The Tragedy Of Antony And Cleopatra

1 Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Alexas and Iras.
2 CLEOPATRA.
3 Where is he?
4 CHARMIAN.
5 I did not see him since.
6 CLEOPATRA.
7 See where he is, who’s with him, what he does.
8 I did not send you. If you find him sad,
9 Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report
10 That I am sudden sick. Quick, and return.
11 [_Exit Alexas._]
12 CHARMIAN.
13 Madam, methinks, if you did love him dearly,
14 You do not hold the method to enforce
15 The like from him.
16 CLEOPATRA.
17 What should I do I do not?
18 CHARMIAN.
19 In each thing give him way; cross him in nothing.
20 CLEOPATRA.
21 Thou teachest like a fool: the way to lose him.
22 CHARMIAN.
23 Tempt him not so too far; I wish, forbear.
24 In time we hate that which we often fear.
25 But here comes Antony.
26 Enter Antony.
27 CLEOPATRA.
28 I am sick and sullen.
29 ANTONY.
30 I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose—
31 CLEOPATRA.
32 Help me away, dear Charmian! I shall fall.
33 It cannot be thus long; the sides of nature
34 Will not sustain it.
35 ANTONY.
36 Now, my dearest queen—
37 CLEOPATRA.
38 Pray you, stand farther from me.
39 ANTONY.
40 What’s the matter?
41 CLEOPATRA.
42 I know by that same eye there’s some good news.
43 What, says the married woman you may go?
44 Would she had never given you leave to come!
45 Let her not say ’tis I that keep you here.
46 I have no power upon you; hers you are.
47 ANTONY.
48 The gods best know—
49 CLEOPATRA.
50 O, never was there queen
51 So mightily betrayed! Yet at the first
52 I saw the treasons planted.
53 ANTONY.
54 Cleopatra—
55 CLEOPATRA.
56 Why should I think you can be mine and true,
57 Though you in swearing shake the throned gods,
58 Who have been false to Fulvia? Riotous madness,
59 To be entangled with those mouth-made vows
60 Which break themselves in swearing!
61 ANTONY.
62 Most sweet queen—
63 CLEOPATRA.
64 Nay, pray you seek no colour for your going,
65 But bid farewell and go. When you sued staying,
66 Then was the time for words. No going then,
67 Eternity was in our lips and eyes,
68 Bliss in our brows’ bent; none our parts so poor
69 But was a race of heaven. They are so still,
70 Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world,
71 Art turned the greatest liar.
72 ANTONY.
73 How now, lady!
74 CLEOPATRA.
75 I would I had thy inches, thou shouldst know
76 There were a heart in Egypt.
77 ANTONY.
78 Hear me, queen:
79 The strong necessity of time commands
80 Our services awhile, but my full heart
81 Remains in use with you. Our Italy
82 Shines o’er with civil swords; Sextus Pompeius
83 Makes his approaches to the port of Rome;
84 Equality of two domestic powers
85 Breed scrupulous faction; the hated, grown to strength,
86 Are newly grown to love; the condemned Pompey,
87 Rich in his father’s honour, creeps apace
88 Into the hearts of such as have not thrived
89 Upon the present state, whose numbers threaten;
90 And quietness, grown sick of rest, would purge
91 By any desperate change. My more particular,
92 And that which most with you should safe my going,
93 Is Fulvia’s death.
94 CLEOPATRA.
95 Though age from folly could not give me freedom,
96 It does from childishness. Can Fulvia die?
97 ANTONY.
98 She’s dead, my queen.
99 Look here, and at thy sovereign leisure read
100 The garboils she awaked; at the last, best,
101 See when and where she died.
102 CLEOPATRA.
103 O most false love!
104 Where be the sacred vials thou shouldst fill
105 With sorrowful water? Now I see, I see,
106 In Fulvia’s death how mine received shall be.
107 ANTONY.
108 Quarrel no more, but be prepared to know
109 The purposes I bear; which are, or cease,
110 As you shall give th’ advice. By the fire
111 That quickens Nilus’ slime, I go from hence
112 Thy soldier, servant, making peace or war
113 As thou affects.
114 CLEOPATRA.
115 Cut my lace, Charmian, come!
116 But let it be; I am quickly ill and well,
117 So Antony loves.
118 ANTONY.
119 My precious queen, forbear,
120 And give true evidence to his love, which stands
121 An honourable trial.
122 CLEOPATRA.
123 So Fulvia told me.
124 I prithee, turn aside and weep for her,
125 Then bid adieu to me, and say the tears
126 Belong to Egypt. Good now, play one scene
127 Of excellent dissembling, and let it look
128 Like perfect honour.
129 ANTONY.
130 You’ll heat my blood. No more.
131 CLEOPATRA.
132 You can do better yet, but this is meetly.
133 ANTONY.
134 Now, by my sword—
135 CLEOPATRA.
136 And target. Still he mends.
137 But this is not the best. Look, prithee, Charmian,
138 How this Herculean Roman does become
139 The carriage of his chafe.
140 ANTONY.
141 I’ll leave you, lady.
142 CLEOPATRA.
143 Courteous lord, one word.
144 Sir, you and I must part, but that’s not it;
145 Sir, you and I have loved, but there’s not it;
146 That you know well. Something it is I would—
147 O, my oblivion is a very Antony,
148 And I am all forgotten.
149 ANTONY.
150 But that your royalty
151 Holds idleness your subject, I should take you
152 For idleness itself.
153 CLEOPATRA.
154 ’Tis sweating labour
155 To bear such idleness so near the heart
156 As Cleopatra this. But, sir, forgive me,
157 Since my becomings kill me when they do not
158 Eye well to you. Your honour calls you hence;
159 Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly,
160 And all the gods go with you! Upon your sword
161 Sit laurel victory, and smooth success
162 Be strewed before your feet!
163 ANTONY.
164 Let us go. Come.
165 Our separation so abides and flies
166 That thou, residing here, goes yet with me,
167 And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee.
168 Away!
169 [_Exeunt._]