Kingdoms are clay: our dungy earth alike
Feeds beast as man: the nobleness of life
Is, to do thus; when such a mutual pair,

Embracing.
And such a twain can do't; in which, I bind,
On pain of punishment, the world to weet',
We stand up peerless.

Cleo. Excellent falsehood!

Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?-
I'll seem the fool I am not; Antony
Will be himself.

A little I can read.

Alex. Shew him your hand.

Enter Enobarbus.

Eno. Bring in thebanquet quickly; wine enough, 5 Cleopatra's health to drink."

10

Ant. But stirr'd by Cleopatra.-
Now, for the love of love, and his soft hours,
Let's not confound the timewithconference harsh:
There's not a minute of our lives should stretch 15
Without some pleasure now: What sport to-night?
Cleo. Hear the embassadors.
Ant. Fye, wrangling queen!

Whom every thing becomes, to chide, to laugh,
To weep; whose every passion fully strives
To make itself, in thee, fair and adinir'd!
No messenger, but thine;-And all alone,
To-night, we'll wander through the streets, and

note

The qualities of people. Come, my queen;
Last night you did desire it:-Speak not to us.
[Exeunt Ant. and Cleop. with their train.
Dem. Is Cæsar with Antonius priz'd so slight?
Phil. Sir, sometimes, when he is not Antony,
He comes too short of that great property
Which still should go with Antony.

Dem. I am full sorry,

That he approves the common liar', who

Thus speaks of him at Rome: But I will hope
Of better deeds to-morrow. Rest you happy!

SCENE II.

Another part of the Palace.

Char. Good sir, give me good fortune.
Sooth. I make not, but foresee.

Char. Pray then, foresee me one.

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

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

Alex. Vex not his prescience; be attentive.
Char. Hush!

Sooth. You shall be more beloving, than belov’d.
Char. I had rather heat my liver with drinking.
Alex. Nay, hear him.

Char. Good now, some excellent fortune! Let me be married to three kings in a forenoon, and 20 widow them all! let me have a child at fifty, to whom Herod of Jewry may do homage! tind me to marry with Octavius Cæsar, and companion me with my mistress!

Sooth. You shall out-live the lady whom you 25 serve.

30

35

[Exeunt.

1401

Enter Charmian, Iras, Alexas, and a Soothsayer.
Char. Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most any
thing Alexas, almost most absoluteAlexas, where's
the soothsayer that you prais'd so to the
O! that I knew this husband, which, you say, 45
queen?
must change his horns with garlands.

Alex. Soothsayer.
Sooth. Your will?

Char. Is this the man?

[know things? -Is't you, sir, that

Sooth. In nature's infinite book of secrecy,

Char. O excellent! I love long life better than figs'. [fortune, Sooth. You have seen and prov'da fairer former Ihan that which is to approach.

Char. Then, belike, my children shall have no names: Pry'thee, how many boys and wenches must I have?

Sooth. If every of your wishes had a womb, And foretell every wish, a million".

Char. Out, fool! I forgive thee for a witch. Alex. You think, none but your sheets 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, shall be-drunk to bed.

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

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

Iras. Go, you wild bedfellow, you cannot sooth-say.

Char. Nay, if an oily palm be not a fruitful prognostication, I cannot scratch mine ear.50 Pr'ythee, tell her but a worky-day fortune.

Meaning, that he proves the common lyar, fame, Dr. Johnson doubts, whether change in this place may not signify merely to dress, or to dress with changes of garlands; certain it is, that change of clothes in the time of Shakspeare signified variety of them. 'Herod was always one of the personages in the mysteries of our early stage, on which he was conA heated liver is supposed to make a pimpled face. stantly represented as a fierce, haughty, blustering tyrant; so that Herod of Jewry became a common proverb, expressive of turbulence and rage. Thus Hamlet says of a ranting player, that he "out-herods Hered."-The meaning then is, Charmian wishes for a son, who may arrive to such power and dominion, that the proudest and fiercest monarchs of the earth may be brought under his yoke. "A proverbial expression. answer then implies, that belike all her children will be bastards, who have no right to the name of A fairer fortune may mean, a more reputable one.—Her their father's family. "The meaning is, If you had as many wombs as you will have wishes, and I should foretell all those wishes, I should foretell a million of children.-It is an ellipsis very frequent in conversation;-I should shame you, and tellall; that is, and if I should tell all. "And is for and if, which was anciently, and is still provincially used for iƒ.

7

Sooth.

Sooth. Your fortunes are alike.
Iras. But how, but how? give me particulars.
Sooth. I have said.

Iras. Am I not an inch of fortune better than

she?

Char. Well, if you were but an inch of fortune better than I, where would you choose it? Iras. Not in my husband's nose.

Char. Our worser thoughts heavens mend!

Ant. Speak to me home, mince not the general Name Cleopatra as she's call'd in Rome:

Rail thou in Fulvia's phrase; and taunt my faults

weeds,

Alexas,-come, his fortune, his fortune.-O, let 10 With such full licence, as both truth and malice him marry a woman that cannot go, sweet Isis, 1| Have power to utter. O, then we bring forth beseech thee! And let her die too, and give him a worse! and let worse follow worse, 'till the worst of all follow him laughing to his grave, fifty-fold a cuckold! Good Isis, hear me this 15 prayer, though thou deny me a matter of more weight; good Isis, I beseech thee!

Iras. Amen. Dear goddess, hear that prayer of the people! for, as it is a heart-breaking to see a handsome man loose-wiv'd, so it is a deadly 20 sorrow to behold a foul knave uncuckolded: Therefore, dear Isis, keep decorum, and fortune him accordingly.

Char. Amen.

Alex. Lo, now! if it lay in their hands to make 25 me a cuckold, they would make themselves whores, but they'd do 't.

Eno. Hush! here comes Antony.
Char. Not he, the queen.

Enter Cleopatra.

Cleo. Saw you my lord?

Eno. No, lady.

Cleo. Was he not here?

Char. No, madam,

[us,
When our quick winds lie still2; and our ill, told
Is as our earing. Fare thee well a while.
Mes. At your noble pleasure.
[Exit.
Ant. From Sicyon how the news? Speak there.
1 Att. The man from Sicyon.-Is there such an
2 Att. He stays upon your will.
[one?
Ant. Let him appear.-
These strong Ægyptian fetters I must break,
Enter a second Messenger.

Or lose myself in dotage.-What are you?
2 Mes. Fulvia thy wife is dead.
Ant. Where died she?

2 Mes. In Sicyon:

Her length of sickness, with what else more serious
Importeth thee to know, this bears. [Gives a letter.
Ant. Forbear me.-
[Exit Messenger.
There's a great spirit gone! Thus did I desire it:
30 What our contempts do often hurl from us,
We wish it ours again; the present pleasure,
By revolution 'lowering, does become
The opposite of itself: she's good, being gone; [on.
The hand could pluck her back, that shov'd her

Cleo. He was dispos'd to mirth; but on the sud-35I must from this enchanting queen break off;

Cleo. Seck him, and bring him hither. Where's
Aler.Here,at your service.-My lord approaches. 40
Enter Antony, with a Messenger, and Attendants.
Cleo. We will not look upon him: Go with us.
[Exeunt.

Mes. Fulvia thy wife first came into the field.
Ant. Against my brother Lucius?
Mes. Ay:

But soon that war had end, and the time's state
Made friends of them, jointing their force 'gainst

Cæsar;

Whose better issue in the war, from Italy,
Upon the first encounter, drave them.
Ant. Well, what worst?

Mes. The nature of bad news infects the teller.
Ant. When it concerns the fool, or coward.-

On;

451

Ten thousand harms, more than the ills I know,
My idleness doth hatch.-How now, Enobarbus?
Enter Enobarbus.

Eno. What's your pleasure, sir?
Ant. I must with haste from hence.

Eno. Why, then we kill all our women: We
see how mortal an unkindness is to them; if they
suffer our departure, death's the word.
Ant. I must be gone.

Eno. Under a compelling occasion, let women die: It were pity to cast them away for nothing; though, between them and a great cause, they should be esteem'd nothing. Cleopatra, catching but the least noise of this, dies instantly; I have 50seen her die twenty times upon far poorer inoment': I do think, there is mettle in death, which commits some loving act upon her, she hath such a celerity in dying.

[thus; 55

Things that are past, are done, with me. Tis
Who tells me true, though in his tale lie death,
I hear him as he flatter'd.

Mes. Labienus (this is stiff news)

Ant. She is cunning past man's thought.

Eno. Alack, sir, no; her passions are made of nothing but the finest part of pure love: We cannot call her winds and waters, sighs and tears; they are greater storms and tempests than almanacks can report: this cannot be cunning in her;

1i. e. seized. The sense is, that man, not agitated by censure, like soil not ventilated by quick winds, produces more evil than good. i. e. by regular repetition. Could for would.-Could,

would, and should, are very often indiscriminately used in the old plays. i. e. for less reason;

if it be, she makes a shower of rain as well as Jove.

Ant. 'Would I had never seen her!

Eno. O, sir, you had then left unseen a wonderful piece of work; which not to have been 5 blest withal, would have discredited your travel. Ant. Fulvia is dead.

Eno. Sir?

Ant. Fulvia is dead,
Eno. Fulvia?

Ant. Dead.

[10]

Eno, Why, sir, give the gods a thankful sacrifice. When it pleaseth their deities to take the wife of a man from him, it shews to man the tailors of the earth; comforting therein, that when 15 old robes are worn out, there are members to make new. If there were no more women but Fulvia, then had you indeed a cut, and the case to be lamented: this grief is crown'd with consolation; your old smock brings forth a new 20 petticoat: and, indeed, the tears live in an onion, that should water this sorrow.

[state,

Ant. The business she hath broach'd in the Cannot endure my absence.

Eno. And the business you have broach'd here, 25 cannot be without you; especially that of Cleopatra's, which wholly depends on your abode.

30

35

Ant. No more light answers. Let our officers
Have notice what we purpose: I shall break
The cause of our expedience to the queen,
And get her love to part. For not alone
The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches',
Do strongly speak to us; but the letters too
Of many our contriving friends in Rome
Petition us at home: Sextus Pompeius
Hath given the dare to Cæsar, and commands
The empire of the sea: our slippery people
(Whose love is never link'd to the deserver,
Till his deserts are past) begin to throw
Pompey the great, and all his dignities
Upon his son; who, high in name and power,
Higher than both in blood and life, stands up
For the main soldier: whose quality, going on,
Thesideso'theworldmaydanger: much is breeding,
Which, like the courser's hair, hath yet but life, 45
And not a serpent's poison. Say, our pleasure,
To such whose place is under us, requires
Our quick remove from hence.

Enb. I shall do't.

SCENE III.

[Exeunt.

40

Say, I am dancing; if in mirth, report,
That I am sudden sick: Quick, and return.

[Exit Alex, Char. Madam, methinks, if you did love him dearly,

You do not hold the method to enforce
The like from him,

Cleo. What should I do, I do not?

Char. In each thing give him way, cross him in
nothing.
[him,
Cleo. Thou teachest like a fool; the way to lose
Char. Tempt him not so too far: I wish, forbear;
In time we hate that which we often fear.
Enter Antony.

But here comes Antony.
Cleo. I am sick, and sullen,

[pose,

Ant. I am sorry to give breathing to my pur-
Cleo. Help me away, dear Charmian, I shall
It cannot be thus long, the sides of nature [fall;
Will not sustain it.
Ant. Now, my
Cleo. Pray you, stand farther from me,
Ant. What's the matter?

dearest

queen,

[news.

Cleo. I know, by that same eye, there's some good
What says the marry'd woman?-You may go;
'Would, she had never given you leave to come!
Let her not say, 'tis I that keep you here,

I have no power upon you; hers you are.
Ant. The gods best know,-

Cleo. O, never was there queen

So mightily betray'd! Yet, at the first,
saw the treasons planted,

Ant. Cleopatra,

[true,

Cleo. Why should I think, you can be mine, and Though you in swearing shake the throned gods, Who have been false to Fulvia? Riotous madness, To be entangled with those mouth-made vows, Which break themselves in swearing!

Ant. Most sweet queen,—

[going,

Cleo. Nay, pray you, seek no colour for your
But bid farewell, and go: when you su'd staying,
Then was the time for words: No going then;-
Eternity was in our lips, and eyes;

Bliss in our brows' bent'; none our parts so poor,
But was a race of heaven: They are so still,
Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world,
Art turn'd the greatest liar.

Ant. How now, lady!

[know,

Cleo. I would, I had thy inches; thou should'st

50 There were a heart in Egypt.

Ant. Hear me, queen:

The strong necessity of time commands

Our services a while; but my full heart
Remains in use with you. Our Italy

Cleo. See where he is, who's with him, what he 55 Shines o'er with civil swords: Sextus Pompeius I did not send you';-If you find him ṣad,

Makes his approaches to the port of Rome;

The meaning is this; "As the gods have been pleased to take away your wife Fulvia, so they have provided you with a new one in Cleopatra; in like manner as the tailors of the earth, when your old garments are worn out, accommodate you with new ones." Expedience for expedition. i. e. things that touch me more sensibly. i. e. wish us at home. 'Alluding to an old idle notion, that the hair of a horse dropped into corrupted water, will turn to an animal. You must go as if you came without my order or knowledge. i. e. in the arch of our eye-brows. had a smack or flavour of heaven.-The race of wine is the taste of the soil.

Where be the sacred vials thou should'st fill
With sorrowful water?? Now I see, I see,
In Fulvia's death, how mine receiv'd shall be
Ant. Quarrel no more, but be prepar'd to know
The purposes I bear; which are, or cease,
As you shall give the advice: By the fire,
That quickens Nilus' slime, I go from hence,
Thy soldier, servant; making peace, or war,
As thou affect'st.

Cleo. Cut my lace, Charmian, come;-
But let it be. I am quickly ill, and well;
So' Antony loves.

Ant. My precious queen, forbear;

And give true evidence to his love, which stands
An honourable trial.

Cleo. So Fulvia told me.

I pr'ythee, turn aside, and weep for her;
Then bid adieu to me, and say, the tears
Belong to Egypt. Good now, play one scene
Of excellent dissembling; and let it look
Like perfect honour.

Ant. You'll heat my blood; no more.
Cleo. You can do better yet; but this is meetly.
Ant. Now, by my sword,-

Cleo. And target.-Still he mends;

But this is not the best: Look, pr'ythee, Charmian,
How this Herculean Roman does become
The carriage of his chafe.

Ant. I'll leave you, lady.

Cleo. Courteous lord, one word.

Sir, you and I must part,-but that's not it:
Sir, you and I have lov'd,—but there's not it;
That you know well;-Something it is I would,-

5

JO, my oblivion is a very Antony,
And I am all-forgotten".

Ant. But that your royalty

Holds idleness your subject, I should take you 5 For idleness itself'.

10

[15]

1201

Cleo. 'Tis sweating labour,

a

To bear such idleness so near the heart
As Cleopatra this. But, sir, forgive me;
Since my becomings kill me, when they do not
Eye well to you: Your honour calls you hence;
Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly,

And all the gods go with you! Upon your sword
Sit laurell'd victory! and smooth success
Be strew'd before your feet!

Ant. Let us go. Come;

Our separation so abides, and flies,

That thou, residing here, go'st yet with me,
And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee.
Away.
[Exeunt.

Enter Octavius Cæsar, Lepidus, and Attendants. Cas. You may see, Lepidus, and henceforth 25 It is not Cæsar's natural vice to hate [know, One great competitor: From Alexandria This is the news; He fishes, drinks, and wastes The lamps of night in revel: is not more manlike Than Cleopatra; nor the queen of Ptolemy 30 More womanly than he: hardly gave audience, or Vouchsaf'd to think he had partners: You shall find there

35

140

A man, who is the abstract of all faults
That all men follow.

Lep. I must not think, there are
Evils enough to darken all his goodness:
His faults, in him, seem as the spots of heaven,
More fiery by night's blackness; hereditary,
Rather than purchas'd'; what he cannot change,
Than what he chooses.
[not

Cas. You are too indulgent: Let us grant, it is
Amiss to tumble on the bed of Ptolemy;

To give a kingdom for a mirth; to sit
And keep the turn of tippling with a slave;
45 To reel the streets at noon, and stand the buffet
With knaves that smell of sweat; say, this be-

comes him,

(As his composure must be rare indeed, [tony Whom these things cannot blemish !) yetmust An50 No way excuse his foils, when we do bear So great weight in his lightness 10: If he fill'd

7

6 The

i. e. the commotion she occasioned.-The word is derived from the old French garbouil, which Cotgrave explains by hurlyburly, great stir. 2 Alluding to the lacrymatory vials, or bottles of 3 So for us. 4 i, e. to me, tears, which the Romans sometimes put into the urn of a friend. the queen of Egypt. Antony traced his descent from Anton, a son of Hercules. plain meaning is, My forgetfulness makes me forget myself.--But she expresses it by calling forget'i, e. according to fulness Antony; because forgetfulness had forgot her, as Antony had done. Warburton, But that your charms hold me, who am the greatest fool on earth, in chains, I should have adjudged you to be the greatest." Cleopatra may perhaps here allude to Antony having before called her, in the first scene," wrangling queen, whom every thing becomes." meaning, according to Mr, Malone, is, "As the stars or spots of heaven are not obscured, but rather rendered more bright, by the blackness of the night; so neither is the goodness of Antony eclipsed by his evil qualities, but, on the contrary, his faults seem enlarged and aggravated by his virtues," 10 i. e. trifling levity.

9 The

His

Did famine follow; whom thou fought'st against, 40
Though daintily brought up, with patience more
Than savages could suffer: Thou didst drink
The stale of horses', and the gilded puddle
Which beasts would cough at: thy palate then
did deign

Call on him, is visit him for it. 2 i. c. boys old enough to know their duty. plow. i. e. turn pale at the thought of it. Flush youth is youth ripened to whose blood is at the flow. 6 Wassel is here put for intemperance in general. cumstances of Antony's distress are taken literally from Plutarch. was supposed to procure sleep. A burgonet is a kind of helmet.