Let Rome in Tyber melt, and the wide arch
Of the razed Empire fall.
Taken from the Roman custom of raising triumphal arches to perpetuate
their victories.
And again, Act III. Scene IV. Octavia says to Anthony, of the
difference between him and her brother,
"Wars 'twixt you twain would be
As if the world should cleave, and that slain men
Should solder up the reft"----
This thought seems taken from the story of Curtius leaping into the
Chasm in the Forum, in order to close it, so that, as that was closed
by one Roman, if the whole world were to cleave, Romans only could
solder it up. The metaphor of soldering is extreamly exact, according
to Mr. Warburton; for, says he, as metal is soldered up by metal that
is more refined than that which it solders, so the earth was to be
soldered by men, who are only a more refined earth.
The manners of other nations in general, the Egyptians, Venetians,
French, etc. are drawn with equal propriety. An instance of this shall
be produced with regard to the Venetians. In the Merchant of Venice,