OBSERVATIONS.

AMONG the entries in the books of the Stationers' Company, Otto

ber 19, 1593, I find “ A Booke entituled the Tragedie of Cleopatra.” It is entered by Symon Waterson, 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 the same volumes, May 2, 1608, Edward Blount entered “ А Booke called Anthony and opatra.” This is the firft notice I have met with concerning any edition of this play more ancient than the folio, 1623. STEEVENS.

in 1594

Antony and Cleopatra was written, I imagine, in the year 1608.

MALONE.

}

M. ANTONY,
OCTAVIUS CÆSAR, Triumvirs.
M. ÆMIL. LEPIDUS,
Sextus POMPEIUS.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS,
VENTIDIUS,
Eros,
SCARUS,

Friends of Antony.
DerCETAS,
DEMETRIUS,
PHILO,
MECÆNAS,
AGRIPPA,
DOLABELLA,

Friends to Cæfar.
PROCULEIUS,
THYREUS,
GALLUS,
MENAS,
MENECRATES, Friends of POMPEY.
VARRIUS,
TAURUS, Lieutenant-General to Cæfar.
CANIDIUS, Lieutenant-General to Antony.
SILIUS, an Officer in Ventidius's army.
An Ambassador from Antony to Cæfar.
Alexas, Mardian, Seleucus, and Diomedes ; Attendants on

Cleopatra.
A Sootbfayer. A Clown.
CLEOPATRA, Queen of Egypt.
OCTAVIA, Sister to Cæsar, and Wife to Antony.
CHARMIAN,
IRAS,

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

AN;}

} Attendants on Cleopatra.

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.

ACT I.

SCENE I.

Alexandria. A Room in Cleopatra's Palace.

Enter DEMETRIUS and Philo.

NAY;

Pbilo.
TAY, 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 gipsey's lust. Look, where they come !

Flourish. Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, with their

trains; Eunuchs fanning her.

a

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 see.

Cleo. If it be love indeed, tell me how much.
Ant, There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd.
B

Cleo,

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 sum. Cleo. Nay, hear them, Antony: 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 itay here longer, your dismission Is come from Cæsar; therefore hear it, Antony.Where's Fulvia's process? 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 Thrill.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 such a twain can do't, in which, I bind
On pain of punishment, the world to weet,
We stand up peerless.
Cleo.

Excellent falfhood!
Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her -

a