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
O'er-flows the measure; thofe his goodly eyes,

That o'er the files and mufters of the war

Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn,
The office and devotion of their view

Upon a tawny front. His Captain's heart,
Which in the fcuffles of great fights hath burst
The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper;
And is become the bellows, and the fan,
To cool a Gypfy's luft. Look, where they come !
Flourish. Enter Antony and Cleopatra, her Ladies
in the train, Eunuchs fanning her.

Take but good note, and you fhall fee in him
The triple pillar of the world transform'd
* Into a Strumpet's Stool. Behold, and see.
Cleo. If it be love, indeed, tell me, how much?

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,
If the scarce-bearded Cæfar have not fent
His powerful Mandate to you, Do this, or this;
Take in that Kingdom, and infranchise that;
Perform't, or else 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 blufheft, Antony, and that blood of thine
Is Cafar's homager: elfe, fo thy cheeks pay fhame,
When fhrill-tongu'd Fulvia fcolds. The Meffengers-
Ant. Let Rome in Tyber melt, and the wide arch
Of the rais'd Empire fall! here is my space;
Kingdoms are clay; our dungy earth alike
Feeds beast as man ; the nobleness of life

Is to do thus; when fuch a mutual Pair, [Embracing.
And such a twain can do't; in which, 1 bind
(On pain of punishment) the world to weet,

We ftand up peerlefs.

Cleo. Excellent falfhood!

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

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,
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 streets, and note
The qualities of People. Come, my Queen,
Last night you did defire it. Speak not to us.

[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,
Who fpeaks him thus at Rome; but I will hope
Of better deeds to-morrow. Reft you happy!

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.
Char. Wrinkles forbid !

Alex. Vex not his prefcience, 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.

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.