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Antony and Cleopatra (Arden Shakespeare: Third Series)

Page 4

by William Shakespeare


  What120 are you?

  THIRD MESSENGER Fulvia thy wife is dead.

  ANTONY Where died she?

  THIRD MESSENGER In Sicyon.

  Her length of sickness, with what else more serious

  Importeth125 thee to know, this bears. Gives him the letter

  ANTONY Forbear me126.--[Exit Third Messenger]

  There's a great spirit gone. Thus did I desire it:

  What our contempts doth often hurl from us

  We wish it ours again128. The present pleasure,

  By revolution low'ring130, does become

  The opposite of itself. She's good, being gone.

  The hand could132 pluck her back that shoved her on.

  I must from this enchanting133 queen break off:

  Ten thousand harms, more than the ills I know,

  My idleness135 doth hatch.--

  Enter Enobarbus

  How now, Enobarbus?

  ENOBARBUS What's your pleasure, sir?

  ANTONY I must with haste from hence.

  ENOBARBUS Why, then, we kill all our women. We see how

  mortal139 an unkindness is to them: if they suffer our

  departure, death's the word.

  ANTONY I must be gone.

  ENOBARBUS Under a compelling occasion, let women die142. It

  were pity to cast them away for nothing, though between

  them and a great cause they should be esteemed nothing.

  Cleopatra, catching but the least noise145 of this, dies instantly:

  I have seen her die twenty times upon far poorer moment146. I

  do think there is mettle147 in death which commits some loving

  act upon her, she hath such a celerity148 in dying.

  ANTONY She is cunning149 past man's thought.

  ENOBARBUS Alack, sir, no: her passions are made of nothing

  but the finest part151 of pure love. We cannot call her winds and

  waters sighs and tears: they are greater storms and tempests than

  almanacs153 can report. This cannot be cunning in her; if

  it be, she makes a shower of rain as well as Jove154.

  ANTONY Would155 I had never seen her.

  ENOBARBUS O sir, you had then left unseen a wonderful piece of

  work156, which not to have been blest withal157 would have

  discredited your travel158.

  ANTONY Fulvia is dead.

  ENOBARBUS Sir?

  ANTONY Fulvia is dead.

  ENOBARBUS Fulvia?

  ANTONY Dead.

  ENOBARBUS Why, sir, give the gods a thankful sacrifice. When it

  pleaseth their deities to take the wife of a man from him, it

  shows to man the tailors of the earth166: comforting therein,

  that when old robes are worn out, there are members167 to

  make new. If there were no more women but Fulvia, then

  had you indeed a cut169, and the case to be lamented. This grief

  is crowned170 with consolation: your old smock brings forth a

  new petticoat171, and indeed the tears live in an onion that

  should water this sorrow.

  ANTONY The business she hath broached in the state

  Cannot endure my absence.

  ENOBARBUS And the business175 you have broached here cannot

  be without you, especially that of Cleopatra's, which wholly

  depends on your abode177.

  ANTONY No more light178 answers. Let our officers

  Have notice what we purpose. I shall break

  The cause of our expedience180 to the queen,

  And get her leave to part181. For not alone

  The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches182,

  Do strongly speak to us, but the letters too

  Of many our contriving184 friends in Rome

  Petition us at home185. Sextus Pompeius

  Hath given the dare to186 Caesar and commands

  The empire of the sea. Our slippery187 people,

  Whose love is never linked to the deserver

  Till his deserts are past, begin to throw189

  Pompey the Great190 and all his dignities

  Upon his son, who, high191 in name and power,

  Higher than both in blood and life192, stands up

  For the main193 soldier, whose quality going on,

  The sides o'th'world may danger194. Much is breeding

  Which, like the courser's hair, hath yet but life

  And not a serpent's poison195. Say our pleasure,

  To such whose place is under us, requires

  Our quick remove198 from hence196.

  ENOBARBUS I shall do't.

  [Exeunt separately]

  [Act 1 Scene 3]

  running scene 1 continues

  * * *

  Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Alexas and Iras

  CLEOPATRA Where is he?

  CHARMIAN I did not see him since2.

  CLEOPATRA See where he is, who's with him, what he

  does.

  To Alexas

  I did not send you4: if you find him sad,

  Say I am dancing, if in mirth, report

  That I am sudden sick. Quick, and return.

  [Exit Alexas]

  CHARMIAN Madam, methinks if you did love him dearly,

  You do not hold8 the method to enforce

  The like9 from him.

  CLEOPATRA What should I do I do not?

  CHARMIAN In each thing give him way11: cross him in nothing.

  CLEOPATRA Thou teachest like a fool, the way to lose him.

  CHARMIAN Tempt13 him not so too far. I wish, forbear:

  In time we hate that which we often fear.

  Enter Antony

  But here comes Antony.

  CLEOPATRA I am sick and sullen16.

  ANTONY I am sorry to give breathing17 to my purpose--

  CLEOPATRA Help me away, dear Charmian! I shall fall.

  It cannot be thus long19: the sides of nature

  Will not sustain it.

  ANTONY Now, my dearest queen--

  CLEOPATRA Pray you stand further from me22.

  ANTONY What's the matter?

  CLEOPATRA I know by that same eye24 there's some good news.

  What, says the married woman25 you may go?

  Would she had never given you leave to come.

  Let her not say 'tis I that keep you here.

  I have no power upon you: hers you are.

  ANTONY The gods best know--

  CLEOPATRA O, never was there queen

  So mightily betrayed! Yet at the first

  I saw the treasons planted.

  ANTONY Cleopatra--

  CLEOPATRA Why should I think you can be mine, and true --

  Though you in swearing shake the throned gods --

  Who have been false36 to Fulvia? Riotous madness,

  To be entangled with those mouth-made37 vows

  Which break themselves in swearing38!

  ANTONY Most sweet queen--

  CLEOPATRA Nay, pray you seek no colour40 for your going,

  But bid farewell and go: when you sued staying41,

  Then was the time for words: no going then.

  Eternity was in our43 lips and eyes,

  Bliss in our brows bent44: none our parts so poor

  But was a race of heaven45. They are so still,

  Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world,

  Art turned the greatest liar.

  ANTONY How now48, lady?

  CLEOPATRA I would I had thy inches49: thou shouldst know

  There were a heart50 in Egypt.

  ANTONY Hear me, queen:

  The strong necessity of time commands

  Our services awhile, but my full heart

  Remains in use54 with you. Our Italy

  Shines o'er with civil swords55; Sextus Pompeius

  Makes his approaches to the port56 of Rome.

  Equality of two domestic powers

  B
reed scrupulous faction57: the hated, grown to strength,

  Are newly grown to love58: the condemned Pompey,

  Rich in his father's honour, creeps apace60

  Into the hearts of such as have not thrived

  Upon the present state62, whose numbers threaten,

  And quietness, grown sick of rest, would purge63

  By any desperate change. My more particular64,

  And that which most with you should safe65 my going,

  Is Fulvia's death.

  CLEOPATRA Though age from folly could not give me freedom,

  It does from childishness. Can Fulvia die?

  ANTONY She's dead, my queen.

  Gives her the letters

  Look here, and at thy sovereign leisure read

  The garboils71 she awaked: at the last, best,

  See when and where she died.

  CLEOPATRA O most false love!

  Where be the sacred vials74 thou shouldst fill

  With sorrowful water? Now I see, I see,

  In Fulvia's death how mine received shall be.

  ANTONY Quarrel no more, but be prepared to know77

  The purposes I bear78, which are, or cease,

  As you shall give th'advice79. By the fire

  That quickens Nilus' slime, I go from hence

  Thy soldier, servant, making peace or war

  As thou affects82.

  CLEOPATRA Cut my lace83, Charmian, come!

  But let it be84: I am quickly ill and well,

  So Antony loves85.

  ANTONY My precious queen, forbear86

  And give true evidence87 to his love, which stands

  An honourable trial.

  CLEOPATRA So Fulvia told me.

  I prithee turn aside and weep for her,

  Then bid adieu to me, and say the tears

  Belong to Egypt92. Good now, play one scene

  Of excellent dissembling93, and let it look

  Like perfect honour.

  ANTONY You'll heat my blood95 no more!

  CLEOPATRA You can do better yet, but this is meetly96.

  ANTONY Now, by sword--

  CLEOPATRA And target98. Still he mends,

  But this is not the best. Look, prithee, Charmian,

  How this Herculean100 Roman does become

  The carriage of his chafe.

  ANTONY I'll leave you, lady.

  CLEOPATRA Courteous lord, one word:

  Sir, you and I must part, but that's not it:

  Sir, you and I have loved, but there's not it:

  That you know well. Something it is I would:

  O, my oblivion107 is a very Antony,

  And I am all forgotten108.

  ANTONY But109 that your royalty

  Holds idleness your subject110, I should take you

  For idleness itself.

  CLEOPATRA 'Tis sweating labour112

  To bear such idleness so near the heart

  As Cleopatra this. But, sir, forgive me,

  Since my becomings115 kill me when they do not

  Eye116 well to you. Your honour calls you hence:

  Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly,

  And all the gods go with you. Upon your sword

  Sit laurel victory, and smooth success

  Be strewed before your feet119.

  ANTONY Let us go. Come:

  Our separation so abides and flies

  That thou, residing here, goes yet with me,

  And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee122.

  Away!

  Exeunt

  [Act 1 Scene 4]

  running scene 2

  Location: Rome, Italy

  * * *

  Enter Octavius [Caesar] reading a letter, Lepidus and their Train

  CAESAR You may see, Lepidus, and henceforth know

  It is not Caesar's natural vice to hate

  Our great competitor3. From Alexandria

  This is the news: he fishes, drinks and wastes

  The lamps of night in revel. Is5 not more manlike

  Than Cleopatra, nor the Queen of Ptolemy6

  More womanly than he. Hardly gave audience7, or

  Vouchsafed8 to think he had partners. You shall find there

  A man who is th'abstract9 of all faults

  That all men follow.

  LEPIDUS I must not think there are

  Evils enough to darken all his goodness:

  His faults in him seem as the spots of heaven13,

  More fiery by night's blackness; hereditary

  Rather than purchased15, what he cannot change,

  Than what he chooses.

  CAESAR You are too indulgent. Let's grant it is not

  Amiss to tumble18 on the bed of Ptolemy,

  To give a kingdom for a mirth19, to sit

  And keep the turn of tippling20 with a slave,

  To reel21 the streets at noon, and stand the buffet

  With knaves that smell of sweat: say this becomes him --

  As23 his composure must be rare indeed

  Whom these things cannot blemish -- yet must Antony

  No way excuse his foils25 when we do bear

  So great weight in his lightness. If he filled

  His vacancy27 with his voluptuousness,

  Full surfeits28 and the dryness of his bones

  Call on him for't. But to confound29 such time

  That drums30 him from his sport, and speaks as loud

  As his own state and ours31, 'tis to be chid

  As we rate32 boys, who, being mature in knowledge,

  Pawn their experience to their present pleasure

  And so rebel to34 judgement.

  Enter a Messenger

  LEPIDUS Here's more news.

  MESSENGER Thy biddings36 have been done, and every hour,

  Most noble Caesar, shalt thou have report

  How 'tis38 abroad. Pompey is strong at sea,

  And it appears he is beloved of those

  That only have feared40 Caesar: to the ports

  The discontents41 repair, and men's reports

  Give him42 much wronged.

  CAESAR I should have known no less.

  It hath been taught us from the primal state44

  That he which is was wished until he were45,

  And the ebbed46 man, ne'er loved till ne'er worth love,

  Comes deared47 by being lacked. This common body,

  Like to a vagabond48 flag upon the stream,

  Goes to and back, lackeying49 the varying tide,

  To rot itself with motion.

  [Enter another Messenger]

  SECOND MESSENGER Caesar, I bring thee word

  Menecrates and Menas, famous52 pirates,

  Make the sea serve them, which they ear53 and wound

  With keels of every kind. Many hot inroads54

  They make in Italy: the borders maritime55

  Lack blood56 to think on't, and flush youth revolt.

  No vessel can peep forth but 'tis as soon

  Taken58 as seen, for Pompey's name strikes more

  Than could his war resisted.

  CAESAR Antony,

  Leave thy lascivious wassails61. When thou once

  Was beaten from Modena62, where thou slew'st

  Hirtius and Pansa, consuls, at thy heel

  Did famine follow, whom64 thou fought'st against --

  Though daintily65 brought up -- with patience more

  Than savages could suffer. Thou didst drink

  The stale67 of horses and the gilded puddle

  Which beasts would cough at. Thy palate then did deign68

  The roughest berry on the rudest69 hedge.

  Yea, like the stag when snow the pasture sheets70,

  The barks of trees thou browsed71. On the Alps,

  It is reported thou didst eat strange flesh

  Which some did die to look on: and all this --

  It wounds thine honour that I speak it now --

  Was borne so like a soldier,
that thy cheek

  So much as lanked not76.

  LEPIDUS 'Tis pity of77 him.

  CAESAR Let his shames quickly

  Drive him to Rome: 'tis time we twain79

  Did show ourselves i'th'field80, and to that end

  Assemble we immediate council. Pompey

  Thrives in our idleness.

  LEPIDUS Tomorrow, Caesar,

  I shall be furnished to inform you rightly

  Both what by sea and land I can be able85

  To front86 this present time.

  CAESAR Till which encounter,

  It is my business too. Farewell.

  LEPIDUS Farewell, my lord. What you shall know meantime

  Of stirs90 abroad, I shall beseech you, sir,

  To let me be partaker.

  CAESAR Doubt not, sir,

  I knew it for my bond93.

  Exeunt

  [Act 1 Scene 5]

  running scene 3

  Location: Alexandria

  * * *

  Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras and Mardian

  CLEOPATRA Charmian!

  CHARMIAN Madam?

  CLEOPATRA Ha, ha.

  Yawns

  Give me to drink mandragora4.

  CHARMIAN Why, madam?

  CLEOPATRA That I might sleep out this great gap of time

  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.

 

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