ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

	Scene I Alexandria. A room in CLEOPATRA's palace
	Scene II The same. Another room
	Scene III The same. Another room
	Scene IV Rome. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's house
	Scene V Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace

Act II

	Scene I Messina. POMPEY's house
	Scene II Rome. The house of LEPIDUS
	Scene III The same. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's house
	Scene IV The same. A street
	Scene V Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace
	Scene VI Near Misenum
	Scene VII On board POMPEY's galley, off Misenum

Act III

	Scene I A plain in Syria
	Scene II Rome. An ante-chamber in OCTAVIUS CAESAR's house
	Scene III Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace
	Scene IV Athens. A room in MARK ANTONY's house
	Scene V The same. Another room
	Scene VI Rome. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's house
	Scene VII Near Actium. MARK ANTONY's camp
	Scene VIII A plain near Actium
	Scene IX Another part of the plain
	Scene X Another part of the plain
	Scene XI Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace
	Scene XII Egypt. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's camp
	Scene XIII Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace

Act IV

	Scene I Before Alexandria. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's camp
	Scene II Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace
	Scene III The same. Before the palace
	Scene IV The same. A room in the palace
	Scene V Alexandria. MARK ANTONY's camp
	Scene VI Alexandria. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's camp
	Scene VII Field of battle between the camps
	Scene VIII Under the walls of Alexandria
	Scene IX OCTAVIUS CAESAR's camp
	Scene X Between the two camps
	Scene XI Another part of the same
	Scene XII Another part of the same
	Scene XIII Alexandria. Cleopatra's palace
	Scene XIV The same. Another room
	Scene XV The same. A monument

Act V

	Scene I Alexandria. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's camp
	Scene II Alexandria. A room in the monument

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Triumvirs: MARK ANTONY OCTAVIUS CAESAR M. AEMILIUS LEPIDUS (LEPIDUS:)
SEXTUS POMPEIUS	(POMPEY:)
Friends to Antony: DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS VENTIDIUS EROS SCARUS DERCETAS DEMETRIUS PHILO
Friends to Caesar: MECAENAS AGRIPPA DOLABELLA PROCULEIUS THYREUS GALLUS MENAS
Friends to Pompey: MENECRATES VARRIUS
TAURUS	lieutenant-general to Caesar
CANIDIUS	lieutenant-general to Antony
SILIUS	an officer in Ventidius's army
EUPHRONIUS	an ambassador from Antony to Caesar
Attendants on Cleopatra: ALEXAS MARDIAN - a Eunuch SELEUCUS DIOMEDES
	A Soothsayer (Soothsayer:)
	A Clown (Clown:)
CLEOPATRA	queen of Egypt
OCTAVIA	sister to Caesar and wife to Antony
CHARMIAN & IRAS	attendants on Cleopatra
	Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants. (First Officer:) (Second Officer:) (Third Officer:) (Messenger:) (Second Messenger:) (First Servant:) (Second Servant:) (Egyptian:) (Guard:) (First Guard:) (Second Guard:) (Attendant:) (First Attendant:) (Second Attendant:)

Scene

In several parts of the Roman empire

Act I

Scene I Alexandria. A room in CLEOPATRA's palace

	[Enter DEMETRIUS and PHILO]
PHILO	Nay, but this dotage of our general's O'erflows the measure: those his goodly eyes, That o'er the files and musters of the war Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn, The office and devotion of their view Upon a tawny front: his captain's heart, Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper, And is become the bellows and the fan To cool a gipsy's lust.
	[Flourish. Enter ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, her Ladies, the Train, with Eunuchs fanning her]
	Look, where they come: Take but good note, and you shall see in him. The triple pillar of the world transform'd Into a strumpet's fool: behold and see.
CLEOPATRA	If it be love indeed, tell me how much.
MARK ANTONY	There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd.
CLEOPATRA	I'll set a bourn how far to be beloved.
MARK ANTONY	Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth.
	[Enter an Attendant]
Attendant	News, my good lord, from Rome.
MARK ANTONY	Grates me: the sum.
CLEOPATRA	Nay, hear them, Antony: Fulvia perchance is angry; or, who knows If the scarce-bearded Caesar have not sent His powerful mandate to you, 'Do this, or this; Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that; Perform 't, or else we damn thee.'
MARK ANTONY	How, my love!
CLEOPATRA	Perchance! nay, and most like: You must not stay here longer, your dismission Is come from Caesar; therefore hear it, Antony. Where's Fulvia's process? Caesar's I would say? both? Call in the messengers. As I am Egypt's queen, Thou blushest, Antony; and that blood of thine Is Caesar's homager: else so thy cheek pays shame When shrill-tongued Fulvia scolds. The messengers!
MARK ANTONY	Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch Of the ranged empire fall! Here is my space. Kingdoms are clay: our dungy earth alike Feeds beast as man: the nobleness of life Is to do thus; when such a mutual pair
	[Embracing]
	And such a twain can do't, in which I bind, On pain of punishment, the world to weet We stand up peerless.
CLEOPATRA	Excellent falsehood! Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her? I'll seem the fool I am not; Antony Will be himself.
MARK ANTONY	But stirr'd by Cleopatra. Now, for the love of Love and her soft hours, Let's not confound the time with conference harsh: There's not a minute of our lives should stretch Without some pleasure now. What sport tonight?
CLEOPATRA	Hear the ambassadors.
MARK ANTONY	Fie, wrangling queen! Whom every thing becomes, to chide, to laugh, To weep; whose every passion fully strives To make itself, in thee, fair and admired! No messenger, but thine; and all alone To-night we'll wander through the streets and note The qualities of people. Come, my queen; Last night you did desire it: speak not to us.
	[Exeunt MARK ANTONY and CLEOPATRA with their train]
DEMETRIUS	Is Caesar with Antonius prized so slight?
PHILO	Sir, sometimes, when he is not Antony, He comes too short of that great property Which still should go with Antony.
DEMETRIUS	I am full sorry That he approves the common liar, who Thus speaks of him at Rome: but I will hope Of better deeds to-morrow. Rest you happy!
	[Exeunt]

Scene II The same. Another room

	[Enter CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, and a Soothsayer]
CHARMIAN	Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most any thing Alexas, almost most absolute Alexas, where's the soothsayer that you praised so to the queen? O, that I knew this husband, which, you say, must charge his horns with garlands!
ALEXAS	Soothsayer!
Soothsayer	Your will?
CHARMIAN	Is this the man? Is't you, sir, that know things?
Soothsayer	In nature's infinite book of secrecy A little I can read.
ALEXAS	Show him your hand.
	[Enter DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS]
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	Bring in the banquet quickly; wine enough Cleopatra's health to drink.
CHARMIAN	Good sir, give me good fortune.
Soothsayer	I make not, but foresee.
CHARMIAN	Pray, then, foresee me one.
Soothsayer	You shall be yet far fairer than you are.
CHARMIAN	He means in flesh.
IRAS	No, you shall paint when you are old.
CHARMIAN	Wrinkles forbid!
ALEXAS	Vex not his prescience; be attentive.
CHARMIAN	Hush!
Soothsayer	You shall be more beloving than beloved.
CHARMIAN	I had rather heat my liver with drinking.
ALEXAS	Nay, hear him.
CHARMIAN	Good now, some excellent fortune! Let me be married to three kings in a forenoon, and widow them all: let me have a child at fifty, to whom Herod of Jewry may do homage: find me to marry me with Octavius Caesar, and companion me with my mistress.
Soothsayer	You shall outlive the lady whom you serve.
CHARMIAN	O excellent! I love long life better than figs.
Soothsayer	You have seen and proved a fairer former fortune Than that which is to approach.
CHARMIAN	Then belike my children shall have no names: prithee, how many boys and wenches must I have?
Soothsayer	If every of your wishes had a womb. And fertile every wish, a million.
CHARMIAN	Out, fool! I forgive thee for a witch.
ALEXAS	You think none but your sheets are privy to your wishes.
CHARMIAN	Nay, come, tell Iras hers.
ALEXAS	We'll know all our fortunes.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	Mine, and most of our fortunes, to-night, shall be--drunk to bed.
IRAS	There's a palm presages chastity, if nothing else.
CHARMIAN	E'en as the o'erflowing Nilus presageth famine.
IRAS	Go, you wild bedfellow, you cannot soothsay.
CHARMIAN	Nay, if an oily palm be not a fruitful prognostication, I cannot scratch mine ear. Prithee, tell her but a worky-day fortune.
Soothsayer	Your fortunes are alike.
IRAS	But how, but how? give me particulars.
Soothsayer	I have said.
IRAS	Am I not an inch of fortune better than she?
CHARMIAN	Well, if you were but an inch of fortune better than I, where would you choose it?
IRAS	Not in my husband's nose.
CHARMIAN	Our worser thoughts heavens mend! Alexas,--come, his fortune, his fortune! O, let him marry a woman that cannot go, sweet Isis, I beseech thee! and let her die too, and give him a worse! and let worst follow worse, till the worst of all follow him laughing to his grave, fifty-fold a cuckold! Good Isis, hear me this prayer, though thou deny me a matter of more weight; good Isis, I beseech thee!
IRAS	Amen. Dear goddess, hear that prayer of the people! for, as it is a heartbreaking to see a handsome man loose-wived, so it is a deadly sorrow to behold a foul knave uncuckolded: therefore, dear Isis, keep decorum, and fortune him accordingly!
CHARMIAN	Amen.
ALEXAS	Lo, now, if it lay in their hands to make me a cuckold, they would make themselves whores, but they'ld do't!
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	Hush! here comes Antony.
CHARMIAN	Not he; the queen.
	[Enter CLEOPATRA]
CLEOPATRA	Saw you my lord?
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	No, lady.
CLEOPATRA	Was he not here?
CHARMIAN	No, madam.
CLEOPATRA	He was disposed to mirth; but on the sudden A Roman thought hath struck him. Enobarbus!
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	Madam?
CLEOPATRA	Seek him, and bring him hither. Where's Alexas?
ALEXAS	Here, at your service. My lord approaches.
CLEOPATRA	We will not look upon him: go with us.
	[Exeunt]
	[Enter MARK ANTONY with a Messenger and Attendants]
Messenger	Fulvia thy wife first came into the field.
MARK ANTONY	Against my brother Lucius?
Messenger	Ay: But soon that war had end, and the time's state Made friends of them, joining their force 'gainst Caesar; Whose better issue in the war, from Italy, Upon the first encounter, drave them.
MARK ANTONY	Well, what worst?
Messenger	The nature of bad news infects the teller.
MARK ANTONY	When it concerns the fool or coward. On: Things that are past are done with me. 'Tis thus: Who tells me true, though in his tale lie death, I hear him as he flatter'd.
Messenger	Labienus-- This is stiff news--hath, with his Parthian force, Extended Asia from Euphrates; His conquering banner shook from Syria To Lydia and to Ionia; Whilst--
MARK ANTONY	Antony, thou wouldst say,--
Messenger	O, my lord!
MARK ANTONY	Speak to me home, mince not the general tongue: Name Cleopatra as she is call'd in Rome; Rail thou in Fulvia's phrase; and taunt my faults With such full licence as both truth and malice Have power to utter. O, then we bring forth weeds, When our quick minds lie still; and our ills told us Is as our earing. Fare thee well awhile.
Messenger	At your noble pleasure.
	[Exit]
MARK ANTONY	From Sicyon, ho, the news! Speak there!
First Attendant	The man from Sicyon,--is there such an one?
Second Attendant	He stays upon your will.
MARK ANTONY	Let him appear. These strong Egyptian fetters I must break, Or lose myself in dotage.
	[Enter another Messenger]
	What are you?
Second Messenger	Fulvia thy wife is dead.
MARK ANTONY	Where died she?
Second Messenger	In Sicyon: Her length of sickness, with what else more serious Importeth thee to know, this bears.
	[Gives a letter]
MARK ANTONY	Forbear me.
	[Exit Second Messenger]
	There's a great spirit gone! Thus did I desire it: What our contempt doth often hurl from us, We wish it ours again; the present pleasure, By revolution lowering, does become The opposite of itself: she's good, being gone; The hand could pluck her back that shoved her on. I must from this enchanting queen break off: Ten thousand harms, more than the ills I know, My idleness doth hatch. How now! Enobarbus!
	[Re-enter DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS]
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	What's your pleasure, sir?
MARK ANTONY	I must with haste from hence.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	Why, then, we kill all our women: we see how mortal an unkindness is to them; if they suffer our departure, death's the word.
MARK ANTONY	I must be gone.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	Under a compelling occasion, let women die; it were pity to cast them away for nothing; though, between them and a great cause, they should be esteemed nothing. Cleopatra, catching but the least noise of this, dies instantly; I have seen her die twenty times upon far poorer moment: I do think there is mettle in death, which commits some loving act upon her, she hath such a celerity in dying.
MARK ANTONY	She is cunning past man's thought.
	[Exit ALEXAS]
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	Alack, sir, no; her passions are made of nothing but the finest part of pure love: we cannot call her winds and waters sighs and tears; they are greater storms and tempests than almanacs can report: this cannot be cunning in her; if it be, she makes a shower of rain as well as Jove.
MARK ANTONY	Would I had never seen her.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	O, sir, you had then left unseen a wonderful piece of work; which not to have been blest withal would have discredited your travel.
MARK ANTONY	Fulvia is dead.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	Sir?
MARK ANTONY	Fulvia is dead.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	Fulvia!
MARK ANTONY	Dead.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	Why, sir, give the gods a thankful sacrifice. When it pleaseth their deities to take the wife of a man from him, it shows to man the tailors of the earth; comforting therein, that when old robes are worn out, there are members to make new. If there were no more women but Fulvia, then had you indeed a cut, and the case to be lamented: this grief is crowned with consolation; your old smock brings forth a new petticoat: and indeed the tears live in an onion that should water this sorrow.
MARK ANTONY	The business she hath broached in the state Cannot endure my absence.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	And the business you have broached here cannot be without you; especially that of Cleopatra's, which wholly depends on your abode.
MARK ANTONY	No more light answers. Let our officers Have notice what we purpose. I shall break The cause of our expedience to the queen, And get her leave to part. For not alone The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches, Do strongly speak to us; but the letters too Of many our contriving friends in Rome Petition us at home: Sextus Pompeius Hath given the dare to Caesar, and commands The empire of the sea: our slippery people, Whose love is never link'd to the deserver Till his deserts are past, begin to throw Pompey the Great and all his dignities Upon his son; who, high in name and power, Higher than both in blood and life, stands up For the main soldier: whose quality, going on, The sides o' the world may danger: much is breeding, Which, like the courser's hair, hath yet but life, And not a serpent's poison. Say, our pleasure, To such whose place is under us, requires Our quick remove from hence.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	I shall do't.
	[Exeunt]

Scene III The same. Another room

	[Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS]
CLEOPATRA	Where is he?
CHARMIAN	I did not see him since.
CLEOPATRA	See where he is, who's with him, what he does: I did not send you: if you find him sad, Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report That I am sudden sick: quick, and return.
	[Exit ALEXAS]
CHARMIAN	Madam, methinks, if you did love him dearly, You do not hold the method to enforce The like from him.
CLEOPATRA	What should I do, I do not?
CHARMIAN	In each thing give him way, cross him nothing.
CLEOPATRA	Thou teachest like a fool; the way to lose him.
CHARMIAN	Tempt him not so too far; I wish, forbear: In time we hate that which we often fear. But here comes Antony.
	[Enter MARK ANTONY]
CLEOPATRA	I am sick and sullen.
MARK ANTONY	I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose,--
CLEOPATRA	Help me away, dear Charmian; I shall fall: It cannot be thus long, the sides of nature Will not sustain it.
MARK ANTONY	Now, my dearest queen,--
CLEOPATRA	Pray you, stand further from me.
MARK ANTONY	What's the matter?
CLEOPATRA	I know, by that same eye, there's some good news. What says the married woman? You may go: Would she had never given you leave to come! Let her not say 'tis I that keep you here: I have no power upon you; hers you are.
MARK ANTONY	The gods best know,--
CLEOPATRA	O, never was there queen So mightily betray'd! yet at the first I saw the treasons planted.
MARK ANTONY	Cleopatra,--
CLEOPATRA	Why should I think you can be mine and true, Though you in swearing shake the throned gods, Who have been false to Fulvia? Riotous madness, To be entangled with those mouth-made vows, Which break themselves in swearing!
MARK ANTONY	Most sweet queen,--
CLEOPATRA	Nay, pray you, seek no colour for your going, But bid farewell, and go: when you sued staying, Then was the time for words: no going then; Eternity was in our lips and eyes, Bliss in our brows' bent; none our parts so poor, But was a race of heaven: they are so still, Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world, Art turn'd the greatest liar.
MARK ANTONY	How now, lady!
CLEOPATRA	I would I had thy inches; thou shouldst know There were a heart in Egypt.
MARK ANTONY	Hear me, queen: The strong necessity of time commands Our services awhile; but my full heart Remains in use with you. Our Italy Shines o'er with civil swords: Sextus Pompeius Makes his approaches to the port of Rome: Equality of two domestic powers Breed scrupulous faction: the hated, grown to strength, Are newly grown to love: the condemn'd Pompey, Rich in his father's honour, creeps apace, Into the hearts of such as have not thrived Upon the present state, whose numbers threaten; And quietness, grown sick of rest, would purge By any desperate change: my more particular, And that which most with you should safe my going, Is Fulvia's death.
CLEOPATRA	Though age from folly could not give me freedom, It does from childishness: can Fulvia die?
MARK ANTONY	She's dead, my queen: Look here, and at thy sovereign leisure read The garboils she awaked; at the last, best: See when and where she died.
CLEOPATRA	O most false love! Where be the sacred vials thou shouldst fill With sorrowful water? Now I see, I see, In Fulvia's death, how mine received shall be.
MARK ANTONY	Quarrel no more, but be prepared to know The purposes I bear; which are, or cease, As you shall give the advice. By the fire That quickens Nilus' slime, I go from hence Thy soldier, servant; making peace or war As thou affect'st.
CLEOPATRA	Cut my lace, Charmian, come; But let it be: I am quickly ill, and well, So Antony loves.
MARK ANTONY	My precious queen, forbear; And give true evidence to his love, which stands An honourable trial.
CLEOPATRA	So Fulvia told me. I prithee, turn aside and weep for her, Then bid adieu to me, and say the tears Belong to Egypt: good now, play one scene Of excellent dissembling; and let it look Life perfect honour.
MARK ANTONY	You'll heat my blood: no more.
CLEOPATRA	You can do better yet; but this is meetly.
MARK ANTONY	Now, by my sword,--
CLEOPATRA	And target. Still he mends; But this is not the best. Look, prithee, Charmian, How this Herculean Roman does become The carriage of his chafe.
MARK ANTONY	I'll leave you, lady.
CLEOPATRA	Courteous lord, one word. Sir, you and I must part, but that's not it: Sir, you and I have loved, but there's not it; That you know well: something it is I would, O, my oblivion is a very Antony, And I am all forgotten.
MARK ANTONY	But that your royalty Holds idleness your subject, I should take you For idleness itself.
CLEOPATRA	'Tis sweating labour To bear such idleness so near the heart As Cleopatra this. But, sir, forgive me; Since my becomings kill me, when they do not Eye well to you: your honour calls you hence; Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly. And all the gods go with you! upon your sword Sit laurel victory! and smooth success Be strew'd before your feet!
MARK ANTONY	Let us go. Come; Our separation so abides, and flies, That thou, residing here, go'st yet with me, And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee. Away!
	[Exeunt]

Scene IV Rome. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's house

	[Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, reading a letter, LEPIDUS, and their Train]
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	You may see, Lepidus, and henceforth know, It is not Caesar's natural vice to hate Our great competitor: from Alexandria This is the news: he fishes, drinks, and wastes The lamps of night in revel; is not more man-like Than Cleopatra; nor the queen of Ptolemy More womanly than he; hardly gave audience, or Vouchsafed to think he had partners: you shall find there A man who is the abstract of all faults That all men follow.
LEPIDUS	I must not think there are Evils enow to darken all his goodness: His faults in him seem as the spots of heaven, More fiery by night's blackness; hereditary, Rather than purchased; what he cannot change, Than what he chooses.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	You are too indulgent. Let us grant, it is not Amiss to tumble on the bed of Ptolemy; To give a kingdom for a mirth; to sit And keep the turn of tippling with a slave; To reel the streets at noon, and stand the buffet With knaves that smell of sweat: say this becomes him,-- As his composure must be rare indeed Whom these things cannot blemish,--yet must Antony No way excuse his soils, when we do bear So great weight in his lightness. If he fill'd His vacancy with his voluptuousness, Full surfeits, and the dryness of his bones, Call on him for't: but to confound such time, That drums him from his sport, and speaks as loud As his own state and ours,--'tis to be chid As we rate boys, who, being mature in knowledge, Pawn their experience to their present pleasure, And so rebel to judgment.
	[Enter a Messenger]
LEPIDUS	Here's more news.
Messenger	Thy biddings have been done; and every hour, Most noble Caesar, shalt thou have report How 'tis abroad. Pompey is strong at sea; And it appears he is beloved of those That only have fear'd Caesar: to the ports The discontents repair, and men's reports Give him much wrong'd.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	I should have known no less. It hath been taught us from the primal state, That he which is was wish'd until he were; And the ebb'd man, ne'er loved till ne'er worth love, Comes dear'd by being lack'd. This common body, Like to a vagabond flag upon the stream, Goes to and back, lackeying the varying tide, To rot itself with motion.
Messenger	Caesar, I bring thee word, Menecrates and Menas, famous pirates, Make the sea serve them, which they ear and wound With keels of every kind: many hot inroads They make in Italy; the borders maritime Lack blood to think on't, and flush youth revolt: No vessel can peep forth, but 'tis as soon Taken as seen; for Pompey's name strikes more Than could his war resisted.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	Antony, Leave thy lascivious wassails. When thou once Wast beaten from Modena, where thou slew'st Hirtius and Pansa, consuls, at thy heel Did famine follow; whom thou fought'st against, Though daintily brought up, with patience more Than savages could suffer: thou didst drink The stale of horses, and the gilded puddle Which beasts would cough at: thy palate then did deign The roughest berry on the rudest hedge; Yea, like the stag, when snow the pasture sheets, The barks of trees thou browsed'st; on the Alps It is reported thou didst eat strange flesh, Which some did die to look on: and all this-- It wounds thine honour that I speak it now-- Was borne so like a soldier, that thy cheek So much as lank'd not.
LEPIDUS	'Tis pity of him.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	Let his shames quickly Drive him to Rome: 'tis time we twain Did show ourselves i' the field; and to that end Assemble we immediate council: Pompey Thrives in our idleness.
LEPIDUS	To-morrow, Caesar, I shall be furnish'd to inform you rightly Both what by sea and land I can be able To front this present time.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	Till which encounter, It is my business too. Farewell.
LEPIDUS	Farewell, my lord: what you shall know meantime Of stirs abroad, I shall beseech you, sir, To let me be partaker.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	Doubt not, sir; I knew it for my bond.
	[Exeunt]

Scene V Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace

	[Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and MARDIAN]
CLEOPATRA	Charmian!
CHARMIAN	Madam?
CLEOPATRA	Ha, ha! Give me to drink mandragora.
CHARMIAN	Why, madam?
CLEOPATRA	That I might sleep out this great gap of time My Antony is away.
CHARMIAN	You think of him too much.
CLEOPATRA	O, 'tis treason!
CHARMIAN	Madam, I trust, not so.
CLEOPATRA	Thou, eunuch Mardian!
MARDIAN	What's your highness' pleasure?
CLEOPATRA	Not now to hear thee sing; I take no pleasure In aught an eunuch has: 'tis well for thee, That, being unseminar'd, thy freer thoughts May not fly forth of Egypt. Hast thou affections?
MARDIAN	Yes, gracious madam.
CLEOPATRA	Indeed!
MARDIAN	Not in deed, madam; for I can do nothing But what indeed is honest to be done: Yet have I fierce affections, and think What Venus did with Mars.
CLEOPATRA	O Charmian, Where think'st thou he is now? Stands he, or sits he? Or does he walk? or is he on his horse? O happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony! Do bravely, horse! for wot'st thou whom thou movest? The demi-Atlas of this earth, the arm And burgonet of men. He's speaking now, Or murmuring 'Where's my serpent of old Nile?' For so he calls me: now I feed myself With most delicious poison. Think on me, That am with Phoebus' amorous pinches black, And wrinkled deep in time? Broad-fronted Caesar, When thou wast here above the ground, I was A morsel for a monarch: and great Pompey Would stand and make his eyes grow in my brow; There would he anchor his aspect and die With looking on his life.
	[Enter ALEXAS, from OCTAVIUS CAESAR]
ALEXAS	Sovereign of Egypt, hail!
CLEOPATRA	How much unlike art thou Mark Antony! Yet, coming from him, that great medicine hath With his tinct gilded thee. How goes it with my brave Mark Antony?
ALEXAS	Last thing he did, dear queen, He kiss'd,--the last of many doubled kisses,-- This orient pearl. His speech sticks in my heart.
CLEOPATRA	Mine ear must pluck it thence.
ALEXAS	'Good friend,' quoth he, 'Say, the firm Roman to great Egypt sends This treasure of an oyster; at whose foot, To mend the petty present, I will piece Her opulent throne with kingdoms; all the east, Say thou, shall call her mistress.' So he nodded, And soberly did mount an arm-gaunt steed, Who neigh'd so high, that what I would have spoke Was beastly dumb'd by him.
CLEOPATRA	What, was he sad or merry?
ALEXAS	Like to the time o' the year between the extremes Of hot and cold, he was nor sad nor merry.
CLEOPATRA	O well-divided disposition! Note him, Note him good Charmian, 'tis the man; but note him: He was not sad, for he would shine on those That make their looks by his; he was not merry, Which seem'd to tell them his remembrance lay In Egypt with his joy; but between both: O heavenly mingle! Be'st thou sad or merry, The violence of either thee becomes, So does it no man else. Met'st thou my posts?
ALEXAS	Ay, madam, twenty several messengers: Why do you send so thick?
CLEOPATRA	Who's born that day When I forget to send to Antony, Shall die a beggar. Ink and paper, Charmian. Welcome, my good Alexas. Did I, Charmian, Ever love Caesar so?
CHARMIAN	O that brave Caesar!
CLEOPATRA	Be choked with such another emphasis! Say, the brave Antony.
CHARMIAN	The valiant Caesar!
CLEOPATRA	By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth, If thou with Caesar paragon again My man of men.
CHARMIAN	By your most gracious pardon, I sing but after you.
CLEOPATRA	My salad days, When I was green in judgment: cold in blood, To say as I said then! But, come, away; Get me ink and paper: He shall have every day a several greeting, Or I'll unpeople Egypt.
	[Exeunt]

Act II

Scene I Messina. POMPEY's house

	[Enter POMPEY, MENECRATES, and MENAS, in warlike manner]
POMPEY	If the great gods be just, they shall assist The deeds of justest men.
MENECRATES	Know, worthy Pompey, That what they do delay, they not deny.
POMPEY	Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays The thing we sue for.
MENECRATES	We, ignorant of ourselves, Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers Deny us for our good; so find we profit By losing of our prayers.
POMPEY	I shall do well: The people love me, and the sea is mine; My powers are crescent, and my auguring hope Says it will come to the full. Mark Antony In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make No wars without doors: Caesar gets money where He loses hearts: Lepidus flatters both, Of both is flatter'd; but he neither loves, Nor either cares for him.
MENAS	Caesar and Lepidus Are in the field: a mighty strength they carry.
POMPEY	Where have you this? 'tis false.
MENAS	From Silvius, sir.
POMPEY	He dreams: I know they are in Rome together, Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love, Salt Cleopatra, soften thy waned lip! Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both! Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts, Keep his brain fuming; Epicurean cooks Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite; That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour Even till a Lethe'd dulness!
	[Enter VARRIUS]
	How now, Varrius!
VARRIUS	This is most certain that I shall deliver: Mark Antony is every hour in Rome Expected: since he went from Egypt 'tis A space for further travel.
POMPEY	I could have given less matter A better ear. Menas, I did not think This amorous surfeiter would have donn'd his helm For such a petty war: his soldiership Is twice the other twain: but let us rear The higher our opinion, that our stirring Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck The ne'er-lust-wearied Antony.
MENAS	I cannot hope Caesar and Antony shall well greet together: His wife that's dead did trespasses to Caesar; His brother warr'd upon him; although, I think, Not moved by Antony.
POMPEY	I know not, Menas, How lesser enmities may give way to greater. Were't not that we stand up against them all, 'Twere pregnant they should square between themselves; For they have entertained cause enough To draw their swords: but how the fear of us May cement their divisions and bind up The petty difference, we yet not know. Be't as our gods will have't! It only stands Our lives upon to use our strongest hands. Come, Menas.
	[Exeunt]

Scene II Rome. The house of LEPIDUS

	[Enter DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS and LEPIDUS]
LEPIDUS	Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed, And shall become you well, to entreat your captain To soft and gentle speech.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	I shall entreat him To answer like himself: if Caesar move him, Let Antony look over Caesar's head And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter, Were I the wearer of Antonius' beard, I would not shave't to-day.
LEPIDUS	'Tis not a time For private stomaching.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	Every time Serves for the matter that is then born in't.
LEPIDUS	But small to greater matters must give way.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	Not if the small come first.
LEPIDUS	Your speech is passion: But, pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes The noble Antony.
	[Enter MARK ANTONY and VENTIDIUS]
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	And yonder, Caesar.
	[Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, MECAENAS, and AGRIPPA]
MARK ANTONY	If we compose well here, to Parthia: Hark, Ventidius.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	I do not know, Mecaenas; ask Agrippa.
LEPIDUS	Noble friends, That which combined us was most great, and let not A leaner action rend us. What's amiss, May it be gently heard: when we debate Our trivial difference loud, we do commit Murder in healing wounds: then, noble partners, The rather, for I earnestly beseech, Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms, Nor curstness grow to the matter.
MARK ANTONY	'Tis spoken well. Were we before our armies, and to fight. I should do thus.
	[Flourish]
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	Welcome to Rome.
MARK ANTONY	Thank you.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	Sit.
MARK ANTONY	Sit, sir.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	Nay, then.
MARK ANTONY	I learn, you take things ill which are not so, Or being, concern you not.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	I must be laugh'd at, If, or for nothing or a little, I Should say myself offended, and with you Chiefly i' the world; more laugh'd at, that I should Once name you derogately, when to sound your name It not concern'd me.
MARK ANTONY	My being in Egypt, Caesar, What was't to you?
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	No more than my residing here at Rome Might be to you in Egypt: yet, if you there Did practise on my state, your being in Egypt Might be my question.
MARK ANTONY	How intend you, practised?
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	You may be pleased to catch at mine intent By what did here befal me. Your wife and brother Made wars upon me; and their contestation Was theme for you, you were the word of war.
MARK ANTONY	You do mistake your business; my brother never Did urge me in his act: I did inquire it; And have my learning from some true reports, That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather Discredit my authority with yours; And make the wars alike against my stomach, Having alike your cause? Of this my letters Before did satisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel, As matter whole you have not to make it with, It must not be with this.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	You praise yourself By laying defects of judgment to me; but You patch'd up your excuses.
MARK ANTONY	Not so, not so; I know you could not lack, I am certain on't, Very necessity of this thought, that I, Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought, Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars Which fronted mine own peace. As for my wife, I would you had her spirit in such another: The third o' the world is yours; which with a snaffle You may pace easy, but not such a wife.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	Would we had all such wives, that the men might go to wars with the women!
MARK ANTONY	So much uncurbable, her garboils, Caesar Made out of her impatience, which not wanted Shrewdness of policy too, I grieving grant Did you too much disquiet: for that you must But say, I could not help it.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	I wrote to you When rioting in Alexandria; you Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts Did gibe my missive out of audience.
MARK ANTONY	Sir, He fell upon me ere admitted: then Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want Of what I was i' the morning: but next day I told him of myself; which was as much As to have ask'd him pardon. Let this fellow Be nothing of our strife; if we contend, Out of our question wipe him.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	You have broken The article of your oath; which you shall never Have tongue to charge me with.
LEPIDUS	Soft, Caesar!
MARK ANTONY	No, Lepidus, let him speak: The honour is sacred which he talks on now, Supposing that I lack'd it. But, on, Caesar; The article of my oath.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	To lend me arms and aid when I required them; The which you both denied.
MARK ANTONY	Neglected, rather; And then when poison'd hours had bound me up From mine own knowledge. As nearly as I may, I'll play the penitent to you: but mine honesty Shall not make poor my greatness, nor my power Work without it. Truth is, that Fulvia, To have me out of Egypt, made wars here; For which myself, the ignorant motive, do So far ask pardon as befits mine honour To stoop in such a case.
LEPIDUS	'Tis noble spoken.
MECAENAS	If it might please you, to enforce no further The griefs between ye: to forget them quite Were to remember that the present need Speaks to atone you.
LEPIDUS	Worthily spoken, Mecaenas.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	Or, if you borrow one another's love for the instant, you may, when you hear no more words of Pompey, return it again: you shall have time to wrangle in when you have nothing else to do.
MARK ANTONY	Thou art a soldier only: speak no more.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	That truth should be silent I had almost forgot.
MARK ANTONY	You wrong this presence; therefore speak no more.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	Go to, then; your considerate stone.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	I do not much dislike the matter, but The manner of his speech; for't cannot be We shall remain in friendship, our conditions So differing in their acts. Yet if I knew What hoop should hold us stanch, from edge to edge O' the world I would pursue it.
AGRIPPA	Give me leave, Caesar,--
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	Speak, Agrippa.
AGRIPPA	Thou hast a sister by the mother's side, Admired Octavia: great Mark Antony Is now a widower.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	Say not so, Agrippa: If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof Were well deserved of rashness.
MARK ANTONY	I am not married, Caesar: let me hear Agrippa further speak.
AGRIPPA	To hold you in perpetual amity, To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts With an unslipping knot, take Antony Octavia to his wife; whose beauty claims No worse a husband than the best of men; Whose virtue and whose general graces speak That which none else can utter. By this marriage, All little jealousies, which now seem great, And all great fears, which now import their dangers, Would then be nothing: truths would be tales, Where now half tales be truths: her love to both Would, each to other and all loves to both, Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke; For 'tis a studied, not a present thought, By duty ruminated.
MARK ANTONY	Will Caesar speak?
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	Not till he hears how Antony is touch'd With what is spoke already.
MARK ANTONY	What power is in Agrippa, If I would say, 'Agrippa, be it so,' To make this good?
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	The power of Caesar, and His power unto Octavia.
MARK ANTONY	May I never To this good purpose, that so fairly shows, Dream of impediment! Let me have thy hand: Further this act of grace: and from this hour The heart of brothers govern in our loves And sway our great designs!
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	There is my hand. A sister I bequeath you, whom no brother Did ever love so dearly: let her live To join our kingdoms and our hearts; and never Fly off our loves again!
LEPIDUS	Happily, amen!
MARK ANTONY	I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst Pompey; For he hath laid strange courtesies and great Of late upon me: I must thank him only, Lest my remembrance suffer ill report; At heel of that, defy him.
LEPIDUS	Time calls upon's: Of us must Pompey presently be sought, Or else he seeks out us.
MARK ANTONY	Where lies he?
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	About the mount Misenum.
MARK ANTONY	What is his strength by land?
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	Great and increasing: but by sea He is an absolute master.
MARK ANTONY	So is the fame. Would we had spoke together! Haste we for it: Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we The business we have talk'd of.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	With most gladness: And do invite you to my sister's view, Whither straight I'll lead you.
MARK ANTONY	Let us, Lepidus, Not lack your company.
LEPIDUS	Noble Antony, Not sickness should detain me.
	[Flourish. Exeunt OCTAVIUS CAESAR, MARK ANTONY, and LEPIDUS]
MECAENAS	Welcome from Egypt, sir.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	Half the heart of Caesar, worthy Mecaenas! My honourable friend, Agrippa!
AGRIPPA	Good Enobarbus!
MECAENAS	We have cause to be glad that matters are so well digested. You stayed well by 't in Egypt.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	Ay, sir; we did sleep day out of countenance, and made the night light with drinking.
MECAENAS	Eight wild-boars roasted whole at a breakfast, and but twelve persons there; is this true?
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	This was but as a fly by an eagle: we had much more monstrous matter of feast, which worthily deserved noting.
MECAENAS	She's a most triumphant lady, if report be square to her.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	When she first met Mark Antony, she pursed up his heart, upon the river of Cydnus.
AGRIPPA	There she appeared indeed; or my reporter devised well for her.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	I will tell you. The barge she sat in, like a burnish'd throne, Burn'd on the water: the poop was beaten gold; Purple the sails, and so perfumed 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. 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 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, And what they undid did.
AGRIPPA	O, rare for Antony!
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides, So many mermaids, tended her i' the eyes, And made their bends adornings: at the helm A seeming mermaid steers: the silken tackle Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands, That yarely frame the office. From the barge A strange invisible perfume hits the sense Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast Her people out upon her; and Antony, Enthroned i' the market-place, did sit alone, Whistling to the air; which, but for vacancy, Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too, And made a gap in nature.
AGRIPPA	Rare Egyptian!
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	Upon her landing, Antony sent to her, Invited her to supper: she replied, It should be better he became her guest; Which she entreated: our courteous Antony, Whom ne'er the word of 'No' woman heard speak, Being barber'd ten times o'er, goes to the feast, And for his ordinary pays his heart For what his eyes eat only.
AGRIPPA	Royal wench! She made great Caesar lay his sword to bed: He plough'd her, and she cropp'd.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	I saw her once Hop forty paces through the public street; And having lost her breath, she spoke, and panted, That she did make defect perfection, And, breathless, power breathe forth.
MECAENAS	Now Antony must leave her utterly.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	Never; he will not: Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety: other women cloy The appetites they feed: but she makes hungry Where most she satisfies; for vilest things Become themselves in her: that the holy priests Bless her when she is riggish.
MECAENAS	If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle The heart of Antony, Octavia is A blessed lottery to him.
AGRIPPA	Let us go. Good Enobarbus, make yourself my guest Whilst you abide here.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS	Humbly, sir, I thank you.
	[Exeunt]

Scene III The same. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's house

	[Enter MARK ANTONY, OCTAVIUS CAESAR, OCTAVIA between them, and Attendants]
MARK ANTONY	The world and my great office will sometimes Divide me from your bosom.
OCTAVIA	All which time Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers To them for you.
MARK ANTONY	Good night, sir. My Octavia, Read not my blemishes in the world's report: I have not kept my square; but that to come Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear lady. Good night, sir.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	Good night.
	[Exeunt OCTAVIUS CAESAR and OCTAVIA]
	[Enter Soothsayer]
MARK ANTONY	Now, sirrah; you do wish yourself in Egypt?
Soothsayer	Would I had never come from thence, nor you Thither!
MARK ANTONY	If you can, your reason?
Soothsayer	I see it in My motion, have it not in my tongue: but yet Hie you to Egypt again.
MARK ANTONY	Say to me, Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Caesar's or mine?
Soothsayer	Caesar's. Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side: Thy demon, that's thy spirit which keeps thee, is Noble, courageous high, unmatchable, Where Caesar's is not; but, near him, thy angel Becomes a fear, as being o'erpower'd: therefore Make space enough between you.
MARK ANTONY	Speak this no more.
Soothsayer	To none but thee; no more, but when to thee. If thou dost play with him at any game, Thou art sure to lose; and, of that natural luck, He beats thee 'gainst the odds: thy lustre thickens, When he shines by: I say again, thy spirit Is all afraid to govern thee near him; But, he away, 'tis noble.
MARK ANTONY	Get thee gone: Say to Ventidius I would speak with him:
	[Exit Soothsayer]
	He shall to Parthia. Be it art or hap, He hath spoken true: the very dice obey him; And in our sports my better cunning faints Under his chance: if we draw lots, he speeds; His cocks do win the battle still of mine, When it is all to nought; and his quails ever Beat mine, inhoop'd, at odds. I will to Egypt: And though I make this marriage for my peace, I' the east my pleasure lies.
	[Enter VENTIDIUS]
	O, come, Ventidius, You must to Parthia: your commission's ready; Follow me, and receive't.
	[Exeunt]

Scene IV The same. A street

	[Enter LEPIDUS, MECAENAS, and AGRIPPA]
LEPIDUS	Trouble yourselves no further: pray you, hasten Your generals after.
AGRIPPA	Sir, Mark Antony Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow.
LEPIDUS	Till I shall see you in your soldier's dress, Which will become you both, farewell.
MECAENAS	We shall, As I conceive the journey, be at the Mount Before you, Lepidus.
LEPIDUS	Your way is shorter; My purposes do draw me much about: You'll win two days upon me.
MECAENAS AGRIPPA	\| \| Sir, good success! \|
LEPIDUS	Farewell.
	[Exeunt]

Scene V Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace

	[Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS]
CLEOPATRA	Give me some music; music, moody food Of us that trade in love.
Attendants	The music, ho!
	[Enter MARDIAN]
CLEOPATRA	Let it alone; let's to billiards: come, Charmian.
CHARMIAN	My arm is sore; best play with Mardian.
CLEOPATRA	As well a woman with an eunuch play'd As with a woman. Come, you'll play with me, sir?
MARDIAN	As well as I can, madam.
CLEOPATRA	And when good will is show'd, though't come too short, The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now: Give me mine angle; we'll to the river: there, My music playing far off, I will betray Tawny-finn'd fishes; my bended hook shall pierce Their slimy jaws; and, as I draw them up, I'll think them every one an Antony, And say 'Ah, ha! you're caught.'
CHARMIAN	'Twas merry when You wager'd on your angling; when your diver Did hang a salt-fish on his hook, which he With fervency drew up.
CLEOPATRA	That time,--O times!-- I laugh'd him out of patience; and that night I laugh'd him into patience; and next morn, Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed; Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst I wore his sword Philippan.
	[Enter a Messenger]
	O, from Italy Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears, That long time have been barren.
Messenger	Madam, madam,--
CLEOPATRA	Antonius dead!--If thou say so, villain, Thou kill'st thy mistress: but well and free, If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here My bluest veins to kiss; a hand that kings Have lipp'd, and trembled kissing.
Messenger	First, madam, he is well.
CLEOPATRA	Why, there's more gold. But, sirrah, mark, we use To say the dead are well: bring it to that, The gold I give thee will I melt and pour Down thy ill-uttering throat.
Messenger	Good madam, hear me.
CLEOPATRA	Well, go to, I will; But there's no goodness in thy face: if Antony Be free and healthful,--so tart a favour To trumpet such good tidings! If not well, Thou shouldst come like a Fury crown'd with snakes, Not like a formal man.
Messenger	Will't please you hear me?
CLEOPATRA	I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak'st: Yet if thou say Antony lives, is well, Or friends with Caesar, or not captive to him, I'll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail Rich pearls upon thee.
Messenger	Madam, he's well.
CLEOPATRA	Well said.
Messenger	And friends with Caesar.
CLEOPATRA	Thou'rt an honest man.
Messenger	Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.
CLEOPATRA	Make thee a fortune from me.
Messenger	But yet, madam,--
CLEOPATRA	I do not like 'But yet,' it does allay The good precedence; fie upon 'But yet'! 'But yet' is as a gaoler to bring forth Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend, Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear, The good and bad together: he's friends with Caesar: In state of health thou say'st; and thou say'st free.
Messenger	Free, madam! no; I made no such report: He's bound unto Octavia.
CLEOPATRA	For what good turn?
Messenger	For the best turn i' the bed.
CLEOPATRA	I am pale, Charmian.
Messenger	Madam, he's married to Octavia.
CLEOPATRA	The most infectious pestilence upon thee!
	[Strikes him down]
Messenger	Good madam, patience.
CLEOPATRA	What say you? Hence,
	[Strikes him again]
	Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine eyes Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head:
	[She hales him up and down]
	Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in brine, Smarting in lingering pickle.
Messenger	Gracious madam, I that do bring the news made not the match.
CLEOPATRA	Say 'tis not so, a province I will give thee, And make thy fortunes proud: the blow thou hadst Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage; And I will boot thee with what gift beside Thy modesty can beg.
Messenger	He's married, madam.
CLEOPATRA	Rogue, thou hast lived too long.
	[Draws a knife]
Messenger	Nay, then I'll run. What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.
	[Exit]
CHARMIAN	Good madam, keep yourself within yourself: The man is innocent.
CLEOPATRA	Some innocents 'scape not the thunderbolt. Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again: Though I am mad, I will not bite him: call.
CHARMIAN	He is afeard to come.
CLEOPATRA	I will not hurt him.
	[Exit CHARMIAN]
	These hands do lack nobility, that they strike A meaner than myself; since I myself Have given myself the cause.
	[Re-enter CHARMIAN and Messenger]
	Come hither, sir. Though it be honest, it is never good To bring bad news: give to a gracious message. An host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell Themselves when they be felt.
Messenger	I have done my duty.
CLEOPATRA	Is he married? I cannot hate thee worser than I do, If thou again say 'Yes.'
Messenger	He's married, madam.
CLEOPATRA	The gods confound thee! dost thou hold there still?
Messenger	Should I lie, madam?
CLEOPATRA	O, I would thou didst, So half my Egypt were submerged and made A cistern for scaled snakes! Go, get thee hence: Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?
Messenger	I crave your highness' pardon.
CLEOPATRA	He is married?
Messenger	Take no offence that I would not offend you: To punish me for what you make me do. Seems much unequal: he's married to Octavia.
CLEOPATRA	O, that his fault should make a knave of thee, That art not what thou'rt sure of! Get thee hence: The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome Are all too dear for me: lie they upon thy hand, And be undone by 'em!
	[Exit Messenger]
CHARMIAN	Good your highness, patience.
CLEOPATRA	In praising Antony, I have dispraised Caesar.
CHARMIAN	Many times, madam.
CLEOPATRA	I am paid for't now. Lead me from hence: I faint: O Iras, Charmian! 'tis no matter. Go to the fellow, good Alexas; bid him Report the feature of Octavia, her years, Her inclination, let him not leave out The colour of her hair: bring me word quickly.
	[Exit ALEXAS]
	Let him for ever go:--let him not--Charmian, Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon, The other way's a Mars. Bid you Alexas
	[To MARDIAN]
	Bring me word how tall she is. Pity me, Charmian, But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.
	[Exeunt]

Scene VI Near Misenum

	[Flourish. Enter POMPEY and MENAS at one door, with drum and trumpet: at another, OCTAVIUS CAESAR, MARK ANTONY, LEPIDUS, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS, MECAENAS, with Soldiers marching]
POMPEY	Your hostages I have, so have you mine; And we shall talk before we fight.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	Most meet That first we come to words; and therefore have we Our written purposes before us sent; Which, if thou hast consider'd, let us know If 'twill tie up thy discontented sword, And carry back to Sicily much tall youth That else must perish here.
POMPEY	To you all three, The senators alone of this great world, Chief factors for the gods, I do not know Wherefore my father should revengers want, Having a son and friends; since Julius Caesar, Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted, There saw you labouring for him. What was't That moved pale Cassius to conspire; and what Made the all-honour'd, honest Roman, Brutus, With the arm'd rest, courtiers and beauteous freedom, To drench the Capitol; but that they would Have one man but a man? And that is it Hath made me rig my navy; at whose burthen The anger'd ocean foams; with which I meant To scourge the ingratitude that despiteful Rome Cast on my noble father.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	Take your time.
MARK ANTONY	Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails; We'll speak with thee at sea: at land, thou know'st How much we do o'er-count thee.
POMPEY	At land, indeed, Thou dost o'er-count me of my father's house: But, since the cuckoo builds not for himself, Remain in't as thou mayst.
LEPIDUS	Be pleased to tell us-- For this is from the present--how you take The offers we have sent you.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	There's the point.
MARK ANTONY	Which do not be entreated to, but weigh What it is worth embraced.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	And what may follow, To try a larger fortune.
POMPEY	You have made me offer Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must Rid all the sea of pirates; then, to send Measures of wheat to Rome; this 'greed upon To part with unhack'd edges, and bear back Our targes undinted.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR MARK ANTONY LEPIDUS	\| \| \| That's our offer. \| \|
POMPEY	Know, then, I came before you here a man prepared To take this offer: but Mark Antony Put me to some impatience: though I lose The praise of it by telling, you must know, When Caesar and your brother were at blows, Your mother came to Sicily and did find Her welcome friendly.
MARK ANTONY	I have heard it, Pompey; And am well studied for a liberal thanks Which I do owe you.
POMPEY	Let me have your hand: I did not think, sir, to have met you here.
MARK ANTONY	The beds i' the east are soft; and thanks to you, That call'd me timelier than my purpose hither; For I have gain'd by 't.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	Since I saw you last, There is a change upon you.
POMPEY	Well, I know not What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face; But in my bosom shall she never come, To make my heart her vassal.
LEPIDUS	Well met here.
POMPEY	I hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed: I crave our composition may be written, And seal'd between us.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	That's the next to do.
POMPEY	We'll feast each other ere we part; and let's Draw lots who shall begin.
MARK ANTONY	That will I, Pompey.
POMPEY	No, Antony, take the lot: but, first Or last, your fine Egyptian cookery Shall have the fame. I have heard that Julius Caesar Grew fat with feasting there.
MARK ANTONY	You have heard much.
POMPEY	I have fair meanings, sir.
MARK ANTONY	And fair words to them.
POMPEY

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

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