Get me ink and paper; He shall have every day feveral greetings, or I'll unpee ple Ægypt.. [Exeunt. I A CT II. SCENE, SICILY. Enter Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas. POMPE Y. F the great Gods be juft, they fhall affift Mene. Know, worthy Pompey, That what they do delay, they not deny. Pomp. While we are fuitors to their Throne, decays The thing we fue for.. Men. We, ignorant of our felves, Beg often our own harms, which the wife powers By lofing of our prayers. Pom. I fhall do well: The people love me, and the fea is mine ; My pow'r's a crefcent, and my auguring hope (3) In Egypt fits at dinner, and will make (8) My Powers are crefcent, and my auguring Hope Says, it will come to th' full.] Thus the Editors implicitly one after another, with very pecu-liar Indolence. If one might ask them a Question in Grammar, what does the Relative it belong to? It cannot in Senfe relate to Hope, nor in Concord to Powers. It is evident beyond a Doubt, that the Poet's Allufion is to the Moon: and that Pompey would fay, He is yet but a half-Moon, or Crescent; but his Hopes tell him, that Crefcent will come to a full Orb. To this Effect, therefore, I have ventur'd to reform the Text. Να No wars without doors. Cafar gets mony, where Of Both is flatter'd but he Neither loves, Mene. Cæfar and Lepidus are in the field, A mighty ftrength they carry. Pom. Where have you this? 'tis falfe.. Mene. From Silvius, Sir. Pom. He dreams; I know, they are in Rome toge ther, Looking for Antony: but all the charms of love, Let witchcraft join with beauty; luft with both!. That fleep and feeding may prorogue his honour, How now, Varrius? Enter Varrius. Var. This is most certain, that I fhall deliver : Mark Antony is every hour in Rome Expected. Since he went from Ægypt, 'tis A fpace for farther travel. Pom. I could have given lefs matter A better ear. Menas, I did not think, This am'rous furfeiter would have donn'd his helm. For fuch a petty war; his foldierfhip Is twice the other twain; but let us rear (9) The bigber our Opinion, that our firring Mên: Sextus Pompeius, upon hearing that Antony is every hour expected in Rome, does not much relish the News. He is twice E 5 the Men. I cannot hope, Cæfar and Antony fhall well greet together. Pom. I know not, Menas, How leffer enmities may give way to greater. Were't not that we stand up against them all, 'Twere pregnant, they fhould fquare between themfelves; For they have entertained caufe enough To draw their fwords; but how the fear of us Lep SCENE changes to Rome. G Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus. [Exeunt. NOOD Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed, To foft and gentle speech. Eno. I fhall entreat him. To answer like himself; if Cæfar move him, the Soldier, (Jays He,) that O&avius and Lepidus are; and I did not think, the petty War, which I am raifing, would rouze him from his Amours in Egypt.- -But why should Pompey hold a higher Opinion of his own Expedition, because it awak'd Antony to Arms, who was near weary, almost furfeited, of lascivious Pleasures? Indolent and ftupid Editors, that can dispense with Words without ever weighing the Reason of them! How eafy is the Change to the true Reading! The ne'er luft-wearied Antony. If Antony, tho' never tired of Luxury, yet mov'd from that Charm, upon Pompey's Stirring, it was a Reafon for Pompey to Bride himself upon being of such Confequence. And. And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter, Lep. 'Tis not a time for private ftomaching, Serves for the matter that is then born in't.. Lep. But small to greater matters must give way.. Lep. Your fpeech is paffion; But, pray you, ftir no embers up. Here comes Enter Antony and Ventidius. Eno. And yonder, Cæfar. Enter Cæfar, Mecenas, and Agrippa. Ant: If we compose well here, to Parthia. Caf. I do not know; Mecanas, ask Agrippa. That which combin'd us was moft great, and let not What's amifs, May it be gently heard. When we debate Our trivial difference loud, we do commit Murther in healing wounds. Then, noble partners, (The rather, for I earnestly befeech,) Touch you the fowreft points with sweetest terms, Nor curftness grow to th' matter. Ant.. 'Tis fpoken well; Were we before our armies, and to fight, Caf. Sit. Ant. Sit, Sir.. Caf, Nay, then [Flourish. Ant. I learn, you take things ill, which are not fo: Or being, concern you not. Caf. I must be laught at, If, or for nothing, or a little, I Should Should fay myfelf offended, and with you Ant. My being in Egypt, Cæfar, what was't to you? Ant. How intend you, practis'd? Caj. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent, By what did here befall. (10) Your Wife and Brother Made wars upon me; and their contestation Was theam'd for you, you were the word. of war. never Did urge me in his act : I did inquire it, And have my learning from fome true reports And make the wars alike against my stomach, Caf. You praise yourself, (10) Your Wife and Brother Made wars upon me, and their Conteftation Was theam for you, you were the Word of War.] The only Meaning of This can be, that the War, which Antony's Wife and Brother made upon Cafar, was Theme for Antony too to make War; or was the Occafion why he did make War. But this is directly contrary to the Context, which fhews, Antony did neither encourage them to it, nor fecond them in it. We cannot doubt then, but the Poet wrote; and their Conteftation Was theam'd for You; i. e. The Pretence of their War was on your Account, they took up Arms in your Name, and You were made the Theme and Subject of their Infurrection. Mr. Warburton By |