November 16th, 1813
[a]Went]
last night with Lewis to see the first of
Antony and Cleopatra
. It was admirably got up, and well acted —a salad of Shakspeare and Dryden. Cleopatra strikes me as the epitome of her sex—fond, lively, sad, tender, teasing, humble, haughty, beautiful, the devil!—coquettish to the last, as well with the "asp" as with Antony. After doing all she can to persuade him that—but why do they abuse him for cutting off that poltroon Cicero's head?
[a]Did]
not Tully tell Brutus it was a pity to have spared Antony? and did he not speak the Philippics? and are not "