ABSTRACT
Plutarch's Lives of Noble Grecians and Ronzanes 275 round, some square: that it was the rarest thing to behold that eye could discerne, or that ever books could men cion. The next night, Antonius feasting her, contended to passe her in magnificence and finenes: but she overcame him in both. So that he him selfe began to skorne the grosse service of his house, in respect of Cleopatraes sumptuousnes and finenesse. And when Cleopatra found Antonius jeasts and slents to be but grosse, and souldier like, in plaine manner: she gave it him finely, and without feare taunted him throughly.l Now her beawtie2 (as it is reported) was not so passing, as unmatchable of other women, nor yet suche, as upon present viewe did enamor men with her: but so sweete was her companie and conversacion, that a man could not possiblie but be taken. And besides her beawtie, the good grace she had to talke and discourse, her curteous nature that tempered her words and dedes, was a spune that pricked to the quick.3 Furthermore, besides all these, her voyce and words were marvelous pleasant: for her tongue was an instrument of musicke to divers sports and pastimes, the which she easely turned to any language that pleased her. She spake unto few barbarous people by interpreter, but made them aunswere her selfe, or at the least the most parte of them: as the .iE thiopians, the Arabians, the Troglodytes, the Hebrues, the Syrians, the Medes, and the Parthians, and to many others also, whose languages she had learned. Whereas divers of her progenitors, the kings of .iEgypt, could scarce learne the .iEgyptian tongue only, and many of them forgot to speake the Macedonian. Nowe, Antonius was so ravished with the love of Cleopatra, that though his wife Fulvia had great wanes, and much a doe with Cresar for his affaires, and that the armie of the Parthians, (the which the kings Lieutenauntes had geven to the onely leading of Labienus) was now assembled in Mesopotamia readie to invade Syria: yet, as though all this had nothing touched him, he yeelded him selfe to goe with Cleopatra into Alexandria, where he spent and lost in childish sports, (as a man might say) and idle pastimes, the most pretious thing a man can spende, as Antiphon sayth: and that is, time. For they made an order betwene them,4 which they called Amimetobion (as much to say, no life comparable and matcheable with it) one feasting ech other by turnes, and in cost, exceeding all measure and reason.5 And for proofe hereof, I have heard my grandfather Lampryas report, that one Philotas a Physition, born in the citie of Amphissa,
told him that he was at that present time III Alexandria, and studied Physicke: and that having acquaintance with one of Antonius cookes, he tooke him with him to Antonius house, (being a young man desirous to see things) to shew him the wonderfull sumptuous charge and preparation of one only supper. When he was in the kitchin, and saw a world of diversities of meates, and amongst others, eight wild boares rosted whole 1: he began to wonder at it, and sayd, Sure you have a great number of ghests to supper. The cooke fell a laughing, and answered him, No (quoth he) not many ghestes, nor above twelve in all: but yet all that is boyled or roasted must be served in whole, or else it would be marred straight. For Antonius peradventure will suppe presently, or it may be a pretie while hence, or likely enough he will deferre it longer, for that he hath dronke well to day, or else hath had some other great matters in hand: and therefore we doe not dresse one supper only, but many suppers, bicause we are uncerteine of the houre he will suppe in. Philotas the Phisition2 tolde my grandfather this tale .... But now againe to Cleopatra. Plato wryteth that there are foure kinds of flatterie3 : but Cleopatra devided it into many kinds.4 For she, were it in sport, or in matter of earnest, still devised sundrie new delights to have Antonius at commaundement, never leaving him night nor day, nor once letting him go out of her sight. For she would play at dyce with him, drinke with him, and hunt commonly with him, and also be with him when he went to any exercise or activity of body. And somtime also, when he would goe up and downe the citie disguised like a slave in the night, and would peere into poore mens wind owes and their shops,5 and scold and brawle with them within the house: Cleopatra would be also in a chamber maides array, and amble up and downe the streets with him, so that oftentimes Antonius bare away both mockes and blowes. Now, though most men misliked this maner, yet the Alexandrians were commonly glad of this jolity, and liked it well, saying verie gallantly, and wisely: that Antonius shewed them a commicall face, to wit, a merie countenaunce: and the Romanes a tragicall face, to say, a grimme looke. But to reckon up all the foolishe sportes they made, revelling in this sorte: it were too fond a parte of me, and therefore I will only tell you one among the rest. On a time he went to angle for fish, and when he could take none, he was as angrie as
