Therefore, oh Antony, ftay not by his fide.
Thy Damon, that's thy fpirit which keeps thee, is
Noble, couragious, high, unmatchable,

Where Cafar's is not. But near him thy angel
Becomes a fear, as being overpower'd;

And therefore 7'make thou space' enough between you.
Ant. Speak this no more.

Sooth. To none but thee; no more but when to thee;— If thou doft play with him at any game,

Thou'rt fure to lofe: 'he's of that natural luck
He beats thee 'gainst the odds. Thy luftre thickens,
When he fhines by: I fay again, thy fpirit

Is all afraid to govern thee near him:

But, he away, 'tis noble.

Ant. Get thee gone:

Say to Ventidius, I would fpeak with him. [Exit Sooth:
He fhall to Parthia.-Be it art, or hap,

He hath spoke 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 battel ftill of mine,
When it is all to nought: and his quails a ever
Beat mine, 'in-coop'd' at odds. I will to Egypt;
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
I' th' East my pleasure lyes. Oh come, Ventidius,

Enter Ventidius.

You must to Parthia, your commiffion's ready:
Follow me and receive't.

[Exeunt.

Enter Lepidus, Mecænas, and Agrippa. Lep. Trouble your felves no farther: pray you haften

Your Generals after.

Agr. Sir, Mark Antony

Will e'en but kifs Octavia, and we'll follow.

Lep.

(a) Lucian relates that at Athens Quail fighting was exhibited at fhews: and many other ancient Authors mention it as a sport much in ufe.

7 make space

8 and

9 in hoop'd

Lep. 'Till I fhall fee you in your foldier's dress, Which will become you both, farewel.

Mec. We fhall,

As I conceive the journey, be at th' mount
Before you, Lepidus.

Lep. Your way is fhorter,

My purposes do draw me much about;
You'll win two days upon me.

Both. Good fuccefs!

Lep. Farewel!

[Exeunt.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras and Alexas.

Cleo. Gus that trade in love.

Ive me fome mufick mufick, moody food
Of

Omnes. The mufick, hoa!

Enter Mardian the Eunuch.

Cleo. Let it alone, let us to billiards: come, Charmian.

Char. My arm is fore, beft play with Mardian. Cleo. As well a woman with an eunuch play'd, As with a woman." Come, you'll play with me, Sir? Mar. As well as I can, Madam.

Cleo. And when good-will is fhew'd, tho't come too fhort, The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now. Give me mine angle, we'll to th' river, there My mufick playing far off, I will betray Tawny-fin fifh; my bended hook fhall pierce Their flimy jaws; and, as I draw them up, I'll think them every one an Antony, And fay, ah ha; you're caught.

Cbar. 'Twas merry when

You wager'd on your angling, when your diver

U 3

Did

Did hang a falt fifh on his hook, which he
With fervency drew up.

Cleo. That time!-oh times!

I laught him out of patience, and that night
I laught him into patience, and next morn
Ere the ninth hour I drunk him to his bed:
Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilft
I wore his fword Philippine. Oh from Italy,

Enter a Messenger.

''Rain' thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
That long time have been barren.
Mef. Madam! madam!-
Cleo. Antony's dead?

If thou fay fo, villain, thou kill'

But well and free,

thy mistress:

If thou fo yield him, there is gold, and here
My blueft veins to kifs: a hand that Kings
Have lipt, and trembled kifling.

Mef. Firft, Madam, he is well.

Cleo. Why, there's more gold. But, firrah, mark, we use To fay, the dead are well: bring it to that,

The gold I give thee will I melt and pour

Down thy ill-uttering throat.

Mef. Good Madam, hear me.

Cleo. Well, go to, I will:

But there's no goodness in thy face. If Antony
Be free and healthful; why fo tart a favour
To trumpet fuch good tidings? if not well,

Thou fhould't come like a Fury crown'd with fnakes,
Not like a formal man.

Mef. Will't please you hear me?:

Cleo. I have a mind to ftrike thee ere thou fpeak'ft;
Yet if thou fay Antony lives, 'tis well,

Or friends with Cafar, or not captive to him,
I'll fet thee in a fhower of gold, and hail

Ram

Rich

Rich pearls upon thee, a

Mef. Madam, he's well.
Cleo. Well faid.

Mef. And friends with Cafar.

Cleo. Thou'rt an honest man.

Mef. Cafar and he are greater friends than ever.
Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me!

Mef. But yet, Madam

Cleo. I do not like but yet, it do's allay The good 'precedent; fie upon but yet;

2

But yet is as a jaylor to bring forth

Some monstrous malefactor. Prythee, friend,

3

Pour out 'thy pack of matter to mine ear,

The good and bad together: he's friends with Cafar,
In state of health thou fay'ft, and thou fay'ft, free.
Mef. Free, Madam! no: I made no fuch 'report.
He's bound unto Octavia.

Cleo. For what good turn?

Mef. For the best turn i' th' bed.

Cleo. I am pale, Charmian.

Mef. Madam, he's married to Olavia.

Cleo. The most infectious peftilence upon thee!

U 4

[Strikes him down.

Mef.

(3) It was a ceremony among the Eaftern nations at coronations, triumphs, and great feftivals, that their Kings fitting in ftate bad fborvers of gold and pearl and precious flones pour'd down upon them: to which cuftom Milton alfo alludes;

Or where the gorgeous Eaft with richeft hand
Show'rs on her Kings Barbarick Pearl and Gold:

B. 2. v. 3.

This fact is verified by Hiftorians. In the life of Timur-bec or Tamerlain written by a Perfian a cotemporary Author, are the following words as they are tranflated by Monf. Pe'tis de la Croix in the account there given of bis Coronation B. 2; chap. 1.

Les Princes du fang royal & les Emirs repandirent à pleines mains fur fa tête quantitè d'Or & de pierreries felon la coûtume.

Andat the bottom of the page is this note;

Cette coûtume fubfifte encore aujourd'hui non feulement au couronnement des Princes mais encore aux marriages des Particuliers. Warb. 4 fport....old edit. Warb, emend. 2 precedence;

3 the

Mef. Good 'Madam, have but patience.` Cleo. What fay you? [Strikes him, Hence, horrible villain, or I'll fpurn thine eyes' Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head:

[She bales him up and down. Thou shalt be whipt with wire, and stew'd in brine, Smarting in lingring pickle.

Mef. Gracious Madam,

I, that do bring the news, made not the match.
Cleo. Say 'tis not fo, a province I will give thee,
And make thy fortunes proud: the blow thou hadst
Shall make thy peace, for moving me to rage,
And I will boot thee with what gift befide

Thy modefty can beg.

Mef. He's married, Madam.

Cleo. Rogue, thou haft liv'd too long. [Draws a dagger. Mef. Nay then I'll run:

What mean you, Madam? I have made no fault. [Exit,
Char. Good Madam, keep your felf within your self,
The man is innocent.

Cleo. Some innocents 'fcape not the thunderbolt.
Melt Ægypt into Nile; and kindly creatures
Turn all to ferpents! Call the flave again;
Though I am mad, I will not bite him; call,
Char. He is afraid to come.

Cleo. I will not hurt him.

Thefe hands do lack nobility, that they ftrike
A meaner than my felf: fince I my felf

Have given my felf the cause. Come hither, Sir,

Re-enter the Messenger.

Though it be honest, it is never good

To bring bad news: give to a gracious meffage
An hoft of tongues, but let ill tidings tell

Themselves, when they be felt.

Mef. I have done my duty.

Cleo. Is he married?

5 Madam, patience.

I