AMONG the entries in the books of the Stationers' Company, October 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 1594. In the same volumes, May 20, 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 Cæsar. CANIDIUS, Lieutenant-General to Antony. SILIUS, an Officer in Ventidius's Army. EUPHRONIUS, an Ambassador from Antony to Cæsar. ALEXAS, MARDIAN, SELEUCUS, and DIOMEDES; Attendants on Cleopatra. A Soothsayer. A Clown. CLEOPATRA, Queen of Egypt. OCTAVIA, Sister to Cæsar, and Wife to Antony. CHARMIAN, Attendants on Cleopatra. IRAS, Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants. SCENE, dispersed; in several Parts of the ROMAN Empire. ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. ACT I. SCENE I-Alexandria. A Room in Cleopatra's Enter DEMETRIUS and PHILO. Philo. NAY, but this dotage of our general's Upon a tawny front: his captain's heart, To cool a gipsy'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 2 The triple pillar of the world transform'd Into a strumpet's fool: behold and see. 2 The triple pillar -] Triple is here used improperly for third, or one of three. One of the triumvirs, one of the three masters of the world. VOL. VII. Н 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. 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 Ant. How, my love! You must not stay here longer, your dismission Call in the messengers.-As I am Egypt's queen, 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, 3 4 bourn] Bound or limit. The sum.] Be brief, sum thy business in a few words. 5 Nay, hear them,] i. e. the news. This word, in Shakspeare's time, was considered as plural 6 Take in, &c.] i. e. subdue, conquer. 7 Where's Fulvia's process?] Process here means summons. On pain of punishment, the world to weet, Cleo. Excellent falsehood! Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?— 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 : Ant. Fye, wrangling queen! Whom every thing becomes, to chide, to laugh, To weep; whose every passion fully strives To-night, we'll wander through the streets, and note [Exeunt ANT. and CLEOP. with their Train. Dem. I'm full sorry, That he approves the common liar, who 8 to weet,] To know. "Now, for the love of Love, and her soft hours,] For the love of Love, means, for the sake of the queen of love. 1 Let's not confound the time] i. e. let us not consume the time. 66 2 No messenger; but thine and all alone, &c.] Cleopatra has said, "Call in the messengers ;" and afterwards, Hear the ambassadors." Talk not to me, says Antony, of messengers; I am now wholly thine, and you and I unattended will to-night wander through the streets. 3 That he approves the common liar,] Fame. That he proves the common liar, fame, in his case to be a true reporter. |