TPTT The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra: ACT I
Introduction
ACT I
SCENE I. Alexandria. A room in CLEOPATRA's palace.
SCENE II. The same. Another room.
SCENE III. The same. Another room.
SCENE IV. Rome. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's house.
SCENE V. Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace.
ACT II
ACT III
ACT IV
ACT V
About the Play
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SCENE I. 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,
5     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
10    To cool a gipsy's lust.

Flourish. Enter ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, her Ladies, the Train, with Eunuchs fanning her

      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.
CLEOPATRA
15    If it be love indeed, tell me how much.
MARK ANTONY
      There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd.
CLEOPATRA
      I'll set a bourn how far to be beloved.
MARK ANTONY
      Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth.
Enter an Attendant
Attendant
      News, my good lord, from Rome.
MARK ANTONY
20    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;
25    Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that;
      Perform 't, or else we damn thee.'
MARK ANTONY
      How, my love!
CLEOPATRA
      Perchance! nay, and most like:
      You must not stay here longer, your dismission
30    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
35    When shrill-tongued Fulvia scolds. The messengers!
MARK ANTONY
      Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch
      Of the ranged empire fall! Here is my space.
      Kingdoms are clay: our dungy earth alike
      Feeds beast as man: the nobleness of life
40    Is to do thus; when such a mutual pair

Embracing

      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!
45    Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?
      I'll seem the fool I am not; Antony
      Will be himself.
MARK ANTONY
      But stirr'd by Cleopatra.
      Now, for the love of Love and her soft hours,
50    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 tonight?
CLEOPATRA
      Hear the ambassadors.
MARK ANTONY
      Fie, wrangling queen!
55    Whom every thing becomes, to chide, to laugh,
      To weep; whose every passion fully strives
      To make itself, in thee, fair and admired!
      No messenger, but thine; and all alone
      To-night we'll wander through the streets and note
60    The qualities of people. Come, my queen;
      Last night you did desire it: speak not to us.
Exeunt MARK ANTONY and CLEOPATRA with their train
DEMETRIUS
      Is Caesar with Antonius prized so slight?
PHILO
      Sir, sometimes, when he is not Antony,
      He comes too short of that great property
65    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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