http://www.arcamax.com/plays/b-1466-1
Antony and Cleopatra
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
by William Shakespeare
PERSONS REPRESENTED.
M.ANTONY, Triumvir OCTAVIUS CAESAR, Triumvir M. AEMIL.
LEPIDUS, Triumvir SEXTUS POMPEIUS Triumvir DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS,
friend to Antony VENTIDIUS, friend to Antony EROS,
friend to Antony SCARUS, friend to Antony DERCETAS,
friend to Antony DEMETRIUS, friend to Antony PHILO,
friend to Antony MAECENAS, friend to Caesar AGRIPPA, friend to
Caesar DOLABELLA, friend to Caesar PROCULEIUS, friend to Caesar
THYREUS, friend to Caesar GALLUS, friend to Caesar MENAS,
friend to Pompey MENECRATES, friend to Pompey VARRIUS, friend
to Pompey TAURUS, Lieutenant-General to Caesar CANIDIUS,
Lieutenant-General to Antony SILIUS, an Officer in Ventidius's army
EUPHRONIUS, an Ambassador from Antony to Caesar ALEXAS, attendant on
Cleopatra MARDIAN, attendant on Cleopatra SELEUCUS, attendant on
Cleopatra DIOMEDES, attendant on Cleopatra A SOOTHSAYER A CLOWN
CLEOPATRA, Queen of Egypt OCTAVIA, sister to Caesar and wife to
Antony CHARMIAN, Attendant on Cleopatra IRAS, Attendant on
Cleopatra
Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants
SCENE: Dispersed, in several parts of the Roman Empire.
ACT I.
SCENE I. Alexandria. A Room in CLEOPATRA'S palace.
[Enter DEMETRIUS and PHILO.]
PHILO. Nay, but this dotage of our general's O'erflows the measure:
those his goodly eyes, That o'er the files and musters of the war Have
glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn, The office and devotion
of their view Upon a tawny front: his captain's heart, Which in the
scuffles of great fights hath burst The buckles on his breast, reneges
all temper, And is become the bellows and the fan To cool a gipsy's
lust.
[Flourish within.]
Look where they come: Take but good note, and you shall see in him The
triple pillar of the world transform'd Into a strumpet's fool: behold
and see.
[Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, with their trains; Eunuchs fanning her.]
CLEOPATRA. If it be love indeed, tell me how much.
ANTONY. There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd.
CLEOPATRA. I'll set a bourn how far to be belov'd.
ANTONY. Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth.
[Enter an Attendant.]
ATTENDANT. News, my good lord, from Rome.
ANTONY. Grates me:--the sum.
CLEOPATRA. Nay, hear them, Antony: Fulvia perchance is angry; or who
knows If the scarce-bearded Caesar have not sent His powerful mandate
to you: 'Do this or this; Take in that kingdom and enfranchise that;
Perform't, or else we damn thee.'
ANTONY. How, my love!
CLEOPATRA. Perchance! Nay, and most like:-- You must not stay here
longer,--your dismission Is come from Caesar; therefore hear it,
Antony. -- Where's Fulvia's process?--Caesar's I would say?--Both?--
Call in the messengers.--As I am Egypt's queen, Thou blushest, Antony;
and that blood of thine Is Caesar's homager: else so thy cheek pays
shame When shrill-tongu'd Fulvia scolds.--The messengers!
ANTONY. Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch Of the rang'd empire
fall! Here is my space. Kingdoms are clay: our dungy earth alike Feeds
beast as man: the nobleness of life Is to do thus [Embracing]; when
such a mutual pair And such a twain can do't, in which I bind, On pain
of punishment, the world to weet We stand up peerless.
CLEOPATRA. Excellent falsehood! Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love
her?-- I'll seem the fool I am not; Antony Will be himself.
ANTONY. But stirr'd by Cleopatra.-- Now, for the love of Love and her
soft hours, Let's not confound the time with conference harsh: There's
not a minute of our lives should stretch Without some pleasure
now:--what sport to-night?
CLEOPATRA. Hear the ambassadors.
ANTONY. Fie, wrangling queen! Whom everything becomes,--to chide, to
laugh, To weep; whose every passion fully strives To make itself in
thee fair and admir'd! No messenger; but thine, and all alone To-night
we'll wander through the streets and note The qualities of people.
Come, my queen; Last night you did desire it:--speak not to us.
[Exeunt ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, with their Train.]
DEMETRIUS. Is Caesar with Antonius priz'd so slight?
PHILO. Sir, sometimes when he is not Antony, He comes too short of
that great property Which still should go with Antony.
DEMETRIUS. I am full sorry That he approves the common liar, who Thus
speaks of him at Rome: but I will hope Of better deeds to-morrow. Rest
you happy!
[Exeunt.]