Ant. If you can, your reafon ? Sooth I fee it in my motion, have it not in my tongue; but yet hie you to Egypt again. Ant. Say to me, whofe fortunes fhall rife higher, Cæfar's or mine? Sooth. Cæfar's Therefore, oh Antony, ftay not by his fide. Where Cæfar's is not: but, near him, thy angel Ant. Speak this no more. Sooth. To.none but thee; no more, but when to thee. If thou dost play with him at any game, Thou'rt fure to lofe: and, of that natural luck, Ant. Get thee gone. Say to Ventidius, I would fpeak with him. [Exit Soothsayer. 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, inhoop'd, at odds. I will to Egypt; And though I make this marriage for my peace, Enter Ventidius. I' th' eaft my pleasure lyes. Oh, come, Ventidius. You must to Parthia, your commitlion's ready: Follow me, and receive't. I fee it in my notion. Theobald. [Exeunt. + The Ancients used to match quails, as we match cocks. Johnson. Enter Lepidus, Mecanas, and Agrippa. Lep. Trouble yourselves no farther. Pray you, haften Your generals after. Agr. Sir, Mark Antony Will e'en but kifs Octavia, and we'll follow. Mec. We fhall, As I conceive the journey, be at the mount Lep. Your way is fhorter, My purpofes do draw me much about ;. Lep. Farewell. SCENE V. Changes to the Palace in Alexandria. Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas. Cleo. Give me fome mufic; music, moody food Of us that trade in love Omnes. The music, hoa! Enter Mardian the eunuch. Cleo. Let it alone, let's to billiards: come, Charmian. Char. My arm is fore, beft 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 the river; there, I'll think them every one an Antony,. You wager'd on your angling; when your diver Cleo. That time! -oh times!. I laugh'd him out of patience, and that night Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears, Cleo. Antony's dead?. If thou fay fo, villain, thou kill'ft thy mistress: If fo thou yield him, there is gold, and here Melf. Firft, Madam, he is well. Cleo. Why, there's more gold. But, firrah, mark, we ufe To fay the dead are well; bring it to that, Mef. Good Madam, hear me. But there's no goodness in thy face. If Antony Not like a formal man. Mel. Will' please you hear me? Cleo I have a mind to ftrike thee ere thou fpeak'ft; Yet, if thou fay Antony lives, 'tis well, Or friends with Cæfar, or not captive to him, I'll fet thee in a fhower of gold, and hail Cleo. Well faid. Me. And friends with Cæfar. Cleo. Thou'rt an honest man. Mef. Cæfar and he are greater friends than ever. Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me. Melf. But yet, Madam Cleo. I do not like but yet; it does allay Some monstrous malefactor. Pr'ythee, friend, The good and bad together. He's friends with Cæfar, Cleo. For what good turn? Meff. For the best turn i' th' bed. Cleo. I am pale, Charmian. Meff. Madam, he's married to Octavia. Cleo. The most infectious peftilence upon thee! Melf. Good Madam, patience. Cleo. What fay you? [Strikes him down. [Strikes him. Hence, horrible villain, or I'll fpurn thine eyes [She hales him up and down. That is, I will give thee a kingdom; it being the castern ceremony, at the coronation of their kings, to powder them with gold-duft and feed-pearl; fo Milton, -the gorgeous Eaft with liberal hand Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold. In the life of Timur-bec or Tamerlane, written by a Perfian contemporary author, are the following words, as tranflated by Monfieur Petit de la Croix, in the account there given of his coronation, book II. ch. 1. Les princes du fang royal et les emirs repandirent à pleines mains Jar la tète quantite d'or et de pierreries, felon la coûtume. Warburtou.. Thou fhalt be whipt with wire, and stew'd in brine, Smarting in ling'ring pickle. Melf. Gracious Madam, I, that do bring the news, made not the match. Me. He's married, Madam. Cleo. Rogue, thou hast liv'd too long. Me. Nay, then I'll run : [Draws a knife. What mean you, Madam? I have made no fault. [Exit. Char. Good Madam, keep yourself within yourself, The man is innocent. Cleo. Some innocents "fcape not the thunderboltMelt Egypt into Nile; and kindly creatures Turn all to ferpents! Call the flave again; Though I am mad, I will not bite him. Call. Char. He is afraid to come. Cleo. I will not hurt him. These hands do lack nobility, that they strike Have given myself the cause. Come hither, Sir. Re-enter the Meffenger. Though it be honeft, it is never good To bring bad news. Give to a gracious message An hoft of tongues, but let ill tidings tell Themselves, when they be felt. Melf. I have done my duty. Cleo. Is he married? I cannot hate thee worfer than I do, If you again fay, Yes. Me. He's married, Madam. Cleo. The gods confound thee! doft thou hold there ftill? Meff. Should I lie, Madam? Cleo. Oh, I would thou didft; So half my Ægypt were fubmerg'd, and made |