Were we before our armies and to fight, I fhould do thus. Caf. Welcome to Rome. Ant. Thank you. Caf. Sit. Ant. Sit, Sir. Cf. Nay, then [Flourish Ant. I learn, you take things ill, which are not fo Or being, concern you not. Caf. I must be laught at, If, or for nothing, or a little, I Should fay my felf offended, and with you Chiefly i'th' world: More laught at, that I should Your name it not concern'd me. Ant. My being in Egypt, Cafar, what was't to you? Might be to you in Egypt: yet if you there Ant. How intend you, practis'd? Caf. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent, By what did here befall. (19) Your wife and brother Made wars upon me; and their conteftation Was theam'd for you, you were the word of war. Ant. You do mistake your bufinefs: my brother never Did urge me in his act: I did inquire it, And have my learning from fome true reports (19) -Your wife and brother Made wars upon me ; and their conteftation Was theam for you, you were the word of war.] The only meaning of this can be, that the war, which Antony's wife and brother made upon Cæfar, was theam for Antony too to make war; or was the occafion why he did make war. But this is directly contrary to the context, which fhews, Antony did neither encourage them to it, nor fecond them in it. We cannot doubt then, but the Poet wrote; -and their conteftation Was theam'd for you; i. e. The pretence of their war was on your account, they took up arms in your name, and you were made the theam and subject of their infurrection. Mr. Warburton, That That drew their fwords with you. Did he not rather And make the wars alike against my stomach, Caf. You praise your self, By laying defects of judgment to me: but Ant. Not fo, not fo; I know, you could not lack, (I'm certain on't) Your Partner in the caufe 'gainft which he fought, Eno. Would, we had all fuch wives, that the men might go to wars with the women! Ant. So much uncurbable her garboiles, Cafar, Caf. I wrote to you, When rioting in Alexandria, you Did pocket up my letters; and with taunts Ant. Sir, he fell on me, ere admitted: then The article of your oath, which you fhall never Lega 1 Lep. Soft, Cefar. Ant. No, Lepidus, let him fpeak; The Honour's facred which he talks on now, Caf. To lend me arms and aid, when I requir'd them, The which you both deny'd. Ant. Neglected, rather: And then, when poifon'd hours had bound me up Lep. Tis nobly fpoken. Mec. If it might please you, to enforce no further Lep. Worthily fpoken, Mecanas. Eno. Or if you borrow one another's love for the inftant, you may, when you hear no more words of Pompey, return it again you fhall have time to wrangle in, when you have nothing else to do. Ant. (20) Thou art a Soldier only; fpeak no more. Eno. That truth fhould be filent, I had almost forgot. Ant. You wrong this Prefence, therefore speak no more. Eno. Go to then: your confiderate ftone. Caf. I do not much dislike the matter, but The manner of his fpeech: for't cannot be, (20) Thou art a foldier, only speak no more.] I think, the tranfpofi tion of the comma here is abfolutely neceffary, because the remove will give a sense which the context seems to require. The argument be. twixt Antony and Cæfar turns upon high matters of state; and Enobarbus bufily interpofing with his blunt reflections, Antony checks him, and would say, Don't you pretend to mix your counsel in these affairs, that are only a foldier, and action all your talent. We We shall remain in friendship, our conditions What hoop would hold us ftaunch, from edge to edge Agr. Give me leave, Cafar. Caf. Speak, Agrippa. Agr. Thou haft a fifter by the mother's fide, Caf. Say not fo, Agrippa; (21) If Cleopatra heard you, your approof Were well deferv'd of rashness. Ant. I am not married, Cafar, let me hear Agr. To hold you in perpetual amity, And all great fears, which now import their dangers, Ant. Will Cafar speak? (21) If Cleopatra beard you, your proof were Well deferved of rafhness.] But was Agrippa's barely faying, that Antony was a widower, any proof that he was fo? Befides, will Well deferved of rafonefs run as the initial part of a verfe, in Mr. Pope's ear? If fo, emphafis and cadence are tuned peculiarly, to his fervice. I make no fcruple to restore, If Cleopatra beard you, your approof Were well deferv'd of rafhrefs. I have in a former note juftified our author's ufage of this word, approof, i. e. allowance, admitting. And so the French use their ap prouver; i. e. gréer, trouver bon. Cref Caf. Not 'till he hears, how Antony is touch'd With what is fpoke already. Ant. What power is in Agrippa (If I would fay, "Agrippa, be it so,”) To make this good? Caf. The power of Cæfar, and His power unto Octavia. Ant. May I never To this good purpose, that fo fairly fhews, Caf. There is my hand: A Sifter I bequeath you, whom no Brother To join our kingdoms, and our hearts, and never Lep. Happily, amen. Ant. I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst Pompey, For he hath laid ftrange courtefies and great Of late upon me. I must thank him only, Left my remembrance fuffer ill report; At heel of that, defy him. Lep. Time calls upon's: Of us muft Pompey presently be fought, Or else he feeks out us. Ant. Where lies he? Caf. About the Mount Mifenum. Ant. What is his ftrength by Land? He is an abfolute master.. Ant. So is the fame. Would, we had spoke together! hafte we for it Caf. With most gladness; And do invite you to my Sifter's view, Ant. Let us, Lepidus, not lack your company. ; Lep. |