ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. ACT I. SCENE I. Alexandria. A room in Cleopatra's palace. Phi. Nay, but this dotage of our general's Upon a tawny front: his captain's heart, 1 Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst To cool a gipsy's lust. Look, where they come ! Florish. Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, with their trains; Eunuchs fanning her. Take but good note, and you shall see in him 1 Renounces. The triple pillar of the world transform'd Into a strumpet's fool: behold, and see. Cle. If it be love indeed, tell me how much. Cle. I'll set a bourn 1 how far to be beloved. new earth. Enter ATTENDANT. Att. News, my good lord, from Rome. Ant. Grates Cle. Nay, hear them, Antony: me:-the sum. Fulvia, perchance, is angry; or, who knows If the scarce-bearded Cæsar 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.' Ant. How, my love? Both ? -- ? Call in the messengers.—As I am Egypt's queen, 1 Limit. 2 It offends. 3 Summons. When shrill-tongued Fulvia scolds.-The sengers. mes Ant. Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch Of the ranged 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; when such a mutual pair, [embracing. And such a twain can do 't, in which, I bind, On pain of punishment, the world to weet,1 We stand up peerless. Cle. Excellent falsehood! Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her ?— Will be himself. Ant. 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? Cle. Hear the ambassadors. Ant. Fie, wrangling queen! Whom every thing becomes, to chide, to laugh, To weep; whose every passion fully strives To make itself, in thee, fair and admired! No messenger; but thine and all alone, To-night, we'll wander through the streets, and note .1 Know. 2 i. e. of Venus. The qualities of people. Come, my queen; [Exeunt Antony and Cleopatra, with their train. Dem. I'm full sorry, That he approves the common liar,1 who [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. Another room. Enter CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, and a soOTHSAYER. Char. Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most any thing Alexas, almost most absolute Alexas, where's the soothsayer that you praised so to the queen? O, that I knew this husband, which, you say, must charge his horns with garlands! Alex. Soothsayer. Sooth. Your will? Char. Is this the man?-Is 't you, sir, that know things? Sooth. In Nature's infinite book of secresy A little I can read. 1 Fame. Alex. Show him your hand. Enter ENOBArbus. Eno. Bring in the banquet quickly; wine enough, Cleopatra's health to drink. Char. Good sir, give me good fortune. Sooth. I make not, but foresee. Char. Pray then, foresee me one. Sooth. You shall be yet far fairer than you are. Char. He means, in flesh. Iras. No, you shall paint when you are old. Char. Wrinkles forbid ! Alex. Vex not his prescience; be attentive. Sooth. You shall be more beloving than beloved. Char. Good now, some excellent fortune! Let me be married to three kings in a forenoon, and widow them all: let me have a child at fifty, to whom Herod of Jewry may do homage: find me to marry me with Octavius Cæsar, and companion me with my mistress. Sooth. You shall outlive the lady whom you serve. Char. O excellent! I love long life better than figs.1 1 A proverbial expression. |