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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    THE TRAGEDIE OF
    Anthonie, and Cleopatra.
    1Actus Primus. Scoena 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 Caesar 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 Caesar, therefore heare it Anthony
    Where's Fuluias Processe? (Caesars I would say) both?
    40Call in the Messengers: As I am Egypts Queene,
    Thou blushest Anthony, and that blood of thine
    Is Caesars 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 Caesar 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
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