ACT III - SCENE III. Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace.
Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS
CLEOPATRA
1 Where is the fellow?
ALEXAS
2 Half afeard to come.
CLEOPATRA
3 Go to, go to. Enter the Messenger as before 4 Come hither, sir.
ALEXAS
5 Good majesty, 6 Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you 7 But when you are well pleased.
CLEOPATRA
8 That Herod's head 9 I'll have: but how, when Antony is gone 10 Through whom I might command it? Come thou near.
Messenger
11 Most gracious majesty,--
CLEOPATRA
12 Didst thou behold Octavia?
Messenger
13 Ay, dread queen.
CLEOPATRA
14 Where?
Messenger
15 Madam, in Rome; 16 I look'd her in the face, and saw her led 17 Between her brother and Mark Antony.
CLEOPATRA
18 Is she as tall as me?
Messenger
19 She is not, madam.
CLEOPATRA
20 Didst hear her speak? is she shrill-tongued or low?
Messenger
21 Madam, I heard her speak; she is low-voiced.
CLEOPATRA
22 That's not so good: he cannot like her long.
CHARMIAN
23 Like her! O Isis! 'tis impossible.
CLEOPATRA
24 I think so, Charmian: dull of tongue, and dwarfish! 25 What majesty is in her gait? Remember, 26 If e'er thou look'dst on majesty.
Messenger
27 She creeps: 28 Her motion and her station are as one; 29 She shows a body rather than a life, 30 A statue than a breather.
CLEOPATRA
31 Is this certain?
Messenger
32 Or I have no observance.
CHARMIAN
33 Three in Egypt 34 Cannot make better note.
CLEOPATRA
35 He's very knowing; 36 I do perceive't: there's nothing in her yet: 37 The fellow has good judgment.
CHARMIAN
38 Excellent.
CLEOPATRA
39 Guess at her years, I prithee.
Messenger
40 Madam, 41 She was a widow,--
CLEOPATRA
42 Widow! Charmian, hark.
Messenger
43 And I do think she's thirty.
CLEOPATRA
44 Bear'st thou her face in mind? is't long or round?
Messenger
45 Round even to faultiness.
CLEOPATRA
46 For the most part, too, they are foolish that are so. 47 Her hair, what colour?
Messenger
48 Brown, madam: and her forehead 49 As low as she would wish it.
CLEOPATRA
50 There's gold for thee. 51 Thou must not take my former sharpness ill: 52 I will employ thee back again; I find thee 53 Most fit for business: go make thee ready; 54 Our letters are prepared.
Exit Messenger
CHARMIAN
55 A proper man.
CLEOPATRA
56 Indeed, he is so: I repent me much 57 That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him, 58 This creature's no such thing.
CHARMIAN
59 Nothing, madam.
CLEOPATRA
60 The man hath seen some majesty, and should know.
CHARMIAN
61 Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend, 62 And serving you so long!
CLEOPATRA
63 I have one thing more to ask him yet, good Charmian: 64 But 'tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to me 65 Where I will write. All may be well enough.