ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.

This play keeps curiosity always busy, and the passions always interested. The continual hurry of the action, the variety of incidents, and the quick succession of one personage to another, call the mind forward without intermsson, from the first act to the last. But the power of delighting is derived principally from the frequent changes of the scene; for, except the feminine arts, some of which are too low, which distinguish Cleopatra, no character is very strongly discriminated. Upton, who did not easily miss what he desired to find, has discovered that the language of Antony is, with great skill and learning, made pompous and superb, according to his real practice. But I think has diction not distinguishable from that of others: the most tumid speech in the play is that which Cæsar makes to Octavia. The events, of which the principal are described according to history, are produced without any art of connection or care of disposition. Johnson.

Triumvirs.

Friends of Antony.

Friends of Cæsar.

MENECRATES, } Friends of Pompey.
VARRIUS,

TAURUS, Lieutenant-general of Cesar.
CANIDIUS, Lieutenant general to Antony.

SILIUS, an Officer in Ventidius's Army.

EUPHRONIUS, an Ambassador from Antony to Cesar.
ALEXAS, MARDIAN, SELEUČUS, and DIOMEDES,
Attendants on Cleopatra.

A Soothsayer.

A Clown.

CLEOPATRA, Queen of Egypt.

OCTAVIA, Sister to Cesar, and Wife to Antony.
CHARMIAN and IRAS, Attendants on Cleopatra.
Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants.

SCENE,-Dispersed; in several parts of the Roman Empire.

ACT I.

CENE I.— Alexandria. A Room in Cleopatra's of the rang'd empire fall! Here is my space;

Palace.

Enter DEMETRIUS and PHILO.

Phi. Nay, but this dotage of our general's Yertlows the measure: those his goodly eyes, hat o'er the files and musters of the war fave glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn, be office and devotion of their view pen a laway 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, o cool a gipsy's lust. Look, where they come! lourish. Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, with their Trains: Eunuchs fanning her. hke but good note, and you shall see in him he triple pillar of the world transform'd to 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.

Cleo. I'll set a bourn how far to be belov'd.
Ant. Then must thou needs find out new heaven,
new earth.

Ant. Let Rome in Tyber melt! and the wide arch
Kingdoms are clayn 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 falsehood!
Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?-
I'll seem the fool I am not; Antony
Will be himself.

Ant.

But stirr'd by Cleopatra.-
Now, for the love of Love, and her soft hours,
Let's not confound the time with conference harsh
There's not a minute of our lives should stretch
Withont some pleasure now : What sport to-night ?
Cleo. Hear the ambassadors.
Ant.
Fy, wrangling queen!
Whom every thing becomes, to chide, to laugh,
To weep; whose every passion fully strives
To make itself, in thee, fair and admir'd!
No messenger; but thine and all alone,
To-night, we'll wander through the streets, and
The qualities of people. Come, my queen;
Last night you did desire it: Speak not to us.

[note

[Exeunt Ant. and Cleop. with their Train.
Dem. Is Cæsar with Antonius priz'd so slight"
Phi. Sir, sometimes, when he is not Antony,
He comes too short of that great property,
Which still should go with Antony.

Dem.

I'm full sorry.

That he approves the common liar, who
Thus speaks of him at Rome : But I will hope
Of better deeds to-morrow. Rest you happy!

[Exeunt.