CLEOPATRA   O, Charmian, Where think’st thou he is now? Stands he or sits he? Or does he walk? Or is he on his horse? O happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony! Do bravely, horse, for wot’st thou whom thou mov’st— The demi-Atlas of this earth, the arm And burgonet of men.          (1.5.18-24)   […]

CLEOPATRA   Thou, eunuch Mardian! MARDIAN       What’s your highness’ pleasure? CLEOPATRA   Not now to hear thee sing. I take no pleasure In aught an eunuch has. ’Tis well for thee That, being unseminared, thy freer thoughts May not fly forth of Egypt. Hast thou affections? MARDIAN       Yes, gracious madam. CLEOPATRA               Indeed? MARDIAN       Not in deed, madam, […]

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Mardian CLEOPATRA   Charmian! CHARMIAN                 Madam? CLEOPATRA   Ha, ha. Give me to drink mandragora. CHARMIAN     Why, madam? CLEOPATRA   That I might sleep out this great gap of time My Antony is away. CHARMIAN You think of him too much. CLEOPATRA O, ’tis treason! CHARMIAN Madam, I trust not so.  […]

LEPIDUS                     ’Tis pity of him. CAESAR          Let his shames quickly Drive him to Rome. ’Tis time we twain Did show ourselves i’th’ field; and to that end Assemble we immediate council. Pompey Thrives in our idleness. LEPIDUS                     Tomorrow, Caesar, I shall be furnished to inform you rightly Both what by sea and land I can […]

CAESAR                                  Antony, Leave thy lascivious wassails. When thou once Was beaten from Modéna, where thou slew’st Hirtius and Pansa, consuls, at thy heel Did famine follow, whom thou fought’st against— Though daintily brought up—with patience more Than savages could suffer. Thou didst drink The stale of horses, and the gilded puddle Which beasts would cough at. […]

[Enter a second Messenger] SECOND MESSENGER           Caesar, I bring thee word Menecrates and Menas, famous pirates, Makes the sea serve them, which they ear and wound With keels of every kind. Many hot inroads They make in Italy. The borders maritime Lack blood to think on’t, and flush youth revolt. No vessel can peep forth […]

CAESAR                      I should have known no less. It hath been taught us from the primal state That he which is was wished until he were, And the ebbed man, ne’er loved till ne’er worth love, Comes deared by being lacked. This common body, Like to a vagabond flag upon the stream, Goes to, and back, […]

Enter a Messenger LEPIDUS         Here’s more news. MESSENGER  Thy biddings have been done, and every hour, Most noble Caesar, shalt thou have report How ’tis abroad. Pompey is strong at sea, And it appears he is beloved of those That only have feared Caesar. To the ports The discontents repair, and men’s reports Give him […]

CAESAR                      Say this becomes him— As his composure must be rare indeed Whom these things cannot blemish—yet must Antony No way excuse his foils when we do bear So great weight in his lightness. If he filled His vacancy with his voluptuousness, Full surfeits and the dryness of his bones Call on him for’t. But […]

LEPIDUS                     I must not think there are Evils enough to darken all his goodness. His faults in him seem as the spots of heaven, More fiery by night’s blackness—hereditary Rather than purchased; what he cannot change Than what he chooses. CAESAR                      You are too indulgent. Let’s grant it is not Amiss to tumble on the […]