She made great Cæfar lay his fword to bed,
He plough'd her, and the cropt.

no. I faw her once

Hop forty paces through the publick street:

And having loft her breath, the spoke, and panted,
That she did make defect, perfection,

And, breathlefs, power breathe forth.
Mec. Now Antony

Must leave her utterly.

Eno. Never, he will not.

Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety: other women cloy
The appetites they feed, but the makes hungry
Where most she fatisfies. For vileft things
Become themselves in her, that the holy priests
Bless her, when she is riggish.

Mec. If beauty, wisdom, modefty, can settle
The heart of Antony, Octavia is

A blefs'd allot'ry to him.

Agr. Let us go.

Good Enobarbus, make your felf my guest,

Whilst you abide here.

Eno. Humbly, Sir, I thank you.

[Exeunt

Enter Antony, Cæfar, Octavia between them.

Ant. The world, and my great office, will fometimes

Divide me from your bosom.

Of. All which time,

Before the Gods my knee shall bow in prayers

To them for you.

Ant. Good-night, Sir. My Octavia,

Read not my blemishes in the world's report:
I have not kept my fquare, but that to come
Shall all be done by th' rule; good-night, dear Lady.
Oft. Good-night, Sir.

Caf. Good-night.

[Exeunt Cæfar and Octavia

SCENE IV. Enter Soothsayer.

Ant. Now, firrah! do you with your felf in Ægypt? Sooth. Would I had ne'er come from thence, or you thither.

Ant. If you can, your reason?

23

Sooth

Sooth. I fee it in my notion, have it not in my tongue but yet hie you to Egypt again.

Ant. Say to me, whose fortune fhall rise higher, Cæfar's or mine?

Sooth Cæfar's.

Therefore, oh Antony, ftay not by his fide.

Thy Damon, that's thy fpirit which keeps thee, is
Noble, couragious, high, unmatchable,

Where Cæfar's is not. But near him thy angel
Becomes a fear, as being overpower'd;

And therefore make thou fpace 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: he's of that natural luck

He beats thee 'gainst the odds. Thy luftre thickens,
When he fhines by: I fay again, thy spirit

Is all afraid to govern thee near him:
But, he away, 'tis noble.

Ant. Get thee gone :

[Exit Sooth.

Say to Ventidius, I would fpeak with him.
He fhall to Parthia.-Be it art, or hap,
He hath spoke true: The very dice obey him,
And in our sports my better cunning faints
Under his chance; if we draw lots, he fpeeds;
His cocks do win the battel ftill of mine,
When it is all to nought: and his quails * ever
Beat mine, in coop'd at odds. I will to Ægypt;
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
I' th' Eaft my pleasure lyes. Oh come, Ventidius,
Enter Ventidius.

You muft to Partbia, your commiffion's ready :
Follow me and receive't.

[Exeunt.

Enter Lepidus, Mecænas, and Agrippa. Lep. Trouble your felves no farther: pray you haften Your Generals after.

Agr. Sir, Mark Antony

Lucian relates that at Athens Quail-fighting was exhibited at thews and many other ancient Authors mention it as a fport much in ufe.

Will e'en but kifs Octavia, and we'll follow.

Lep. 'Till I shall see you in your foldier's dress, 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 shorter,

My purposes do draw me much about;

You'll win two days upon me.

Both. Good fuccefs!

Lep. Farewel!

[Exeunt

SCENE V. The Palace in Alexandria. Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras and Alexas. Cleo. Give me fome mufick: mufick, moody food Of us that trade in love.

Omnes. The mufick, hoa!

Enter Mardian the Eunuch.

Cleo. Let it alone, let us to billiards: come, Charmian.

Char. My arm is fore, beft play with Mardian. Cleo. As well a woman with an eunuch play'd, As with a woman. Come, you'll play with me, Sir? Mar. As well as I can, Madam. Cleo. And when good-will is fhew'd, tho't come too fhort, The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now.

Give me mine angle, we'll to th' river, there

My mufick playing far off, I will betray
Tawny-fin fish; my bended hook fhall pierce
Their flimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,
I'll think them every one an Antony,
And fay, ah ha; you're caught.

Char. 'Twas merry when

You wager'd on your angling, when your diver
Did hang a falt fish on his hook, which he
With fervency drew up.

Cleo. That time!

oh times!.

I laught him out of patience, and that night
I laught him into patience, and next morn
Ere the ninth hour I drunk him to his bed:

Then

Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilft
I wore his fword Philippine. Oh from Italy,-
Enter a Messenger.

Rain thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
That long time have been barren.
Mef. Madam! madam!

Cleo. Antony's dead?

If thou fay fo, villain, thou kill'ft thy mistress:
But well and free,

If thou fo yield him, there is gold, and here
My blueft veins to kifs: a hand that Kings
Have lipt, and trembled kiffing.

Mef. Firft, Madam, he is well.

Cleo. Why, there's more gold. But, firrah, mark, we ufe To fay, the dead are well: bring it to that,

The gold I give thee will I melt and pour
Down thy ill-uttering throat,

Mef. Good Madam, hear me.

Cleo. Well, go to, I will:

But there's no goodness in thy face. If Antony
Be free and healthful; why fo tart a favour
To trumpet fuch good tidings? if not well,
Thou fhould't come like a Fury crown'd with fnakes,
Not like a formal man.

Mef. Will't please you hear me?

Cleo. I have a mind to ftrike thee ere thou speak'ft;
Yet if thou fay Antony lives, 'tis well,

Or friends with Cafar, or not captive to him,
I'll fet thee in a fhower of gold, and hail

Rich pearls upon thee.*

*It was a ceremony among the Eaftern nations at coronations, triumphs, and great feftivals, that their Kings fitting in fate had showers of gold and pearl and precious fones four'd down upon them: to which cuflem Milton alfo alludes:

B. ii. v. 3.

O where the gorgeous Eaft with richeft hand Show'rs on her Kings Barbarick Pearl and Gold. This fact is verified by Hiflorians. In the life of Timur-bec or Tamer. lain written by a Perfian a cotemporary Author, are the following werds as they are tranflated by Monf. Pe'tis de la Croix in the account there given of his Coronation. B. ii. chap. I.

Les Princes du fang royal & les Emirs repandirent à pleines mains fur la tête quantité d'Or & de pierreries felon la coûtume.

And

Mef. Madam, he's well.

Cleo. Well faid.

Mef. And friends with Cæfar.

Cleo. Thou'rt an honeft man.

Mef. Cæfar and he are greater friends than ever.
Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me!

Mef. But yet, Madam

Cleo. I do not like but yet, it do's allay The good precedent; fie upon but yet;

But yet is as a jaylor to bring forth

Some monstrous malefactor. Pr'ythee, friend,
Pour out thy pack of matter to mine ear,

The good and bad together: he's friends with Cæfar,
In ftate of health thou fay'it, and thou fay'ft, free.
Mef. Free, Madam! no: I made no fuch report.
He's bound unto Octavia.

Cleo. For what good turn?

Mef. For the best turn i'th' bed.

Cleo. I am paie, Charmian.

Mef. Madam, he's married to Octavia.

Cleo. The moft infectious peftilence upon thee!

[Strikes him down.

Mef. Good Madam, have but patience.
Cleo. What fay you?

[Strikes bim.

Hence, horrible villain, or I'll fpurn thine eyes
Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head:

[She bales him up and down.

Thou shalt be whipt with wire, and stew'd in brine,
Smarting in lingring pickle.

Mef. Gracious Madam,

I, that do bring the news, made not the match.

Cleo. Say 'tis not fo, a province I will give thee,
And make thy fortunes proud: the blow thou hadst
Shall make thy peace, for moving me to rage,
And I will boot thee with what gift befide

Thy modefty can beg.

And at the bottom of the page is this note;

Cette coûtume fubfifte encore aujourd'hui non feulement au couronnement des Princes mais encore aux marriages des Particu liers.

M