TPTT The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra: ACT II
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
SCENE I. Messina. POMPEY's house.
SCENE II. Rome. The house of LEPIDUS.
SCENE III. The same. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's house.
SCENE IV. The same. A street.
SCENE V. Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace.
SCENE VI. Near Misenum.
SCENE VII. On board POMPEY's galley, off Misenum.
ACT III
ACT IV
ACT V
About the Play
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SCENE V. Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace.
Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS
CLEOPATRA
      Give me some music; music, moody food
      Of us that trade in love.
Attendants
      The music, ho!
Enter MARDIAN
CLEOPATRA
      Let it alone; let's to billiards: come, Charmian.
CHARMIAN
5     My arm is sore; best play with Mardian.
CLEOPATRA
      As well a woman with an eunuch play'd
      As with a woman. Come, you'll play with me, sir?
MARDIAN
      As well as I can, madam.
CLEOPATRA
      And when good will is show'd, though't come
10    too short,
      The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now:
      Give me mine angle; we'll to the river: there,
      My music playing far off, I will betray
      Tawny-finn'd fishes; my bended hook shall pierce
15    Their slimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,
      I'll think them every one an Antony,
      And say 'Ah, ha! you're caught.'
CHARMIAN
      'Twas merry when
      You wager'd on your angling; when your diver
20    Did hang a salt-fish on his hook, which he
      With fervency drew up.
CLEOPATRA
      That time,--O times!--
      I laugh'd him out of patience; and that night
      I laugh'd him into patience; and next morn,
25    Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed;
      Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst
      I wore his sword Philippan.

Enter a Messenger

      O, from Italy
      Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
30    That long time have been barren.
Messenger
      Madam, madam,--
CLEOPATRA
      Antonius dead!--If thou say so, villain,
      Thou kill'st thy mistress: but well and free,
      If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here
35    My bluest veins to kiss; a hand that kings
      Have lipp'd, and trembled kissing.
Messenger
      First, madam, he is well.
CLEOPATRA
      Why, there's more gold.
      But, sirrah, mark, we use
40    To say the dead are well: bring it to that,
      The gold I give thee will I melt and pour
      Down thy ill-uttering throat.
Messenger
      Good madam, hear me.
CLEOPATRA
      Well, go to, I will;
45    But there's no goodness in thy face: if Antony
      Be free and healthful,--so tart a favour
      To trumpet such good tidings! If not well,
      Thou shouldst come like a Fury crown'd with snakes,
      Not like a formal man.
Messenger
50    Will't please you hear me?
CLEOPATRA
      I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak'st:
      Yet if thou say Antony lives, is well,
      Or friends with Caesar, or not captive to him,
      I'll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail
55    Rich pearls upon thee.
Messenger
      Madam, he's well.
CLEOPATRA
      Well said.
Messenger
      And friends with Caesar.
CLEOPATRA
      Thou'rt an honest man.
Messenger
60    Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.
CLEOPATRA
      Make thee a fortune from me.
Messenger
      But yet, madam,--
CLEOPATRA
      I do not like 'But yet,' it does allay
      The good precedence; fie upon 'But yet'!
65    'But yet' is as a gaoler to bring forth
      Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend,
      Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,
      The good and bad together: he's friends with Caesar:
      In state of health thou say'st; and thou say'st free.
Messenger
70    Free, madam! no; I made no such report:
      He's bound unto Octavia.
CLEOPATRA
      For what good turn?
Messenger
      For the best turn i' the bed.
CLEOPATRA
      I am pale, Charmian.
Messenger
75    Madam, he's married to Octavia.
CLEOPATRA
      The most infectious pestilence upon thee!
Strikes him down
Messenger
      Good madam, patience.
CLEOPATRA
      What say you? Hence,

Strikes him again

      Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine eyes
80    Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head:

She hales him up and down

      Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in brine,
      Smarting in lingering pickle.
Messenger
      Gracious madam,
      I that do bring the news made not the match.
CLEOPATRA
85    Say 'tis not so, a province I will give thee,
      And make thy fortunes proud: the blow thou hadst
      Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage;
      And I will boot thee with what gift beside
      Thy modesty can beg.
Messenger
90    He's married, madam.
CLEOPATRA
      Rogue, thou hast lived too long.
Draws a knife
Messenger
      Nay, then I'll run.
      What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.
Exit
CHARMIAN
      Good madam, keep yourself within yourself:
95    The man is innocent.
CLEOPATRA
      Some innocents 'scape not the thunderbolt.
      Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures
      Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again:
      Though I am mad, I will not bite him: call.
CHARMIAN
100   He is afeard to come.
CLEOPATRA
      I will not hurt him.

Exit CHARMIAN

      These hands do lack nobility, that they strike
      A meaner than myself; since I myself
      Have given myself the cause.

Re-enter CHARMIAN and Messenger

105   Come hither, sir.
      Though it be honest, it is never good
      To bring bad news: give to a gracious message.
      An host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell
      Themselves when they be felt.
Messenger
110   I have done my duty.
CLEOPATRA
      Is he married?
      I cannot hate thee worser than I do,
      If thou again say 'Yes.'
Messenger
      He's married, madam.
CLEOPATRA
115   The gods confound thee! dost thou hold there still?
Messenger
      Should I lie, madam?
CLEOPATRA
      O, I would thou didst,
      So half my Egypt were submerged and made
      A cistern for scaled snakes! Go, get thee hence:
120   Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me
      Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?
Messenger
      I crave your highness' pardon.
CLEOPATRA
      He is married?
Messenger
      Take no offence that I would not offend you:
125   To punish me for what you make me do.
      Seems much unequal: he's married to Octavia.
CLEOPATRA
      O, that his fault should make a knave of thee,
      That art not what thou'rt sure of! Get thee hence:
      The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome
130   Are all too dear for me: lie they upon thy hand,
      And be undone by 'em!
Exit Messenger
CHARMIAN
      Good your highness, patience.
CLEOPATRA
      In praising Antony, I have dispraised Caesar.
CHARMIAN
      Many times, madam.
CLEOPATRA
135   I am paid for't now.
      Lead me from hence:
      I faint: O Iras, Charmian! 'tis no matter.
      Go to the fellow, good Alexas; bid him
      Report the feature of Octavia, her years,
140   Her inclination, let him not leave out
      The colour of her hair: bring me word quickly.

Exit ALEXAS

      Let him for ever go:--let him not--Charmian,
      Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
      The other way's a Mars. Bid you Alexas

To MARDIAN

145   Bring me word how tall she is. Pity me, Charmian,
      But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.
Exeunt
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