TPTT The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra: ACT III
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
SCENE I. A plain in Syria.
SCENE II. Rome. An ante-chamber in OCTAVIUS CAESAR's house.
SCENE III. Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace.
SCENE IV. Athens. A room in MARK ANTONY's house.
SCENE V. The same. Another room.
SCENE VI. Rome. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's house.
SCENE VII. Near Actium. MARK ANTONY's camp.
SCENE VIII. A plain near Actium.
SCENE IX. Another part of the plain.
SCENE X. Another part of the plain.
SCENE XI. Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace.
SCENE XII. Egypt. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's camp.
SCENE XIII. Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace.
ACT IV
ACT V
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SCENE III. Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace.
Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS
CLEOPATRA
      Where is the fellow?
ALEXAS
      Half afeard to come.
CLEOPATRA
      Go to, go to.

Enter the Messenger as before

      Come hither, sir.
ALEXAS
5     Good majesty,
      Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you
      But when you are well pleased.
CLEOPATRA
      That Herod's head
      I'll have: but how, when Antony is gone
10    Through whom I might command it? Come thou near.
Messenger
      Most gracious majesty,--
CLEOPATRA
      Didst thou behold Octavia?
Messenger
      Ay, dread queen.
CLEOPATRA
      Where?
Messenger
15    Madam, in Rome;
      I look'd her in the face, and saw her led
      Between her brother and Mark Antony.
CLEOPATRA
      Is she as tall as me?
Messenger
      She is not, madam.
CLEOPATRA
20    Didst hear her speak? is she shrill-tongued or low?
Messenger
      Madam, I heard her speak; she is low-voiced.
CLEOPATRA
      That's not so good: he cannot like her long.
CHARMIAN
      Like her! O Isis! 'tis impossible.
CLEOPATRA
      I think so, Charmian: dull of tongue, and dwarfish!
25    What majesty is in her gait? Remember,
      If e'er thou look'dst on majesty.
Messenger
      She creeps:
      Her motion and her station are as one;
      She shows a body rather than a life,
30    A statue than a breather.
CLEOPATRA
      Is this certain?
Messenger
      Or I have no observance.
CHARMIAN
      Three in Egypt
      Cannot make better note.
CLEOPATRA
35    He's very knowing;
      I do perceive't: there's nothing in her yet:
      The fellow has good judgment.
CHARMIAN
      Excellent.
CLEOPATRA
      Guess at her years, I prithee.
Messenger
40    Madam,
      She was a widow,--
CLEOPATRA
      Widow! Charmian, hark.
Messenger
      And I do think she's thirty.
CLEOPATRA
      Bear'st thou her face in mind? is't long or round?
Messenger
45    Round even to faultiness.
CLEOPATRA
      For the most part, too, they are foolish that are so.
      Her hair, what colour?
Messenger
      Brown, madam: and her forehead
      As low as she would wish it.
CLEOPATRA
50    There's gold for thee.
      Thou must not take my former sharpness ill:
      I will employ thee back again; I find thee
      Most fit for business: go make thee ready;
      Our letters are prepared.
Exit Messenger
CHARMIAN
55    A proper man.
CLEOPATRA
      Indeed, he is so: I repent me much
      That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him,
      This creature's no such thing.
CHARMIAN
      Nothing, madam.
CLEOPATRA
60    The man hath seen some majesty, and should know.
CHARMIAN
      Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend,
      And serving you so long!
CLEOPATRA
      I have one thing more to ask him yet, good Charmian:
      But 'tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to me
65    Where I will write. All may be well enough.
CHARMIAN
      I warrant you, madam.
Exeunt
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