ON THE FABLE AND COMPOSITION OF

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.

AMONG the entries in the books of the Stationer's Company, October 19, 1593, I find "A booke entituled the Tragedie of Cleopatra." It is entered by Symon Waterfon, for whom fome of Daniel's works were printed; and therefore it is probably by that author, of whofe Cleopatra there are feveral editions.

In the fame volumes, May 2, 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.

This play keeps curiofity always bufy, and the paffions always interested. The continual hurry of the action, the variety of incidents, and the quick fucceffion of one perfonage to another, call the mind forward without intermiffion from the first act to the laft. But the power of delighting is derived principally from the frequent changes of the fcene; for except the feminine arts, fome of which are too low, which diftinguish Cleopatra, no character is very ftrongly difcriminated. Upton, who did not eafily mifs what he defired to find, has difcovered that the language of Antony is, with great fkill and learning, made pompous and fuperb, according to his real practice. But I think his diction not diftinguishable from that of others: the most tumid fpeech in the play is that which Cæfar makes to Oc

tavia.

The events, of which the principal are described according to hiftory, are produced without any art of connexion, or care of difpofition. JOHNSON.

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.

SILIUS, an Officer in Ventidius's Army.
TAURUS, Lieutenant-General to Cafar.
ALEXAS, MARDIAN, SELEUCUS, DIOMEDES, Ser-
vants to Cleopatra.

A Soothsayer: A Clown.

WOMEN.

CLEOPATRA, Queen of Egypt.

OCTAVIA, Sifter to Cafar, and Wife to Antony. CHARMIAN, IRAS, Attendants on Cleopatra. Ambaffadors from Antony to Cafar, Captains, Soldiers, Meffengers, and other Attendants.

The SCENE is difpersed in several Parts of the Roman Empire.

ACT I.

SCENE I. CLEOPATRA's palace at Alexandria.

Enter DEMETRIUS, and PHILO.

Philo.

AY, but this dotage of our general's
O'erflows the measure: thofe his goodly eyes,
That o'er the files and mufters of the war

Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn,
The office and devotion of their view
Upon a tawny front: his captain's heart,

Which in the fcuffles of great fights hath burst
The buckles on his breaft, reneges all temper;
And is become the bellows, and the fan,

To cool a gypfey's luft.Look, where they come ! Flourish. Enter ANTONY, and CLEOPATRA, with their Trains; Eunuchs fanning her.

Take but good note, and you fhall fee in him
The triple pillar of the world transform'd
Into a ftrumpet's fool: behold, and fee.

Clea. If it be love indeed, tell me how much.
Ant. There's beggary in the love that can be reckon❜d.
Cleo. I'll fet a bourn how far to be belov'd.
Ant. Then mult thou needs find out new heaven,
new earth.

Enter a Meffenger.

Mef. News, my good lord, from Rome,

A 2

Ant.