Open Source Shakespeare

Antony and Cleopatra

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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]