To vye strange forms with Fancy, yet t'imagine Dol. Hear me, good Madam: Your lofs is as yourself, great; and you bear it, By the rebound of yours, a grief that shoots Cleo. I thank you, Sir. Know you, what Cæfar means to do with me? Dol. Though he be honourable Cleo. He'll lead me then in triumph? Dol. Madam, he will, I know't. All. Make way there, (63) Cafar Nature wants stuff" To vie ftrange forms with fancy; yet t'imagine This is a fine fentiment, but unintelligible in the present falfe reading and pointing; and, even when set right in these particulars, is ftill obfcure enough, I'll first reform the text, and then fubjoin the interpretation. -Yet t'imagine An Antony were Nature's prize 'gainst fancy, The fenfe is this: "Nature in general has not materials fufficient to "furnish out real forms, for ev'ry model that the boundless power of the imagination can sketch out." [This is the meaning of the words, Nature wants matter to vieirange forms with Fancy:] "But"yet, tho' in general this be true, that Nature is more poor, narrow, "and confin'd than Fancy; yet it must be own'd, that when Nature "prefents an Antony to us, the then gets the better of Fancy, and "makes even the imagination appear poor and narrow; or, in our “Author's words, condemns fhadows quite." The word prize, which I have restored, is the prettieft word in the world in this place; as figuring a contention between Nature and Imagination about the larger extent of their powers; and Nature gaining the prize by pro·ducing Antony. And fure, nothing could be said more advantageous for Antony, than this; that imagination came short of bis perfections. Ms, Warburtoné Enter Cæfar, Gallus, Mecænas, Proculeius, and Caf. Which is the Queen of Egypt? Will have it thus; my mafter and 1 must obey. [Cleo. kneels. my Lord Caf. Take to you no hard thoughts: Cleo. Sole Sir o'th' world, I cannot project mine own caufe fo well Been laden with like frailties, which before Caf. Cleopatra, know, We will extenuate, rather than enforce : If you apply yourself to our intents, (Which towards you are moft gentle) you fhall find A benefit in this change; but if you To lay on me a cruelty, by taking feek Antony's course, you fhall bereave yourself Of my good purposes, and put your children Cleo. And may, through all the world: 'tis yours; and we, Your fcutcheons, and your figns of conqueft, fhall Hang in what place you pleafe. Here, my good Lord. Caf. You fhall advise me in all for Cleopatra. (54) Cleo. (64) You shall advise me of all, Cleopatra.] This I presume to be a reading folely of Mr. Pope's. But what an harmonious verfe has he given us, in point of emphasis ? And how has he disgraced the poet and his emperor, in point of fentiment? What a freaking figure does Cæfar make, in faying, "You fhall confefs your whole fub"stance; you shan't fecrete one penny," before he knows what the Cleo. This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels I am poffeft of 'tis exactly valued, (65) Not petty things omitted-where's Seleucus ? Cleo. This is my treasurer, let him speak, my Lord, Upon his peril, that I have referv'd To myfelf nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus. Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made known. Cleo. See, Cafar! Oh, behold How pomp is follow'd: mine will now be yours, Ev'n make me wild. Oh flave, of no more truft the paper is, that Cleopatra puts into his hand? But I have reftor'd the reading of the old books, which carries a dignity fuitable to the fubject. Cæfar takes pains to comfort her; and tells her, that the herself fhall direct him in every thing for her own relief and fatiffaction. He repeats the fame confolation to her in other terms when he leaves her: -Therefore be cheer'd; Make not your thoughts your prifons; no, dear Queen Yourself fhall give us counsel, (65) 'Tis exactly valued, Not petty things admitted.] Sagacious editors! Cleopatra gives in a lift of her wealth, fays, 'tis exactly valued, but that petty things are not admitted in this lift and then the appeals to her treasurer, to vouch, that she has referv'd nothing to herself. Nay, and when he betrays her in this point, she is reduc'd to the shift of exclaiming against the ingratitude of fervants to a prince in his decline, and of making apologies for having fecreted certain trifles. What confiftency is there in fuch a conduct? And who does not fee, that we ought to read? 'Tis exactly valued; Not petty things omitted, For this declaration lays open her falfhood; and makes her angry, when her treasurer detecta her in a direct lie. Go back, I warrant thee: but I'll catch thine eyes, Though they had wings. Slave, foul-lefs villain, dog O rarely bafe! Caf. Good Queen, let us intreat you. Cleo. O Cafar, what a wounding fhame is this, Addition of his envy! Say, good Cafar, (66) Doing the bonour of thy Lordlinefs To one fo meek.] -it fmites me Through Thefe editors, like Sir Martin Marr-all, are perpetually plunging into fresh abfurdities. Surely, Cleopatra must be bantering Cafar, to call herself meek, when he had the moment before feen her fly at Her treasurer, and wishing to tear out his eyes. 1 correct, To one fo weak; i. e. fo fhrunk in fortune and power; vanquish'd, and spoil'd of her kingdom. Befides, she might allude to her bodily decay. For Plutarch tells us, that the receiv'd Cæfar, as fhe was lying on a poor. pallat-bed; that fhe threw herself at his feet in her fhift; that her hair was torn off, and her face mangled; that her voice was low and trembling, and her eyes funk into her head with continual. weeping fo that she was in a pitiful state. And notwithstanding all. thefe concurring fymptoms of weakness and decay, there is no incon fiftency in her flying at her treasurer: for, on any fudden provoca tion, the agonies of refentment will exert against the lowest infir mity, and put Nature on the ftrain. (67) Or I shall fhew the cinders of my fpirits Through ib' afhes of my chance.] If the text be genuine, this muft be the allufion; the confiders her falf, in her downfall, as a fabrick destroy'd by fire; and then would intimate, that the fame fire-has reduc'd her fpirits too to cinders Through th' ashes of my chance: wert thou a man, Caf. Forbear, Seleucus. [thought Cleo. Be't known, that we the greatest are mif For things that others do; and, when we fall, Are therefore to be pitied. Caf. Cleopatra, Not what you have referv'd, nor what acknowledg'd, Cafar's no merchant to make prize with you Of things that merchants fold. Therefore, be cheer'd: Make not your thoughts your prifons; no, dear Queen, For we intend fo to difpofe you, as Yourself fhall give us counfel: feed, and sleep. Our care and pity is fo much upon you, That we remain your friend; and fo, adieu. Cleo. My mafter, and my Lord! Caf. Not fo: adieų. [Exeunt Cæfar and his train, Cleo. He words me, girls, he words me, That I should not be noble to myself. But hark thee, Charmian. [Whispers Charmian. Iras. Finish, good lady, the bright day is done, And we are for the dark. Cleo. Hie thee again. I've spoke already, and it is provided; it to the haste. Go put Char. Madam, I will. (68) [Exit Charm. Enter i. e. confum'd the strength and dignity of her foul and mind. Mr Warburton thinks the Poet wrote; Through th' afbes of my cheeks. And, indeed, our Poet has an image in Othello, that seems to cou tenance this correction. (68) I should make very forges of my cheeks, That would to cinders burn up modefty, -Hie thee again. Bve Spoke already, and it is provided.z Frete |