Mæc. Eight wild boars roasted whole at a
breakfast, and but twelve persons there; is this
true? 188
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 192
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- 196
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, 200
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, 204
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 208
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, 212
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.
