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- $Unique_ID{SSP01465}
- $Title{Antony and Cleopatra: Act III, Scene III}
- $Author{Shakespeare, William}
- $Subject{}
- $Log{Dramatis Personae*01450.txt}
-
- Portions copyright (c) CMC ReSearch, Inc., 1989
-
- The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
-
- ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
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-
- ACT III
- ................................................................................
-
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- SCENE III: Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace.
- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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- {Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS.}
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- CLEOPATRA: Where is the fellow?
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- ALEXAS: Half afeard to come.
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- CLEOPATRA: Go to, go to.
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- {Enter the Messenger as before.}
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- Come hither, sir.
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- ALEXAS: Good majesty,
- Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you
- But when you are well pleased.
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- CLEOPATRA: That Herod's head
- I'll have: but how, when Antony is gone
- Through whom I might command it? Come thou near.
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- Messenger: Most gracious majesty,--
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- CLEOPATRA: Didst thou behold Octavia?
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- Messenger: Ay, dread queen.
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- CLEOPATRA: Where? 10
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- Messenger: Madam, in Rome;
- I look'd her in the face, and saw her led
- Between her brother and Mark Antony.
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- CLEOPATRA: Is she as tall as me?
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- Messenger: She is not, madam.
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- CLEOPATRA: Didst hear her speak? is she shrill-tongued or low?
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- Messenger: Madam, I heard her speak; she is low-voiced.
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- CLEOPATRA: That's not so good: he cannot like her long.
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- CHARMIAN: Like her! O Isis! 'tis impossible.
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- CLEOPATRA: I think so, Charmian: dull of tongue, and dwarfish!
- What majesty is in her gait? Remember, 20
- If e'er thou look'dst on majesty.
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- Messenger: She creeps:
- Her motion and her station are as one;
- She shows a body rather than a life,
- A statue than a breather.
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- CLEOPATRA: Is this certain?
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- Messenger: Or I have no observance.
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- CHARMIAN: Three in Egypt
- Cannot make better note.
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- CLEOPATRA: He's very knowing;
- I do perceive't: there's nothing in her yet:
- The fellow has good judgment.
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- CHARMIAN: Excellent.
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- CLEOPATRA: Guess at her years, I prithee.
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- Messenger: Madam,
- She was a widow,-- 30
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- CLEOPATRA: Widow! Charmian, hark.
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- Messenger: And I do think she's thirty.
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- CLEOPATRA: Bear'st thou her face in mind? is't long or round?
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- Messenger: Round even to faultiness.
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- CLEOPATRA: For the most part, too, they are foolish that are so.
- Her hair, what color?
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- Messenger: Brown, madam: and her forehead
- As low as she would wish it.
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- CLEOPATRA: There's gold for thee.
- Thou must not take my former sharpness ill:
- I will employ thee back again; I find thee 40
- Most fit for business: go make thee ready;
- Our letters are prepared.
-
- [Exit Messenger.]
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- CHARMIAN: A proper man.
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- CLEOPATRA: Indeed, he is so: I repent me much
- That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him,
- This creature's no such thing.
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- CHARMIAN: Nothing, madam.
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- CLEOPATRA: The man hath seen some majesty, and should know.
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- CHARMIAN: Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend,
- And serving you so long!
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- CLEOPATRA: I have one thing more to ask him yet, good Charmian:
- But 'tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to me 50
- Where I will write. All may be well enough.
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- CHARMIAN: I warrant you, madam.
-
- [Exeunt.]
-