Iras. Royal Aegypt! empress!
Cleo. Peace, peace, Iras.
No more but a mere woman, &c.
That is, no more an empress, but a mere woman.
It is somewhat unfortunate that the words, mere woman, which so much strengthen the opposition to either empress or Isis, are not in the original edition, which stands thus,
No more but in a woman.
Mere woman was probably the arbitrary reading of Rowe. I suppose, however, that we muy justly change the ancient copy thus,
No more, but e'en a woman.
which will enough accommodate either of the editors.
I am inclined to think that she speaks abruptly, not answering her woman, but discoursing with her own thoughts,