Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck
The ne'er-luft-wearied Antony.

Men. I cannot hope,

Cæfar and Antony fhall well greet together.
His wife, who's dead, did trefpaffes to Cæfar;
His brother warr'd upon him, although I think,
Not mov'd by Antony.

Pom. I know not, Menas,

How leffer enmities may give way to greater. Were't not that we ftand up against them all, 'Twere pregnant, they fhould fquare between themfelves;

For they have entertained cause enough

To draw their fwords; but how the fear of us
May cement their divifions, and bind up
The petty difference, we yet not know.
Be't, as our Gods will hav't! it only stands
Our lives upon, to use our strongest hands.
Come, Menas.

SCENE changes to Rome.

Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus.

[Exeunt.

Lep. Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed,
And fhall become you well, t'entreat your Captain
To foft and gentle fpeech.

Eno. I fhall entreat him

To answer, like himself; if Cefar move him,
Let Antony look over Cafar's head,

And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter,
Were I the wearer of Antonio's beard,

I would not fhav't to day.

Lep. 'Tis not a time for private ftomaching.

Eno. Every time

Serves for the matter that is then born in't.

Lep. But fmall to greater matters must give way. Eno. Not if the fmall come first.

Lep. Your fpeech is paffion;

But, pray you, ftir no embers up. Here comes

The noble Antony.

Enter

Enter Antony and Ventidius.

Eno. And yonder, Cafar.

Enter Cæfar, Mecenas, and Agrippa.
Ant. If we compose well here, to Parthia
Hark, Ventidius.

Caf. I do not know; Mecenas, ask Agrippa,
Lep. Noble friends,

That which combin'd us was moft great, and let not
A leaner action rend us. What's amifs,

May it be gently heard. When we debate
Our trivial difference loud, we do commit
Murther in healing wounds. Then, noble Partners,
(The rather, for I earnestly befeech,)

Touch you the fowreft points with fweeteft terms,
Nor curftness grow to th' matter.

Ant. 'Tis fpoken well;

Were we before our armies and to fight,

I fhould do thus.

Caf. Welcome to Rome.

Ant. Thank you.

Caf. Sit.

Ant. Sit, Sir.

Caf. Nay, then

[Flourish.

Ant. I learn, you take things ill, which are not so: Or being, concern you not.

Caf. I must be laught at,

If, or for nothing, or a little, I

Should fay my felf offended, and with you

Chiefly i'th' world: More laught at, that I should
Once name you derogately, when to found

Your name it not concern'd me.

Ant. My being in Egypt, Cæfar, what was't to you? Caf. No more than my refiding here at Rome Might be to you in Egypt: yet if you there Did practife on my State, your being in Egypt Might be my question.

Ant. How intend you, practis'd?

Caf.

Caf. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent, By what did here befall. (19) Your Wife and Brother Made wars upon me; and their conteftation

Was theam'd for you, you were the word of war.
Ant. You do mistake your business

never

my Brother

Did urge me in his act: I did inquire it,
And have my learning from fome true reports
That drew their fwords with you. Did he not rather
Difcredit my authority with
yours,
And make the wars alike against my ftomach,
Having alike your caufe? of this, my letters
Before did fatisfie you. If you'll patch a quarrel,
(As matter whole you've not to make it with,)
It must not be with this.

Caf. You praise your self,

By laying defects of Judgment to me: but
You patch up your excuses.

Ant. Not fo, not fo;

I know, you could not lack, (I'm certain on't,)
Very neceffity of this thought, that I,

Your Partner in the cause 'gainft which he fought,
Could not with grateful eyes attend those wars,
Which fronted mine own peace. As for my Wife,
I would, you had her spirit in fuch another;
The third o'th' world is yours, which with a fnaffle
You may pace eafie; but not fuch a Wife.

Eno. Would, we had all fuch Wives, that the Men might go to wars with the Women!

(19)

Your Wife and Brother Made Wars upon me, and their Contestation Was theam for you, you were the Word of War.] The only Meaning of This can be, that the War, which Antony's Wife and Brother made upon Cafar, was Theam for Antony too to make War; or was the Occafion why he did make War. But This is directly contrary to the Context, which fhews, Antony did neither encourage them to it, nor second them in it. We cannot doubt then, but the Poet wrote; and their Conteftation

Was theam'd for You;

i. e. The Pretence of their War was on your Account, they took up Arms in your Name, and You were made the Theam and Subject of their Infurrection.

Mr. Warburton.
Ant.

Ant. So much uncurbable her garboiles, Cæfar,
Made out of her impatience, which not wanted
Shrewdness of policy too, I grieving grant,
Did you too much difquiet: For That you must
But fay, I could not help it.

Caf. I wrote to you,

When, rioting in Alexandria, you

Did pocket up my letters; and with taunts
Did gibe my miffive out of audience.

Ant. Sir, he fell on me, ere admitted: then
Three Kings I had newly feafted, and did want
Of what I was i'th' morning: but, next day,
I told him of my felf; which was as much
As to have ask'd him pardon. Let this fellow
Be nothing of our ftrife: if we contend,
Out of our question wipe him.

Caf. You have broken

The article of your oath, which you fhall never
Have tongue to charge me with.

Lep. Soft, Cæfar.

Ant. No, Lepidus, let him fpeak;

The Honour's facred which he talks on now,
Suppofing, that I lackt it: but on, Cefar,

The article of my oath.

Caf. To lend me arms and aid, when I requir'd them, The which you both deny'd.

Ant. Neglected, rather:

And then, when poifon'd hours had bound me up
From mine own knowledge; as nearly as I may,
I'll play the Penitent to you. But mine honesty
Shall not make poor my Greatnefs; nor my Power
Work without it. Truth is, that Fulvia,
To have me out of Egypt, made wars here;
For which my self, the ignorant motive, do
So far ask pardon, as befits mine Honour
To stoop in such a case.

Lep. "Tis nobly spoken.

Mec. If it might pleafe you, to enforce no further The griefs between ye: to forget them quite, Were to remember, that the prefent Need

Speaks

Speaks to attone you.

Lep. Worthily fpoken, Mecenas.

Eno. Or if you borrow one another's love for the inftant, you may, when you hear no more words of Pompey, return it again: you shall have time to wrangle in, when you have nothing else to do.

Ant. (20) Thou art a Soldier only; fpeak no more. Eno. That truth fhould be filent, I had almoft forgot. Ant. You wrong this Prefence, therefore speak no

more.

Eno. Go to then: your confiderate stone. — Caf. I do not much dislike the matter, but The manner of his fpeech: for't cannot be, We fhall remain in friendship, our conditions So differing in their acts. Yet if I knew What hoop would hold us ftaunch, from edge to edge O' th' world, I would pursue it.

Agr. Give me leave, Cæsar.

Caf. Speak, Agrippa.

Agr. Thou haft a Sifter by the Mother's fide, Admir'd Octavia! great Mark Antony

Is now a Widower.

Caf. Say not fo, Agrippa;

(21) İf Cleopatra heard you, your Approof Were well deferv'd of rashness.

(20) Thou art a Soldier, only speak no more.] I think, the Tranfpofition of the Comma here is abfolutely neceffary, because the Remove will give a Senfe which the Context feems to require. The Argument betwixt Antony and Cafar turns upon high Matters of State; and Enobarbus bufily interpofing with his blunt Reflections, Antony checks him, and would fay, Don't you pretend to mix your Counsel in these Affairs, that are only a Soldier, and Action all your Talent.

(21) If Cleopatra heard You, your proof were

Well deferved of Rafhness.] But was Agrippa's barely faying, that Antony was a Widower, any Proof that he was fo? Befides, will Well deferved of Rafonefs run as the initial Part of a Verfe, in Mr. Pope's Ear? If fo, Emphasis and Cadence are tuned peculiarly, to his Service. I make no Scruple to restore,

If Cleopatra beard You, your Approof

Were well deferv'd of Rafhness.

I have in a former Note juftified our Author's Ufage of this Word, Approof, i. e. Allowance, admitting. And fo the French ufe their approuver; i. e. gréer, trouver bon.

Ant.