Varrius. Silius, an Officer in Ventidius's Army. Taurus, Lieutenant-General to Cæfar. Alexas, Mardian, Servants to Cleopatra. Diomedes. A Soothsayer. Clown. Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. Octavia, Sister to Cæfar, and Wife to Antony. Charmian, Iras. } Ladies attending on Cleopatra. Ambaffadors from Antony to Cæfar, Captains, Soldiers, Meffengers, and other Attendants. The SCENE is difpers'd in feveral Parts of the Roman Empire. ANTO NY. The Palace at Alexandria in Egypt. Enter Demetrius and Philo. PHILO. AY, but this dotage of our General That o'er the files and mufters of the war Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn, Upon a tawny front. His Captain's heart, Take but good note, and you fhall fee in him Into a Strumpet's fool.-] The Metaphor is here miferably mangled. We should read, Into a Strumpet's Fool. The Pillar of the World, fays he, is transformed into a Strumpet's Stool. Alluding to the custom of Strumpets fitting in the Lap of their Lovers. I 6 Ant. Ant. 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 must thou needs find out new heav'n, new earth. Enter a Meffenger. 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, Ant. How, my love? Cleo. Perchance, (nay, and moft like.) You must not stay here longer, your difmiffion Is to do thus; when fuch a mutual Pair, [Embracing. We ftand up peerlefs. Cleo. Excellent falfhood! Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her? Will be himself. Ant. But ftirr'd by Cleopatra. Antony Now for the love of love, and his foft hours, Let's Let's not confound the time with conference harsh; There's not a minute of our lives fhould ftretch Without fome pleasure new: what fport to-night? Cleo. Hear the Ambaffadors. Ant. Fie, wrangling Queen! Whom every thing becomes, to chide, to laugh, [Exeunt, with their Train. Dem. Is Cæfar with Antonius priz'd fo flight? Phil. Sir, fometimes, when he is not Antony, He comes too short of that great property Which still should go with Antony. Dem. I'm forry, That he approves the common liar, Fame, SCENE II. [Exeunt. Enter Enobarbus, Charmian, Iras, Alexas, and a Soothsayer. Char. ALEXAS, fweet Alexas, moft any thing Alexas, almoft moft abfolute Alexas, where's the Sooth fayer that you prais'd fo to th' Queen? Oh that I knew this hufband, which you say, muft charge his horns with garlands. Alex. Soothfayer, 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 foresee. Char. Pray then, foresee me one. Sooth. You fhall be yet far fairer than you are. Char. He means, in flesh. Iras. No, you shall paint when you are old. Alex. Vex not his prefcience, be attentive. Sooth. You fhall be more beloving, than beloved. 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 Herod of Jewry may do homage! find me, to marry me with Octavius Cæfar, and companion me with my miftrefs. Sooth. You fhall out-live the Lady whom you ferve. 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. Then, belike, my children fhall have no names; Pr'ythee, how many boys and wenches muft I have? Sooth. If every of your wishes had a womb, And fertil 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 moft of our fortunes to-night, fhall be to go drunk to bed. |