OBSERVATIONS. AMONG the entries in the books of the Stationers' Company, Octo ber 19, 1593, I find "A Booke entituled the Tragedie of Cleopatra." It is entered by Symon Waterfon, for whom fome of Daniel's works were printed; and therefore it is probably by that author, of whofe Cleopatra there are feveral editions; and, among others, one in 1594. In the fame volumes, May 2, 1608, Edward Blount entered "Ą Booke called Anthony and Cleopatra." This is the first notice I have met with concerning any edition of this play more ancient than the folio, 1623. STEEVENS. Antony and Cleopatra was written, I imagine, in the year 1608. MALONE. TAURUS, Lieutenant-General to Cæfar. Alexas, Mardian, Seleucus, and Diomedes; Attendants on A Soothsayer. A Clown. CLEOPATRA, Queen of Egypt. OCTAVIA, Sifter to Cæfar, and Wife to Antony. CHARMIAN, IRAS, IAN,} Attendants on Cleopatra. Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants. SCENE, difperfed; in feveral parts of the Roman Empire. ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. ACT I. SCENE 1. Alexandria. A Room in Cleopatra's Palace. Enter DEMETRIUS and PHILO. Philo. NAY, but this dotage of our general's, O'erflows the measure: thofe his goodly eyes, That o'er the files and musters of the war Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn, Upon a tawny front: his captain's heart, Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst 'The buckles on his breaft, reneges all temper; And is become the bellows, and the fan, To cool a gipfey's luft. Look, where they come ! Flourish. Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, with their trains; Eunuchs fanning her. Take but good note, and you shall see in him Cleo. If it be love indeed, tell me how much. Ant, There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd. Cleo. I'll fet a bourn how far to be belov'd. Ant. Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth. Enter an Attendant. Att. News, my good lord, from Rome. Ant. 'Grates me :-The fum. Cleo. Nay, hear them, Antony: Fulvia, perchance, is angry; Or, who knows Ant. How, my love! Cleo. Perchance,-nay, and most like, You must not stay here longer, your difmiffion Is come from Cæfar; therefore hear it, Antony.Where's Fulvia's procefs? Cæfar's, I would say?-Both ?Call in the meffengers.-As I am Egypt's queen, Thou blushest, Antony; and that blood of thine Is Cæfar's homager: else so thy cheek pays shame, When fhrill tongu'd Fulvia fcolds.-The meffengers. Ant. Let Rome in Tiber melt! and the wide arch Of the rang'd empire fall! Here is my space; Kingdoms are clay: our dungy earth alike Feeds beaft as man: the nobleness of life Is, to do thus; when fuch a mutual pair, And fuch a twain can do't, in which, I bind On pain of punishment, the world to weet, We stand up peerless. Cleo. Excellent falfhood! [Embracing. Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her ?— |