Philo.
Phi.
Nay, but this dotage of our general's1 note
,
O'erflows the measure: those his goodly eyes,
That o'er the files and musters of the war
Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn,
The office and devotion of their view
Upon a tawny front: his captain's heart,
Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst
The buckles on his breast, reneges2 note
all temper;
-- 166 --
And is become the bellows, and the fan,
To cool a gipsy's lust3 note
. Look, where they come!
Flourish. Enter Antony and Cleopatra, with their Trains; Eunuchs fanning her.
Take but good note, and you shall see in him
The triple pillar4 note
of the world transform'd
-- 167 --
Into a strumpet's fool: behold and see.
Cleo.
If it be love indeed, tell me how much.
Ant.
There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd5 note
.
Cleo.
I'll set a bourn6 note
how far to be belov'd.
Ant.
Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth7 note.
Enter an Attendant.
Att.
News, my good lord, from Rome.
Ant.
Grates me:—The sum8 note.
Cleo.
Nay, hear them9 note, Antony:
-- 168 --
Fulvia, perchance, is angry; Or, who knows
If the scarce-bearded Cæsar have not sent
His powerful mandate to you, Do this, or this;
Take in that kingdom1 note, and enfranchise that;
Perform't, or else we damn thee.
Ant.
How, my love!
Cleo.
Perchance,—nay, and most like,
You must not stay here longer, your dismission
Is come from Cæsar; therefore hear it, Antony.—
Where's Fulvia's process2 note
? Cæsar's, I would say?—Both?—
Call in the messengers.—As I am Egypt's queen,
Thou blushest, Antony; and that blood of thine
Is Cæsar's homager: else so thy cheek pays shame,
When shrill-tongu'd Fulvia scolds.—The messengers.
Ant.
Let Rome in Tyber melt! and the wide arch
Of the rang'd empire fall3 note
! Here is my space;
-- 169 --
Kingdoms are clay: our dungy earth alike
Feeds beast as man: the nobleness of life
Is, to do thus; when such a mutual pair,
[Embracing.
And such a twain can do't, in which, I bind
On pain of punishment, the world to weet4 note,
We stand up peerless.
Cleo.
Excellent falshood!
Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?—
I'll seem the fool I am not; Antony
Will be himself.
Ant.
But stirr'd by Cleopatra5 note
.—
Now, for the love of Love, and her soft hours6 note
,
-- 170 --
Let's not confound the time7 note
with conference harsh:
There's not a minute of our lives should stretch
Without some pleasure now: What sport to-night?
Cleo.
Hear the ambassadors.
Ant.
Fye, wrangling queen!
Whom every thing becomes8 note
, to chide, to laugh,
To weep9 note
; whose every passion fully strives1 note
To make itself, in thee, fair and admir'd!
No messenger; but thine and all alone2 note,
-- 171 --
To-night, we'll wander through the streets3 note, and note
The qualities of people. Come, my queen;
Last night you did desire it:—Speak not to us.
[Exeunt Ant. and Cleop. with their Train.
Dem.
Is Cæsar with Antonius priz'd so slight?
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 liar4 note
, who
Thus speaks of him at Rome: But I will hope
Of better deeds to-morrow. Rest you happy!
[Exeunt.
James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
