ACT I - SCENE I. Alexandria. A room in CLEOPATRA's palace.
Enter DEMETRIUS and PHILO
PHILO
1 Nay, but this dotage of our general's 2 O'erflows the measure: those his goodly eyes, 3 That o'er the files and musters of the war 4 Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn, 5 The office and devotion of their view 6 Upon a tawny front: his captain's heart, 7 Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst 8 The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper, 9 And is become the bellows and the fan 10 To cool a gipsy's lust. 11 Look, where they come: 12 Take but good note, and you shall see in him. 13 The triple pillar of the world transform'd 14 Into a strumpet's fool: behold and see.
CLEOPATRA
15 If it be love indeed, tell me how much.
MARK ANTONY
16 There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd.
CLEOPATRA
17 I'll set a bourn how far to be beloved.
MARK ANTONY
18 Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth.
Enter an Attendant
Attendant
19 News, my good lord, from Rome.
MARK ANTONY
20 Grates me: the sum.
CLEOPATRA
21 Nay, hear them, Antony: 22 Fulvia perchance is angry; or, who knows 23 If the scarce-bearded Caesar have not sent 24 His powerful mandate to you, 'Do this, or this; 25 Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that; 26 Perform 't, or else we damn thee.'
MARK ANTONY
27 How, my love!
CLEOPATRA
28 Perchance! nay, and most like: 29 You must not stay here longer, your dismission 30 Is come from Caesar; therefore hear it, Antony. 31 Where's Fulvia's process? Caesar's I would say? both? 32 Call in the messengers. As I am Egypt's queen, 33 Thou blushest, Antony; and that blood of thine 34 Is Caesar's homager: else so thy cheek pays shame 35 When shrill-tongued Fulvia scolds. The messengers!
MARK ANTONY
36 Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch 37 Of the ranged empire fall! Here is my space. 38 Kingdoms are clay: our dungy earth alike 39 Feeds beast as man: the nobleness of life 40 Is to do thus; when such a mutual pair Embracing 41 And such a twain can do't, in which I bind, 42 On pain of punishment, the world to weet 43 We stand up peerless.
CLEOPATRA
44 Excellent falsehood! 45 Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her? 46 I'll seem the fool I am not; Antony 47 Will be himself.
MARK ANTONY
48 But stirr'd by Cleopatra. 49 Now, for the love of Love and her soft hours, 50 Let's not confound the time with conference harsh: 51 There's not a minute of our lives should stretch 52 Without some pleasure now. What sport tonight?
CLEOPATRA
53 Hear the ambassadors.
MARK ANTONY
54 Fie, wrangling queen! 55 Whom every thing becomes, to chide, to laugh, 56 To weep; whose every passion fully strives 57 To make itself, in thee, fair and admired! 58 No messenger, but thine; and all alone 59 To-night we'll wander through the streets and note 60 The qualities of people. Come, my queen; 61 Last night you did desire it: speak not to us.
DEMETRIUS
62 Is Caesar with Antonius prized so slight?
PHILO
63 Sir, sometimes, when he is not Antony, 64 He comes too short of that great property 65 Which still should go with Antony.
DEMETRIUS
66 I am full sorry 67 That he approves the common liar, who 68 Thus speaks of him at Rome: but I will hope 69 Of better deeds to-morrow. Rest you happy!