_Char_. Peace, peace, Iras.
_Cleo_. No more--but e'en a woman]
[W: peace, Isis] Of this note it may be truly said, that it at least
deserves to be right, nor can he, that shall question the justness of
the emendation, refuse his esteem to the ingenuity and learning with
which it is proposed.
Hanmer had proposed another emendation, not injudiciously. He reads
thus,
Iras. _Royal Aegypt! empress!_
Cleo. _Peace, peace, Iras.
No more but a mere woman_, &c.
That is, _no more an empress, but a mere woman_.
It is somewhat unfortunate that the words, _mere woman_, which so much
strengthen the opposition to either _empress_ or _Isis_, are not in the
original edition, which stands thus,
_No more but_ in a _woman_.
_Mere woman_ was probably the arbitrary reading of Rowe. I suppose,
however, that we muy justly change the ancient copy thus,
_No more, but_ e'en a _woman_.
which will enough accommodate either of the editors.
I am inclined to think that she speaks abruptly, not answering her
woman, but discoursing with her own thoughts,
_No more--but_ e'en a _woman_.
_I have_ no more _of my wonted greatness_, but am even a woman, _on the
level with other women; were I what I once was_.
--It were for me
To throw my scepter, _&c_.
If this simple explanation be admitted, how much labour has been thrown
away. _Peace, peace, Iras_, is said by Charmian, when she sees the queen
recovering, and thinks speech troublesome.
V.i.15 (244,4) The round world/Should have shook lions into civil
streets] I think here is a line lost, after which it is in vain to go in
quest. The sense seems to have been this: _The round world should have
shook_, and this great alteration of the system of things should send
_lions into streets, and citizens into dens_. There is sense still, but
it is harsh and violent.
V.i.27 (244,5) but it is tidings/To wash the eyes of kings!] That is,
May _the Gods rebuke me_, if this be not _tidings to make kings weep_.
_But_, again, for _if not_.
V.i.46 (245,7) that our stars,/Unreconciliable, should divide/Our
equalness to this] That is, _should have made us_, in our equality of
fortune, disagree _to_ a pitch like this, that one of us must die.
V.i.52 (246,8) A poor Aegyptian yet; the queen my mistress] If this
punctuation be right, the man means to say, that he is _yet an
Aegyptian_, that is, _yet a servant of the queen of Aegypt_, though soon
to become, a subject of Rome.
V.i.65 (246,9) her life in Rome/Would be eternal in our triumph] Hanmer
reads judiciously enough, but without necessity,
_Would be_ eternalling _our triumph_.
The sense is, _If she dies here, she will be forgotten, but if I send
her_ in triumph at Rome, _her memory and my glory_ will be eternal.
V.ii.3 (247,1) fortune's knave] The _servant_ of fortune.