OBSERVATIONS.

A MONG 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 some of Daniel's works were printed; and therefore it is probably by that author, of whose Cleopatra there are several editions; and, among others, one in 1594.

In the fame volumes, May 2, 1608, Edward Blount entered " A 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.

CANIDIUS, Lieutenant-General to Antony.

SILIUS, an Oficer in Ventidius's army.

An Ambassador from Antony to Cæfar.

Alexas, Mardian, Seleucus, and Diomedes; Attendants on

Cleopatra.

A Soothsayer. A Clown.

CLEOPATRA, Queen of Egypt.

OCTAVIA, Sister to Cæfar, and Wife to Antony.
CHARMIAN,

IRAS,

} Attendants on Cleopatra.

Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants. SCENE, difperfed; in several parts of the Roman Empire.

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.

ACT I. SCENE 1.

N

Alexandria. A Room in Cleopatra's Palace.

Enter DEMETRIUS and PHILO.

Pbilo.

AY, but this dotage of our general's,
O'erflows the measure: those his goodly eyes,

That o'er the files and musters of the war
Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn,
The office and devotion of their view
Upon a tawny front: his captain's heart,
Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst
'The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper;
And is become the bellows, and the fan,

To cool a gipfey's lust. 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
The triple pillar of the world transform'd
Into a strumpet's fool: behold and fee.

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.

Cleo. Nay, hear them, Antony:

'Grates me:-The fum.

Fulvia, perchance, is angry; Or, who knows
If the scarce-bearded Cæfar have not sent
His powerful mandate to you, Do this, or this;
Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that;

Perform't, or else we damn thee.

Ant.

How, my love!

Cleo. Perchance,-nay, and most like,
You must not stay here longer, your dismission
Is come from Cæfar; therefore hear it, Antony.-
Where's Fulvia's process? Cæfar's, I would say?-Both?-
Call in the messengers. 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 shrill-tongu'd Fulvia scolds. The messengers.
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 beast as man: the nobleness of life

Is, to do thus; when such a mutual pair, [Embracing.

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 falshood!

Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?