not:

Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety: Other women cloy
The appetites they feed; but she makes hungry,
Where most she satisfies. For vilest things
Become themselves in her; that the holy priests
Bless her, when she is riggish '.

Mec. If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle
The heart of Antony, Octavia is
A blessed lottery to him.

Agr. Let us go.

Good Enobarbus, make yourself my guest,' 40 Whilst you abide here.

Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made
The water, which they beat, to follow faster,
As amorous of their strokes. For her own person, 45
It beggar'd all description: she did lie
In her pavilion, (cloth of gold, of tissue)
O'er-picturing that Venus where we see
The fancy out-work nature: on each side her
Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids, 50
With divers-colour'd fans, whose wind did seem
To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool,
And what they undid, did.

Agr. O, rare for Antony!

Eno. Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides, So many mermaids, tended her i' the eyes, And made their bends adornings: at the helm A seeming mermaid steers; the silken tackles

1551

Eno, Humbly, sir, I thank you.
SCENE III.

[Exeunt.

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 square; but that to come
Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear lady.
Octa. Good night, sir.

Cas. Good night. [Exeunt Cæsar, and Octavia.
Ant. Now, sirrah! you do wish yourself in
Ægypt?

2 Mr. Tollet thinks bends or bands

i. e. if report quadrates with her, or suits with her merits. is the same word, and means in this place the several companies of Nereïds that waited on Cleopatra: while Mr. Malone apprehends, their bends refers to Cleopatra's eyes, and not to her gentlewomen. "Her attendants, in order to learn their mistress's will, watched the motion of her eyes, the bends or "movements of which added new lustre to her beauty." Rigg is an ancient word meaning a strumpet.

Sooth

My motion', I have it not in my tongue: But yet 5
Hie you again to Egypt.

Aut. Say to me,

Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Cæsar's or mine?
Sooth. Cæsar's.

Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side:
Thy dæmon, that's thy spirit which keeps thee, is
Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable,
Where Cæsar's is not; but, near him, thy angel
Becomes a fear, as being o'erpower'd; therefore
Make space enough between you.
Ant. Speak this no more.

10

Omnes. The music, ho!

Enter Murdian.

Cleo. Let it alone; let us to billiards: come,
Charmian.

Char. My arm is sore, best play with Mardian.
Cleo. As well a woman with an eunuch play'd,
As with a woman: come, you'll play with me,
Mar. As well as I can, madam.
[sir?
Cleo. And when good will is shew'd, though it
come too short,

The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now:-
Give me mine angle,-We'll to the river: there,
My musick playing far off, I will betray
Tawny-finn'd fishes: my bended hook shall pierce
15 Their shmy jaws; and, as I draw them up,
I'll think them every one an Antony,
And say, Ah, ha! you're caught.
Char. 'Twas merry, when

[to thee.
Sooth. To none but thee; no more, but when
If thou dost play with him at any game,
Thou art sure to lose; and, of that natural luck,
He beats thee 'gainst the odds; thy lustre thickens, 20
When he shines by: I say 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 speak with him :
[Exit Soothsayer.
He shall to Parthia.-Be it art, or hap,
He hath spoken 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 still of mine,
When it is all to nought; and his quails' ever
Beat mine, inhoop'd, at odds. I will to Egypt:
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
Enter Ventidius.

I'the east my pleasure lies.-O, come, Ventidius,
You must to Parthia; your commission's ready:
Follow me, and receive it.

SCENE IV.
The same; a Street.

[Exeunt.

Enter Lepidus, Mecanas, and Agrippa.
Lep. Trouble yourselves no farther: pray you

Your generals after.

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

Cleo. That time-O times!

I laugh'd him out of patience; and that night
I laugh'd him into patience: and next morn,
23 Ere the ninth hour, I drank him to his bed;
Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst
I wore his sword Philippan. O! from Italy;―
Enter a Messenger.

Ram' thou fruitful tidings in mine ears,
30That long time have been barren.
Mes. Madam, madam,-

35

140)

[hasten

Agr. Sir, Mark Antony

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

45

Lep. 'Till I shall see you in your soldiers' dress,

Which will become you both, farewell.

Mec. We shall,

As I conceive the journey, be at mount'
Before you, Lepidus.

Lep. Your stay is shorter,

My purposes do draw me much about;
You'll win two days upon me.
Both. Sir, good success!

Lep. Farewell.

SCENE V.

The Palace in Alexandria.

Cleo. Antony's dead?

If thou say so, villain, thou kill'st thy mistress:
But well and free,

If so thou yield him, there is gold, and here
My bluest veins to kiss; a hand, that kings
Have lipp'd, and trembled kissing.

Mes. First, madam, he is well.

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

To say, the dead are well: bring it to that,
The gold I give thec, will I melt, and pour
Down thy ill-uttering throat.

Mes. Good madani, hear me.

Cleo. Well, go to, I will;

But there's no goodness in thy face: if Antony
Be free, and healthful,— so tart a favour
To trumpet such good tidings? If not well,
Thou should'st come like a fury crown'd with
50 Not like a formal man.
[snakes,
Mes. Will't please you hear me? [speak'st:
Cleo. I have a mind to strike thee, ere thou
Yet, if thou say, Antony lives, is well,
Or friends with Cæsar, or not captive to him,

[Exeunt. 55 I'll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail
Rich pearls upon thee".

Mes. Madam, he's well.

Cleo. Well said.

Mes. And friends with Cæsar.,
Cleo. Thou art an honest man.

'i. e. the divinitory agitation. 2 i. e. a fearful thing.-A fear was a personage in some of the old moralities. The antients used to match quails as we match cocks. Inhoop'd is inclosed, confined, that they may fight. i. e. Mount Misenum. i. e. melancholy. 'Shakspeare probably wrote (as Sir T. Hanmer observes) Rain thou, &c. which agrees better with the epithets fruitful and barren. i. e. like a man in form or shape. 9 i. e. I will give thee a kingdom; it being the eastern ceremony, at the coronation of their kings, to powder them with gold-dust and seed-pearl.