OBSERVATIONS. ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.] Among the entries in the books of the Stationers' Company, October 19, 1593, I find "A Booke entituled the Tragedie of Cleopatra." It is entered by Symon Waterson, for whom some of Daniel's works were printed; and therefore it is probably by that author, of whose Cleopatra there are several editions; and, among others, one in 1594. In the same volumes, May 20, 1608, Edward Blount entered "A Booke called Anthony and Cleopatra." This is the first notice I have met with concerning any edition of this play more ancient than the folio, 1623. STEEVENS. This play keeps curiosity always busy, and the passions always interested. The continual hurry of the action, the variety of incidents, and the quick succession of one personage to another, call the mind forward without intermission from the first act to the last. But the power of delighting is derived principally from the frequent changes of the scene; for, except the feminine arts, some of which are too low, which distinguish Cleopatra, no character is very strongly discriminated. Upton, who did not easily miss what he desired to find, has discovered that the language of Antony is, with great skill and learning, made pompous and superb, according to his real practice. But I think his diction not distinguishable from that of others: the most tumid speech in the play is that which Cæsar makes to Octavia. The events, of which the principal are described according to history, are produced without any art of connexion or care of disposition. JOHNSON. It is observable with what judgment Shakespeare draws the character of Octavius. Antony was his hero; so the other was not to shine: yet being an historical character, there was a necessity to draw him like. But the ancient historians, his flatterers, had delivered him down so fair, that he seems ready cut and dried for a hero. Amidst these difficulties Shakespeare has extricated himself with great address. He has admitted all those great strokes of his character as he found them, and yet has made him a very unamiable character, deceitful, meanspirited, narrow-minded, proud, and revengeful. WARBURTON TAURUS, lieutenant-general to Cæsar. CANIDIUS, lieutenant-general to Antony. SILIUS, an officer in Ventidius's army. EUPHRONIUS, an ambassador from Antony to Cæsar. ALEXAS, MARDIAN, SELEUCUS, and DIOMEDES; attendants on Cleopatra. A Soothsayer. A Clown. CLEOPATRA, queen of Egypt. OCTAVIA, sister to Cæsar, and wife to Antony. CHARMIAN, attendants on Cleopatra. IRAS, } Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants. SCENE, dispersed; in several parts of the Roman Empire. ACT I. SCENE I.-Alexandria. A Room in CLEOPATRA's Palace Enter DEMETRIUS and PHILO. Philo. NAY, but this dotage of our general's O'erflows the measure: those his goodly eyes, Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn, Upon a tawny front: his captain's heart, Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst To cool a gipsy's lust. Look, where they come ! Flourish. Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, with their Take but good note, and you shall see in him Cleo. If it be love indeed, tell me how much. Ant. There's beggary in the love that can be reckon❜d. Cleo. I'll set a bourn how far to be belov'd. Ant. Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth.' Enter an Attendant. Att. News, my good lord, from Rome. Ant. Grates me :- -The sum." Cleo. Nay, hear them, Antony : Fulvia, perchance, is angry; Or, who knows His powerful mandate to you, Do this, or this; [1] Reneges-renounces. POPE. [2] Gipsy-is here used both in the original meaning for an Egyptian, and in its accidental sense for a bad woman. JOHNSON. [3] Triple--is here used improperly for third, or one of three. One of the Triuzavirs, one of the three masters of the world. WARBURTON. Bourn---bound or limit. POPE. Thou must set the boundary of my love at a greater distance than the present visible universe affords. JOHNSON. [6] Be brief, sum thy business in a few words. JOHNSON. Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that; Ant. How, my love! Cleo. Perchance,-nay, and most like, You must not stay here longer, your dismission Cleo. Excellent falsehood!` [Embracing. Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her ?- Will be himself. Ant. But stirr'd by Cleopatra. 8 Now, for the love of Love, and her soft hours, Ant. Fye, wrangling queen! Whom every thing becomes, to chide, to laugh, No messenger; but thine and all alone, To-night, we'll wander through the streets, and note [Exeunt ANT. and CLEO. with their train. Dem. Is Cæsar with Antonius priz'd so slight? To weet---to know. POPE. [8] But in this passage, seems to have the old Saxon signification of without, un less, except. Antony,' savs the queen, will recollect his thoughts. Unless kept,' he replies, in commotion, by Cleopatra.' JOHNSON. By Antony will be himself, she means to say, that 'Antony will act like the joint sovereign of the world, and follow his own inclinations, without regard to the mandates of Cæsar, or the anger of Fulvia.' To which he replies, If but stirr'd by Cleopatra;" that is, if moved to it in the slightest degree by her. MASON. Phi. Sir, sometimes, when he is not Antony, He comes too short of that great property Which still should go with Antony. Dem. I'm full sorry, That he approves the common liar," who Thus speaks of him at Rome: But I will hope Of better deeds to-morrow. Rest you happy! [Exeunt. The same. SCENE II. Another Room. Enter CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEX- Char. Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most any thing Alexas, almost most absolute Alexas, where's the soothsayer that you praised so to the queen? O, that I knew this husband, which, you say, must change his horns with garlands !! Alex. Soothsayer. Char. Is this the man ?-Is't you, sir, that know things? Sooth. In nature's infinite book of secrecy, Eno. Bring in the banquet quickly; wine enough Cleopatra's health to drink. Char. Good sir, give me good fortune. Sooth. I make not, but foresee. Char. Pray then, foresee me one. Sooth. You shall be yet far fairer than you are. Char. He means, in flesh. Iras. No, you shall paint when you are old. Char. Wrinkles forbid! Alex. Vex not his prescience; be attentive. Char. Hush! Sooth. You shall be more beloving, than beloved. Char. Good now, some excellent fortune! Let me be married to three kings in a forenoon, and widow them MALONE. [91 Fame. To change his horns with [i. e. for] garlands,' signifies to cuckold; a cuckold who will consider his state an honourable one. [2] To know why the lady is so averse from heating her liver, it bered, that a heated liver is supposed to make a pimpled face. be a triumphant STEEVENS. must be rememJOHNSON. |