1 Guard. What work is here?-Charmian, is this well done? Char. It is well done, and fitting for a princess Descended of so many royal kings. Ah, soldier! [Dies. Cæsar, thy thoughts Touch their effects in this: Thyself art coming Within. A way there, way for Cæsar! Enter CESAR, and Attendants. Dol. O, sir, you are too sure an augurer; That you did fear, is done. Cæs. Bravest at the last: She levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal, Took her own way. The manner of their deaths? I do not see them bleed. Dol. Who was last with them? 1 Guard. A simple countryman, that brought her figs; This was his basket. Cas. 1 Guard. Poison'd then. O Cæsar, This Charmian lived but now; she stood, and spake: I found her trimming up the diadem On her dead mistress; tremblingly she stood, And on the sudden dropp'd. Cres. If they had swallow'd poison, O noble weakness! 'twould appear By external swelling: but she looks like sleep, In her strong toil of grace. Dol. Here, on her breast, There is a vent of blood, and something blown :" The like is on her arm. I Guard. This is an aspick's trail: and these figleaves Have slime upon them, such as the aspick leaves Cæs. Most probable, Of easy ways to die.-Take up her bed; 2 Our army shall, And then to Rome.-Come, Dolabella, see [Exeunt.3 something blown:] The flesh is somewhat puffed or swoln. 9 She hath pursu'd conclusions infinite-] To pursue conclusions, is to try experiments. 1 2 shall clip-] i. e. infold. their story is No less in pity, than his glory, &c.] i. e, the narrative of such events demands not less compassion for the sufferers, than glory on the part of him who brought on their sufferings. 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 intermission 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 his 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. END OF VOLUME SEVENTH. C. and R. Baklwin, Printers |