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<PLAY><TITLE>The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra</TITLE><PERSONAE><TITLE>Dramatis Personae</TITLE><PGROUP><PERSONA>MARK ANTONY</PERSONA><PERSONA>OCTAVIUS CAESAR</PERSONA><PERSONA>M. AEMILIUS LEPIDUS</PERSONA><GRPDESCR>triumvirs.</GRPDESCR></PGROUP><PERSONA>SEXTUS POMPEIUS</PERSONA><PGROUP><PERSONA>DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS</PERSONA><PERSONA>VENTIDIUS</PERSONA><PERSONA>EROS</PERSONA><PERSONA>SCARUS</PERSONA><PERSONA>DERCETAS</PERSONA><PERSONA>DEMETRIUS</PERSONA><PERSONA>PHILO</PERSONA><GRPDESCR>friends to Antony.</GRPDESCR></PGROUP><PGROUP><PERSONA>MECAENAS</PERSONA><PERSONA>AGRIPPA</PERSONA><PERSONA>DOLABELLA</PERSONA><PERSONA>PROCULEIUS</PERSONA><PERSONA>THYREUS</PERSONA><PERSONA>GALLUS</PERSONA><PERSONA>MENAS</PERSONA><GRPDESCR>friends to Caesar.</GRPDESCR></PGROUP><PGROUP><PERSONA>MENECRATES</PERSONA><PERSONA>VARRIUS</PERSONA><GRPDESCR>friends to Pompey.</GRPDESCR></PGROUP><PERSONA>TAURUS, lieutenant-general to Caesar.</PERSONA><PERSONA>CANIDIUS, lieutenant-general to Antony.</PERSONA><PERSONA>SILIUS, an officer in Ventidius's army.</PERSONA><PERSONA>EUPHRONIUS, an ambassador from Antony to Caesar.</PERSONA><PGROUP><PERSONA>ALEXAS</PERSONA><PERSONA>MARDIAN, a Eunuch.</PERSONA><PERSONA>SELEUCUS</PERSONA><PERSONA>DIOMEDES</PERSONA><GRPDESCR>attendants on Cleopatra.</GRPDESCR></PGROUP><PERSONA>A Soothsayer. </PERSONA><PERSONA>A Clown. </PERSONA><PERSONA>CLEOPATRA, queen of Egypt.</PERSONA><PERSONA>OCTAVIA, sister to Caesar and wife to Antony.</PERSONA><PGROUP><PERSONA>CHARMIAN</PERSONA><PERSONA>IRAS</PERSONA><GRPDESCR>attendants on Cleopatra.</GRPDESCR></PGROUP><PERSONA>Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants.</PERSONA></PERSONAE><SCNDESCR>SCENE  In several parts of the Roman empire.</SCNDESCR><PLAYSUBT>ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA</PLAYSUBT><ACT><TITLE>ACT I</TITLE><SCENE><TITLE>SCENE I.  Alexandria. A room in CLEOPATRA's palace.</TITLE><STAGEDIR>Enter DEMETRIUS and PHILO</STAGEDIR><SPEECH><SPEAKER>PHILO</SPEAKER><LINE>Nay, but this dotage of our general's</LINE><LINE>O'erflows the measure: those his goodly eyes,</LINE><LINE>That o'er the files and musters of the war</LINE><LINE>Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn,</LINE><LINE>The office and devotion of their view</LINE><LINE>Upon a tawny front: his captain's heart,</LINE><LINE>Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst</LINE><LINE>The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper,</LINE><LINE>And is become the bellows and the fan</LINE><LINE>To cool a gipsy's lust.</LINE><STAGEDIR>Flourish. Enter ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, her Ladies,the Train, with Eunuchs fanning her</STAGEDIR><LINE>Look, where they come:</LINE><LINE>Take but good note, and you shall see in him.</LINE><LINE>The triple pillar of the world transform'd</LINE><LINE>Into a strumpet's fool: behold and see.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>CLEOPATRA</SPEAKER><LINE>If it be love indeed, tell me how much.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>MARK ANTONY</SPEAKER><LINE>There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>CLEOPATRA</SPEAKER><LINE>I'll set a bourn how far to be beloved.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>MARK ANTONY</SPEAKER><LINE>Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth.</LINE></SPEECH><STAGEDIR>Enter an Attendant</STAGEDIR><SPEECH><SPEAKER>Attendant</SPEAKER><LINE>News, my good lord, from Rome.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>MARK ANTONY</SPEAKER><LINE>Grates me: the sum.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>CLEOPATRA</SPEAKER><LINE>Nay, hear them, Antony:</LINE><LINE>Fulvia perchance is angry; or, who knows</LINE><LINE>If the scarce-bearded Caesar have not sent</LINE><LINE>His powerful mandate to you, 'Do this, or this;</LINE><LINE>Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that;</LINE><LINE>Perform 't, or else we damn thee.'</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>MARK ANTONY</SPEAKER><LINE>How, my love!</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>CLEOPATRA</SPEAKER><LINE>Perchance! nay, and most like:</LINE><LINE>You must not stay here longer, your dismission</LINE><LINE>Is come from Caesar; therefore hear it, Antony.</LINE><LINE>Where's Fulvia's process? Caesar's I would say? both?</LINE><LINE>Call in the messengers. As I am Egypt's queen,</LINE><LINE>Thou blushest, Antony; and that blood of thine</LINE><LINE>Is Caesar's homager: else so thy cheek pays shame</LINE><LINE>When shrill-tongued Fulvia scolds. The messengers!</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>MARK ANTONY</SPEAKER><LINE>Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch</LINE><LINE>Of the ranged empire fall! Here is my space.</LINE><LINE>Kingdoms are clay: our dungy earth alike</LINE><LINE>Feeds beast as man: the nobleness of life</LINE><LINE>Is to do thus; when such a mutual pair</LINE><STAGEDIR>Embracing</STAGEDIR><LINE>And such a twain can do't, in which I bind,</LINE><LINE>On pain of punishment, the world to weet</LINE><LINE>We stand up peerless.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>CLEOPATRA</SPEAKER><LINE>Excellent falsehood!</LINE><LINE>Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?</LINE><LINE>I'll seem the fool I am not; Antony</LINE><LINE>Will be himself.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>MARK ANTONY</SPEAKER><LINE>But stirr'd by Cleopatra.</LINE><LINE>Now, for the love of Love and her soft hours,</LINE><LINE>Let's not confound the time with conference harsh:</LINE><LINE>There's not a minute of our lives should stretch</LINE><LINE>Without some pleasure now. What sport tonight?</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>CLEOPATRA</SPEAKER><LINE>Hear the ambassadors.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>MARK ANTONY</SPEAKER><LINE>Fie, wrangling queen!</LINE><LINE>Whom every thing becomes, to chide, to laugh,</LINE><LINE>To weep; whose every passion fully strives</LINE><LINE>To make itself, in thee, fair and admired!</LINE><LINE>No messenger, but thine; and all alone</LINE><LINE>To-night we'll wander through the streets and note</LINE><LINE>The qualities of people. Come, my queen;</LINE><LINE>Last night you did desire it: speak not to us.</LINE></SPEECH><STAGEDIR>Exeunt MARK ANTONY and CLEOPATRA withtheir train</STAGEDIR><SPEECH><SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER><LINE>Is Caesar with Antonius prized so slight?</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>PHILO</SPEAKER><LINE>Sir, sometimes, when he is not Antony,</LINE><LINE>He comes too short of that great property</LINE><LINE>Which still should go with Antony.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER><LINE>I am full sorry</LINE><LINE>That he approves the common liar, who</LINE><LINE>Thus speaks of him at Rome: but I will hope</LINE><LINE>Of better deeds to-morrow. Rest you happy!</LINE></SPEECH><STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR></SCENE><SCENE><TITLE>SCENE II.  The same. Another room.</TITLE><STAGEDIR>Enter CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, and a Soothsayer</STAGEDIR><SPEECH><SPEAKER>CHARMIAN</SPEAKER><LINE>Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most any thing Alexas,</LINE><LINE>almost most absolute Alexas, where's the soothsayer</LINE><LINE>that you praised so to the queen? O, that I knew</LINE><LINE>this husband, which, you say, must charge his horns</LINE><LINE>with garlands!</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>ALEXAS</SPEAKER><LINE>Soothsayer!</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>Soothsayer</SPEAKER><LINE>Your will?</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>CHARMIAN</SPEAKER><LINE>Is this the man? Is't you, sir, that know things?</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>Soothsayer</SPEAKER><LINE>In nature's infinite book of secrecy</LINE><LINE>A little I can read.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>ALEXAS</SPEAKER><LINE>Show him your hand.</LINE></SPEECH><STAGEDIR>Enter DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS</STAGEDIR><SPEECH><SPEAKER>DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS</SPEAKER><LINE>Bring in the banquet quickly; wine enough</LINE><LINE>Cleopatra's health to drink.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>CHARMIAN</SPEAKER><LINE>Good sir, give me good fortune.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>Soothsayer</SPEAKER><LINE>I make not, but foresee.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>CHARMIAN</SPEAKER><LINE>Pray, then, foresee me one.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>Soothsayer</SPEAKER><LINE>You shall be yet far fairer than you are.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>CHARMIAN</SPEAKER><LINE>He means in flesh.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>IRAS</SPEAKER><LINE>No, you shall paint when you are old.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>CHARMIAN</SPEAKER><LINE>Wrinkles forbid!</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>ALEXAS</SPEAKER><LINE>Vex not his prescience; be attentive.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>CHARMIAN</SPEAKER><LINE>Hush!</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>Soothsayer</SPEAKER><LINE>You shall be more beloving than beloved.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>CHARMIAN</SPEAKER><LINE>I had rather heat my liver with drinking.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>ALEXAS</SPEAKER><LINE>Nay, hear him.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>CHARMIAN</SPEAKER><LINE>Good now, some excellent fortune! Let me be married</LINE><LINE>to three kings in a forenoon, and widow them all:</LINE><LINE>let me have a child at fifty, to whom Herod of Jewry</LINE><LINE>may do homage: find me to marry me with Octavius</LINE><LINE>Caesar, and companion me with my mistress.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>Soothsayer</SPEAKER><LINE>You shall outlive the lady whom you serve.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>CHARMIAN</SPEAKER><LINE>O excellent! I love long life better than figs.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>Soothsayer</SPEAKER><LINE>You have seen and proved a fairer former fortune</LINE><LINE>Than that which is to approach.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>CHARMIAN</SPEAKER><LINE>Then belike my children shall have no names:</LINE><LINE>prithee, how many boys and wenches must I have?</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>Soothsayer</SPEAKER><LINE>If every of your wishes had a womb.</LINE><LINE>And fertile every wish, a million.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>CHARMIAN</SPEAKER><LINE>Out, fool! I forgive thee for a witch.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>ALEXAS</SPEAKER><LINE>You think none but your sheets are privy to your wishes.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>CHARMIAN</SPEAKER><LINE>Nay, come, tell Iras hers.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>ALEXAS</SPEAKER><LINE>We'll know all our fortunes.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS</SPEAKER><LINE>Mine, and most of our fortunes, to-night, shall</LINE><LINE>be--drunk to bed.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>IRAS</SPEAKER><LINE>There's a palm presages chastity, if nothing else.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>CHARMIAN</SPEAKER><LINE>E'en as the o'erflowing Nilus presageth famine.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>IRAS</SPEAKER><LINE>Go, you wild bedfellow, you cannot soothsay.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>CHARMIAN</SPEAKER><LINE>Nay, if an oily palm be not a fruitful</LINE><LINE>prognostication, I cannot scratch mine ear. Prithee,</LINE><LINE>tell her but a worky-day fortune.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>Soothsayer</SPEAKER><LINE>Your fortunes are alike.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>IRAS</SPEAKER><LINE>But how, but how? give me particulars.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>Soothsayer</SPEAKER><LINE>I have said.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>IRAS</SPEAKER><LINE>Am I not an inch of fortune better than she?</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>CHARMIAN</SPEAKER><LINE>Well, if you were but an inch of fortune better than</LINE><LINE>I, where would you choose it?</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH><SPEAKER>IRAS</SPEAKER><LINE>Not in my husband's nose.</LINE></SPEECH><SPEECH>