SCENE VIII. Changes to Cæfar's Camp. Enter Cæfar, Agrippa, Dolabella, Thyreus, with others. ET him appear, that's come from Antony. Dol. Cæfar, 'tis his schoolmafter; An argument that he is pluckt, when hither Enter Ambaffador from Antony. Caf. Approach and speak. Amb. Such as I am, I come from Antony : I was of late as petty to his ends, As in the morn-dew on the myrtle leaf To the grand fea. Caf. Be't fo. Declare thine office. Amb. Lord of his fortunes he falutes thee, and Caf. For Antony, I have no ears to his requeft. The Queen (2) The circle of the Ptolemies- -] The diadem; the enfign of royalty. She shall not fue unheard. So to them both. Caf. Bring him through the bands: [Exit Ambaffador. To try thy eloquence now 'tis time; difpatch, From Antony win Cleopatra; promife, [To Thyreus. And in our name, when fhe requires, add more, From thine invention, offers. Women are not In their best fortunes ftrong; but want will perjure The ne'er-touch'd veftal. Try thy cunning, Thyreus, Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we Will anfwer as a law. Thyr. Cæfar, I go.. Caf. Obferve, (3) how Antony becomes his flaw; And what thou think'ft his very action speaks In every power that moves. Thyr. Cafar, I fhall. SCENE IX. Changes to Alexandria. [Exeunt. Enter Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian, and Iras. Cleo. HAT fhall we do, Enobarbus? WHAT Cleo. Is Antony, or we, in fault for this? (3) how Antony becomes his flaw;] That is, how Antony conforms himself to this breach of his fortune. (4) Think, and die.] Read, Drink, and die. This reply of Enobarbus feems grounded upon a particularity in the conduct of Antony and Cleopatra, which is related by Plutarch; That, after their defeat at Adium, they inftituted a fociety of friends who entered into engagement to die with them, not abating in the mean time any part of their luxury, excess and riot, in which they had lived before. HANMER. This reading offered by Sir T. Haumer, is received by Dr. Warburton and Mr. Upton, but have not advanced it into the rage, not being convinced that it is neceffary. Think, and die; that is, Reflect on your folly, and leave the world, is a natural anfwer. Eno. Eno. Antony only, that would make his will Cleo. Pr'ythee, peace. Enter Antony, with the Ambassador. Ant. Is that his answer? Amb. Ay, my Lord. Ant. The Queen fhall then have courtesy, So fhe will yield us up. Amb. He fays fo. Ant. Let her know't. To the boy Cafar fend this grizled head, Cleo. Thy head, my Lord? Ant. To him again. Tell him, he wears the rofe Of youth upon him, from which the world fhould note Something particular; his coin, fhips, legions, As i' th' command of Cæfar. I dare him therefore The meered question.] The meered queftion a term which I do not understand. I know not what to offer, except, That is, the difputed point, the fubject of debate. Mere is indeed a boundary, and the meered queftion, if it can mean any thing, may, with fome violence of language, mean, the disputed boundary. H 5 Το To lay (6) his gay comparisons apart, And anfwer me declin'd, fword against sword, [Exit Antony. His judgment too. Cafar, thou haft fubdu'd. Enter a Servant. Serv. A meffenger from Cafar. Cleo. What, no more ceremony? See, my women! Against the blown rofe may they stop their nofe, That kneel'd unto the buds. Admit him, Sir. Eno. Mine honefty and I begin to fquare; (7) 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, (6) : -bis gay comparisons apart, And anfwer me declin'd -] I require of Cæfar not to depend on that fuperiority which the comparison of our different fortunes may exhibit to him, but to anfwer me man to man, in this decline of my age or power. ་་ (7) The loyalty, well held to fools, &c.] After Enobarbus has faid, that his honefty and he begin to quarrel, he immediately falls into this generous reflection; "Tho' loyalty, ftubbornly preferv'd to a mafter in his declin'd fortunes, feems folly in "the eyes of fools; yet he, who can be fo obftinately loyal, will "make as great a figure on record, as the conqueror." I therefore read, Though loyalty, well held, to fools does make THEO. I have preferved the old reading: Enobarbus is deliberating upon defertion, and finding it is more prudent to forfake a fool, and more reputable to be faithful to him, makes no pofitive conclufion. Sir T. Hanmer follows Theobald; Dr. Warburton retains the old reading. Does Does conquer him that did his mafter conquer, Enter Thyreus. Cleo. Cæfar's will? Thyr. Hear it apart. Cleo. None but friends. Say boldly. Thyr. So, haply, are they friends to Antony. Thyr. So. Thus then, thou most renown'd, (8) Cæfar intreats,, Not to confider in what cafe thou ftand'st Further than he is Cæfar. Cleo. Go on. -Right royal.. Thyr. He knows, that you embrace not Antony As did love, but as you you Cleo. Oh! fear'd him. [Afide Thyr. The fears upon your honour, therefore, he Does pity as conftrained blemishes, Not as deferv'd.. Cleo. He is a God, and knows What is moft right. Mine honour was not yielded, But conquer'd meerly.. Eno. To be fure of that, I will afk Antony-Sir, Sir, thou art fo leaky, Thy deareft quit thee.. Thyr.. Shall I fay to Cæfar [Exit Enobarbus. What you require of him? For he partly begs, To be defir'd to give. It much would please him,, (8) -Cæfar intreats, Not to confider in what cafe thou ftand'ft Further than he is Cæfar.] i. e. Cæfar intreats, that at the fame time you confider your defperate fortunes, you would confider he is Cæfar: That is, generous and forgiving, able and willing to restore them.. WARBURTON. That |