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 Feedback			Search: All the plays Hamlet Coriolanus Julius Caesar King Lear Macbeth Othello Romeo and Juliet Richard II Richard III Titus Andronicus Antony and Cleopatra Timon of Athens Henry IV Part 1 Henry IV Part 2 Henry the Fifth Henry VI Part 1 Henry VI Part 2 Henry VI Part 3 Henry VIII King John Pericles Troilus and Cressida All's Well... As You Like It The Comedy of Errors Cymbeline A Midsummer... Love's Labour's Lost Measure for Measure The Merry Wives... Much Ado about Nothing The Merchant of Venice Twelfth Night The Taming of... The Tempest The Two Gentlemen... The Winter's Tale    for: 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. CLEOPATRA 10    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,-- CLEOPATRA 30    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,-- CLEOPATRA 40    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. MARK ANTONY 95    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! Exeunt Return to top of page ... or ... Go to next scene