Mec. This in the publick eye? Caf. I' th' common fhew-place, where they exercise. His fons were there proclaim'd the Kings of Kings; Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia 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, As 'tis reported, fo. Mec. Let Rome be thus inform'd. Agr. Who, queafy with his infolence already, Will their good thoughts call from him. Caf. The people know it, and have now receiv'd His accufations. Agr. Whom does he accufe? Caf. Cafar; and that having in Sicily Should be depos'd; and, being, that we detain Agr. Sir, this fhould be anfwer'd. Caf. 'Tis done already, and his meffenger gone: I told him, Lepidus was grown too cruel; That he his high authority abus'd, And did deserve his Change. For what I've conquer'd, I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia, And other of his conquer'd Kingdoms, I Demand the like. Mec. He'll ne'er yield to that. Caf. Nor muft he then be yielded to in this. Enter Octavia, with Attendants. Oda. Hail, Cafar, and my Lord! hail, moft dear Cafar! Caf. That ever I fhould call thee caft-away! you cause. Caf. Why haft thou ftol'n upon us thus? you come not Like Cafar's fifter; the wife of Antony Octa. Good my Lord, To come thus was I not constrain'd, but did it Caf. Which foon he granted, (22) (21) --------but you are come 201 A Market-maid to Rome; and have prevented Being This dragging, inharmonious Alexandrine, I am perfuaded, is the Manufacture of our Player-Editors. They loved a founding Word; and feeing one that did not fo fully anfwer that End, and one that they, perhaps, were not immediately acquainted with, they, doubtlefs, took it for an Abbreviation. I dare fay, the Poct wrote; The Oftent of our Love, which, left unfhewn, i. e. the Shewing, Token, Demonftration, of our Love: and he ufes it both in these Acceptations, and likewife to fignify Oftentation. The Alexandrine therefore is wholly unneceffary. (22) Which form he granted, Being an Abftract 'tween his Luft and him.] Antony very foon complied to let Oktavia go, at her Requeft, fays Cæfar; and why? Because he was an abstract between his inordinate Paffion and him. If Mr. Pope, or any other of the Editors understand this, I'll willingly fubmit to be taught the Meaning: but till then, I muft Lelieve, the Poet wrote; Bein; Being an Obftruct 'tween his luft and him. Caf. I have eyes upon him, And his affairs come to me on the wind: Where is he now? Octa. My Lord, in Athens. Caf. No, my moft wronged fifter; Cleopatra Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire Up to a whore, who now are levying The Kings o' th' earth for war. He hath affembled Bocchus the King of Libya, Archelaus Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian King Adullas, That have my heart parted betwixt two friends," Caf. Welcome hither; Your letters did with-hold our breaking forth, Hold unbewail'd their way. Nothing more dear to me. Welcome to Rome; Beyond the mark of thought; and the high Gods, (23) Being an Obftruct 'trveen his Luft and him. i. e. His Wife being an Obftruction, a Bar, to the Profecution of his wanton Pleafures with Cleopatra. And I am the rather convinc'd that this is the true Reading, becaufe Mr. Warburton ftarted the Emendation too, unknowing that I had meddled with the Paffage. (23) Why To do you justice, make their minifters Of us, and thofe that love you. Be of comfort, Agr. Welcome, lady. Mec. Welcome, dear Madam. Each heart in Rome does love and pity you ; And gives his potent regiment to a trull, Octa. Is it fo, Sir? Caf. It is most certain: fifter, welcome; pray you, Be ever known to patience. My dear'ft fifter! [Exeunt. SCENE, near the Promontory of Actium. Cleo. I Enter Cleopatra and Enobarbus. Will be even with thee, doubt it not. Cleo. Thou haft forefpoke my being in thefe wars; And fay'ft, it is not fit. Eno. Well; is it, is it? Cleo. Is't not denounc'd against us? why should not we be there in person? Eno. Well, I could reply; if we should ferve with horfe and mares together, the horse were merely loft; the mares would bear a foldier and his horfe. Cleo. What is't you say? Eno. Your prefence needs muft puzzle Antony; Take from his heart, take from his brain, from's time, What should not then be fpar'd. He is already Traduc'd for levity, and 'tis faid in Rome, Why muft Shakespeare be guilty of fuch an obvious falfe Concord? the high Gods make his Minifters? He has not writ thus in a parallel Paffage; and therefore the Abfurdity ought to be laid to the Editors. Macbeth Is ripe for fhaking, and the Pow'rs above Macbeth. That Photinus an eunuch, and your maids, Cleo. Sink Rome, and their tongues rot That fpeak againft us! A charge we bear i' th' war; Enter Antony and Canidius. Eno. Nay, I have done here comes the Emperor. Ant. Is it not ftrange, Canidius, That from Tarentum, and Brundufium, He could fo quickly cut th' Ionian fea, And take in Toryne? You have heard on't, Sweet? Than by the negligent. Ant. A good rebuke, Which might have well become the best of men To taunt at flackness. Canidius, we Will fight with him by fea. Cleo. By fea, what else? Can, Why will my Lord do fo? Ant. For that he dares us to❜t. Eno. So hath my Lord dar'd him to fingle fight. Eno. Your fhips are not well mann'd, Ant. By fea, by sea. Eno. Moft worthy Sir, you therein throw away Your |