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 sing13. I take no pleasure
In aught an eunuch has: ’tis well for thee
That, being unseminared15, thy freer thoughts
May not fly forth of Egypt. Hast thou affections16?
MARDIAN Yes, gracious madam.
CLEOPATRA Indeed?
MARDIAN Not in deed19, madam, for I can do nothing
But what in deed is honest20 to be done:
Yet have I fierce affections, and think
What Venus did with Mars22.
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 bravely27, horse, for wot’st thou whom thou mov’st?
The demi-Atlas28 of this earth, the arm
And burgonet29 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 Phoebus33’ amorous pinches black
And wrinkled deep in time. Broad-fronted34 Caesar,
When thou wast here above the ground, I was
A morsel36 for a monarch, and great Pompey
Would stand and make his eyes grow in my brow37:
There would he anchor his aspect38, and die
With looking on his life39.
Enter Alexas from Antony
ALEXAS Sovereign of Egypt, hail!
CLEOPATRA How much unlike art thou Mark Antony!
Yet, coming from him, that great med’cine42 hath
With his tinct43 gilded thee.
How goes it with my brave44 Mark Antony?
ALEXAS Last thing he did, dear queen,
He kissed — the last of many doubled kisses —
This orient47 pearl. His speech sticks in my heart.
CLEOPATRA Mine ear must pluck it thence.
ALEXAS ‘Good friend,’ quoth49 he,
‘Say the firm50 Roman to great Egypt sends
This treasure of an oyster, at whose foot,
To mend52 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 steed55
Who neighed so high56 that what I would have spoke
Was beastly dumbed57 by him.
CLEOPATRA What, was he sad, or merry?
ALEXAS Like to the time o’th’year between the extremes
Of hot and cold, he was nor sad nor60 merry.
CLEOPATRA O well-divided disposition! Note him,
Note him, good Charmian, ’tis the man62; but note him.
He was not sad, for he would shine on those
That make their looks by his64: he was not merry,
Which seemed to tell them his remembrance lay
In Egypt with his joy: but between both.
O heavenly mingle! Be’st thou sad or merry,
The violence68 of either thee becomes,
So does it no man else.—Met’st thou my posts69?
ALEXAS Ay, madam, twenty several70 messengers.
Why do you send so thick71?
CLEOPATRA Who’s72 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 paragon82 again
My man of men.
CHARMIAN By your most gracious pardon,
I sing but after you.
CLEOPATRA My salad days,
When I was green87 in judgement, 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 2 Scene 1]
running scene 4
Location: Sicily
* * *
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 deny4.
POMPEY Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays
The thing we sue for5.
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 sea12 is mine;
My powers13 are crescent, and my auguring hope
Says it will come to th’full. Mark Antony
In Egypt sits at dinner15, and will make
No wars without16 doors: Caesar gets money where
He loses hearts: Lepidus flatters both,
Of18 both is flattered, but he neither loves,
Nor either cares for him.
MENAS Caesar and Lepidus are in the field:
A mighty strength21 they carry.
POMPEY Where have you this? ’Tis false.
MENAS From Silvius, sir.
POMPEY He dreams. I know they are in Rome together,
Looking for25 Antony. But all the charms of love,
Salt26 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 fuming29: epicurean cooks
Sharpen with cloyless30 sauce his appetite
That31 sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour,
Even till a Lethe’d32 dullness—
Enter Varrius
How now, Varrius?
VARRIUS This is most certain that I shall deliver33:
Mark Antony is every hour in Rome
Expected. Since he went from Egypt ’tis
A space for35 further travel.
POMPEY I could have given less matter37
A better ear38. Menas, I did not think
This amorous surfeiter would have donned his helm39
For such a petty war: his soldiership
Is twice the other twain40. But let us rear
The higher our opinion41, that our stirring
Can from the lap43 of Egypt’s widow pluck
The ne’er lust-wearied Antony.
MENAS I cannot hope45
Caesar and Antony shall well greet together46;
His wife that’s dead47 did trespasses to Caesar:
His brother48 warred upon him, although I think
Not moved49 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 pregnant53 they should square between themselves,
For they have entertainèd54 cause enough
To draw their swords. But how the fear of us
May cement their divisions, and bind up
The petty difference, we yet not57 know.
Be’t as our gods will have’t! It only stands
Our lives upon to use our strongest hands58.
Come, Menas.
Exeunt
[Act 2 Scene 2]
running scene 5
Location: Rome
* * *
Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus
LEPIDUS Good Enobarbus, ’tis a worthy deed,
And shall become you well, to entreat your captain
To soft and gentle speech.
ENOBARBUS I shall entreat him
To answer like himself5: if Caesar move him,
Let Antony look over Caesar’s head6
And speak as loud as Mars7. By Jupiter,
Were I the wearer of Antonio’s beard,
I would not shave’t today9!
LEPIDUS ’Tis not a time for private stomaching10.
ENOBARBUS Every time
Serves for the matter that is then born in’t.
LEPIDUS But small to greater matters must give way.
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 Antony and Ventidius
ENOBARBUS And yonder Caesar.
Enter Caesar, Maecenas and Agrippa
ANTONY If we compose19 well here, to Parthia.
Hark, Ventidius20.
They converse apart
CAESAR I do not know, Maecenas, ask Agrippa.
LEPIDUS Noble friends,
That which combined23 us was most great, and let not
A leaner action rend us24. What’s amiss,
May it be gently25 heard. When we debate
Our trivial difference loud, we do commit
Murder in healing wounds26. Then, noble partners,
The rather for28 I earnestly beseech,
Touch29 you the sourest points with sweetest terms,
Nor curstness grow to th’matter30.
ANTONY ’Tis spoken well:
Were we before our armies, and to32 fight,
I should do thus.
Flourish
CAESAR Welcome to Rome.
ANTONY Thank you.
CAESAR Sit.
ANTONY Sit, sir.
CAESAR Nay then38.
Caesar sits, then Antony
ANTONY I learn you take things ill which are not so,
Or being40, concern you not.
CAESAR I must be laughed at
If, or42 for nothing or a little, I
Should say myself offended, and with you
Chiefly i’th’world44: more laughed at that I should
Once name you derogately45 when to sound your name
It not concerned me46.
ANTONY My being in Egypt, Caesar,
What was’t to you?
CAESAR No more than my residing here at Rome
Might be to you in Egypt: yet if you there
Did practise on my state51, your being in Egypt
Might be my question52.
ANTONY How intend you53, ‘practised’?
CAESAR You may be pleased to catch at54 mine intent
By what did here befall me. Your wife and brother
Made wars upon me, and their contestation56
Was theme for you57: you were the word of war.
ANTONY You do mistake your business. My brother never
Did urge me59 in his act: I did inquire it,
And have my learning60 from some true reports
That drew their swords with you61. Did he not rather
Discredit my authority with62 yours,
And make the wars alike against my stomach63,
Having alike your cause64? Of this my letters
Before did satisfy you. If you’ll patch65 a quarrel,
As matter whole66 you have to make it with,
It must not be with this.
CAESAR You praise yourself
By laying defects of judgement to me, but
You patched up your excuses.
ANTONY Not so, not so:
I know you could not lack, I am certain on’t,
Very necessity of this thought72, that I,
Your partner in the cause gainst which he74 fought,
Could not with graceful75 eyes attend those wars
Which fronted76 mine own peace. As for my wife,
I would you had her spirit in such another77:
The third o’th’world is yours, which with a snaffle78
You may pace79 easy, but not such a wife.
ENOBARBUS Would we had all such wives, that the men might
go to wars with the women!
ANTONY So much uncurbable82, her garboils, Caesar,
Made out of her impatience — which not wanted83
Shrewdness of policy84 too — I grieving grant
Did you too much disquiet. For that you must
But86 say I could not help it.
CAESAR I wrote to you:
When rioting88 in Alexandria you
Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts
Did gibe my missive out of audience90.
ANTONY Sir,
He fell upon me ere admitted92, then.
Three kings I had newly93 feasted, and did want
Of what I was i’th’morning. But next day
I told him of myself95, which was as much
As to have asked him pardon. Let this fellow
Be nothing97 of our strife: if we contend,
Out of our question98 wipe him.
CAESAR You have broken
The article100 of your oath, which you shall never
Have tongue to charge me with.
LEPIDUS Soft102, Caesar!
ANTONY No, Lepidus, let him speak.
The honour is sacred which he talks on now,
Supposing105 that I lacked it. But, on, Caesar:
The article of my oath—
CAESAR To lend me arms and aid when I required107 them,
The which you both denied.
ANTONY Neglected rather:
And then when poisoned hours had bound me up
From mine own knowledge111. 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 it113. Truth is that Fulvia,
To have me out of Egypt, made wars here,
For which myself, the ignorant motive116, do
So far ask pardon as befits mine honour
To stoop in such a case.
LEPIDUS ’Tis noble spoken.
MAECENAS If it might please you to enforce no further
The griefs121 between ye, to forget them quite
Were to remember that the present need
Speaks to atone123 you.
LEPIDUS Worthily spoken, Maecenas.
ENOBARBUS Or, if you borrow one another’s love for the
instant126, 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.
ANTONY Thou art a soldier only. Speak no more.
ENOBARBUS That truth should be silent, I had almost forgot.
ANTONY You wrong this presence131, therefore speak no more.
ENOBARBUS Go to, then!132 You considerate stone.
CAESAR I do not much dislike the matter, but
The manner of his speech: for’t cannot be
We shall remain in friendship, our conditions135
So diff’ring in their acts. Yet if I knew
What hoop should hold us staunch137, from edge to edge
O’th’world I would pursue it.
AGRIPPA Give me leave, Caesar.
CAESAR Speak, Agrippa.
AGRIPPA Thou hast a sister by the mother’s side141,
Admired Octavia: great Mark Antony
Is now a widower.
CAESAR Say not so, Agrippa:
If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof
Were well deserved of rashness145.
ANTONY I am not married, Caesar: let me hear
; Agrippa further speak.
AGRIPPA To hold you in perpetual amity149,
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 utter154. By this marriage
All little jealousies156 which now seem great,
And all great fears which now import157 their dangers
Would then be nothing. Truths158 would be tales,
Where now half-tales be truths. Her love to both159
Would each to other, and all loves to both
Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke,
For ’tis a studied, not a present162 thought,
By duty ruminated.
ANTONY Will Caesar speak?
CAESAR Not till he hears how Antony is touched
With165 what is spoke already.
ANTONY What power167 is in Agrippa,
If I would168 say, ‘Agrippa, be it so’,
To make this good?
CAESAR The power of Caesar, and
His power unto171 Octavia.
ANTONY May I never,
To this good purpose that so fairly shows173,
Dream of impediment174! Let me have thy hand.
Further this act of grace175, and from this hour
The heart of brothers govern in our loves
And sway our great designs!
They clasp hands
CAESAR There’s 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 again181!
LEPIDUS Happily, amen!
ANTONY I did not think to draw my sword gainst Pompey,
For he hath laid strange courtesies and great
Of late upon me185. I must thank him, only
Lest my remembrance187 suffer ill report:
At heel of that, defy him188.
LEPIDUS Time calls upon’s.
Of190 us must Pompey presently be sought,
Or else he seeks out us.
ANTONY Where lies he?
CAESAR About the Mount Misena193.
ANTONY What is his strength by land?
CAESAR Great and increasing, but by sea
He is an absolute master.
ANTONY So is the fame197.
Would we had spoke together!198 Haste we for it.
Yet, ere199 we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we
The business we have talked of.
CAESAR With most gladness,
And do invite you to my sister’s view202,
Whither straight I’ll lead you.
Antony and Cleopatra Page 5