POMPEY                     How now, Varrius? VARRIUS         This is most certain that I shall deliver: Mark Antony is every hour in Rome Expected. Since he went from Egypt, ’tis A space for farther travel. POMPEY         I could have given less matter A better ear.   (2.1.27-32)   Hello Varrius, what’s new? (And, what’s the news from Rome?) This […]

MENECRATES                        Caesar and Lepidus Are in the field; a mighty strength they carry. POMPEY         Where have you this? ’Tis false. MENECRATES                        From Silvius, sir. POMPEY         He dreams. I know they are in Rome together, Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love, Salt Cleopatra, soften thy waned lip. Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust […]

POMPEY                     I shall do well: The people love me, and the sea is mine. My powers are crescent, and my auguring hope Says it will come to th’ full. Mark Antony In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make No wars without doors. Caesar gets money where He loses hearts. Lepidus flatters both, Of both […]

Enter Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas, in warlike manner POMPEY         If the great gods be just, they shall assist The deeds of justest men. MENECRATES            Know, worthy Pompey, That what they do delay they not deny. POMPEY         Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays The thing we sue for. MENECRATES            We, ignorant of ourselves, Beg […]

CLEOPATRA   By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth If thou with Caesar paragon again My man of men. CHARMIAN                 By your most gracious pardon, I sing but after you. CLEOPATRA               My salad days, When I was green in judgement, cold in blood, To say as I said then. But come, away, Get me […]

CLEOPATRA               Met’st thou my posts? ALEXAS           Ay, madam, twenty several messengers. Why do you send so thick? CLEOPATRA               Who’s born that day When I forget to send to Antony Shall die a beggar. Ink and paper, Charmian! Welcome, my good Alexas. Did I, Charmian, Ever love Caesar so? CHARMIAN                             O, that brave Caesar! CLEOPATRA   Be […]

CLEOPATRA   What, was he sad or merry? ALEXAS           Like to the time o’th’ year between the extremes Of hot and cold, he was nor sad nor merry. CLEOPATRA   O well divided disposition! Note him, Note him, good Charmian, ’tis the man; but note him. He was not sad, for he would shine on those That […]

ALEXAS                       ‘Good friend,’ quoth he, ‘Say the firm Roman to great Egypt sends This treasure of an oyster; at whose foot, To mend the petty present, I will piece Her opulent throne with kingdoms. All the East, Say thou, shall call her mistress.’ So he nodded, And soberly did mount an argent steed, Who neighed […]

Enter Alexas ALEXAS           Sovereign of Egypt, hail! CLEOPATRA   How much unlike art thou Mark Antony! Yet, coming from him, that great medicine hath With his tinct gilded thee. How goes it With my brave Mark Antony? ALEXAS                       Last thing he did, dear Queen, He kissed—the last of many doubled kisses— This orient pearl. His speech […]

CLEOPATRA               He’s speaking now, Or murmuring ‘Where’s my serpent of old Nile?’— For so he calls me. Now I feed myself With most delicious poison. Think on me, That am with Phoebus’ amorous pinches black, And wrinkled deep in time. Broad-fronted Caesar, When thou wast here above the ground I was A morsel for a […]