CLEOPATRA
Give me some music—music, moody food
Of us that trade in love.
ALL
The music, ho!
CLEOPATRA
Let it alone. Let’s to billiards. Come, Charmian.
CHARMIAN
My arm is sore. Best play with Mardian.
CLEOPATRA
As well a woman with an eunuch played
As with a woman. Come, you’ll play with me, sir?
MARDIAN
As well as I can, madam.
CLEOPATRA
And when good will is showed, though’t come too short,
The actor may plead pardon. I’ll none now.
Give me mine angle; we’ll to the river. There,
My music playing far off, I will betray
Tawny-finned fishes. My bended hook shall pierce
Their slimy jaws, and as I draw them up
I’ll think them every one an Antony,
And say “Ah, ha! You’re caught.”
CHARMIAN
merry when
You wagered on your angling; when your diver
Did hang a salt fish on his hook, which he
With fervency drew up.
CLEOPATRA
That time?—O times!—
I laughed him out of patience; and that night
I laughed him into patience, and next morn,
the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed,
Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst
I wore his sword Philippan.
CLEOPATRA
O! from Italy!
Ram fruitful tidings in mine ears,
That long time have been barren.
MESSENGER
Madam, madam—
CLEOPATRA
Antony’s dead! If say so, villain,
kill’st mistress. But well and free,
If so yield him, there is gold, and here
My bluest veins to kiss, a hand that kings
Have lipped, and trembled kissing.
MESSENGER
First, madam, he’s well.
CLEOPATRA
Why, there’s more gold.
But , mark, we use
To say the dead are well. Bring it to that,
The gold I give will I melt and pour
Down ill-uttering throat.
MESSENGER
Good madam, hear me.
CLEOPATRA
Well, go to, I will.
But there’s no goodness in face if Antony
Be free and healthful. So tart a favour
To trumpet such good tidings! If not well,
come like a Fury crowned with snakes,
Not like a formal man.
MESSENGER
Will’t please you hear me?
CLEOPATRA
I have a mind to strike speak’st.
Yet if say Antony lives, is well,
Or friends with Caesar, or not captive to him,
I’ll set in a shower of gold and hail
Rich pearls upon .
MESSENGER
Madam, he’s well.
CLEOPATRA
Well said.
MESSENGER
And friends with Caesar.
CLEOPATRA
Th’ art an honest man.
MESSENGER
Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.
CLEOPATRA
Make a fortune from me.
MESSENGER
But yet, madam—
CLEOPATRA
I do not like “But yet”, it does allay
The good precedence. Fie upon “But yet”!
“But yet” is as a gaoler to bring forth
Some monstrous malefactor. , friend,
Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,
The good and bad together: he’s friends with Caesar,
In state of health, say’st; and, say’st, free.
MESSENGER
Free, madam? No. I made no such report.
He’s bound unto Octavia.
CLEOPATRA
For what good turn?
MESSENGER
For the best turn i’ th’ bed.
CLEOPATRA
I am pale, Charmian.
MESSENGER
Madam, he’s married to Octavia.
CLEOPATRA
The most infectious pestilence upon !
MESSENGER
Good madam, patience.
CLEOPATRA
What say you?
CLEOPATRA
, horrible villain, or I’ll spurn eyes
Like balls before me! I’ll unhair head!
CLEOPATRA
be whipped with wire and stewed in brine,
Smarting in ling’ring pickle.
MESSENGER
Gracious madam,
I that do bring the news made not the match.
CLEOPATRA
Say not so, a province I will give ,
And make fortunes proud. The blow hadst
Shall make peace for moving me to rage,
And I will boot with what gift beside
modesty can beg.
MESSENGER
He’s married, madam.
CLEOPATRA
Rogue, lived too long.
MESSENGER
Nay then I’ll run.
What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.
CHARMIAN
Good madam, keep yourself within yourself.
The man is innocent.
CLEOPATRA
Some innocents ’scape not the thunderbolt.
Melt Egypt into Nile, and kindly creatures
Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again.
Though I am mad, I will not bite him. Call!
CHARMIAN
He is afeard to come.
CLEOPATRA
I will not hurt him.
CLEOPATRA
These hands do lack nobility that they strike
A meaner than myself, since I myself
Have given myself the cause.
CLEOPATRA
Come , sir.
Though it be honest, it is never good
To bring bad news. Give to a gracious message
An host of tongues, but let ill tidings tell
Themselves when they be felt.
MESSENGER
I have done my duty.
CLEOPATRA
Is he married?
I cannot hate worser than I do
If again say “Yes.”
MESSENGER
He’s married, madam.
CLEOPATRA
The gods confound ! hold there still!
MESSENGER
Should I lie, madam?
CLEOPATRA
O, I would ,
So half my Egypt were submerged and made
A cistern for scaled snakes! Go, get .
Hadst Narcissus in face, to me
appear most ugly. He is married?
MESSENGER
I crave your highness’ pardon.
CLEOPATRA
He is married?
MESSENGER
Take no offence that I would not offend you.
To punish me for what you make me do
Seems much unequal. He’s married to Octavia.
CLEOPATRA
O, that his fault should make a of
That art not what thou’rt sure of! Get !
The merchandise which brought from Rome
Are all too dear for me. Lie they upon hand,
And be undone by ’em!
CHARMIAN
Good your highness, patience.
CLEOPATRA
In praising Antony I have dispraised Caesar.
CHARMIAN
Many times, madam.
CLEOPATRA
I am paid for’t now.
Lead me from ;
I faint. O Iras, Charmian! no matter.
Go to the fellow, good Alexas, bid him
Report the feature of Octavia, her years,
Her inclination; let him not leave out
The colour of her hair. Bring me word quickly.
CLEOPATRA
Let him for ever go—let him not, Charmian.
Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
The other way ’s a Mars. Bid you Alexas
Bring me word how tall she is. Pity me, Charmian,
But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.