Welcome to PhiloLogic  
   home |  the ARTFL project |  download |  documentation |  sample databases |   
Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
To look up a word in a dictionary, select the word with your mouse and press 'd' on your keyboard.

Previous section

Next section

SCENE IX. Changes to Alexandria. Enter Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian, and Iras.

Cleo.
What shall we do, Enobarbus?

Eno.
1 note(a) note Drink, and die.

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

-- 171 --

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

Ant.
Is that his answer?

Amb.
Ay, my lord.

Ant.
The Queen shall then have courtesie,
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.
Thy 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 coyn, 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
2 note
To lay his gay comparisons apart,

-- 172 --


And answer me declin'd, sword against sword,
Our selves 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.—&wlquo;I see, men's judgments are
&wlquo;A parcel of their fortunes, and things outward
&wlquo;Do draw the inward quality after them,
&wlquo;To suffer all alike.&wrquo; That he should dream,
Knowing all measures, the full Cæsar will
Answer his emptiness!—Cæsar, thou hast subdu'd
His judgment too.
Enter a Servant.

Ser.
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;
The note 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.

-- 173 --

Eno.
3 note




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

Thyr.
So.
Thus then, thou most renown'd, 4 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, thou'rt so leaky,
That we must leave thee to thy sinking, for
Thy dearest quit thee. [Exit Eno.

-- 174 --

Thyr.
Shall I say to Cæsar
What you require of him? 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.
5 note




Most kind messenger,
Say to great Cæsar this; in deputation
I kiss his conqu'ring hand: tell him, I'm prompt
To lay my crown at's feet, and there to kneel.
Tell him, that from his all-obeying breath
I hear the doom of Ægypt.

Thyr.
'Tis your noblest course:
&wlquo;Wisdom and fortune combating together,
&wlquo;If that the former dare but what it can,
&wlquo;No chance may shake it.&wrquo; Give 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.

-- 175 --

Previous section

Next section


Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
Powered by PhiloLogic