Mec. We have caufe to be glad, that matters are fo well digefted: you ftay'd well by't in Egypt. Eno. Ay, Sir, we did fleep day out of countenance, and made the night light with drinking. Mec. Eight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast, and but twelve perfons there ;-Is this true? Eno. This was but as a flie by an eagle: we had much more monftrous matter of feaft, which worthily deferved noting. Mec. She's a moft triumphant Lady, if report be square to her. Eno. When the first met Mark Antony, fhe purs'd up his heart upon the river of Cydnus. Agr. There the appear'd, indeed; or my reporter devis'd well for her. Eno. I will tell you; "The Barge fhe fat in, like a burnish'd Throne, "Burnt on the water; the poop was beaten gold, Purple the fails, and fo perfumed, that "The Winds were love-fick with 'em; th' oars were "filver, "Which to the tune of flutes kept ftroke, and made "The water, which they beat, to follow fafter, "As amorous of their ftrokes. For her own person, "It beggar'd all description; she did lye "In her pavilion, cloth of gold, of tiffue, "O'er picturing that Venus, where we see "The Fancy out-work Nature. On each fide her, "Stood pretty dimpled Boys, like fmiling Cupids, "With divers-colour'd fans, whofe wind did feem "To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool, "And what they undid, did. Agr. Oh, rare for Antony! Eno. "Here Gentlewomen, like the Nereids, 8 O'er-piduring that Venus, where we fee &c.] Meaning the Venus of Protogenes mentioned by Pliny, 1. 35. c. 10. VOL. VII. K " So "So many Mermaids, tended her i' th' eyes, "And made their Bends adorings. At the helm, "A feeming Mermaid fteers; the filken tackles "Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands, "That yarely frame the office. From the Barge A ftrange invifible perfume hits the fenfe Of the adjacent wharfs. The City caft Her People out upon her; and Antony, Enthron'd i' th' Market-place, did fit alone, Whistling to th' air; 'which, but for vacancy, Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too, And made a gap in Nature. Agr. Rare Egyptian! Eno. Upon her landing, Antony fent to her, Invited her to fupper: fhe reply'd, It should be better, he became her gueft; Which the intreated. Our courteous Antony, Whom ne'er the word of No Woman heard speak, Being barber'd ten times o'er, goes to the feast; And for his ordinary, pays his heart, For what his eyes eat only. Agr. Royal Wench! She made great Cefar lay his fword to bed; 9 And made their bends ADORNINGS. -] This is fenfe indeed, and may be understood thus, her maids bowed with so good an air, that it added new graces to them. But this is not what Shakespear would fay: Cleopatra, in this famous fcene, perfonated Venus juft rifing from the waves: at which time the Mythologists tell us, the Sea-deities furrounded the goddefs to adore, and pay her homage. Agreeably to this fable Cleopatra had dreffed her maids, the poet tells us, like Nereids. To make the whole therefore conformable to the ftory reprefented, we may be affured, Shakespear wrote, And made their bends ADORINGS. They did her observance in the pofture of adoration, as if she had been Venus. I which, but for vacancy Had gone] Alluding to an axiom in the peripatetic philofophy then in vogue, that Nature abhors a vacuum. He He plough'd her, and she cropt. Eno. I faw her once Hop forty paces through the publick street: And having loft her breath, the fpoke, and panted That she did make defect, perfection, And breathless power breathe forth. Mec. Now Antony must leave her utterly. Eno. Never, he will not. Age cannot wither her, nor custom ftale 2 Mec. If beauty, wildom, modefty, can settle The heart of Antony, Octavia is A bleft allott❜ry to him. Agr. Let us go. Good Enobarbus, make yourself my gueft, Whilft you abide here. Eno. Humbly, Sir, I thank you. [Exeunt Enter Antony, Cæfar, Octavia between them. Ant. The world, and my great office, will fome times Divide me from your bofom. Octa. All which time, Before the Gods my knee fhall bow in To them for you. prayers Ant. Good night, Sir. My Octavia, 2 If beauty, wisdom, modefly, can fettle The heart of Antony, Octavia is A bleffed LOTTERY to him.] Methinks, it is a very indifferent compliment in Mecenas to call Octavia a lottery, as if the might turn up blank, as well as prove a prize to Antony. The poet wrote, as I have reform'd the text, ALLOTTERY, there being as much difference between lottery and allottery, as between a prefent defignation and a future chance. K 2 Read Read not my blemishes in the world's report: Caf. Good night. [Exeunt Cæfar and Octavia. SCENE IV. Enter Soothsayer. Ant. Now, firrah! do you wish your felf in Ægypt? Sooth. 'Would I had never come from thence, nor you thither! Ant. If you can, 2 your reason? my Motion, have it not in my Tongue; but yet hie you to Egypt again. Ant. Say to me, whofe fortune fhall rife higher, Cafar's or mine? Sooth. Cæfar's.-Therefore, oh Antony, ftay not Thy Demon, that's thy fpirit which keeps thee, is Where Cafar's is not. But, near him, thy angel Becomes a Fear, as being o'erpower'd; and therefore Make space enough between you. Ant. Speak this no more. Sooth. To none but thee; no more, but when to thee. If thou doft play with him at any game, Thou'rt fure to lofe: and, of that natural luck, Is all afraid to govern thee near him. 2 I fee it in my motion,-] i. e. the divinitory agitation. 3 Becomes a Fear,-] i. e. a fearful thing. The abstract for the concrete. But, But, he away, 'tis noble. Ant. Get thee gone: Say to Ventidius, I would speak with him. [Exit Sooth. You must to Parthia, your commiffion's ready: [Exeunt. Enter Lepidus, Mecenas, and Agrippa. Lep. Trouble your felves no farther: pray you, haften Your Generals after. Agr. Sir, Mark Antony Will e'en but kifs Octavia, and we'll follow. Lep. 'Till I fhall fee you in your Soldiers' drefs, Which will become you Both, farewel. Mec. We fhall, As I conceive the journey, be at th' mount Before you, Lepidus. Lep. Your way is fhorter, My purposes do draw me much about; You'll win two days upon me. Both. Sir, good fuccefs, Lep. Farewel, [Exeunt. SCENE K 3 |