Faculty of English

SOOTHSAYER                        You have seen and proved a fairer former fortune Than that which is to approach. CHARMIAN     Then belike my children shall have no names. Prithee, how many boys and wenches must I have? SOOTHSAYER                        If every of your wishes had a womb, And fertile every wish, a millïon. CHARMIAN     Out, fool—I forgive thee […]

SOOTHSAYER                        You shall be more beloving than beloved. CHARMIAN     I had rather heat my liver with drinking. ALEXAS           Nay, hear him. CHARMIAN     Good now, some excellent fortune! Let me be married to three kings in a forenoon and widow them all. Let me have a child at fifty to whom Herod of Jewry may do homage. […]

ENOBARBUS  [calling] Bring in the banquet quickly, Wine enough Cleopatra’s health to drink. [Servants bring food and wine] CHARMIAN     [to Soothsayer] Good sir, give me good fortune. SOOTHSAYER                        I make not, but foresee. CHARMIAN     Pray then, foresee me one. SOOTHSAYER                        You shall be yet Far fairer than you are. CHARMIAN                             He means in flesh. IRAS    […]

Enter Enobarbus, Lamprius, a Soothsayer, Rannius, Lucillius, Charmian, Iras, Mardian the eunuch, and Alexas CHARMIAN     Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most anything Alexas, almost most absolute Alexas, where’s the soothsayer that you praised so to th’ Queen? O that I knew this husband, which you say Must charge his horns with garlands! ALEXAS           Soothsayer! SOOTHSAYER                        Your will? CHARMIAN     Is […]

DEMETRIUS               Is Caesar with Antonius prized so slight? PHILO Sir, sometimes when he is not Antony He comes too short of that great property Which still should go with Antony. DEMETRIUS               I am full sorry That he approves the common liar who Thus speaks of him at Rome; but I will hope Of better deeds […]

ANTONY                     Fie, wrangling queen, Whom everything becomes—to chide, to laugh, To weep; how every passion fully strives To make itself, in thee, fair and admired! No messenger but thine; and all alone Tonight we’ll wander through the streets and note The qualities of people. Come, my queen. Last night you did desire it. [To Messenger] Speak not […]

CLEOPATRA   Excellent falsehood! Why did he marry Fulvia and not love her? I’ll seem the fool I am not. Antony Will be himself. ANTONY                     But stirred by Cleopatra. Now, for the love of Love and her soft hours Let’s not confound the time with conference harsh. There’s not a minute of our lives should stretch […]

ANTONY         Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch Of the ranged empire fall. Here is my space. Kingdoms are clay. Our dungy earth alike Feeds beast as man. The nobleness of life Is to do thus; when such a mutual pair And such a twain can do’t—in which I bind On pain of […]

ANTONY                                 How, my love? CLEOPATRA   Perchance? Nay, and most like. You must not stay here longer. Your dismission Is come from Caesar, therefore hear it, Antony. Where’s Fulvia’s process—Caesar’s, I would say—both? Call in the messengers. As I am Egypt’s queen, Thou blushest, Antony, and that blood of thine Is Caesar’s homager; else so thy […]

Enter a Messenger MESSENGER  News, my good Lord, from Rome. ANTONY         Grates me—the sum. CLEOPATRA               Nay, hear them, Antony. Fulvia perchance is angry; or who knows If the scarce-bearded Caesar have not sent His powerful mandate to you: ‘Do this, or this, Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that. Perform’t, or else we damn thee.’   […]