And fuch a twain can do't; in which, I bind, Cle. Excellent falfhood! Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?---- Will be himself. Ant. But, ftir'd by Cleopatra, Now, for the love of love, and his foft hours, Let's not confound the time with conference harsh: Ant. Fie, wrangling queen! Whom every thing becomes, to chide, to laugh, To-night, we'll wander through the streets, and note [Exeunt Antony, Cleopatra, and Train. Dem. I am full forry, That he approves the common liar, who Thus fpeaks of him at Rome: but I will hope Of better deeds to-morrow. Reft you happy! [Exeunt. "SCENE II. The fame. Another Room. "Enter Alexas, Iras, Charmian, Soothfayer, and others. Alexas, fweet Alexas, "Cha. "Moft any thing Alexas, nay, almost "Moft abfolute Alexas, where's the foothsayer "That you prais'd fo to the queen ? The whole of this fcene might well be fpared in reprefentation: it has a blameable relish of indecency. VOL. VI. N "O, that "O, that knew this husband, which, you say, "Muft charge his horns with garlands ! Ale. Soothfayer,— Soo. Your will! "Cha. Is this the man-Is't you, fir, that know "things? "Soo. In nature's infinite book of secrecy "A little I can read. "Ale. Shew him your hand. "Enter Enobarbus. Exo. Bring in the banquet quickly; wine enough, Cleopatra's health to drink. [To fome within. "Cha. Good fir, give me good fortune. "Soo. I make not, but foresee. "Cha. Pray then, foresee me one. "Soo. You fhall be yet far fairer than you are. "Cha. He means, in flesh. "Ira. No, you fhall paint when you are old. "Cha. Wrinkles forbid ! "Ale. Vex not his prefcience, be attentive. "Cha. Hush! [To Iras. "Soo. You fhall be more beloving, than belov'd. "Cha. I had rather heat my liver with drinking. "Ale. Nay, hear him. "Cha. Good now, fome excellent fortune: Let me "be marry'd to three kings in a forenoon, and widow "them all let me have a child at fifty, to whom Herod "of Jewry may do homage: find me to marry with "Octavius Cæfar, and companion me with my mistress. "Soo. You shall outlive the lady whom you ferve. "Cha. O excellent! I love long life better than figs. "Soo. You have seen and prov'd a fairer former "fortune "Than that which is to approach. "Cha. Then, belike, my children fhall have no "names: Pr'ythee, how many boys and wenches mu✯ "I have? "Soo. If every of your wishes had a womb, "And fertile every wish, a million. Cha. Out, fool! I forgive thee for a witch. "Ale. You think, none but your sheets are privy to your wishes. "Cha. Nay, come, tell Iras hers. "Ale. We'll know all our fortunes. "Eno. Mine, and most of our fortunes, to-night, "fhall be-drunk to bed. "Ira. There's a palm prefages chastity, if nothing "elfe. "Cha. E'en as the o'er-flowing Nilus prefageth fa❝ mine. "Ira. Go, you wild bed-fellow, you cannot foothfay. "Cha. Nay, if an oily palm be not a fruitful prog"noftication, I cannot fcratch mine ear.-Pr'ythee, tell "her but a worky-day fortune. Soo. Your fortunes are alike. "Ira. But how, but how? give me particulars. "Soo. I have faid. "Ira. Am I'not an inch of fortune better than fhe? "Cha. Well, if you were but an inch of fortune better "than I, where would you choose it? "Ira. Not in my husband's nose. "Cha. Our worfer thoughts heavens mend!-Alexas "come, his fortune, his fortune.-O, let him marry 86 a woman that cannot go, fweet Ifis, I beseech thee! "And let her die too, and give him a worfe! and let "worfe follow worfe, till the worst of all follow him laughing to his grave, fifty-fold a cuckold! Good Isis, "hear me this prayer, though thou deny me a matter of "more weight; good Ifis, I befeech thee! "Ira. Amen. Dear goddefs, hear that prayer of the "people! for, as it is a heart-breaking to fee a hand"fome man loofe-wiv'd, fo it is a deadly forrow to be"hold a foul knave uncuckolded; therefore, dear Ifis, keep decorum, and fortune him accordingly! 66 "Cha. Amen. "Ale. Lo, now! if it lay in their hands to make me a cuckold, they would make themselves whores, "but they'd do't. "Eno. Huh! here comes Antony. "Cha. Not he, the queen. Enter Cleopatra, attended. "Cle. Saw you my lord? "Eno. No, lady. "Cle. Was he not here? Cha. No, madam. "Cle. He was difpos'd to mirth; but on the fudden "A Roman thought hath ftrook him.-Enobarbus,"Eno. Madam. "Cle. Seek him, and bring him hither.-Where's 66 Alexas? "Ale. Here, lady, at your fervice.-My lord ap"proaches. Enter Antony, with a Meffenger; Attendants following. Mef. Fulvia thy wife firft came into the field. Mef. Ay: but foon That war had end, and the time's ftate made friends Of them, jointing their forces against Cæfar; Whose better iffue in the war from Italy, Upon the first encounter, drave them. Ant. Well, What worst? Mef. The nature of bad news infects the teller. Ant. When it concerns the fool, or coward. On: Things, that are paft, are done with me: 'Tis thus ; Who tells me true, though in his tale lie death, I hear him as he flatter'd Mef. Labienus (This is ftiff news) Hath with his Parthian force, through extended Afia, Whilft Antony here expresses a great degree of philofophic resolution, when he says, “ Things, that are past, are done with me.” Ant. Antony, thou would'ft fay, Mef. O my lord! Ant. Speak to me home, mince not the general tongue; Rail thou in Fulvia's phrafe; and taunt my faults Mef. At your noble pleasure. Ant. From Sicyon how the news? Speak there. [Exit. 1. 4. The man from Sicyon,-Is there fuch a one ✈ 2. A. He ftays upon your will. Ant. Let him appear. Thefe ftrong Egyptian fetters I muft break, Enter another Meffenger. Or lofe myself in dotage.What are you? Mef. Fulvia thy wife is dead. Ant. Where dy'd the ? Mef. In Sicyon : Her length of fickness, with what elfe more ferious Ant. Forbear me. [Exit Meffenger. There's a great spirit gone: thus did I defire it: The oppofite of itfelf: fhe's good, being gone +; Enter Enobarbus. Ene. What's your pleasure, fir ? Ant. I must with hafte from hence.. †There is no pofition more certain than that advanced in the fore going lines; many children have wished parents dead, yet have regretted the lofs of them afterwards, and fo of husbands and wives, |