Act III, Scene 3

Alexandria. CLEOPATRA’s palace.

[Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS]

• Cleopatra. Where is the fellow?

• Alexas. Half afeard to come.

• Cleopatra. Go to, go to.
  [Enter the Messenger as before] 1685
  Come hither, sir.

• Alexas. Good majesty,
  Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you
  But when you are well pleased.

• Cleopatra. That Herod's head 1690
  I'll have: but how, when Antony is gone
  Through whom I might command it? Come thou near.

• Messenger. Most gracious majesty,—

• Cleopatra. Didst thou behold Octavia?

• Messenger. Ay, dread queen. 1695

• Cleopatra. Where?

• Messenger. Madam, in Rome;
  I look'd her in the face, and saw her led
  Between her brother and Mark Antony.

• Cleopatra. Is she as tall as me? 1700

• Messenger. She is not, madam.

• Cleopatra. Didst hear her speak? is she shrill-tongued or low?

• Messenger. Madam, I heard her speak; she is low-voiced.

• Cleopatra. That's not so good: he cannot like her long.

• Charmian. Like her! O Isis! 'tis impossible. 1705

• Cleopatra. I think so, Charmian: dull of tongue, and dwarfish!
  What majesty is in her gait? Remember,
  If e'er thou look'dst on majesty.

• Messenger. She creeps:
  Her motion and her station are as one; 1710
  She shows a body rather than a life,
  A statue than a breather.

• Cleopatra. Is this certain?

• Messenger. Or I have no observance.

• Charmian. Three in Egypt 1715
  Cannot make better note.

• Cleopatra. He's very knowing;
  I do perceive't: there's nothing in her yet:
  The fellow has good judgment.

• Charmian. Excellent. 1720

• Cleopatra. Guess at her years, I prithee.

• Messenger. Madam,
  She was a widow,—

• Cleopatra. Widow! Charmian, hark.

• Messenger. And I do think she's thirty. 1725

• Cleopatra. Bear'st thou her face in mind? is't long or round?

• Messenger. Round even to faultiness.

• Cleopatra. For the most part, too, they are foolish that are so.
  Her hair, what colour?

• Messenger. Brown, madam: and her forehead 1730
  As low as she would wish it.

• Cleopatra. There's gold for thee.
  Thou must not take my former sharpness ill:
  I will employ thee back again; I find thee
  Most fit for business: go make thee ready; 1735
  Our letters are prepared.

[Exit Messenger]

• Charmian. A proper man.

• Cleopatra. Indeed, he is so: I repent me much
  That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him, 1740
  This creature's no such thing.

• Charmian. Nothing, madam.

• Cleopatra. The man hath seen some majesty, and should know.

• Charmian. Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend,
  And serving you so long! 1745

• Cleopatra. I have one thing more to ask him yet, good Charmian:
  But 'tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to me
  Where I will write. All may be well enough.

• Charmian. I warrant you, madam.

[Exeunt]