Toolbox



Textual Analysis

[ Go ]

Shakespeare on Stage
American Shakespeare Center, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 16, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Return to the Forbidden Planet. To Dec. 1, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, The Duchess of Malfi. To Jun. 15, 2013.
Folger Shakespeare Library, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 9, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Love's Labour's Lost. To Jun. 15, 2013.
More Performances…
‌

Anthony and Cleopatra (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Randall Martin
Not Peer Reviewed
352
The Tragedie of
Should my performance perish.
1525Rom. Thou hast Ventidius that, without the which a
Souldier and his Sword graunts scarce distinction: thou
wilt write to Anthony.
Ven. Ile humbly signifie what in his name,
That magicall word of Warre we haue effected,
1530How with his Banners, and his well paid ranks,
The nere-yet beaten Horse of Parthia,
We haue iaded out o'th'Field.
Rom. Where is he now?
Ven. He purposeth to Athens, whither with what hast
1535The waight we must conuay with's, will permit:
We shall appeare before him. On there, passe along.
Exeunt.
Enter Agrippa at one doore, Enobarbus at another.
Agri. What are the Brothers parted?
1540Eno. They haue dispatcht with Pompey, he is gone,
The other three are Sealing. Octauia weepes
To part from Rome: Cæsar is sad, and Lepidus
Since Pompey's feast, as Menas saies, is troubled
With the Greene-Sicknesse.
1545Agri. 'Tis a Noble Lepidus.
Eno. A very fine one: oh, how he loues Cæsar.
Agri. Nay but how deerely he adores Mark Anthony.
Eno. Cæsar? why he's the Iupiter of men.
Ant. What's Anthony, the God of Iupiter?
1550Eno. Spake you of Cæsar? How, the non-pareill?
Agri. Oh Anthony, oh thou Arabian Bird!
Eno. Would you praise Cæsar, say Caesar go no further.
Agr. Indeed he plied them both with excellent praises.
Eno. But he loues Cæsar best, yet he loues Anthony:
1555Hoo, Hearts, Tongues, Figure,
Scribes, Bards, Poets, cannot
Thinke speake, cast, write, sing, number: hoo,
His loue to Anthony. But as for Cæsar,
Kneele downe, kneele downe, and wonder.
1560Agri. Both he loues.
Eno. They are his Shards, and he their Beetle, so:
This is to horse: Adieu, Noble Agrippa.
Agri. Good Fortune worthy Souldier, and farewell.

Enter Cæsar, Anthony, Lepidus, and Octauia.
1565Antho. No further Sir.
Cæsar. You take from me a great part of my selfe:
Vse me well in't. Sister, proue such a wife
As my thoughts make thee, and as my farthest Band
Shall passe on thy approofe: most Noble Anthony,
1570Let not the peece of Vertue which is set
Betwixt vs, as the Cyment of our loue
To keepe it builded, be the Ramme to batter
The Fortresse of it: for better might we
Haue lou'd without this meane, if on bothparts
1575This be not cherisht.
Ant. Make me not offended, in your distrust.
Cæsar. I haue said.
Ant. You shall not finde,
Though you be therein curious, the lest cause
1580For what you seeme to feare, so the Gods keepe you,
And make the hearts of Romaines serue your ends:
We will heere part.
Cæsar. Farewell my deerest Sister, fare thee well,
The Elements be kind to thee, and make
1585Thy spirits all of comfort: fare thee well.
Octa. My Noble Brother.
Anth. The Aprill's in her eyes, it is Loues spring,
And these the showers to bring it on: be cheerfull.

Octa. Sir, looke well to my Husbands house: and
1590Cæsar. What Octauia?
Octa. Ile tell you in your eare.
Ant. Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can
Her heart informe her tougue.
The Swannes downe feather
1595That stands vpon the Swell at the full of Tide:
And neither way inclines.
Eno. Will Cæsar weepe?
Agr. He ha's a cloud in's face.
Eno. He were the worse for that were he a Horse, so is
1600he being a man.
Agri. Why Enobarbus:
When Anthony found Iulius Cæsar dead,
He cried almost to roaring: And he wept,
When at Phillippi he found Brutus slaine.
1605Eno. That yearindeed, he was trobled with a rheume,
What willingly he did confound, he wail'd,
Beleeu't till I weepe too.
Cæsar. No sweet Octauia,
You shall heare from me still: the time shall not
1610Out-go my thinking on you.
Ant. Come Sir, come,
Ile wrastle with you in my strength of loue,
Looke heere I haue you, thus I let you go,
And giue you to the Gods.
1615Cæsar. Adieu, be happy.
Lep. Let all the number of the Starres giue light
To thy faire way.
Cæsar. Farewell, farewell.
Kisses Octauia.
Ant. Farewell.
Trumpets sound. Exeunt.

1620
Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas.
Cleo. Where is the Fellow?
Alex. Halfe afeard to come.
Cleo. Go too, go too: Come hither Sir.
Enter the Messenger as before.
1625Alex. Good Maiestie: Herod of Iury dare not looke
vpon you, but when you are well pleas'd.
Cleo. That Herods head, Ile haue: but how? When
Anthony is gone, through whom I might commaund it:
Come thou neere.
1630Mes. Most gratious Maiestie.
Cleo. Did'st thou behold Octauia?
Mes. I dread Queene.
Cleo. Where?
Mes. Madam in Rome, I lookt her in the face: and
1635saw her led betweene her Brother, and Marke Anthony.
Cleo. Is she as tall as me?
Mes. She is not Madam.
Cleo. Didst heare her speake?
Is she shrill tongu'd or low?
1640Mes. Madam, I heard her speake, she is low voic'd.
Cleo. That's not so good: he cannot like her long.
Char. Like her? Oh Isis: 'tis impossible.
Cleo. I thinke so Charmian: dull of tongue, & dwarfish
What Maiestie is in her gate, remember
1645If ere thou look'st on Maiestie.
,
Mes. She creepes: her motion, & her station are as one.
She shewes a body, rather then a life,
A Statue, then a Breather.
Cleo. Is this certaine?
1650Mes. Or I haue no obseruance.
Cha. Three in Egypt cannot make better note.
Cleo. He's very knowing, I do perceiu't,
There's nothing in her yet.
The