I'll have; but how? when Antony is gone, near. Mef. Moft gracious Majefty, Cleo. Didft thou behold Octavia? Mef. Ay, dread Queen. Mef. In Rome, Madam. I lookt her in the face; and faw her led Cleo. Is fhe as tall as me? Cleo. Didft hear her fpeak? is fhe fhrill-tongu❜d, or low? Mef. Madam, I heard her fpeak, fhe is low-voic'd. Cleo. I think fo, Charmian; dull of tongue and What Majesty is in her gate? remember, Mef. She creeps; Her motion and her ftation are as one: She fhews a body rather than a life, A ftatue than a breather. Cleo. Is this certain ? Mef. 3 Or I have no obfervance. Cannot make better note. Cleo. He's very knowing. I do perceive't; there's nothing in her The fellow has good judgment. Char. Excellent. yet. 3 Or I have no obfervance.] Obfervance, for observation or ability of observing. Cleo. Cleo. Guess at her years, I pr'ythee. Cleo. Bear'ft thou her face in mind? it's long, or round? Mef. Round even to faultinefs. They're foolish that are fo. Her hair, what colour? Cleo. There's gold for thee. Thou must not take my former sharpness ill, Char. A proper man. Cleo. Indeed, he is fo: I repent me much, That fo I harried him. Why, methinks, by him, This creature's no fuch thing. Char. O, nothing, Madam. Cleo. The man hath feen fome Majefty, and should know. Char. Hath he feen Majefty? Ifis elfe defend! And ferving you so long? Cleo. I've one thing more to ask him yet, good But 'tis no matter, thou fhalt bring him to me [Exeunt. SCENE Changes to Athens. Enter Antony and Octavia. Ant. NAY, nay, Octavia, not only That, That were excufable, That and thousands more Of semblable import, but he hath wag'd When perforce he could not But pay me terms of honour, cold and fickly He vented them; moft narrow measure lent me ; When the beft hint was given him, he (a) not took*t, Or did it from his teeth. Oct. Oh, my good lord, Believe not all; or, if you muft believe, Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady, If this divifion chance, ne'er ftood between, Oh, bless my brother! Husband win, win brother, Ant. Gentle Octavia, Let your beft love draw to that point, which feeks I lose my self; better I were not yours, Than yours fo branchlefs. But, as you requested, Shall ftain your brother; make your foonest hafte; [(a) not took't. Dr. Thirlby.-Vulg. not look'd.] So, So, your defires are yours. Oct. Thanks to my lord. The Jove of Power make me, moft weak, moft weak, Ant. When it appears to you where this begins, Can equally move with them. Provide your Going; Chufe your own company, and command what coft Your heart has mind to. Enter Enobarbus and Eros. Eno. How now, friend Eros? Eros. There's ftrange news, come, Sir. Eno. What, man? [Exeunt. Eros. Cæfar and Lepidus have made war upon Pompey. Eno. This is old; what is the success? Eros. Cæfar, having made ufe of him in the wars 'gainft Pompey, presently denied him rivalty, would not let him partake in the glory of the action; and not refting here, accufes him of letters he had formerly wrote to Pompey. Upon his own appeal, feizes him; fo the poor Third is up, 'till death enlarge his confine. Eno. Then 'would thou had'ft a pair of chaps, no more and throw between them all the food thou hast, they'll grind the other. Where's Antony? Eros. He's walking in the garden thus; and fpurns The rush that lies before him. Crys, "fool Lepidus! wars 'twixt you 'twain would be, &c.] The thought is wonderfully fublime. It is taken from Curtius's leaping into the gulf in the Forum, in order to close the gap. As that was closed by one Roman, fo it is infinuated, that if the whole world were to cleave, Romans only could folder up the chafm. The expreffion is exact. For as metal is foldered by metal more pure and noble, fo the globe was to be foldered up by men, who are only a more refined earth. And 1 And threats the throat of that his Officer, Eno. Our great Navy's rigg'd. Eros. For Italy and Cæfar; more, Domitius, I might have told hereafter. Eno. "Twill be naught; but let it be; bring me to Antony. Eros. Come, Sir. Exeunt. V. Changes to the Palace in Rome. Enter Cæfar, Agrippa, and Mecænas. Caf. Contemning Rome, he has done all this, and In Alexandria; here's the manner of it: Unto her Abfolute Queen. Mec. This in the publick eye? Caf. I'th' common fhew-place, where they exercife, He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he affign'd In the habiliments of the Goddess Ifis That day appear'd, and oft before gave audience, Mec. Let Rome be thus inform'd. Agr. |