The Tragedy Of Antony And Cleopatra

1 Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, Alexas.
2 CLEOPATRA.
3 Give me some music—music, moody food
4 Of us that trade in love.
5 ALL.
6 The music, ho!
7 Enter Mardian, the eunuch.
8 CLEOPATRA.
9 Let it alone. Let’s to billiards. Come, Charmian.
10 CHARMIAN.
11 My arm is sore. Best play with Mardian.
12 CLEOPATRA.
13 As well a woman with an eunuch played
14 As with a woman. Come, you’ll play with me, sir?
15 MARDIAN.
16 As well as I can, madam.
17 CLEOPATRA.
18 And when good will is showed, though’t come too short,
19 The actor may plead pardon. I’ll none now.
20 Give me mine angle; we’ll to the river. There,
21 My music playing far off, I will betray
22 Tawny-finned fishes. My bended hook shall pierce
23 Their slimy jaws, and as I draw them up
24 I’ll think them every one an Antony,
25 And say “Ah, ha! You’re caught.”
26 CHARMIAN.
27 ’Twas merry when
28 You wagered on your angling; when your diver
29 Did hang a salt fish on his hook, which he
30 With fervency drew up.
31 CLEOPATRA.
32 That time?—O times!—
33 I laughed him out of patience; and that night
34 I laughed him into patience, and next morn,
35 Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed,
36 Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst
37 I wore his sword Philippan.
38 Enter Messenger.
39 O! from Italy!
40 Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
41 That long time have been barren.
42 MESSENGER.
43 Madam, madam—
44 CLEOPATRA.
45 Antony’s dead! If thou say so, villain,
46 Thou kill’st thy mistress. But well and free,
47 If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here
48 My bluest veins to kiss, a hand that kings
49 Have lipped, and trembled kissing.
50 MESSENGER.
51 First, madam, he’s well.
52 CLEOPATRA.
53 Why, there’s more gold.
54 But sirrah, mark, we use
55 To say the dead are well. Bring it to that,
56 The gold I give thee will I melt and pour
57 Down thy ill-uttering throat.
58 MESSENGER.
59 Good madam, hear me.
60 CLEOPATRA.
61 Well, go to, I will.
62 But there’s no goodness in thy face if Antony
63 Be free and healthful. So tart a favour
64 To trumpet such good tidings! If not well,
65 Thou shouldst come like a Fury crowned with snakes,
66 Not like a formal man.
67 MESSENGER.
68 Will’t please you hear me?
69 CLEOPATRA.
70 I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak’st.
71 Yet if thou say Antony lives, is well,
72 Or friends with Caesar, or not captive to him,
73 I’ll set thee in a shower of gold and hail
74 Rich pearls upon thee.
75 MESSENGER.
76 Madam, he’s well.
77 CLEOPATRA.
78 Well said.
79 MESSENGER.
80 And friends with Caesar.
81 CLEOPATRA.
82 Th’ art an honest man.
83 MESSENGER.
84 Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.
85 CLEOPATRA.
86 Make thee a fortune from me.
87 MESSENGER.
88 But yet, madam—
89 CLEOPATRA.
90 I do not like “But yet”, it does allay
91 The good precedence. Fie upon “But yet”!
92 “But yet” is as a gaoler to bring forth
93 Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend,
94 Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,
95 The good and bad together: he’s friends with Caesar,
96 In state of health, thou say’st; and, thou say’st, free.
97 MESSENGER.
98 Free, madam? No. I made no such report.
99 He’s bound unto Octavia.
100 CLEOPATRA.
101 For what good turn?
102 MESSENGER.
103 For the best turn i’ th’ bed.
104 CLEOPATRA.
105 I am pale, Charmian.
106 MESSENGER.
107 Madam, he’s married to Octavia.
108 CLEOPATRA.
109 The most infectious pestilence upon thee!
110 [_Strikes him down._]
111 MESSENGER.
112 Good madam, patience.
113 CLEOPATRA.
114 What say you?
115 [_Strikes him again._]
116 Hence, horrible villain, or I’ll spurn thine eyes
117 Like balls before me! I’ll unhair thy head!
118 [_She hales him up and down._]
119 Thou shalt be whipped with wire and stewed in brine,
120 Smarting in ling’ring pickle.
121 MESSENGER.
122 Gracious madam,
123 I that do bring the news made not the match.
124 CLEOPATRA.
125 Say ’tis not so, a province I will give thee,
126 And make thy fortunes proud. The blow thou hadst
127 Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage,
128 And I will boot thee with what gift beside
129 Thy modesty can beg.
130 MESSENGER.
131 He’s married, madam.
132 CLEOPATRA.
133 Rogue, thou hast lived too long.
134 [_Draws a knife._]
135 MESSENGER.
136 Nay then I’ll run.
137 What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.
138 [_Exit._]
139 CHARMIAN.
140 Good madam, keep yourself within yourself.
141 The man is innocent.
142 CLEOPATRA.
143 Some innocents ’scape not the thunderbolt.
144 Melt Egypt into Nile, and kindly creatures
145 Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again.
146 Though I am mad, I will not bite him. Call!
147 CHARMIAN.
148 He is afeard to come.
149 CLEOPATRA.
150 I will not hurt him.
151 [_Exit Charmian._]
152 These hands do lack nobility that they strike
153 A meaner than myself, since I myself
154 Have given myself the cause.
155 Enter the Messenger again with Charmian.
156 Come hither, sir.
157 Though it be honest, it is never good
158 To bring bad news. Give to a gracious message
159 An host of tongues, but let ill tidings tell
160 Themselves when they be felt.
161 MESSENGER.
162 I have done my duty.
163 CLEOPATRA.
164 Is he married?
165 I cannot hate thee worser than I do
166 If thou again say “Yes.”
167 MESSENGER.
168 He’s married, madam.
169 CLEOPATRA.
170 The gods confound thee! Dost thou hold there still!
171 MESSENGER.
172 Should I lie, madam?
173 CLEOPATRA.
174 O, I would thou didst,
175 So half my Egypt were submerged and made
176 A cistern for scaled snakes! Go, get thee hence.
177 Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me
178 Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?
179 MESSENGER.
180 I crave your highness’ pardon.
181 CLEOPATRA.
182 He is married?
183 MESSENGER.
184 Take no offence that I would not offend you.
185 To punish me for what you make me do
186 Seems much unequal. He’s married to Octavia.
187 CLEOPATRA.
188 O, that his fault should make a knave of thee
189 That art not what thou’rt sure of! Get thee hence!
190 The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome
191 Are all too dear for me. Lie they upon thy hand,
192 And be undone by ’em!
193 [_Exit Messenger._]
194 CHARMIAN.
195 Good your highness, patience.
196 CLEOPATRA.
197 In praising Antony I have dispraised Caesar.
198 CHARMIAN.
199 Many times, madam.
200 CLEOPATRA.
201 I am paid for’t now.
202 Lead me from hence;
203 I faint. O Iras, Charmian! ’Tis no matter.
204 Go to the fellow, good Alexas, bid him
205 Report the feature of Octavia, her years,
206 Her inclination; let him not leave out
207 The colour of her hair. Bring me word quickly.
208 [_Exit Alexas._]
209 Let him for ever go—let him not, Charmian.
210 Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
211 The other way ’s a Mars. [_To Mardian_] Bid you Alexas
212 Bring me word how tall she is. Pity me, Charmian,
213 But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.
214 [_Exeunt._]