DOLABELLA Hear me, good madam: Your loss is as yourself, great, and you bear it As answering to the weight. Would I might never O’ertake pursued success but I do feel, By the rebound of yours, a grief that smites My very heart at root. CLEOPATRA I thank you, sir. Know you what Caesar means […]
Continue ReadingCleopatra: Antony was my dream, and he was MINE (5.2.91-9) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
DOLABELLA Cleopatra— CLEOPATRA Think you there was, or might be, such a man As this I dreamt of? DOLABELLA Gentle madam, no. CLEOPATRA You lie, up to the hearing of the gods. But if there be, or ever were one such, It’s past the size of dreaming. Nature wants stuff To vie strange forms […]
Continue ReadingCleopatra: an ecstatic dream of Antony, godlike, golden, giving (5.2.78-91) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
CLEOPATRA His face was as the heav’ns, and therein stuck A sun and moon, which kept their course and lighted The little O o’th’ earth. DOLABELLA Most sovereign creature— CLEOPATRA His legs bestrid the ocean; his reared arm Crested the world. His voice was propertied As all the tunèd spheres, and that to friends; But […]
Continue ReadingCleopatra: I dreamt there was an Emperor Antony… (5.2.70-77) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
DOLABELLA Most noble Empress, you have heard of me. CLEOPATRA I cannot tell. DOLABELLA Assuredly you know me. CLEOPATRA No matter, sir, what I have heard or known. You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams; Is’t not your trick? DOLABELLA I understand not, madam. CLEOPATRA I dreamt there was an Emperor […]
Continue ReadingDolabella: I’ll take over here now, thanks; Cleopatra: so what, I still want to die (5.2.61-9) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
PROCULEIUS You do extend These thoughts of horror further than you shall Find cause in Caesar. Enter Dolabella DOLABELLA Proculeius, What thou hast done thy master Caesar knows, And he hath sent for thee. For the Queen, I’ll take her to my guard. PROCULEIUS So, Dolabella, It shall content me best. Be gentle to her. […]
Continue ReadingCleopatra: better a ditch in Egypt than a Roman triumph, SIR (5.2.48-61) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
CLEOPATRA Sir, I will eat no meat. I’ll not drink, sir. If idle talk will once be necessary, I’ll not sleep, neither. This mortal house I’ll ruin, Do Caesar what he can. Know, sir, that I Will not wait pinioned at your master’s court, Nor once be chastised with the sober eye Of dull Octavia. […]
Continue ReadingProculeius: if you kill yourself, Caesar looks bad; Cleopatra: SO WHAT (5.2.38-47) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
CW: suicide CLEOPATRA [drawing a dagger] Quick, quick, good hands! PROCULEIUS [disarming Cleopatra] Hold, worthy lady, hold! Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this Relieved but not betrayed. CLEOPATRA What, of death too, That rids our dogs of languish? PROCULEIUS Cleopatra, Do not abuse my master’s bounty by Th’undoing of yourself. Let […]
Continue ReadingProculeius: no more nice guy; gotcha, Cleopatra (5.2.28-37) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
CLEOPATRA Pray you, tell him I am his fortune’s vassal, and I send him The greatness he has got. I hourly learn A doctrine of obedience, and would gladly Look him i’th’ face. PROCULEIUS This I’ll report, dear lady; Have comfort, for I know your plight is pitied Of him that caused it. [Enter Gallus […]
Continue ReadingProculeius: so long as you submit utterly, Caesar will treat you well (5.2.21-8) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
PROCULEIUS Be of good cheer. You’re fall’n into a princely hand; fear nothing. Make your full reference freely to my lord, Who is so full of grace that it flows over On all that need. Let me report to him Your sweet dependency, and you shall find A conqueror that will pray in aid for […]
Continue ReadingProculeius: Caesar’s open to negotiations; Cleopatra: big deal (5.2.9-21) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
Enter Proculeius PROCULEIUS Caesar sends greeting to the Queen of Egypt, And bids thee study on what fair demands Thou mean’st to have him grant thee. CLEOPATRA What’s thy name? PROCULEIUS My name is Proculeius. CLEOPATRA Antony Did tell me of you, bade me trust you; but I do not greatly care to be deceived, […]
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