READ STUDY GUIDE: Act I, scenes i–iii | Act I, scenes iv–v; Act II, scenes i–ii |
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Act I, Scene i:
Alexandria. A Room in CLEOPATRA'S palace.
Alexandria. A Room in CLEOPATRA'S palace.
| [Enter DEMETRIUS and PHILO.] |
| PHILO: |
| Nay, but this dotage of our general's |
| O'erflows the measure: those his goodly eyes, |
| That o'er the files and musters of the war |
| Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn, |
| The office and devotion of their view |
| Upon a tawny front: his captain's heart, |
| Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst |
| The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper, |
| And is become the bellows and the fan |
| To cool a gipsy's lust. |
| [Flourish within.] |
| Look where they come: |
| Take but good note, and you shall see in him |
| The triple pillar of the world transform'd |
| Into a strumpet's fool: behold and see. |
| [Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, with their trains; Eunuchs fanningher.] |
| CLEOPATRA: |
| If it be love indeed, tell me how much. |
| ANTONY: |
| There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd. |
| CLEOPATRA: |
| I'll set a bourn how far to be belov'd. |
| ANTONY: |
| Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth. |
| [Enter an Attendant.] |
| ATTENDANT: |
| News, my good lord, from Rome. |
| ANTONY: |
| Grates me:—the sum. |
| CLEOPATRA: |
| Nay, hear them, Antony: |
| Fulvia perchance is angry; or who knows |
| If the scarce-bearded Caesar have not sent |
| His powerful mandate to you: 'Do this or this; |
| Take in that kingdom and enfranchise that; |
| Perform't, or else we damn thee.' |
| ANTONY: |
| How, my love! |
| CLEOPATRA: |
| Perchance! Nay, and most like:— |
| You must not stay here longer,—your dismission |
| Is come from Caesar; therefore hear it, Antony.— |
| Where's Fulvia's process?—Caesar's I would say?—Both?— |
| Call in the messengers.—As I am Egypt's queen, |
| Thou blushest, Antony; and that blood of thine |
| Is Caesar's homager: else so thy cheek pays shame |
| When shrill-tongu'd Fulvia scolds.—The messengers! |
| ANTONY: |
| Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch |
| Of the rang'd empire fall! Here is my space. |
| Kingdoms are clay: our dungy earth alike |
| Feeds beast as man: the nobleness of life |
| Is to do thus[Embracing]; when such a mutual pair |
| And such a twain can do't, in which I bind, |
| On pain of punishment, the world to weet |
| We stand up peerless. |
| CLEOPATRA: |
| Excellent falsehood! |
| Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?— |
| I'll seem the fool I am not; Antony |
| Will be himself. |
| ANTONY: |
| But stirr'd by Cleopatra.— |
| Now, for the love of Love and her soft hours, |
| Let's not confound the time with conference harsh: |
| There's not a minute of our lives should stretch |
| Without some pleasure now:—what sport to-night? |
| CLEOPATRA: |
| Hear the ambassadors. |
| ANTONY: |
| Fie, wrangling queen! |
| Whom everything becomes,—to chide, to laugh, |
| To weep; whose every passion fully strives |
| To make itself in thee fair and admir'd! |
| No messenger; but thine, and all alone |
| To-night we'll wander through the streets and note |
| The qualities of people. Come, my queen; |
| Last night you did desire it:—speak not to us. |
| [Exeunt ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, with their Train.] |
| DEMETRIUS: |
| Is Caesar with Antonius priz'd so slight? |
| PHILO: |
| Sir, sometimes when he is not Antony, |
| He comes too short of that great property |
| Which still should go with Antony. |
| DEMETRIUS: |
| I am full sorry |
| That he approves the common liar, who |
| Thus speaks of him at Rome: but I will hope |
| Of better deeds to-morrow. Rest you happy! |
| [Exeunt.] |
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