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Anthony and Cleopatra (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Randall Martin
Not Peer Reviewed
Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Alexas, and Iras.
Cleo. Where is he?
300Char. I did not see him since.
Cleo. See where he is,
Whose with him, what he does:
I did not send you. If you finde him sad,
Say I am dauncing: if in Myrth, report
305That I am sodaine sicke. Quicke, and returne.
Char. Madam, me thinkes if you did loue him deerly,
You do not hold the method, to enforce
The like from him.
Cleo. What should I do, I do not?
310Ch. In each thing giue him way, crosse him in nothing.
Cleo. Thou teachest like a foole: the way to lose him.
Char. Tempt him not so too farre. I wish forbeare,
In time we hate that which we often feare.
Enter Anthony.
315But heere comes Anthony.
Cleo. I am sicke, and sullen.
An. I am sorry to giue breathing to my purpose.
Cleo. Helpe me away deere Charmian, I shall fall,
It cannot be thus long, the sides of Nature
320Will not sustaine it.
Ant. Now my deerest Queene.
Cleo. Pray you stand farther from mee.
Ant. What's the matter?
Cleo. I know by that same eye ther's some good news.
325What sayes the married woman you may goe?
Would she had neuer giuen you leaue to come.
Let her not say 'tis I that keepe you heere,
I haue no power vpon you: Hers you are.
Ant. The Gods best know.
330Cleo. Oh neuer was there Queene
So mightily betrayed: yet at the fitst
I saw the Treasons planted.
Ant. Cleopatra.
Cleo. Why should I thinke you can be mine, & true,
335(Though you in swearing shake the Throaned Gods)
Who haue beene false to Fuluia?
Riotous madnesse,
To be entangled with those mouth-made vowes,
Which breake themselues in swearing.
340Ant. Most sweet Queene.
Cleo. Nay pray you seeke no colour for your going,
But bid farewell, and goe:
When you sued staying,
Then was the time for words: No going then,
345Eternity was in our Lippes, and Eyes,
Blisse in our browes bent: none our parts so poore,
But was a race of Heauen. They are so still,
Or thou the greatest Souldier of the world,
Art turn'd the greatest Lyar.
350Ant. How now Lady?
Cleo. I would I had thy inches, thou should'st know
There were a heart in Egypt.
Ant. Heare me Queene:
The strong necessity of Time, commands
355Our Seruicles a-while: but my full heart
Remaines in vse with you. Our Italy,
Shines o're with ciuill Swords; Sextus Pompeius
Makes his approaches to the Port of Rome,
Equality of two Domesticke powers,
360Breed scrupulous faction: The hated growne to strength
Are newly growne to Loue: The condemn'd Pompey,
Rich in his Fathers Honor, creepes apace
Into the hearts of such, as haue not thriued
Vpon the present state, whose Numbers threaten,
365And quietnesse growne sicke of rest, would purge
By any desperate change: My more particular,
And that which most with you should safe my going,
Is Fuluias death.
Cleo. Though age from folly could not giue me freedom
370It does from childishnesse. Can Fuluia dye?
Ant. She's dead my Queene.
Looke heere, and at thy Soueraigne leysure read
The Garboyles she awak'd: at the last, best,
See when, and where shee died.
375Cleo. O most false Loue!
Where be the Sacred Violles thou should'st fill
With sorrowfull water? Now I see, I see,
In Fuluias death, how mine receiu'd shall be.
Ant. Quarrell no more, but bee prepar'd to know
380The purposes I beare: which are, or cease,
As you shall giue th'aduice. By the fire
That quickens Nylus slime, I go from hence
Thy Souldier, Seruant, making Peace or Warre,
As thou affects.
385Cleo. Cut my Lace, Charmian come,
But let it be, I am quickly ill, and well,
So Anthony loues.
Ant. My precious Queene forbeare,
And giue true euidence to his Loue, which stands
390An honourable Triall.
Cleo. So Fuluia told me.
I prythee turne aside, and weepe for her,
Then bid adiew to me, and say the teares
Belong to Egypt. Good now, play one Scene
395Of excellent dissembling, and let it looke
Like perfect Honor.
Ant. You'l heat my blood no more?
Cleo. You can do better yet: but this is meetly.
Ant. Now by Sword.
400Cleo. And Target. Still he mends.
But this is not the best. Looke prythee Charmian,
How this Herculean Roman do's become
The carriage of his chafe.
Ant. Ile leaue you Lady.
405Cleo. Courteous Lord, one word:
Sir, you and I must part, but that's not it:
Sir, you and I haue lou'd, but there's not it:
That you know well, something it is I would:
Oh, my Obliuion is a very Anthony,
410And I am all forgotten.
Ant. But that your Royalty
Holds Idlenesse your subiect, I should take you
For Idlenesse it selfe.
Cleo. 'Tis sweating Labour,
415To beare such Idlenesse so neere the heart
As Cleopatra this. But Sir, forgiue me,
Since my becommings kill me, when they do not
Eye well to you. Your Honor calles you hence,
Therefore be deafe to my vnpittied Folly,
420And all the Gods go with you. Vpon your Sword
Sit Lawrell victory, and smooth successe
Be strew'd before your feete.
Ant. Let vs go.
Come: Our separation so abides and flies,
425That thou reciding heere, goes yet with mee;
And I hence fleeting, heere remaine with thee.
Away.
Exeunt.