Antony and Cleopatra

Antony and Cleopatra

ACT I SCENE III	The same. Another room.
	Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS
CLEOPATRA	Where is he?
CHARMIAN	I did not see him since.
CLEOPATRA	See where he is, who's with him, what he does:
	I did not send you: if you find him sad,	5
	Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report
	That I am sudden sick: quick, and return.
	Exit ALEXAS
CHARMIAN	Madam, methinks, if you did love him dearly,
	You do not hold the method to enforce
	The like from him.	10
CLEOPATRA	What should I do, I do not?
CHARMIAN	In each thing give him way, cross him nothing.
CLEOPATRA	Thou teachest like a fool; the way to lose him.
CHARMIAN	Tempt him not so too far; I wish, forbear:
	In time we hate that which we often fear.	15
	But here comes Antony.
	Enter MARK ANTONY
CLEOPATRA	I am sick and sullen.
MARK ANTONY	I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose,--
CLEOPATRA	Help me away, dear Charmian; I shall fall:
	It cannot be thus long, the sides of nature	20
	Will not sustain it.
MARK ANTONY	Now, my dearest queen,--
CLEOPATRA	Pray you, stand further from me.
MARK ANTONY	What's the matter?
CLEOPATRA	I know, by that same eye, there's some good news.	25
	What says the married woman? You may go:
	Would she had never given you leave to come!
	Let her not say 'tis I that keep you here:
	I have no power upon you; hers you are.
MARK ANTONY	The gods best know,--	30
CLEOPATRA	O, never was there queen
	So mightily betray'd! yet at the first
	I saw the treasons planted.
MARK ANTONY	Cleopatra,--
CLEOPATRA	Why should I think you can be mine and true,	35
	Though you in swearing shake the throned gods,
	Who have been false to Fulvia? Riotous madness,
	To be entangled with those mouth-made vows,
	Which break themselves in swearing!
MARK ANTONY	Most sweet queen,--	40
CLEOPATRA	Nay, pray you, seek no colour for your going,
	But bid farewell, and go: when you sued staying,
	Then was the time for words: no going then;
	Eternity was in our lips and eyes,
	Bliss in our brows' bent; none our parts so poor,	45
	But was a race of heaven: they are so still,
	Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world,
	Art turn'd the greatest liar.
MARK ANTONY	How now, lady!
CLEOPATRA	I would I had thy inches; thou shouldst know	50
	There were a heart in Egypt.
MARK ANTONY	Hear me, queen:
	The strong necessity of time commands
	Our services awhile; but my full heart
	Remains in use with you. Our Italy	55
	Shines o'er with civil swords: Sextus Pompeius
	Makes his approaches to the port of Rome:
	Equality of two domestic powers
	Breed scrupulous faction: the hated, grown to strength,
	Are newly grown to love: the condemn'd Pompey,	60
	Rich in his father's honour, creeps apace,
	Into the hearts of such as have not thrived
	Upon the present state, whose numbers threaten;
	And quietness, grown sick of rest, would purge
	By any desperate change: my more particular,	65
	And that which most with you should safe my going,
	Is Fulvia's death.
CLEOPATRA	Though age from folly could not give me freedom,
	It does from childishness: can Fulvia die?
MARK ANTONY	She's dead, my queen:	70
	Look here, and at thy sovereign leisure read
	The garboils she awaked; at the last, best:
	See when and where she died.
CLEOPATRA	O most false love!
	Where be the sacred vials thou shouldst fill	75
	With sorrowful water? Now I see, I see,
	In Fulvia's death, how mine received shall be.
MARK ANTONY	Quarrel no more, but be prepared to know
	The purposes I bear; which are, or cease,
	As you shall give the advice. By the fire	80
	That quickens Nilus' slime, I go from hence
	Thy soldier, servant; making peace or war
	As thou affect'st.
CLEOPATRA	Cut my lace, Charmian, come;
	But let it be: I am quickly ill, and well,	85
	So Antony loves.
MARK ANTONY	My precious queen, forbear;
	And give true evidence to his love, which stands
	An honourable trial.
CLEOPATRA	So Fulvia told me.	90
	I prithee, turn aside and weep for her,
	Then bid adieu to me, and say the tears
	Belong to Egypt: good now, play one scene
	Of excellent dissembling; and let it look
	Life perfect honour.	95
MARK ANTONY	You'll heat my blood: no more.
CLEOPATRA	You can do better yet; but this is meetly.
MARK ANTONY	Now, by my sword,--
CLEOPATRA	And target. Still he mends;
	But this is not the best. Look, prithee, Charmian,	100
	How this Herculean Roman does become
	The carriage of his chafe.
MARK ANTONY	I'll leave you, lady.
CLEOPATRA	Courteous lord, one word.
	Sir, you and I must part, but that's not it:	105
	Sir, you and I have loved, but there's not it;
	That you know well: something it is I would,
	O, my oblivion is a very Antony,
	And I am all forgotten.
MARK ANTONY	But that your royalty	110
	Holds idleness your subject, I should take you
	For idleness itself.
CLEOPATRA	'Tis sweating labour
	To bear such idleness so near the heart
	As Cleopatra this. But, sir, forgive me;	115
	Since my becomings kill me, when they do not
	Eye well to you: your honour calls you hence;
	Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly.
	And all the gods go with you! upon your sword
	Sit laurel victory! and smooth success	120
	Be strew'd before your feet!
MARK ANTONY	Let us go. Come;
	Our separation so abides, and flies,
	That thou, residing here, go'st yet with me,
	And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee. Away!	125
	Exeunt