Enter Enobarbus and Eros ENOBARBUS  How now, friend Eros? EROS   There’s strange news come, sir. ENOBARBUS  What, man? EROS   Caesar and Lepidus have made wars upon Pompey. ENOBARBUS  This is old. What is the success? EROS   Caesar, having made use of him in the wars ’gainst Pompey, presently denied him rivality, would not let him […]

OCTAVIA                    Thanks to my lord. The Jove of power make me most weak, most weak, Your reconciler! Wars ’twixt you twain would be As if the world should cleave, and that slain men Should solder up the rift. ANTONY         When it appears to you where this begins, Turn your displeasure that way, for our faults […]

ANTONY                                 Gentle Octavia, Let your best love draw to that point which seeks Best to preserve it. If I lose mine honour, I lose myself. Better I were not yours Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested, Yourself shall go between’s. The meantime, lady, I’ll raise the preparation of a war Shall stain your […]

OCTAVIA                    O, my good lord, Believe not all, or if you must believe, Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady, If this division chance, ne’er stood between, Praying for both parts. The good gods will mock me presently, When I shall pray ‘O, bless my lord and husband!’, Undo that prayer by crying out as […]

Enter Antony and Octavia ANTONY                     Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that, That were excusable, that and thousands more Of semblable import; but he hath waged New wars ’gainst Pompey, made his will and read it To public ear, spoke scantly of me; when perforce he could not But pay me terms of honour, cold and […]

CHARMIAN                            A proper man. CLEOPATRA  Indeed he is so. I repent me much That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him, This creature’s no such thing. CHARMIAN                            Nothing, madam. CLEOPATRA  The man hath seen some majesty, and should know. CHARMIAN    Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend, And serving you so long! CLEOPATRA  I […]

CLEOPATRA  Bear’st thou her face in mind? Is’t long or round? MESSENGER  Round, even to faultiness. CLEOPATRA  For the most part, too, they are foolish that are so. Her hair—what colour? MESSENGER  Brown, madam; and her forehead As low as she would wish it. CLEOPATRA  [giving money] There’s gold for thee. Thou must not take my […]

CLEOPATRA   Is this certain? MESSENGER  Or I have no observance. CHARMIAN                 Three in Egypt Cannot make better note. CLEOPATRA   He’s very knowing, I do perceive’t. There’s nothing in her yet. The fellow has good judgement. CHARMIAN                             Excellent. CLEOPATRA   [to Messenger] Guess at her years, I prithee. MESSENGER  Madam, She was a widow— CLEOPATRA               Widow? Charmian, hark. […]

CLEOPATRA  Is she as tall as me? MESSENGER  She is not, madam. CLEOPATRA  Didst hear her speak? Is she shrill-tongued or low? MESSENGER  Madam, I heard her speak. She is low-voiced. CLEOPATRA  That’s not so good. He cannot like her long. CHARMIAN    Like her? O, Isis, ’tis impossible! CLEOPATRA  I think so, Charmian. Dull of […]

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas CLEOPATRA   Where is the fellow? ALEXAS                                   Half afeard to come. CLEOPATRA   Go to, go to. Enter the Messenger as before Come hither, sir. ALEXAS           Good majesty, Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you But when you are well pleased. CLEOPATRA               That Herod’s head I’ll have; but how, when […]