Caesar: tell Antony NO, and Cleopatra NO unless she kicks him out or kills him (3.12.16-25) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare

AMBASSADOR           Next, Cleopatra does confess thy greatness, Submits her to thy might, and of thee craves The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs, Now hazarded to thy grace. CAESAR                      For Antony, I have no ears to his request. The Queen Of audience nor desire shall fail, so she From Egypt drive her all-disgracèd friend, […]

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Antony would like to live in Egypt or else in Athens, please (3.12.7-15) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare

AMBASSADOR           Such as I am, I come from Antony. I was of late as petty to his ends As is the morn-dew on the myrtle leaf To his grand sea. CAESAR                      Be’t so. Declare thine office. AMBASSADOR           Lord of his fortunes he salutes thee, and Requires to live in Egypt; which not granted, He lessens […]

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A schoolmaster as ambassador? the eagle’s properly plucked (3.12.1-6) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare

Enter Caesar, Agrippa, and Dolabella, with others [including Thidias] CAESAR          Let him appear that’s come from Antony. Know you him? DOLABELLA   Caesar, ’tis his schoolmaster; An argument that he is plucked, when hither He sends so poor a pinion of his wing, Which had superfluous kings for messengers Not many moons gone by. Enter Ambassador […]

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Enter Cleopatra, apprehensive and exhausted; Antony’s preoccupied (3.11.25-34) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare

[He] sits down Enter Cleopatra led by Charmian[, Iras,] and Eros EROS   Nay, gentle madam, to him. Comfort him. IRAS    Do, most dear Queen. CHARMIAN    Do. Why, what else? CLEOPATRA  Let me sit down. O, Juno! [She sits down] ANTONY         No, no, no, no, no. EROS   [to Antony] See you here, sir? ANTONY         O fie, fie, […]

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