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 VI. Rome. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's house.
Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, AGRIPPA, and MECAENAS
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
      Contemning Rome, he has done all this, and more,
      In Alexandria: here's the manner of 't:
      I' the market-place, on a tribunal silver'd,
      Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold
5     Were publicly enthroned: at the feet sat
      Caesarion, whom they call my father's son,
      And all the unlawful issue that their lust
      Since then hath made between them. Unto her
      He gave the stablishment of Egypt; made her
10    Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia,
      Absolute queen.
MECAENAS
      This in the public eye?
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
      I' the common show-place, where they exercise.
      His sons he there proclaim'd the kings of kings:
15    Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia.
      He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assign'd
      Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia: she
      In the habiliments of the goddess Isis
      That day appear'd; and oft before gave audience,
20    As 'tis reported, so.
MECAENAS
      Let Rome be thus Inform'd.
AGRIPPA
      Who, queasy with his insolence
      Already, will their good thoughts call from him.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
      The people know it; and have now received
25    His accusations.
AGRIPPA
      Who does he accuse?
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
      Caesar: and that, having in Sicily
      Sextus Pompeius spoil'd, we had not rated him
      His part o' the isle: then does he say, he lent me
30    Some shipping unrestored: lastly, he frets
      That Lepidus of the triumvirate
      Should be deposed; and, being, that we detain
      All his revenue.
AGRIPPA
      Sir, this should be answer'd.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
35    'Tis done already, and the messenger gone.
      I have told him, Lepidus was grown too cruel;
      That he his high authority abused,
      And did deserve his change: for what I have conquer'd,
      I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia,
40    And other of his conquer'd kingdoms, I
      Demand the like.
MECAENAS
      He'll never yield to that.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
      Nor must not then be yielded to in this.
Enter OCTAVIA with her train
OCTAVIA
      Hail, Caesar, and my lord! hail, most dear Caesar!
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
45    That ever I should call thee castaway!
OCTAVIA
      You have not call'd me so, nor have you cause.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
      Why have you stol'n upon us thus! You come not
      Like Caesar's sister: the wife of Antony
      Should have an army for an usher, and
50    The neighs of horse to tell of her approach
      Long ere she did appear; the trees by the way
      Should have borne men; and expectation fainted,
      Longing for what it had not; nay, the dust
      Should have ascended to the roof of heaven,
55    Raised by your populous troops: but you are come
      A market-maid to Rome; and have prevented
      The ostentation of our love, which, left unshown,
      Is often left unloved; we should have met you
      By sea and land; supplying every stage
60    With an augmented greeting.
OCTAVIA
      Good my lord,
      To come thus was I not constrain'd, but did
      On my free will. My lord, Mark Antony,
      Hearing that you prepared for war, acquainted
65    My grieved ear withal; whereon, I begg'd
      His pardon for return.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
      Which soon he granted,
      Being an obstruct 'tween his lust and him.
OCTAVIA
      Do not say so, my lord.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
70    I have eyes upon him,
      And his affairs come to me on the wind.
      Where is he now?
OCTAVIA
      My lord, in Athens.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
      No, my most wronged sister; Cleopatra
75    Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire
      Up to a whore; who now are levying
      The kings o' the earth for war; he hath assembled
      Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus,
      Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king
80    Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas;
      King Malchus of Arabia; King of Pont;
      Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, king
      Of Comagene; Polemon and Amyntas,
      The kings of Mede and Lycaonia,
85    With a more larger list of sceptres.
OCTAVIA
      Ay me, most wretched,
      That have my heart parted betwixt two friends
      That do afflict each other!
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
      Welcome hither:
90    Your letters did withhold our breaking forth;
      Till we perceived, both how you were wrong led,
      And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart;
      Be you not troubled with the time, which drives
      O'er your content these strong necessities;
95    But let determined things to destiny
      Hold unbewail'd their way. Welcome to Rome;
      Nothing more dear to me. You are abused
      Beyond the mark of thought: and the high gods,
      To do you justice, make them ministers
100   Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort;
      And ever welcome to us.
AGRIPPA
      Welcome, lady.
MECAENAS
      Welcome, dear madam.
      Each heart in Rome does love and pity you:
105   Only the adulterous Antony, most large
      In his abominations, turns you off;
      And gives his potent regiment to a trull,
      That noises it against us.
OCTAVIA
      Is it so, sir?
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
110   Most certain. Sister, welcome: pray you,
      Be ever known to patience: my dear'st sister!
Exeunt
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