The triple pillar of the world transformed
Into a ftrumpet's fool. Behold, and fee.

Cleo. If it be love indeed, tell me how much? Ant. (2) There's beggary in the love that can be reckoned.

Cleo. I'll fet a bourn how far to be beloved.

Ant. Then mult thou needs find out new heaven, new earth.

Enter a Meffenger.

Mef. 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 fearce-bearded Cæfar have not fent
His powerful mandate to you, " Do this, or this;

66

The triple pillar of the world transformed

Into a trumpet's teol.

"Alluding to the common cuftom of trumpets fitting on "the laps of their lovers. By this correction the metaphor "is admirably well preferved, (for both fool and pillar are things for fupport) and the contraft in this image is "beautiful. The fupporter of the world turned to the fup"porter of a ftrumpet 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 lived in; for tool is derived "from Erúhos, columna; the base or pedestal of a pillar having always been used for a feat, where it was broad e"nough for that purpofe."

(2) There's beggary in the love that can be reckoned.] 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 rife to our Author's reflection on this topic.

Pauperis eft numerare pecus

Populas numerabilis utpote parvus.

Ovid.

Horat.

"Take in that kingdom, and infranchife that; "Perform't, or elie 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. Where's Fulvia's procefs? Cæfar's? I'd fay both? Call in the meffengers: as I'm Egypt's Queen, Thou blushest, Antony, and that blood of thine Is Cæfar's homager; elle fo thy cheeks pay shame, When fhrill-tongued Fulvia fcolds. The meffen

gers

Ant. Let Rome in Tyber melt, and the wide arch Of the raised empire fall! here is my ipace; Kingdoms are clay; our dungy earth alike Feeds beaft as man; the noblenefs of life Is to do thus; when fuch a mutual pair,

[Embracing. And fach a twain can do't; in which I bind (On pain of punishment) the world to weet, We ftand up peerless.

Cleo. Excellent falfehood!

Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?
I'll feem the fool I am not.

Will be hinfelf.

Antony

Ant. But ftirred by Cleopatra.

Now for the love of Love, and his foft hours, Let's not confound the time with conference harfh; There's not a minute of our lives fhould stretch Without fome pleafure now; what fport to-night? Cleo. Hear the ambaffadors.

Ant. Fy, wrangling Queen!

Whom every thing becomes, to chide, to laugh,
To weep; whofe every paffion fully ftrives
To make itself in thee fair and admired.
No meffenger but thine; and all alone,

To-night we'll wander through the ftreets, and note
The qualities of people. Come, my Queen,:
Last night you did desire it. Speak not to us.

[Exeunt with their Train.
Dem. Is Cæfar with Antonius prized fo flight?
Phi. Sir, fometimes when he is not Antony,
He comes too fhort of that great property
Which ftill fhould, go with Antony.
Dem. I'm forry F

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!

[Exeunt.

Enter ENOBARBUS, CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, and a Soothfayer.

Char. Alexas, fweet Alexas, moft any thing Alexas, almost most abfolute Alexas, where's the Soothsayer that you praised so to the Queen? Oh! that I knew this hufband, which you fay muft charge his horns with garlands. (3)

Alex. Soothfayer.

Sooth. Your will?

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

Sooth. In Nature's infinite book of fecrecy, A little I can read.

Alex. Shew him your hand.

(3) Ob that I knew this husband which you say must change his horns with garlands.] Changing horns with garlands, is furely a fenfelefs unintelligible phrafe. We must restore, 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 started this emendation.

Eno. Bring in the banquet quickly: wine enough, Cleopatra's health to drink.

Ghar. Good Sir, give me good fortune.
Sooth. I make not, but foresee.

Char. Pray then foresee me one..

Sooth. You fhall be yet far fairer than you are.
Char. He means, in flesh.

Tras. No, you shall paint when you are old..
Char. Wrinkles forbid !

Alex. Vex not his prescience, be attentive.
Char. Hufh.

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

-Ghar. 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 Herod of Jewry may do homage! find me, to marry me with Octavius Cæfar, and companion me with my mistress.

Sooth. You fhall out-live the Lady whom you 'erve.

Char. Oh, excellent! I love long life better than figs.

Sooth. You have feen and proved a fairer former fortune, than that which is to approach.

Char. (4) Then, belike, my children shall have no names. Prythee, how many boys and wenches must I have?

(4) Then, belike, my children shall have no names.] i. e. They fhall be illegitimate. This will be very clearly explained by quoting a paffage from The Two Gentlemen of Verona ;

Speed. item, the hath many nameless virtues.

Launce. That's as much as to fay, baftard virtues; that, indeed, know not their fathers, and therefore have no

Sooth. (5) If every of your wifles had a womb And fertil every with, a million.

Char. Out, fool! I forgive thee for a witch. Į Alex. You think none but your fheets 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, fhall be to go drunk to bed.

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

Char. Even as the o'erflowing Nilus prefageth famine.

Iras. Go, you wild bed-fellow, you cannot foothfay.

Char. Nay, if an oily palm be not a fruitful prog noftication, I cannot fcratch mine ear. Pr'ythee tell her but a work-day fortune.

Sooth. Your fortunes are alike.

Iras. But how, but how?--give me particulars. Sooth. I have faid.

3

Iras. Am Inot an inch of fortune better than fhe? Char. Well, if you were but an inch of fortune better than I, where would you chuse it?

Iras. Not in my husband's nose.

(6) Char. Our worfer thoughts heav'ns mend! (5) If every of your wishes hid a womb,

And foretold every wish, a million.] What foretold? If the withes foretold themselves? This can never be genuine, however at has paffed hitherto upon the editors. It makes the word womb abfulutely fuperfluous, if only the telling her wishes beforehand would help her to the children. The Poet certainly wrote;

If every of your wishes had a womb,

And fertil every with

(6) Char. Our worfer thoughts heavens mend.

Alex. Come, bis fortune, bis fortune. O, let him marry a we man, &c.] Whofe fortune does Alexas call out to have told?