LITMIR.BIZ

        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.

          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.

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

        CLEOPATRA. I'll set a bourn how far to be belov'd.

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

        MESSENGER. News, my good lord, from Rome.

        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 pow'rful mandate to you: 'Do this or this;

          Take in that kingdom and enfranchise that;

          Perform't, or else we damn thee.'

        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-tongu'd Fulvia scolds. The messengers!

        ANTONY. Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch

          Of the rang'd 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 [emhracing], when such a mutual pair

          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.

        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 to-night?

        CLEOPATRA. Hear the ambassadors.

        ANTONY. Fie, wrangling queen!

          Whom everything becomes- to chide, to laugh,

          To weep; whose every passion fully strives

          To make itself in thee fair and admir'd.

          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 ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, with the train

        DEMETRIUS. Is Caesar with Antonius priz'd 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

        CHARMIAN. Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most anything Alexas,

      almost

          most absolute Alexas, where's the soothsayer that you prais'd

      so

          to th' Queen? O that I knew this husband, which you say must

          charge

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