Sooth. I have said.

Iras. Am I not an inch of fortune better than she?

60 Char. Well, if you were but an inch of fortune better than I, where would you choose it? Iras. Not in my husband's nose.

Char. Our worser thoughts heavens mend! Alexas,―come, his fortune, his fortune! O, let him marry a woman that cannot go, sweet Isis, I beseech thee! and let her die too, and give him a worse! and let worse follow worse, till the worst of all follow him laughing to his grave, fifty-fold a cuckold! Good Isis, hear me this prayer, though thou deny me a matter of more weight; good Isis, I beseech thee!

Iras. Amen. Dear goddess, hear that prayer of the people! for, as it is a heart-breaking to see a handsome man loose-wived, so it is a deadly sorrow to behold a foul knave uncuckolded: therefore, dear Isis, keep decorum, and fortune him accordingly!

Char. Amen.

79

Alex. Lo, now, if it lay in their hands to make me a cuckold, they would make themselves whores, but they'ld do 't!

Eno. Hush! here comes Antony.

Char.

Not he; the queen.

Cleo. He was disposed to mirth; but on the sudden

A Roman thought hath struck him. Enobarbus! Eno. Madam?

Cleo. Seek him, and bring him hither. Where's Alexas?

Alex. Here, at your service. My lord approaches.

90

Cleo. We will not look upon him: go with us. [Exeunt.

Enter ANTONY with a Messenger and Attendants.

Mess. Fulvia thy wife first came into the field. Ant. Against my brother Lucius?

Mess. Ay:

But soon that war had end, and the time's state Made friends of them, jointing their force 'gainst Cæsar;

Whose better issue in the war, from Italy,

Upon the first encounter, drave them.

Ant.

Well, what worst?

Mess. The nature of bad news infects the teller.

99 On:

Ant. When it concerns the fool or coward. Things that are past are done with me. 'Tis thus; Who tells me true, though in his tale lie death, I hear him as he flatter'd.

Labienus

Mess.
This is stiff news-hath, with his Parthian force,
Extended* Asia from Euphrates;

His conquering banner shook from Syria
To Lydia and to Ionia;

Whilst

Ant. Antony, thou wouldst say,—

Mess.

Ant.

*Seized.

Speak to me home, mince not the general tongue:

IIO

Name Cleopatra as she is call'd in Rome;
Rail thou in Fulvia's phrase; and taunt my faults
With such full license as both truth and malice
Have power to utter. O, then we bring forth
weeds,

When our quick minds lie still; and our ills told us
Is as our earing.* Fare thee well awhile. *Ploughing.
Mess. At your noble pleasure.

[Ex.

Ant. From Sicyon, ho, the news! Speak there!

First Att. The man from Sicyon,-is there such an one?

Sec. Att. He stays upon your will.

Ant.

Let him appear.

These strong Egyptian fetters I must break,
Or lose myself in dotage.

120

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.

MEETING OF ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.

After the Painting by G. Wertheimer.

This splendid conception of Cleopatra's visit to Antony is from the brush of Wertheimer, and well sustains his ample reputation. The oriental luxury of the barge and its surroundings is in harmony with the spirit of Shakespeare's wonderful text.