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 […]
Continue ReadingHow tall is Octavia? O, my Antony! Get me out of here, girls… (2.5.110-120) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
CLEOPATRA Lead me from hence. I faint. O, Iras, Charmian—’tis no matter. Go to the fellow, good Alexas, bid him Report the feature of Octavia: her years, Her inclination; let him not leave out The colour of her hair. Bring me word quickly. [Exit Alexas] Let him for ever go—let him not, Charmian; Though he […]
Continue ReadingCleopatra: 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 […]
Continue ReadingMessenger 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 […]
Continue ReadingIt’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 […]
Continue ReadingCharmian 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. […]
Continue ReadingMessenger, narrowly escaping shooting (2.5.66-74) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
MESSENGER Gracious madam, I that do bring the news made not the match. CLEOPATRA Say ’tis not so, a province I will give thee, And make thy fortunes proud. The blow thou hadst Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage, And I will boot thee with what gift beside Thy modesty can beg. […]
Continue ReadingMessenger 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? […]
Continue ReadingHow 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 […]
Continue ReadingMessenger to Cleopatra: can I, just, speak?! (2.5.35-46) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
MESSENGER Good madam, hear me. CLEOPATRA Well, go to, I will. But there’s no goodness in thy face. If Antony Be free and healthful, so tart a favour To trumpet such good tidings! If not well, Thou shouldst come like a Fury crowned with snakes, Not like a formal man. MESSENGER Will’t please you hear […]
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