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Anthony and Cleopatra (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Randall Martin
Not Peer Reviewed
340

THE TRAGEDIE OF
Anthonie, and Cleopatra.


1
Actus Primus. Scœna Prima.


Enter Demetrius and Philo.

Philo.
NAy, but this dotage of our Generals
5Ore-flowes the measure: those his goodly eyes
That o're the Files and Musters of the Warre,
Haue glow'd like plated Mars:
Now bend, now turne
The Office and Deuotion of their view
10Vpon a Tawny Front. His Captaines heart,
Which in the scuffles of great Fights hath burst
The Buckles on his brest, reneages all temper,
And is become the Bellowes and the Fan
To coole a Gypsies Lust.

15
Flourish. Enter Anthony, Cleopatra, her Ladies, the
Traine, with Eunuchs fanning her.
Looke where they come:
Take but good note, and you shall see in him
(The triple Pillar of the world) transform'd
20Into a Strumpets Foole. Behold and see.
Cleo. If it be Loue indeed, tell me how much.
Ant. There's beggery in the loue that can be reckon'd
Cleo. Ile set a bourne how farre to be belou'd.
Ant. Then must thou needes finde out new Heauen,
25new Earth.
Enter a Messenger.
Mes. Newes (my good Lord) from Rome.
Ant. Grates me, the summe.
Cleo. Nay heare them Anthony.
30Fuluia perchance is angry: Or who knowes,
If the scarse-bearded Cæsar haue not sent
His powrefull Mandate to you. Do this, or this;
Take in that Kingdome, and Infranchise that:
Perform't, or else we damne thee.
35Ant. How, my Loue?
Cleo. Perchance? Nay, and most like:
You must not stay heere longer, your dismission
Is come from Cæsar, therefore heare it Anthony
Where's Fuluias Processe? (Cæsars I would say) both?
40Call in the Messengers: As I am Egypts Queene,
Thou blushest Anthony, and that blood of thine
Is Cæsars homager: else so thy cheeke payes shame,
When shrill-tongu'd Fuluia scolds. The Messengers.
Ant. Let Rome in Tyber melt, and the wide Arch
45Of the raing'd Empire fall: Heere is my space,
Kingdomes are clay: Our dungie earth alike


Feeds Beast as Man; the Noblenesse of life
Is to do thus: when such a mutuall paire,
And such a twaine can doo't, in which I binde
50One paine of punishment, the world to weete
We stand vp Peerelesse.
Cleo. Excellent falshood:
Why did he marry Fuluia, and not loue her?
Ile seeme the Foole I am not. Anthony will be himselfe.
55Ant But stirr'd by Cleopatra.
Now for the loue of Loue, and her soft houres,
Let's not confound the time with Conference harsh;
There's not a minute of our liues should stretch
Without some pleasure now. What sport to night?
60Cleo. Heare the Ambassadors.
Ant. Fye wrangling Queene:
Whom euery thing becomes, to chide, to laugh,
To weepe: who euery passion fully striues
To make it selfe (in Thee) faire, and admir'd.
65No Messenger but thine, and all alone, to night
Wee'l wander through the streets, and note
The qualities of people. Come my Queene,
Last night you did desire it. Speake not to vs.
Exeunt with the Traine.
70Dem. Is Cæsar with Anthonius priz'd so slight?
Philo. Sir sometimes when he is not Anthony,
He comes too short of that great Property
Which still should go with Anthony.
Dem. I am full sorry, that hee approues the common
75Lyar, who thus speakes of him at Rome; but I will hope
of better deeds to morrow. Rest you happy.
Exeunt

Enter Enobarbus, Lamprius, a Southsayer, Rannius, Lucilli-
us, Charmian, Iras, Mardian the Eunuch,
and Alexas.

80Char. L. Alexas, sweet Alexas, most any thing Alexas,
almost most absolute Alexas, where's the Soothsayer
that you prais'd so to'th'Queene? Oh that I knewe this
Husband, which you say, must change his Hornes with
Garlands.
85Alex. Soothsayer.
Sooth. Your will?
Char. Is this the Man? Is't you sir that know things?
Sooth. In Natures infinite booke of Secrecie, a little I
can read.
90Alex. Shew him your hand.
Enob. Bring in the Banket quickly: Wine enough,
Cleopa