Page:Antony and Cleopatra (1921) Yale.djvu/44

32

Mæc. 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.

Mæc. She's a most triumphant lady, if report

be square to her.

Eno. When she first met Mark Antony she

pursed up his heart, upon the river of Cydnus.

Agr. There she appeared indeed, or my re-

porter devised well for her.

Eno. I will tell you.

The barge she sat in, like a burnish'd throne,

Burn'd on the water; the poop was beaten gold,

Purple the sails, and so perfum'd, that

The winds were love-sick with them; the oars were silver,

Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made

The water which they beat to follow faster,

As amorous of their strokes. For her own person,

It beggar'd all description; she did lie

In her pavilion,—cloth-of-gold of tissue,—

O'er-picturing that Venus where we see

The fancy outwork nature; on each side her

Stood pretty-dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids,

With divers-colour'd fans, whose wind did seem

To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool,

And what they undid did.

Agr. O, rare for Antony!

 195 pursed: took possession of, pocketed

206 beggar'd: exhausted the resources of

208 O'er-picturing: surpassing the picture of

209 outwork: excel in workmanship

212 glow: to make hot

213 And what they undid did; cf. n.

