Antony and Cleopatra

### SCENE I. Alexandria. A room in CLEOPATRA's palace.

> Enter DEMETRIUS and PHILO

PHILO

> Nay, but this dotage of our general's
> O'erflows the measure: those his goodly eyes,
> That o'er the files and musters of the war
> Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn,
> The office and devotion of their view
> Upon a tawny front: his captain's heart,
> Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst
> The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper,
> And is become the bellows and the fan
> To cool a gipsy's lust.

> Flourish. Enter ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, her Ladies, the Train, with Eunuchs fanning her

> Look, where they come:
> Take but good note, and you shall see in him.
> The triple pillar of the world transform'd
> Into a strumpet's fool: behold and see.

CLEOPATRA

> If it be love indeed, tell me how much.

MARK ANTONY

> There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd.

CLEOPATRA

> I'll set a bourn how far to be beloved.

MARK ANTONY

> Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth.

> Enter an Attendant

Attendant

> News, my good lord, from Rome.

MARK ANTONY

> Grates me: the sum.

CLEOPATRA

> Nay, hear them, Antony:
> Fulvia perchance is angry; or, who knows
> If the scarce-bearded Caesar have not sent
> His powerful mandate to you, 'Do this, or this;
> Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that;
> Perform 't, or else we damn thee.'

MARK ANTONY

> How, my love!

CLEOPATRA

> Perchance! nay, and most like:
> You must not stay here longer, your dismission
> Is come from Caesar; therefore hear it, Antony.
> Where's Fulvia's process? Caesar's I would say? both?
> Call in the messengers. As I am Egypt's queen,
> Thou blushest, Antony; and that blood of thine
> Is Caesar's homager: else so thy cheek pays shame
> When shrill-tongued Fulvia scolds. The messengers!

MARK ANTONY

> Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch
> Of the ranged empire fall! Here is my space.
> Kingdoms are clay: our dungy earth alike
> Feeds beast as man: the nobleness of life
> Is to do thus; when such a mutual pair

> Embracing

> And such a twain can do't, in which I bind,
> On pain of punishment, the world to weet
> We stand up peerless.

CLEOPATRA

> Excellent falsehood!
> Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?
> I'll seem the fool I am not; Antony
> Will be himself.

MARK ANTONY

> But stirr'd by Cleopatra.
> Now, for the love of Love and her soft hours,
> Let's not confound the time with conference harsh:
> There's not a minute of our lives should stretch
> Without some pleasure now. What sport tonight?

CLEOPATRA

> Hear the ambassadors.

MARK ANTONY

> Fie, wrangling queen!
> Whom every thing becomes, to chide, to laugh,
> To weep; whose every passion fully strives
> To make itself, in thee, fair and admired!
> No messenger, but thine; and all alone
> To-night we'll wander through the streets and note
> The qualities of people. Come, my queen;
> Last night you did desire it: speak not to us.

> Exeunt MARK ANTONY and CLEOPATRA with their train

DEMETRIUS

> Is Caesar with Antonius prized so slight?

PHILO

> Sir, sometimes, when he is not Antony,
> He comes too short of that great property
> Which still should go with Antony.

DEMETRIUS

> I am full sorry
> That he approves the common liar, who
> Thus speaks of him at Rome: but I will hope
> Of better deeds to-morrow. Rest you happy!

> Exeunt