Made friends of them, jointing their force 'gainst Cæfar; Whose better iffue in the war, from Italy, Upon the first encounter, drave them. Ant. What worft? Well, Mef. The nature of bad news infects the teller. Ant. When it concerns the fool, or coward.—On: Things, that are paft, are done, with me.-'Tis thus ; Who tells me true, though in his tale lie death, I hear him as he flatter'd. (This is stiff news) hath, with his Parthian force, His conquering banner shook, from Syria Whilft Ant. Mef. Antony, thou would'st say,— O, my lord! Ant. Speak to me home, mince not the general tongue; Name Cleopatra as fhe's call'd in Rome : Rail thou in Fulvia's phrafe; and taunt my faults Have power to utter. O, then we bring forth weeds, Mef. At your noble pleasure. Ant. From Sicyon how the news? Speak there. [Exit. 1 Att. The man from Sicyon.-Is there fuch an one? 2 Att. He stays upon your will. Ant. Let him appear. These strong Egyptian fetters I must break, B 4 Enter Enter another Messenger. Or lofe myself in dotage.-What are you? 2 Mef. Fulvia thy wife is dead. Ant. 2 Mef. In Sicyon : Where died fhe? Her length of fickness, with what else more ferious Ant. [Gives a Letter, Forbear me. [Exit Meffenger. There's a great fpirit gone! Thus did I defire it: The oppofite of itself: fhe's good, being gone; Enter ENOBARBUS. Eno. What's your pleasure, fir? Ant. I muft with hafte from hence. Eno. Why, then, we kill all our women: We fee how mortal an unkindness is to them; if they fuffer our departure, death's the word. Ant. I must be gone. Eno. Under a compelling occafion, let women die : It were pity to caft them away for nothing; though, between them and a great caufe, they thould be esteem'd nothing. Cleopatra, catching but the least noise of this, dies inftantly; I have seen her die twenty times upon far poorer moment: I do think, there is mettle in death, which commits commits fome loving act upon her, the hath fuch a celerity in dying. Ant. She is cunning past man's thought. Eno. Alack, fir, no; her paffions are made of nothing but the finest part of pure love: We cannot call her winds and waters, fighs and tears; they are greater ftorms and tempefts than almanacks can report: this cannot be cunning in her; if it be, fhe makes a fhower of rain as well as Jove. Ant. 'Would I had never feen her! Eno. O, fir, you had then left unseen a wonderful piece of work; which not to have been blefs'd withal, would have difcredited your travel. Ant. Fulvia is dead. Eno. Sir? Ant. Fulvia is dead. Eno. Fulvia? Ant. Dead. Eno. Why, fir, give the gods a thankful facrifice. When it pleaseth their deities to take the wife of a man from him, it shows to man the tailors of the earth; comforting therein, that when old robes are worn out, there are members to make new. If there were no more women but Fulvia, then had you indeed a cut, and the cafe to be lamented: this grief is crown'd with confolation; your old smock brings forth a new petticoat :--and, indeed, the tears live in an onion, that should water this forrow. Ant. The bufinefs fhe hath broached in the state, Cannot endure my abfence. Eno. And the business you have broach'd here cannot be without you; especially that of Cleopatra's, which wholly depends on your abode. Ant. No more light anfwers. Let our officers Have notice what we purpose. I shall break Eno. I fhall do't. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS. Cleo. Where is he? Char. I did not fee him fince. Cleo. See where he is, who's with him, what he does :I did not fend you ;-If you find him fad, Say, I am dancing; if in mirth, report That I am sudden fick: Quick, and return. [Exit ALEX. Char. Char. Madam, methinks, if you did love him dearly, You do not hold the method to enforce The like from him. Cleo. What should I do, I do not? Char. In each thing give him way, cross him in nothing. Cleo. Thou teachest like a fool: the way to lose him. Char. Tempt him not fo too far: I with, forbear; In time we hate that which we often fear. Enter ANTONY. But here comes Antony. Cleo. I am fick, and fullen. Ant. I am forry to give breathing to my purpose,Cleo. Help me away, dear Charmian, I shall fall; It cannot be thus long, the fides of nature Will not fuftain it. Ant. Now, my dearest queen, Cleo. Pray you, ftand further from me. Ant. What's the matter? Cleo. I know, by that fame eye, there's fome good news. What says the married woman?--You may go ; 'Would, she had never given you leave to come! I have no power upon you; hers you are. Gleo. O, never was there queen So mightily betray'd! Yet, at the first, I saw the treasons planted. Cleo. Why fhould I think, you can be mine, and true, Though you in swearing shake the throned gods, Who have been falfe to Fulvia? Riotous madness, Το |