Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt.

Octavia, Sifter to Caefar, and Wife to Antony.

Charmian, Ladies attending on Cleopatra.

Ambafadors from Antony to Cæfar, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants.

The SCENE is difpers'd in feveral Parts of the Roman Empire.

AN

ANTONY and CLEOPATRA.

ACT I.

SCENE I.

N

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 breaft, reneges all temper,
And is become the bellows and the fan

To cool a gypfy's luft. Look where they come!

Enter Antony, and Cleopatra, ber Ladies in the Train, Eunuchs fanning ber.

Take but good note, and you fhall fee in him

The triple pillar of the world transform'd

Into a ftrumpet's 'fool. Behold and fee.

Cleo, If it be love indeed, tell me how much?

S 4

I ftool.... old edit. Warb. emend.

Ant. There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd. Cleo. I'll fet a borne how far to be belov'd.

[earth. Ant. Then must thou needs find out new heav'n, new

Enter a Meffenger.

Mef. 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 fcarce-bearded Cæfar have not fent
His powerful mandate to you; Do this, or this;
Take in that kingdom, and infranchise that
Perform't, or elfe 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 would fay; both? Call in the meffengers; as I'm Ægypt's Queen, Thou blufheft, Antony, and that blood of thine Is Cafar's homager: 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 beaft as man; the nobleness of life Is to do thus; when fuch a mutual pair, And fuch a twain can do't; in which, I bind (On pain of punishment) the world to weet We ftand up peerless.

Cleo. Excellent falfhood!

[Embracing.

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

Will be himself.

Ant. But stirr'd by Cleopatra:

Now for the love of love, and his foft hours,

Let's not confound the time with conference harsh :

There's

There's not a minute of our lives fhould ftretch
Without fome pleasure now: what sport to-night?
Cleo. Hear the ambaffadors.

Ant. Fie, wrangling Queen!

Whom every thing becomes, to chide, to laugh,
To weep; whofe every paffion fully strives
To make it felf in thee fair and admir'd,
No meffenger but thine; and all alone

To-night we'll wander through the streets, and note
The qualities of people. Come, my Queen,
Laft 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 fhort of that great property Which ftill fhould 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! [Exeunt.

Enter Enobarbus, Charmian, Iras, Alexas, and a

Soothsayer.

Char. Alexas, fweet Alexas, most any thing Alexas, almost most absolute Alexas, where's the Soothfayer that you prais'd to th' Queen? Oh! that I knew this hufband which, you fay, muft change' 'for horns his` 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 fecrecy,

A little I can read.

Alex. Shew him your hand.

Eno. Bring in the banquet quickly: wine enough,

3 his horns with

Cleo

Cleopatra's health to drink.

Char. Good Sir, give me

Good fortune.

Sooth. 'Madam, 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

Char. Wrinkles forbid !

'when old.`

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 much 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, Qatavius Cæfar; and companion me with my mistress. 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 fertile` every wifh, a million.

8

Char. 'Out, out, fool, I forgive thee for a witch. Alex. You think none but your fheets are privy to Your wishes.

9

Char. Nay 'come, and tell Iras hers,

Alex. We'll know all our fortunes.

Eno. Mine, and most of our fortunes to-night, fhall be to go drunk to bed.