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Antony and Cleopatra - Act 1, scene 3
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Antony and Cleopatra - Act 1, scene 3Act 1, scene 3
⌜Scene 3⌝
Synopsis:
Cleopatra, after accusing Antony of hypocrisy and betrayal, gives him leave to depart from Egypt.
Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Alexas, and Iras.CLEOPATRA
0287 Where is he?
CHARMIAN 0288 I did not see him since.
CLEOPATRA, ⌜to Alexas⌝
0289 See where he is, who’s with him, what he does.
0290 I did not send you. If you find him sad,
0291 5 Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report
0292 That I am sudden sick. Quick, and return.
⌜Alexas exits.⌝
CHARMIAN
0293 Madam, methinks, if you did love him dearly,
0294 You do not hold the method to enforce
0295 The like from him.
CLEOPATRA 0296 10 What should I do I do not?
CHARMIAN
0297 In each thing give him way; cross him in nothing.
CLEOPATRA
0298 Thou teachest like a fool: the way to lose him.
CHARMIAN
0299 Tempt him not so too far. I wish, forbear.
0300 In time we hate that which we often fear.
Enter Antony.
0301 15 But here comes Antony.
CLEOPATRA 0302 I am sick and sullen.
ANTONY
0303 I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose—
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29
CLEOPATRA 0304 Help me away, dear Charmian! I shall fall.
0305 It cannot be thus long; the sides of nature
0306 20 Will not sustain it.
ANTONY 0307 Now, my dearest queen—
CLEOPATRA
0308 Pray you stand farther from me.
ANTONY 0309 What’s the matter?
CLEOPATRA
0310 I know by that same eye there’s some good news.
0311 25 What, says the married woman you may go?
0312 Would she had never given you leave to come.
0313 Let her not say ’tis I that keep you here.
0314 I have no power upon you. Hers you are.
ANTONY
0315 The gods best know—
CLEOPATRA 0316 30 O, never was there queen
0317 So mightily betrayed! Yet at the first
0318 I saw the treasons planted.
ANTONY 0319 Cleopatra—
CLEOPATRA
0320 Why should I think you can be mine, and true—
0321 35 Though you in swearing shake the thronèd gods—
0322 Who have been false to Fulvia? Riotous madness,
0323 To be entangled with those mouth-made vows
0324 Which break themselves in swearing!
ANTONY 0325 Most sweet
0326 40 queen—
CLEOPATRA
0327 Nay, pray you seek no color for your going,
0328 But bid farewell and go. When you sued staying,
0329 Then was the time for words. No going then!
0330 Eternity was in our lips and eyes,
0331 45 Bliss in our brows’ bent; none our parts so poor
0332 But was a race of heaven. They are so still,
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31
0333
Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world,0334 Art turned the greatest liar.
ANTONY 0335 How now, lady?
CLEOPATRA
0336 50 I would I had thy inches. Thou shouldst know
0337 There were a heart in Egypt.
ANTONY 0338 Hear me, queen:
0339 The strong necessity of time commands
0340 Our services awhile, but my full heart
0341 55 Remains in use with you. Our Italy
0342 Shines o’er with civil swords; Sextus Pompeius
0343 Makes his approaches to the port of Rome;
0344 Equality of two domestic powers
0345 Breed scrupulous faction; the hated grown to
0346 60 strength
0347 Are newly grown to love; the condemned Pompey,
0348 Rich in his father’s honor, creeps apace
0349 Into the hearts of such as have not thrived
0350 Upon the present state, whose numbers threaten;
0351 65 And quietness, grown sick of rest, would purge
0352 By any desperate change. My more particular,
0353 And that which most with you should safe my going,
0354 Is Fulvia’s death.
CLEOPATRA
0355 Though age from folly could not give me freedom,
0356 70 It does from childishness. Can Fulvia die?
ANTONY 0357 She’s dead, my queen.⌜He shows her papers.⌝
0358 Look here, and at thy sovereign leisure read
0359 The garboils she awaked; at the last, best,
0360 See when and where she died.
CLEOPATRA 0361 75 O, most false love!
0362 Where be the sacred vials thou shouldst fill
0363 With sorrowful water? Now I see, I see,
0364 In Fulvia’s death, how mine received shall be.
ANTONY
0365 Quarrel no more, but be prepared to know
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33
0366
80 The purposes I bear, which are or cease0367 As you shall give th’ advice. By the fire
0368 That quickens Nilus’ slime, I go from hence
0369 Thy soldier, servant, making peace or war
0370 As thou affects.
CLEOPATRA 0371 85 Cut my lace, Charmian, come!
0372 But let it be; I am quickly ill and well;
0373 So Antony loves.
ANTONY 0374 My precious queen, forbear,
0375 And give true evidence to his love, which stands
0376 90 An honorable trial.
CLEOPATRA 0377 So Fulvia told me.
0378 I prithee turn aside and weep for her,
0379 Then bid adieu to me, and say the tears
0380 Belong to Egypt. Good now, play one scene
0381 95 Of excellent dissembling, and let it look
0382 Like perfect honor.
ANTONY 0383 You’ll heat my blood. No more!
CLEOPATRA
0384 You can do better yet, but this is meetly.
ANTONY
0385 Now by ⌜my⌝ sword—
CLEOPATRA 0386 100 And target. Still he mends.
0387 But this is not the best. Look, prithee, Charmian,
0388 How this Herculean Roman does become
0389 The carriage of his chafe.
ANTONY 0390 I’ll leave you, lady.
CLEOPATRA 0391 105Courteous lord, one word.
0392 Sir, you and I must part, but that’s not it;
0393 Sir, you and I have loved, but there’s not it;
0394 That you know well. Something it is I would—
0395 O, my oblivion is a very Antony,
0396 110 And I am all forgotten.
ANTONY 0397 But that your Royalty
0398 Holds idleness your subject, I should take you
0399 For idleness itself.
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35
CLEOPATRA
0400
’Tis sweating labor0401 115 To bear such idleness so near the heart
0402 As Cleopatra this. But, sir, forgive me,
0403 Since my becomings kill me when they do not
0404 Eye well to you. Your honor calls you hence;
0405 Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly,
0406 120 And all the gods go with you. Upon your sword
0407 Sit laurel victory, and smooth success
0408 Be strewed before your feet.
ANTONY 0409 Let us go. Come.
0410 Our separation so abides and flies
0411 125 That thou, residing here, goes yet with me,
0412 And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee.
0413 Away!
They exit.