TAURUS, lieutenant-general to Cæsar. CANIDIUS, lieutenant-general to Antony. SILIUS, an officer in Ventidius's army. EUPHRONIUS, an ambassador from Antony to Cæsar. ALEXAS, MARDIAN, SELEUCUS, and DIOMEDES, attendants on Cleo patra. A Soothsayer. A Clown. CLEOPATRA, queen of Egypt. OCTAVIA, sister to Cæsar and wife to Antony. CHARMIAN,} attendants on Cleopatra. Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants. SCENE-in several parts of the Roman empire. 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, Upon a tawny front: his captain's heart, Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst And is become the bellows and the fan To cool a gipsy's lust. [Flourish within.] 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 sec. Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, with their trains; Eunuchs fanning her. Cleo. If it be love indeed, tell me how much. Ant. There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd. Cleo. I'll set a bourn how far to be belov'd. Ant. Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth. Enter an Attendant. Att. News, my good lord, from Rome. Cleo. Nay, hear them, Antony: Grates me: Fulvia perchance is angry; or, who knows If the scarce-bearded Cæsar have not sent His powerful mandate to you, "Do this, or this; Ant. How, my love! Cleo. Perchance! nay, and most like: You must not stay here longer,—your dismission Is come from Cæsar; therefore hear it, Antony.- Thou blushest, Antony; and that blood of thine Cleo. Excellent falsehood! Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?- Will be himself. Ant. But stirr'd by Cleopatra. [Embracing. Now, for the love of Love and her soft hours, Ant. Fie, wrangling queen! Whom every thing becomes,-to chide, to laugh, To weep; whose (2) every passion fully strives [Exeunt Ant. and Cleo. with their train. Dem. Is Cæsar with Antonius priz'd 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 am full sorry [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. Another room in the same. Enter CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, and a Soothsayer. (3) 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 (4) his horns with garlands! Alex. Soothsayer,— Sooth. Your will? Char. Is this the man?-Is't you, sir, that know things? A little I can read. 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. |