It beggar'd all description: she did lie The fancy out-work nature: on each side her, Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids, With diverse-colour'd fans, whose wind did seem To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool, And what they undid, did.” Agr. 6 O, rare for Antony! Eno. Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides, So many merinaids, tended her i' the eyes, And made their bends adornings: at the helm A seeming Mermaid steers; the silken tackle Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands, That yarely frame the office. From the barge A strange invisible perfume hits the sense Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast Her people out upon her; and Antony, Enthron'd in the market-place, did sit alone, Whistling to the air; which, but for vacancy, Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too, And made a gap in nature. 5 And what they undid, did.] The wind of the fans seemed to give a new colour to Cleopatra's cheeks, which they were emploved to cool; and what they undid; i. e. that warmth which they were intended to diminish or allay, they did, i. e. they seemed to produce. 6 tended her i the eyes,] Perhaps this expression may signify that the attendants on Cleopatra looked observantly into her eyes, to catch her meaning, without giving her the trouble of verbal explanation; or only means, they performed their duty in the sight of their mistress. 7 And made their bends adornings :] The plain sense, says Mr. Steevens, of this contested passage seems to be-that these Ladies rendered that homage which their assumed characters obliged them to pay to their Queen, a circumstance ornamental to themselves. Each inclined her person so gracefully, that the very act of humiliation was an improvement of her own beauty. That yarely frame the office.] i. e. readily and dexterously perform the task they undertake. Agr. Rare Egyptian! Eno. Upon her landing, Antony sent to her, It should be better, he became her guest; For what his eyes eat only. Agr. Royal wench! She made great Cæsar lay his sword to bed; He plough'd her, and she cropp'd. Eno. I saw her once Hop forty paces through the publick street': And having lost her breath, she spoke, and panted, That she did make defect, perfection, And, breathless, power breathe forth. Mec. Now Antony must leave her utterly. Eno. Never; he will not; Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale Cloy th' appetites they feed; but she makes hungry, Become themselves in her; that the holy priests Bless her, when she is riggish." Mec. If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle The heart of Antony, Octavia is A blessed lottery1 to him. Agr. Let us go. Good Enobarbus make yourself my guest, Eno. Humbly, sir, I thank you. [Exeunt. 9 —when she is riggish.] i. e. wanton. The same. SCENE III. A Room in Cæsar's House. Enter CESAR, ANTONY, OCTAVIA between them; Attendants and a Soothsayer. Ant. The world, and my great office, will some times Divide me from your bosom. Octa. Ant. Good night, sir.-My Octavia, Read not my blemishes in the world's report: I have not kept my square; but that to come Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear lady. Octa. Good night, sir. Ces, Good night. [Exeunt CESAR and OCTAVIA. Ant. Now, sirrah! you do wish yourself in Egypt? Sooth. 'Would I had never come from thence, Thither! nor you Ant. If you can, your reason? I see't in My motion, have it not in my tongue: But yet Hie you again to Egypt. Ant. Say to me, Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Cæsar's, or mine? Sooth. Cæsar's. 2 I see't in My motion,-] i. e. the divinitory agitation; but Mr. Theobald reads, with some probability, I see it in my notion. Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side: Where Caesar's is not; but, near him, thy angel Ant. Speak this no more. Sooth. To none but thee; no more, but when to thee. If thou dost play with him at any game, Thou art sure to lose; and, of that natural luck, He beats thee 'gainst the odds; thy lustre thickens, When he shines by: I say again, thy spirit Is all afraid to govern thee near him; But, he away, 'tis noble. Ant. Get thee gone: Say to Ventidius, I would speak with him : Erit Soothsayer. He shall to Parthia.-Be it art, or hap, He hath spoken true: The very dice obey him; And, in our sports, my better cunning faints Under his chance: if we draw lots, he speeds: His cocks do win the battle still of mine, When it is all to nought; and his quails3 ever Beat mine, inhoop'd, at odds. I will to Egypt: And though I make this marriage for my peace, Enter VENTIDIUS. I' the east my pleasure lies:-0, come, Ventidius, You must to Parthia; your commission's ready : Follow me, and receive it. 3 [Exeunt. his quails] The ancients used to match quails as we match cocks. 4inhoop'd, at odds.] Inhoop'd is inclosed, confined, that they may fight. SCENE IV. The same. A Street. Enter LEPIDUS, MECENAS, and AGRIPPA. Lep. Trouble yourselves no further: pray you, hasten Your generals after. Agr. Sir, Mark Antony Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow. Lep. Till I shall see you in your soldier's dress, Which will become you both, farewell. Mec. As I conceive the journey, be at mount' Before you, Lepidus. Lep. My purposes do draw me much about ; We shall, Your way is shorter, Sir, good success! [Exeunt. You'll win two days upon me. Mec. Agr. Lep. Farewell. SCENE V. Alexandria. A Room in the Palace. Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS. Cleo. Give me some musick; musick, moody food Of us that trade in love. Attend. The musick, ho! at mount-] i. e. Mount Miscnum. 6-musick, moody food-] Moody, in this instance, means melancholy. Cotgrave explains moody, by the French words, morne and triste. |