Clão. Say, I would die.

[Exit Proculeius. Dol. Most nable Empress, you have heard of me. Cleo. I cannot tell. Dol. Assuredly, you know me.

Cleo. No matter, Sir, what I have heard or known: You laugh, when boys or women tell their dreams ; Is't not your trick ?

Dol. I understand not, Madam.

Cleo. I dreamt, there was an Emp'ror Antony's
Oh such another sleep, that I might see
But such another man!

Dok. If it might please ye

Cleo. His face was as the heav'ns; and therein stuck A Sun and Moon, which kept their course, and

lighted (61) The little O o'th' Earth.

Dol. Most sovereign creature!

Cleo. His legs bestrid the ocean, his rear'd arm
Crefted the world: his voice was propertied
As all the tuned Spheres, when that to friends :
But when he meant to quail, and shake the Orb,
(61) A Sun and Moon which kept their Course, and lighted

The little oth Earth.
Dol.

Moft fou'reign Creature!) What a blessed limping Verse these two Hemisticbs give us ! Had none of the Editors an Ear to find the Hitch in its Pace ? 'Tis true, there is but a Syllable wanting, and that, I believe verily, was but of a single Letter ; which the first Editors not underftanding, learnedly threw it out as a Redundance. I restore,

The little Q p'th' Eartb. i. e. the little Orb or Circle. And, 'tis plain, our Poet in other Paf sages chufes to express himfelf thus, Rof. O, that your Face , were not so full of O’es.

Love's Lab. loft. i. e. of round Dimples, Pitts with the small Pox.

Can this Cockpit bold
The valty Field of France? or can we croom,
Within this woodor , the very Calques,
That did affright the air, at Agincourt ?

Prol. ta Henry V.
Fair Helena, who more engilds the Night
Than all yon fiery O's and Eyes of Light.

Midsummer Night's Dream. 1. f. the Circles, Orber of the Stars.

He was as ratling thunder. For his bounty, (62)
There was no winter in't: An Autumn 'twas,
That grew the more by reaping. His delights
Were dolphin-like, they new'd his back above
The element they liv'd in; in his livery
Walk'd Crowns and Coroners, realms and islands were
As places dropt from his pocket.

Dol. Cleopatra

Cleo. Think you, there was, or might be, such a man As this I dreamt of?

Dol. Gentle Madam, no.

Cleo. You lie, up to the hearing of the Gods; But if there be, or ever were one luch, It's past the size of dreaming: Nature wants stuff (63)

To

To vye strange forms with Fancy, yet t'imagine
An Antony, were Nature's Prize 'gainst Fancy,
Condemning shadows quite.

Dol. Hear me, good Madam:
Your loss is as your self, great; and you bear it,
As answ'ring to the weight: would, I might never
O'er-take pursu'd success, but I do feel,
By the rebound of yours, a grief that shoots
My very heart at root.

Cleo. 'I thank you, Sir.
Know you, what Cæfar means to do with me?

Dol. I'm loth to tell you, what I would you knew.
Cleo. Nay, pray you, Sir.
Dol. Though he be honourable
Cleo. He'll lead me then in triumph ?
Dol. Madam, he will, I know't.
All. Make way there,

Cæfar.
Enter Cæsar, Gallus, Mecænas, Proculeius, and

Attendants.
Cæf, Which is the Queen of Ægypt?
Dol. It is the Emperor, Madam. [Cleo, kneels.

Cæs. Arise, you shall not kneel: I pray you, rile, rise, Ægypt. obscure enough. I'll first reform the Text, and then fubjoin the Interpretation.

Yet t'imagine
An Antony, were Nature's Prize 'gainst Fancy,

Condemning Shadows quite.
The Sense is This. “ Nature in general has not Materials sufficient

to furnith out real Forms, for ev'ry Model that the boundless Power “ of the Imagination can sketch out. [This is the Meaning of the “ Words, Nature wants Matter to wye strange Forms with Fancy.] “ But yet, tho' in general This be true, chat Nature is more poor, nar

row, and confin'd, than Fancy; yet it must be own'd, that when “ Nature presents an Antony to us, she then gets the better of Fancy, “ and makes even the Imagination appear poor and narrow; or, in our “ Author's Words, condemns shadows quite." The Word Prize, which I have restored, is the prettiest Word in the World in this place ; as, figuring a Contention between Nature and Imagination about the larger Extent of their Powers; and Nature gaining the Prize by producing Antony. And sure, Nothing could be faid more advantagious for Antony, than this; that Imagination came short of his Perfections.

Mr. Warburton.

Cleo,

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Cleo. Sir, the Gods
Will have it thus; my master and my

lord I must obey

Cæs. Take to you no hard thoughts:
The record of what injuries you did us,
Though written in our fleth, we shall remember
As things but done by chance.

Cleo. Sole Şir o'th' world,
I cannot project mine own cause so well
To make it clear, but do confess, I have
Been laden with like frailties which before
Have often sham'd our Sex.

Cæs. Cleopatra, know,
We will extenuate rather than inforce:
If you apply your self to our intents,
(Which tow'rds you are most gentle) you shall find
À benefit in this Change; but if you seek
To lay on me a cruelty, by taking
Antony's course, you shall bereave your self
Of my good purposes, and put your children
To that destruction which I'll guard them from,
If thereon you relie. I'll take my leave. -

Cleo. And may, through all the world : 'tis yöurs; Your scutcheons, and your signs of Conquest, shall Hang in what place you pleale. Here, my good lord.

Cæs. You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra. (64)

(64) You shall advise me of all, Cleopatra.] This I presume to be a Reading solely of Mr. Pope's. But what an harmonious Verse has he giv'n us, in Point of Emphasis? And how has he disgraced the Poet and his Emperor, in point of Sentiment! What a sheaking Figure does Cæfar make, in saying, “ You shall confess your whole subitance; you

îhan't secrete one penny"; before he knows what the Paper is, that Cleopatra puts into his hand ? But I have restor'd the Reading of the old Books, which carries a Dignity suitable to the Subject. Cæfar takes pains to comfort her ; and tells her, that the herself shall direct him in ev'ry Thing for her own Relief and Satis, faction. He repeats the same Consolation to her in other Terms, when he leaves her:

Therefore, be cheer'd;
Make not your Thoughts your Prisons : no, dear Quéen ;
For we intend fo to dispose you as
Yourself hall give us Counsel.

Cleo.

and we,

Cleo. This is the brief of mony, plate, and jewels
I am pofleft of 'is exactly valued, (65)
Not petty things omitted where's Seleucus ?

Sel. Here, Madam.

Cleo. This is my treasurer, let him speak, my lord,
Upon his peril, that I have resery'd
To my self nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.

Sel. Madam, I had rather seal my lips,
Than to my peril speak that which is not.

Cleo. What have I kept back?
Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made known.

Cæf. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra, I approve
Your wisdom in the deed.

Cleo. See, Cæfar! Oh, behold,
How Pomp is follow'd: mine will now be yours,
And, should we shift eftates, yours would be mine.
Th’ ingratitude of this Seleucus do's
Ev'n make me wild. Oh flave, of no more Trust
Than love that's hird-What, goeft thou back? thou

shalt
Go back, I warrant thee : but I'll catch thine eyes,
Though they had wings. Slave, soul-less villain, dog,
O rarely base!

Cæf. Good Queen, let us intreat you.

Cleo. O Cæfar, what a wounding shame is this,
That thou, vouchsafing here to visit me,

(65)

'Tis exactly valued, Not petty Things admitted.] Sagacious Editors ! Cleopatra gives in a Lift of her Wealth, fays, 'tis exactly valued, but that petty Things are not admitted in this Lift: and then she appeals to her Treasurer, to vouch, that fhe has reservid Nothing to her felf. Nay, and when he betrays her in this point, she is reduced to the shift of exclaiming against the Ingratitude of Servants to a Prince in his Decline, and of making Apologies for having fecreted certain Trifles. What Consistency is there in such a Con; duct? And who does not see, that we ought to read ?

'Tis exactly valued ; Not petty Things omitted. For this Declaration lays open her Fallhood; and makes ner angry, when her Treasurer detects her in a direct Lye.

Doing

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