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Mes. My master's man.-Strato, where is thy ma

ster?

Stra. Free from the bondage you are in, Messala;
The conquerors can but make a fire of him;
For Brutus only overcame himself,

And no man else hath honour by his death.

Lac. So Brutus should be found.-I thank thee,
Brutus,

That thou hast prov'd Lucilius' saying true.

Oct. All that serv'd Brutus, I will entertain them.
Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me?
Stra. Ay, if Messala will prefert me to you.
Oct. Do so, Messala,

Mes.

How died my master, Strato? Stra. I held the sword, and he did run on it. Mes. Octavius, then take him to follow thee, That did the latest service to my master.

Ant. This was the noblest Roman of them all:
All the conspirators, save only he,

Did that they did in envy of great Cæsar;
He, only, in a general honest thought,
And common good to all, made one of then).
His life was gentle; and the elements
So mix'd in him, that Nature might stand up,
And say to all the world, This was a man!

Oct. According to his virtue let us use him,
With all respect and rites of burial.
Within my tent his bones to-night shall lie,
Most like a soldier, order'd honourably,-
So, call the field to rest: and let's away,
To part the glories of this happy day.

[Exeunt.

• Receive into my service.

+ Recommend.

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Of this tragedy many particular passages deserve regard, and the contention and reconcilement of Brutus and Cassius is universally celebrated; but I have never been strongly agitated in perusing it, and think it somewhat cold and unaffecting, compared with some other of Shakspeare's plays: his adherence to the real story, and to the Roman manners, seems to have impeded the natural vigour of his genius.

JOHNSON.

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.

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Taurus, lieutenant-general to Cæsar.

Canidius, lieutenant-general to Antony.

Silius, an officer in Ventidius's army.

Euphronius, an ambassador from Antony to Cæsar. Alexas, Mardian, Seleucus, and Diomedes; attendants on Cleopatra.

A Soothsayer. A Clown.

Cleopatra, queen of Egypt.

Octavia, sister to Cæsar, and wife to Antony.

Charmian,

Iras,

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Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attend

ants.

Scene, dispersed; in several parts of the Roman

empire.

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