ENOBARBUS  Upon her landing Antony sent to her, Invited her to supper. She replied It should be better he became her guest, Which she entreated. Our courteous Antony, Whom ne’er the word of ‘No’ woman heard speak, Being barbered ten times o’er, goes to the feast, And for his ordinary pays his heart For what […]

ENOBARBUS              From the barge A strange invisible perfume hits the sense Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast Her people out upon her, and Antony, Enthroned i’th’ market-place, did sit alone, Whistling to th’air, which but for vacancy Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too, And made a gap in nature. AGRIPPA                                 Rare Egyptian!           (2.2.210-217) […]

ENOBARBUS              On each side her Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids, With divers-coloured fans whose wind did seem To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool, And what they undid did. AGRIPPA                                 O, rare for Antony! ENOBARBUS  Her gentlewomen, like the Nereïdes, So many mermaids, tended her i’th’ eyes, And made their bends […]

ENOBARBUS              The poop was beaten gold; Purple the sails, and so perfumèd that The winds were love-sick with them. The oars were silver, Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made The water which they beat to follow faster, As amorous of their strokes. For her own person, It beggared all description. She […]

MAECENAS    She’s a most triumphant lady, if report be square to her. ENOBARBUS  When she first met Mark Antony, she pursed up his heart upon the river of Cydnus. AGRIPPA         There she appeared indeed, or my reporter devised well for her. ENOBARBUS  I will tell you. The barge she sat in, like a burnished throne Burned on […]

MAECENAS    [to Enobarbus] Welcome from Egypt, sir. ENOBARBUS  Half the heart of Caesar, worthy Maecenas! My honourable friend, Agrippa! AGRIPPA         Good Enobarbus! MAECENAS    We have cause to be glad that matters are so well digested. You stayed well by’t in Egypt. ENOBARBUS  Ay, sir, we did sleep day out of countenance, and made the night light with drinking. MAECENAS    […]

LEPIDUS                     Time calls upon’s. Of us must Pompey presently be sought, Or else he seeks out us. ANTONY                     Where lies he? CAESAR          About the Mount Misena. ANTONY                     What is his strength By land? CAESAR          Great and increasing, but by sea He is an absolute master. ANTONY                     So is the fame. Would we had spoke together. […]

CAESAR                      There’s my hand. A sister I bequeath you whom no brother Did ever love so dearly. Let her live To join our kingdoms and our hearts; and never Fly off our loves again. LEPIDUS                     Happily, amen. ANTONY         I did not think to draw my sword ’gainst Pompey, For he hath laid strange courtesies and […]

ANTONY                     Will Caesar speak? CAESAR          Not till he hears how Antony is touched With what is spoke already. ANTONY         What power is in Agrippa, If I would say ‘Agrippa, be it so’, To make this good? CAESAR                      The power of Caesar, And his power unto Octavia. ANTONY                     May I never To this good purpose, that […]

AGRIPPA                     By this marriage All little jealousies which now seem great, And all great fears which now import their dangers, Would then be nothing. Truths would be tales Where now half-tales be truths. Her love to both Would each to other and all loves to both Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke, For […]