Internet Shakespeare Editions

About this text

  • Title: Anthony and Cleopatra (Modern)
  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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 (Modern)

    [1.5]
    Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Mardian.
    Cleopatra
    Charmian.
    525Charmian
    Madam?
    Cleopatra
    Ha, ha. Give me to drink mandragora.
    Charmian
    Why, madam?
    Cleopatra
    That I might sleep out this great gap of time
    My Antony is away.
    530Charmian
    You think of him too much.
    Cleopatra
    Oh, 'tis treason.
    Charmian
    Madam, I trust not so.
    Cleopatra
    Thou eunuch, Mardian!
    Mardian
    What's your highness' pleasure?
    535Cleopatra
    Not now to hear thee sing. I take no pleasure
    In aught an eunuch has. 'Tis well for thee
    That being unseminared, thy freer thoughts
    May not fly forth of Egypt. Hast thou affections?
    Mardian
    Yes, gracious madam.
    540Cleopatra
    Indeed?
    Mardian
    Not in deed, madam, for I can do nothing
    But what indeed is honest to be done;
    Yet have I fierce affections, and think
    What Venus did with Mars.
    545Cleopatra
    Oh, Charmian,
    Where think'st thou he is now? Stands he, or sits he?
    Or does he walk? Or is he on his horse?
    Oh, happy horse to bear the weight of Antony!
    Do bravely, horse, for wot'st thou whom thou mov'st?
    550The demi-Atlas of this earth, the arm
    And burgonet of men. He's speaking now
    Or murmuring, "Where's my serpent of old Nile?"
    For so he calls me. Now I feed myself
    With most delicious poison. Think on me
    555That am with Phoebus' amorous pinches black,
    And wrinkled deep in time. Broad-fronted Caesar,
    When thou wast here above the ground, I was
    A morsel for a monarch; and great Pompey
    Would stand and make his eyes grow in my brow.
    560There would he anchor his aspect, and die
    With looking on his life.
    Enter Alexas from Antony.
    Alexas
    Sovereign of Egypt, hail.
    Cleopatra
    How much unlike art thou Mark Antony!
    565Yet coming from him, that great med'cine hath
    With his tinct gilded thee.
    How goes it with my brave Mark Antony?
    Alexas
    Last thing he did, dear queen,
    He kissed--the last of many doubled kisses--
    570This orient pearl. His speech sticks in my heart.
    Cleopatra
    Mine ear must pluck it thence.
    Alexas
    "Good friend," quoth he,
    "Say the firm Roman to great Egypt sends
    This treasure of an oyster, at whose foot,
    575To mend the petty present, I will piece
    Her opulent throne with kingdoms. All the East,
    Say thou, shall call her mistress." So he nodded,
    And soberly did mount an arm-gaunt steed
    Who neighed so high that what I would have spoke
    580Was beastly dumbed by him.
    Cleopatra
    What was he, sad or merry?
    Alexas
    Like to the time o'th'year between the extremes
    Of hot and cold, he was nor sad nor merry.
    Cleopatra
    Oh well-divided disposition! Note him,
    585Note him, good Charmian, 'tis the man; but note him.
    He was not sad, for he would shine on those
    That make their looks by his; he was not merry,
    Which seemed to tell them his remembrance lay
    In Egypt with his joy, but between both.
    590Oh heavenly mingle! Be'st thou sad or merry,
    The violence of either thee becomes,
    So does it no man else. Met'st thou my posts?
    Alexas
    Ay, madam, twenty several messengers.
    Why do you send so thick?
    595Cleopatra
    Who's born that day
    When I forget to send to Antony
    Shall die a beggar. Ink and paper, Charmian.
    Welcome, my good Alexas. Did I, Charmian,
    Ever love Caesar so?
    Charmian
    Oh that brave Caesar!
    600Cleopatra
    Be choked with such another emphasis.
    Say "the brave Antony."
    Charmian
    The "valiant Caesar."
    Cleopatra
    By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth
    If thou with Caesar paragon again
    605My man of men.
    Charmian
    By your most gracious pardon,
    I sing but after you.
    Cleopatra
    My salad days,
    When I was green in judgment, cold in blood,
    610To say as I said then. But come, away,
    Get me ink and paper;
    He shall have every day a several greeting,
    Or I'll unpeople Egypt.
    Exeunt.