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Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
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SCENE IX. Changes to Alexandria. Enter Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmion, and Iras.

Cleo.
What shall we do, Enobarbus?

Eno.
4 note


Think, and die.

Cleo.
Is Antony, or we, in fault for this?

Eno.
Antony only, that would make his will
Lord of his reason. What though you fled
From that great face of war, whose several ranges
Frighted each other? why should he follow?
The itch of his affection should not then
Have nickt his captainship; at such a point,
When half to half the world oppos'd, 5 note


he being
The meered question. 'Twas a shame no less
Than was his loss, to course your flying flags,
And leave his navy gazing.

Cleo.
Pr'ythee, peace.

-- 193 --

Enter Antony, with the Ambassador.

Ant.
Is that his answer?

Amb.
Ay, my Lord.

Ant.
The Queen shall then have courtesy,
So she will yield us up.

Amb.
He says so.

Ant.
Let her know't.
To the boy Cæsar send this grizled head,
And he will fill thy wishes to the brim
With Principalities.

Cleo.
That head, my Lord?

Ant.
To him again. Tell him, he wears the rose
Of youth upon him, from which the world should note
Something particular; his coin, ships, legions,
May be a coward's, whose ministers would prevail
Under the service of a child, as soon
As i' th' command of Cæsar. I dare him therefore
To lay 6 note
his gay comparisons apart,
And answer me declin'd, sword against sword,
Ourselves alone. I'll write it, follow me. [Exit Antony.

Eno.
Yes, like enough; high-battled Cæsar will
Unstate his happiness, and be staged to th' shew
Against a sworder.—I see, men's judgments are
A parcel of their fortunes, and things outward
Do draw the inward quality after them,
To suffer all alike. That he should dream,
Knowing all measures, the full Cæsar will
Answer his emptiness!—Cæsar, thou hast subdu'd
His judgment too.

-- 194 --

Enter a Servant.

Serv.
A messenger from Cæsar.

Cleo.
What, no more ceremony? See, my women!—
Against the blown rose may they stop their nose,
That kneel'd unto the buds. Admit him, Sir.

Eno.
Mine honesty and I begin to square;
7 note



The loyalty, well held to fools, does make
Our faith meer folly: yet he, that can endure
To follow with allegiance a fall'n Lord,
Does conquer him that did his master conquer,
And earns a place i' th' story. Enter Thyreus.

Cleo.
Cæsar's will?

Thyr.
Hear it apart.

Cleo.
None but friends. Say boldly.

Thyr.
So, haply, are they friends to Antony.

Eno.
He needs as many, Sir, as Cæsar has,
Or needs not us. If Cæsar please, our master
Will leap to be his friend; for us you know,
Whose he is, we are, and that's Cæsar's.

-- 195 --

Thyr.
So.
Thus then, thou most renown'd, 8 note

Cæsar intreats,
Not to consider in what case thou stand'st
Further than he is Cæsar.

Cleo.
Go on.—Right royal.

Thyr.
He knows, that you embrace not Antony
As you did love, but as you fear'd him.

Cleo.
Oh!
[Aside.

Thyr.
The scars upon your honour, therefore, he
Does pity as constrained blemishes,
Not as deserv'd.

Cleo.
He is a God, and knows
What is most right. Mine honour was not yielded,
But conquer'd meerly.

Eno.
To be sure of that,
I will ask Antony—Sir, Sir, thou art so leaky,
That we must leave thee to thy sinking, for
Thy dearest quit thee. [Exit Enobarbus.

Thyr.
Shall I say to Cæsar
What you require of him? For he partly begs,
To be desir'd to give. It much would please him,
That of his fortunes you would make a staff
To lean upon.
But it would warm his spirits, to hear from me
You had left Antony, and put yourself
Under his shroud, the universal landlord.

Cleo.
What's your name!

Thyr.
My name is Thyreus.

Cleo.
9 note




Most kind messenger,
Say to great Cæsar this; in deputation

-- 196 --


I kiss his conqu'ring hand: tell him, I'm prompt
To lay my crown at's feet, and there to kneel.
1 note
Tell him, that from his all-obeying breath I hear
The doom of Ægypt.

Thyr.
'Tis your noblest course:
Wisdom and fortune combating together,
If that the former dare but what it can,
No chance may shake it. 2 noteGive me grace to lay
My duty on your hand.

Cleo.
Your Cæsar's father oft,
When he hath mus'd of taking Kingdoms in,
Bestow'd his lips on that unworthy place,
As it rain'd kisses.
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Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
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