CAS. I do not much dislike the matter, but The manner of his speech: for it cannot be, We shall remain in friendship, our conditions

Again, in the old metrical romance of Syr Guy of Warwick, bl. 1. no date:

"Guy let it passe as still as stone,

"And to the steward word spake none." Again, in Titus Andronicus, Act III. sc. i: "A stone is silent and offendeth not."

Again, Chaucer:

"To riden by the way, dombe as a stone."

In Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy, Part I. Sect. 2, Memb. 3, Subs. 15, is the following quotation from Horace:

statua taciturnior exit,

Plerumque et risum populi quatit."

i

The same idea, perhaps, in a more dilated form, will be found in our author's King Henry VIII:

66

If we shall stand still,

"In fear our motion should be mock'd or carp'd at,

"We should take root here where we sit, or sit

"State statues only."

Mr. Tollet explains the passage in question thus: "I will henceforth seem senseless as a stone, however I may observe and consider your words and actions." STEEVENS.

The metre of this line is deficient. It will be perfect, and the sense rather clearer, if we read (without altering a letter): your consideratest one.

I doubt, indeed, whether this adjective is ever used in the superlative degree; but in the mouth of Enobarbus it might be pardoned. BLACKSTONE.

Your, like hour, &c. is used as a dissyllable; the metre, therefore, is not defective. MALone.

That the metre is completed by reading your as a dissyllable, my ear, at least, is unconvinced. STEEVENS.

As Enobarbus, to whom this line belongs, generally speaks in plain prose, there is no occasion for any further attempt to harmonize it. RITSON.

I do not much dislike the matter, but

The manner of his speech:] I do not, says Cæsar, think the man wrong, but too free of his interposition; for it cannot be, we shall remain in friendship: yet if it were possible, I would endeavour it. JOHNSON.

So differing in their acts. Yet, if I knew

What hoop should hold us staunch,5 from edge to

edge

O' the world I would pursue it.

AGR.

CES. Speak, Agrippa.

Give me leave, Cæsar,

AGR. Thou hast a sister by the mother's side, Admir'd Octavia: great Mark Antony

Is now a widower.

CES.

Say not so, Agrippa ;6

If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof

Were well deserv'd" of rashness.

What hoop should hold us staunch,] So, in King Henry IV. Part II:

6

"A hoop of gold, to bind thy brothers in-."

STEEVENS.

Say not so, Agrippa;] The old copy has-Say not say. Mr. Rowe made this necessary correction. MALONE.

7

•your reproof

Were well deserv'd-] In the old edition:

your proof

Were well deserved―

which Mr. Theobald, with his usual triumph, changes to approof, which he explains, allowance. Dr. Warburton inserted reproof very properly into Hanmer's edition, but forgot it in his own. JOHNSON.

Your reproof &c.] That is, you might be reproved for your rashness, and would well deserve it. Your reproof, means, the reproof you would undergo. The expression is rather licentious; but one of a similar nature occurs in The Custom of the Country, where Arnoldo, speaking to the Physician, says: 66 And by your success

"In all your undertakings, propagate
"Your great opinion in the world."

Here, your opinion means, the opinion conceived of you.

M. MASON.

Dr. Warburton's emendation is certainly right. The error was one of many which are found in the old copy, in conse quence of the transcriber's ear deceiving him. So, in another

*

ANT. I am not married, Cæsar: let me hear Agrippa further speak.

AGR. To hold you in perpetual amity,

To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts
With an unslipping knot, take Antony
Octavia to his wife: whose beauty claims
No worse a husband than the best of men;
Whose virtue, and whose general graces, speak
That which none else can utter. By this marriage,
All little jealousies, which now seem great,

And all great fears, which now import their dan

gers,

Would then be nothing: truths would be but tales,*
Where now half tales be truths: her love to both,
Would, each to other, and all loves to both,
Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke;
For 'tis a studied, not a present thought,
By duty ruminated.

ANT.

Will Cæsar speak?

CES. Not till he hears how Antony is touch'd With what is spoke already."

ANT.
If I would say, Agrippa, be it so,
To make this good?

CES.

What power is in Agrippa,

The power of Cæsar, and

scene of this play, we find in the first copy-mine nightingale, instead of my nightingale; in Coriolanus, news is coming, for news is come in; in the same play, higher for hire, &c. &c.

8

MALONE.

but tales,] The conjunction-but, was supplied by Sir Thomas Hanmer, to perfect the metre. We might read, I think, with less alliteration-as tales. STEEVENS.

9

already.] This adverb may be fairly considered as an interpolation. Without enforcing the sense, it violates the measure. STEEVENS.

"

His power unto Octavia.

ANT.

May I never

To this good purpose, that so fairly shows,

Dream of impediment!-Let me have thy hand: Further this act of grace; and, from this hour, The heart of brothers govern in our loves,

And sway our great designs!

CES.

There is my hand.

A sister I bequeath you, whom no brother
Did ever love so dearly: Let her live

To join our kingdoms, and our hearts; and never
Fly off our loves again!

LEP.

Happily, amen!

ANT. I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst
Pompey;

For he hath laid strange courtesies, and great,
Of late upon me: I must thank him only,
Lest my remembrance suffer ill report ;'

At heel of that, defy him.

LEP.

2

Of us must Pompey presently be sought,

Or else he seeks out us.

ANT.

Time calls upon us:

And where lies he?

What's his strength

CES. About the mount Misenum.

ANT.

By land?

CES.

Great, and increasing: but by sea

Lest my remembrance suffer ill report;] Lest I be thought too willing to forget benefits, I must barely return him thanks, and then I will defy him. JOHNSON.

2

Of us &c.] In the language of Shakspeare's time, means by us. MALONE.

3 And where-] And was supplied by Sir Thomas Hanmer, for the sake of metre. STEEVENS.

He is an absolute master.

ANT.
So is the fame.
'Would, we had spoke together! Haste we for it:
Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, despatch we
The business we have talk'd of.

CES.

With most gladness;

And do invite you to my sister's view,
Whither straight I will lead you.

ANT.

Not lack your company.

LEP.

Let us, Lepidus,

Noble Antony,

Not sickness should detain me.

[Flourish. Exeunt CÆSAR, ANTONY, and
Lepidus.

MEC. Welcome from Egypt, sir.

ENO. Half the heart of Cæsar, worthy Mecænas!-my honourable friend, Agrippa!— AGR. Good Enobarbus!

MEC. We have cause to be glad, that matters are so well digested. You staied well by it in Egypt. ENO. Ay, sir; we did sleep day out of countenance, and made the night light with drinking.

MEC. Eight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast, and but twelve persons there; Is this true?

ENO. This was but as a fly by an eagle: we had much more monstrous matter of feast, which worthily deserved noting.

MEC. She's a most triumphant lady, if report be square to her.5

4

5.

most gladness;] i. e. greatest. So, in King Henry VI. Part I: "But always resolute in most extremes." STEEvens.

be square to her.] i. e. if report quadrates with her, or suits with her merits. STEEVENS.