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ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.

ACT I.

SCENE I.

Alexandria. A room in Cleopatra's palace.
Enter DEMETRIUS and PHILO.

Phi. 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,

1

Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst
The buckles on his breast, reneges 1 all temper;
And is become the bellows and the fan

To cool a gipsy's lust. Look, where they come !

Florish. Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, with their trains; Eunuchs fanning her.

Take but good note, and you shall see in him

1 Renounces.

The triple pillar of the world transform'd

Into a strumpet's fool: behold, and see.

Cle. If it be love indeed, tell me how much.
Ant. There's beggary in the love that can be
reckon❜d.

Cle. I'll set a bourn 1 how far to be beloved.
Ant. Then must thou needs find out new heaven,

new earth.

Enter ATTENDANT.

Att. News, my good lord, from Rome.

Ant.

Grates

Cle. Nay, hear them, Antony:

me:-the sum.

Fulvia, perchance, is angry; or, who knows

If the scarce-bearded Cæsar 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.'

Ant.

How, my love?
Cle. Perchance,-nay, and most like,
You must not stay here longer; your dismission
Is come from Cæsar; therefore hear it, Antony.-
Where's Fulvia's process? 3 Cæsar's, I would say

Both ?

--

?

Call in the messengers.—As I am Egypt's queen,
Thou blushest, Antony; and that blood of thine
Is Cæsar's homager: else so thy cheek pays shame,

1 Limit.

2 It offends.

3 Summons.

When shrill-tongued Fulvia scolds.-The

sengers.

mes

Ant. 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,1 We stand up peerless.

Cle.

Excellent falsehood!

Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her ?—
I'll seem the fool I am not; Antony

Will be himself.

Ant.

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 to-night? Cle. Hear the ambassadors.

Ant.

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

.1 Know.

2 i. e. of Venus.

The qualities of people. Come, my queen;
Last night you did desire it.—Speak not to us.

[Exeunt Antony and Cleopatra, with their train.
Dem. Is Cæsar with Antonius prized so slight?
Phi. Sir, sometimes, when he is not Antony,
He comes too short of that great property
Which still should go with Antony.

Dem.

I'm full sorry,

That he approves the common liar,1 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.

Char. 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!

Alex. Soothsayer.

Sooth. Your will?

Char. Is this the man?-Is 't you, sir, that know things?

Sooth. In Nature's infinite book of secresy

A little I can read.

1 Fame.

Alex.

Show him your

hand.

Enter ENOBArbus.

Eno. Bring in the banquet quickly; wine enough, Cleopatra's health to drink.

Char. Good sir, give me good fortune.

Sooth. I make not, but foresee.

Char. Pray then, foresee me one.

Sooth. You shall be yet far fairer than you are.

Char. He means, in flesh.

Iras. No, you shall paint when you are old.

Char. Wrinkles forbid !

Alex. Vex not his prescience; be attentive.
Char. Hush!

Sooth. You shall be more beloving than beloved.
Char. I had rather heat my liver with drinking.
Alex. Nay, hear him.

Char. 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 Cæsar, and companion me with my mistress.

Sooth. You shall outlive the lady whom you

serve.

Char. O excellent! I love long life better than figs.1

1 A proverbial expression.

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