( It beggar'd all description: she did lie Agr. O, rare for Antony! 6 Eno. Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides, So many mermaids, tended her i' the eyes, And made their bends adornings:" at the helm A seeming Mermaid steers; the silken tackle Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands, That yarely frame the office. From the barge A strange invisible pérfume hits the sense Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast Her people out upon her; and Antony, Enthron'd in the market-place, did sit alone, Whistling to the air; which, but for vacancy, Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too, And made a gap in nature. 5 And what they undid, did.] The wind of the fans seemed to give a new colour to Cleopatra's cheeks, which they were employed to cool; and what they undid; i. e. that warmth which they were intended to diminish or allay, they did, i. e. they seemed to produce. 6 - tended her i' the eyes,] Perhaps this expression may signify that the attendants on Cleopatra looked observantly into her eyes, to catch her meaning, without giving her the trouble of verbal explanation; or only means, they performed their duty in the sight of their mistress. And made their bends adornings:) The plain sense, says Mr. Steevens, of this contested passage seems to be that these Ladies rendered that homage which their assumed characters obliged them to pay to their Queen, a circumstance ornamental to themselves. Each inclined her person so gracefully, that the very act of humiliation was an improvement of her own beauty. * That yarely frame the office.] i. e. readily and dexterously perform the task they undertake. Agr. Rare Egyptian! Eno. Upon her landing, Antony sent to her, Invited her to supper: she replied, It should be better, he became her guest; Which she entreated: Our courteous Antony, Whom ne'er the word of No woman heard speak, Being barber'd ten times o'er, goes to the feast; And, for his ordinary, pays his heart, For what his eyes eat only. Agr. Royal wench! She made great Cæsar lay his sword to bed; He plough'd her, and she cropp'd. Eno. I saw her once Hop forty paces through the publick street: And having lost her breath, she spoke, and panted, That she did make defect, perfection, And, breathless, power breathe forth. Mec. Now Antony must leave her utterly. Eno. Never; he will not; Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety: Other women Cloy th' appetites they feed; but she makes hungry, Where most she satisfies. For vilest things Become themselves in her; that the holy priests Bless her, when she is riggish. Mec. If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle The heart of Antony, Octavia is A blessed lottery1 to him. Agr. Let us go. Good Enobarbus make yourself my guest, Whilst you abide here. 9 Eno. Humbly, sir, I thank you. - when she is riggish.] i. e. wanton. A blessed lottery-] Lottery for allotment. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. A Room in Cæsar's House. Enter CÆSAR, ANTONY, OCTAVIA between them; Attendants and a Soothsayer. Ant. The world, and my great office, will some times Divide me from your bosom. Octa. All which time Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers To them for you. Ant. Good night, sir.-My Octavia, Read not my blemishes in the world's report: Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear lady. Octa. Good night, sir. Cæs. Good night. [Exeunt CÆSAR and OCTAVIA. Ant. Now, sirrah! you do wish yourself in Egypt? Sooth. 'Would I had never come from thence, My motion, have it not in my tongue: But yet Hie you again to Egypt. Ant. Say to me, Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Cæsar's, or mine? Sooth. Cæsar's. • I see't in My motion,-] i. e. the divinitory agitation; but Mr. Theobald reads, with some probability, I see it in my notion. Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side: Ant. Speak this no more. Sooth. To none but thee; no more, but when to thee. If thou dost play with him at any game, Thou art sure to lose; and, of that natural luck, He beats thee 'gainst the odds; thy lustre thickens, When he shines by: I say again, thy spirit Is all afraid to govern thee near him; But, he away, 'tis noble. Ant. Get thee gone: Say to Ventidius, I would speak with him : [Exit Soothsayer. He shall to Parthia.-Be it art, or hap, Enter VENTIDIUS. I' the east my pleasure lies:-O, come, Ventidius, You must to Parthia; your commission's ready: Follow me, and receive it. match cocks. [Exeunt. - his quails-] The ancients used to match quails as we inhoop'd, at odds.] Inhoop'd is inclosed, confined, that they may fight. SCENE IV. The same. A Street. Enter LEPIDUS, MECENAS, and AGRIPPA. Lep. Trouble yourselves no further: pray you, hasten Your generals after. Agr. Sir, Mark Antony Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow. Lep. Till I shall see you in your soldier's dress, Which will become you both, farewell. Мес. As I conceive the journey, be at mount We shall, 5 Before you, Lepidus. Lep. Your way is shorter, Mec. Agr. My purposes do draw me much about; You'll win two days upon me. Lep. Farewell. Sir, good success! [Exeunt. SCENE V. Alexandria. A Room in the Palace. Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS. Cleo. Give me some musick; musick, moody food Of us that trade in love. Attend. 5 6 The musick, ho! at mount-] i. e. Mount Misenum. musick, moody food-] Moody, in this instance, means melancholy. Cotgrave explains moody, by the French words, morne and triste. |