‘Her strong toil of grace’: Charismatic Performance from Queens to Quakers

Abstract

Recounting the meeting on the river Cydnus where Cleopatra first 'pursed up' (2.2.194) his commander's heart, Enobarbus says: The barge she sat in, like a burnished throne Burned on the water. The poop was beaten gold; Purple the sails, and so perfumèd 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, As amorous of their strokes. (2.2.198-204