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  • Title: Anthony and Cleopatra (Folio 1, 1623)
  • Editor: Randall Martin

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-433-2

    Copyright Randall Martin. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Randall Martin
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Anthony and Cleopatra (Folio 1, 1623)

    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.
    Anthony and Cleopatra. 343
    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.
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