Pompey: We have to talk! Caesar: yes, absolutely, on our terms (2.6.1-8) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare

Flourish. Enter Pompey and Menas at one door, with drum and trumpet; at another, Caesar, Lepidus, Antony, Enobarbus, Maecenas, Agrippa, with soldiers marching POMPEY         Your hostages I have, so have you mine, And we shall talk before we fight. CAESAR                                  Most meet That first we come to words, and therefore have we Our written purposes before us […]

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Cleopatra: perhaps this is all my own fault?! (2.5.103-110) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare

CLEOPATRA   O that his fault should make a knave of thee, That act not what thou’rt sure of! Get thee hence. The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome Are all too dear for me. Lie they upon thy hand, And be undone by ’em.                         [Exit Messenger] CHARMIAN                             Good your highness, patience. CLEOPATRA   In […]

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Messenger to Cleopatra: YES ANTONY IS MARRIED OK? (2.5.93-102) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare

CLEOPATRA   The gods confound thee! Dost thou hold there still? MESSENGER  Should I lie, madam? CLEOPATRA                                       O, I would thou didst, So half my Egypt were submerged and made A cistern for scaled snakes. Go, get thee hence. Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married? MESSENGER  […]

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It’s never good to bring bad news, says Cleopatra (2.5.84-92) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare

[Enter the Messenger again with Charmian] CLEOPATRA                           Come hither, sir. Though it be honest, it is never good To bring bad news. Give to a gracious message An host of tongues, but let ill tidings tell Themselves when they be felt. MESSENGER                          I have done my duty. CLEOPATRA   Is he married? I cannot hate thee […]

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Charmian to Cleopatra: get a grip, woman! (2.5.75-84) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare

CHARMIAN     Good madam, keep yourself within yourself. The man is innocent. CLEOPATRA   Some innocents ’scape not the thunderbolt. Melt Egypt into Nile, and kindly creatures Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again. Though I am mad I will not bite him. Call! CHARMIAN                 He is afeard to come. CLEOPATRA                           I will not hurt him. […]

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Messenger to Cleopatra: DON’T SHOOT! (2.5.57-66) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare

MESSENGER  Free, madam? No, I made no such report. He’s bound unto Octavia. CLEOPATRA   For what good turn? MESSENGER  For the best turn i’th’ bed. CLEOPATRA   I am pale, Charmian. MESSENGER  Madam, he’s married to Octavia. CLEOPATRA   The most infectious pestilence upon thee! [She] strikes him down MESSENGER  Good madam, patience! CLEOPATRA   What say you? […]

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How long can the messenger hold out? breaking the news to Cleopatra… (2.5.46-56) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare

MESSENGER  Madam, he’s well. CLEOPATRA   Well said. MESSENGER  And friends with Caesar. CLEOPATRA   Thou’rt an honest man. MESSENGER  Caesar and he are greater friends than ever. CLEOPATRA   Make thee a fortune from me. MESSENGER  But yet, madam— CLEOPATRA   I do not like ‘But yet’, it does allay The good precedence. Fie upon ‘But yet’. ‘But […]

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