ABSTRACT
In Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra there is the famous scene where Enobarbus talks of the glories he has just seen. It starts off in prose, with all the lads joining in, but when it comes to describing Cleopatra, then Enobarbus for the first time in the play changes from speaking in prose to speaking poetry, and the others no longer join in but listen in silence: MECENAS
Welcome from Egypt sir.
ENOBARBUSHalf the heart of Cæsar, worthy Mecenas. My honorable friend Agrippa.
AGRIPPAGood Enobarbus.
MECENASWe have cause to be glad, that matters are so well disgested: you stay’d well by’t in Egypt.
ENOBARBUSAye sir, we did sleep day out of countenance: and made the night light with drinking.
MECENASEight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast: and but twelve persons there. Is this true?
ENOBARBUSThis was but as a fly by an eagle: we had much more monstrous matter of feast, which worthily deserved noting.
MECENASShe’s a most triumphant lady, if report be square to her.
ENOBARBUSWhen she first met Mark Anthony, she purs’d up his heart upon the river of Sydnus.
AGRIPPAThere she appear’d indeed: or my reporter devis’d well for her.
ENOBARBUSI will tell you, The barge she sat in, like a burnish’d throne Burnt on the water: the poop was beaten gold, Purple the sails: and so perfumed that The winds were lovesick. 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-color’d fans whose wind did seem, To glove the delicate cheeks which they did cool, And what they undid did.
