SCENE III. Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS. Cleo. Where is he? Char. I did not see him since. Cleo. See where he is, who's with him, what he does: I did not send you.—If you find him sad, Say, I am dancing; if in mirth, report That I am sudden sick quick, and return. [Exit ALEX. Char. Madam, methinks, if you did love him dearly, You do not hold the method to enforce The like from him. Cleo. What should I do, I do not? Char. In each thing give him way, cross him in nothing. Cleo. Thou teachest, like a fool, the way to lose him. Char. Tempt him not so too far; I wish, forbear: In time we hate that which we often fear. Enter ANTONY. I am sick, and sullen. But here comes Antony. Cleo. Ant. I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose, Ant. Now, my dearest queen,— Cleo. Pray you, stand farther from me. What's the matter? Cleo. I know, by that same eye, there's some good news. What says the married woman?—You may go: Would, she had never given you leave to come! Cleo. O! never was there queen So mightily betray'd; yet at the first I saw the treasons planted. Ant. Cleopatra,― Cleo. Why should I think, you can be mine, and true, Though you in swearing shake the throned gods, Ant. Most sweet queen, Cleo. Nay, pray you, seek no colour for your going, But bid farewell, and go: when you sued staying, Then was the time for words; no going then: Eternity was in our lips, and eyes; Bliss in our brows' bent; none our parts so poor, But was a race of heaven: they are so still, Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world, Ant. How now, lady! Cleo. I would, I had thy inches; thou should'st know, There were a heart in Egypt. Hear me, queen. Ant. Shines o'er with civil swords: Sextus Pompeius Equality of two domestic powers Breeds scrupulous faction. The hated, grown to strength, Are newly grown to love: the condemn'd Pompey, Rich in his father's honour, creeps apace Into the hearts of such as have not thriv'd Cleo. Though age from folly could not give me freedom, It does from childishness.-Can Fulvia die? Ant. She's dead, my queen. Look here, and, at thy sovereign leisure, read Cleo. Cleo. Cut my lace, Charmian, come. But let it be. I am quickly ill, and well, So Antony loves'. 6 The GARBOILS she awak'd ;] "Garboils " was a common word for commotions in the time of Shakespeare; it occurs again afterwards, p. 31 ; and it was used by the best authors, although Stanihurst fell under the ridicule of Hall, in his 6th satire, of book i. "Manhood and garboils shall he chant with changed feet." Stanihurst employs the word in the opening of his English-hexameter translation of the Æneid, 1584, in the line, "Now, manhood and garboils I chaunt, and martial horror." We quote from the beautiful reprint of this very rare and curious work, made at Edinburgh in 1836, we believe, under the editorial superintendence of Mr. Maidment. Scotland has contributed her full share of valuable works of this description. 7 I am quickly ill, and well, So Antony loves.] i. e. Probably, "I am quickly ill or well, according as Antony loves me." First Cleopatra tells Charmian to cut her lace, then to "let VOL. VIII. C Ant. My precious queen, forbear; And give true evidence to his love, which stands An honourable trial. Cleo. So Fulvia told me. I pr'ythee, turn aside, and weep for her; Ant. You'll heat my blood: no more. Cleo. You can do better yet, but this is meetly. Cleo. But this is not the best. Look, pr'ythee, Charmian, How this Herculean Roman does become The carriage of his chafe. Ant. I'll leave you, lady. Cleo. Courteous lord, one word. Sir, you and I must part,-but that's not it: And I am all forgotten. Ant. But that your royalty Holds idleness your subject, I should take you Cleo. "Tis sweating labour To bear such idleness so near the heart, Since my becomings kill me, when they do not And all the gods go with you! upon your sword it be," the necessity being at an end, in consequence, perhaps, of receiving some indication of love from Antony. 8 Now, by MY sword.] "My" is omitted in the folio, 1623, but added in the folio, 1632. Sit laurel'd victory, and smooth success Ant. Let us go. Come; That thou, residing here, go'st yet with me, [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Rome. An Apartment in CÆSAR'S House. Enter OCTAVIUS CÆSAR, LEPIDUS, and Attendants. Cæs. You may see, Lepidus, and henceforth know, It is not Cæsar's natural vice to hate One great competitor. From Alexandria This is the news: he fishes, drinks, and wastes More womanly than he: hardly gave audience, or there A man, who is the abstract of all faults That all men follow. Lep. I must not think, there are Evils enow to darken all his goodness: His faults, in him, seem as the spots of heaven, 9 Sit LAUREL'D victory,] "Laurel'd victory" is the emendation of the folio, 1632 that of 1623 has "laurel victory." In all probability the letter d had dropped out in the press. 1 VOUCHSAF'D to think-] Vouchsafe in the folio, 1623, which the folio, 1632, altered to "did vouchsafe." |