All the conspirators, save only he, Did that they did in envy of great Cæsar; Oct. According to his virtue let us use him, [Exeunt. Of this tragedy many particular passages deserve regard, and the contention and reconcilement of Brutus and Cassius is universally celebrated; but I have never been strongly agitated in perusing it, and think it somewhat cold and unaffecting, compared with some other of Shakspeare's plays: his adherence to the real story, and to the Roman manners, seems to have impeded the natural vigour of his genius. JOHNSON. Varrius, Taurus, lieutenant-general to Cæsar. Canidius, lieutenant-general to Antony. Silius, an officer in Ventidius's army. Euphronius, an ambassador from Antony to Cæsar. Alexas, Mardian, Seleucus, and Diomedes; attendants on Cleopatra. A Soothsayer. A Clown. Cleopatra, queen of Egypt. Octavia, sister to Cæsar, and wife to Antony. Iras, Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attend ants. Scene, dispersed, in several parts of the Roman empire. ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. ACT I. SCENE I-Alexandria. A room in Cleopatra' palace. Enter Demetrius and Philo. Philo. NAY, but this dotage of our general's, 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 set a bourn2 how far to be belov’d. Ant. Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth. (1) Renounces. (2) Bound or limit, Enter an Attendant. Att. News, my good lord, from Rome. Grates1 me :-The sum. 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 dismission Is come from Cæsar; therefore hear it, Antony.Where's Fulvia's process?3 Cæsar's, I would say?Both ? Call in the messengers.-As I am Egypt's queen, Thou blushest, Antony; and that blood of thine Is Cæsar's homager: else so thy cheek pays shame, When shrill-tongu'd Fulvia scolds -The messen gers. Ant. Let Rome in Tyber melt! and the wide arch Of the rang'd empire fall! Here is my space; Kingdoms are clay: our dungy earth alike Feeds beast as man: the nobleness of life Is, to do thus; when such a mutual pair, [Embracing. And such a twain can do't, in which, I bind On pain of punishment, the world to weet,4 We stand up peerless. Cleo. Excellent falsehood! Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?I'll seem the fool I am not; Antony Will be himself. Ant But stirr'd by Cleopatra. Now, for the love of Love, and her soft hours, Let's not confounds the time with conference harsh. (1) Offends. (3) Summons. (2) Subdue, conquer. (5) Consume. |