In her pavilion, (cloth of gold, of tissue,) Agr. O, rare for Antony: Eno. lier gentlewoman, like the Nereides, So many mermaids, tended her i' the eyes, And made their bends adornings. at the helm A seeming mermaid steers; the silken tackle Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands, That yearly frame† the office. From the barge A strange invisible perfume hits the sense Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast Her people out upon her; and Antony, Enthron'd in the market-place, did sit alone, Whistling to the air; which, but for vacancy, Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too, And made a gap in nature. CLEOPATRA'S INFINITE POWER IN PLEASING. Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety: Other women Cloy the appetites they feed; but she makes hungry Where most she satisfies. For vilest things Become themselves in her; that the holy priests Bless her, when she's riggish.‡ THE UNSETTLED HUMOURS OF LOVERS. Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS Cleo. Give me some music; music, moody§ food Of us that trade in love. Attend. The music, ho! Enter MARDIAN. Cleo. Let it alone; let us to billiards: Come, Charmian. Char. My arm is sore, best play with Mardian. Cleo. As well a woman with an eunucn play'd As with a woman:--Come you'll play with me, sir! * Added to the warmth they were intended to diminish Readily perform. Wanton. § Melancholy. Mar. As well as I can, madam. Cleo. And when good will is show'd, though it The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now:- Tawny finn'd fishes; my bended hook shall pierce I'll think them every one an Antony, And say, Ah! ah! you're caught. Char. 'Twas merry, when You wager'd on your angling; when your diver Cleo. That time!-O times! I laugh'd him out of patience; and that night ACT III. AMBITION JEALOUS OF A TOO SUCCESSFUL FRIEND. O Silius, Silius, I have done enough: A lower place, note well, May make too great an act: For learn this, Silius; Better leave undone, than by our deed acquire Too high a fame, when him we serve's away. WHAT OCTAVIA'S ENTRANCE SHOULD HAVE BEEN. Why have you stol'n upon us thus? You come not Like Cesar's sister: The wife of Antony Should have an army for an usher, and The neighs of horse to tell of her approach, Long ere she did appear; the trees by the way, Should have borne men; and expectation fainted, Longing for what it had not: nay the dust Should have ascended to the roof of heaven, Rais'd by your populous troops: But you are come A market-maid to Rome: and have prevented *Head-dress. The ostent of our love, which, left unshown Women are not, WOMEN. In their best fortunes, strong; but want will perjure The ne'er touch'd vestal. FORTUNE FORMS OUR JUDGMENTS. I see men's judgments are A parcelt of their fortunes: and things outward To suffer all alike. LOYALTY. Mine honesty, and I, begin to square.‡ Does conquer him that did his master conquer, WISDOM SUPERIOR TO FORTUNE. Wisdom and fortune combating together, VICIOUS PERSONS INFATUATED BY HEAVEN Good, my lord, But when we in our viciousness grow hard, (O misery on't!) the wise gods seal§ our eyes; In our own filth, drop our clear judgments, make us FURY EXPELS FEAR. Now he'll out-stare the lightning. To be furious Restore his heart: When valour preys on reason, * Show, token. + Quarrel. † Are of a piece with them. § Close up. ACT IV. A MASTER TAKING LEAVE OF HIS SERVANTS. Tend me to-night; May be it is the period of your duty: Haply, you shall not see me more; or if, A mangled shadow. perchance, to-morrow I look on you, As one that takes his leave. Mine honest friends, EARLY RISING THE WAY TO EMINENCE. This morning, like a spirit of a youth That means to be of note, begins betimes. ANTONY TO CLEOPATRA, AT HIS RETURN WITH VICTORY. O thou day o' the world, Chain mine arm'd neck: leap thou, attire and all, Through proof of harness to my heart, and there Ride on the pants triumphing. LOATHED LIFE. O sovereign mistress of true melancholy, The poisonous damp of night disponge§ upon me; That life, a very rebel of my will, May hang no longer on me. ANTONY'S DESPONDENCY. O sun, thy uprise shall I see no more: Do we shake hands. All come to this?-The hearts DEPARTING GREATNESS. The soul and body rive not more in parting Than greatness going off. Armour of proof. § Discharge, as a sponge when squeezed discharges the noisture it has imbibed. || Split. ANTONY'S REFLECTIONS ON HIS FADED GLORY. Sometime, we see a cloud that's dragonish: A vapour, sometimes, like a bear, or lion, A tower'd citadel, a pendant rock, A forked mountain, or blue promontory With trees upon't, that nod unto the world, And mock our eyes with air: Thou hast seen these signs; They are black vesper's pageants. Eros. Ay, my lord. Ant. That, which is now a horse, even with a thought, The rack dislimns; and makes it indistinct, Eros. It does, my lord. Ant. My good knavet Eros, now thy captain is Even such a body; here I am Antony; Yet cannot hold this visible shape, my knave. Nay, weep not, gentle Eros; there is left us DESCRIPTION OF CLEOPATRA'S SUPPOSED DEATH. Death of one person can be paid but once; And that she has discharged: What thou would'st do Is done unto thy hand; the last she spake Was Antony! most noble Antony! Then in the midst a tearing groan did break The name of Antony; it was divided Between her heart and lips: she render'd life, |