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 […]

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, […]