Antony and Cleopatra Act 1, Scene 1

Go to: Antony and Cleopatra Table of Contents where you can also compare this scene to Shakespeare’s original.

Alexandria, Egypt. A room in Cleopatra’s palace.

(Demetrius and Philo enter)

Philo: Our general, Mark Antony, is paying too much attention to Cleopatra. His eyes used to be focused on his soldiers. Now it’s like he only sees her. He used to get so excited for a battle that it was as if his heart was about to burst through his armor. Now he doesn’t care anything about fighting. He only cares about her.  (Mark Antony, Cleopatra, her servant women and eunuchs enter. Cleopatra’s servants are fanning her) Look closely. That man used to hold up the world with his strength. Now he’s just a fool for that whore.  

Cleopatra: Tell me how much you love me.

Mark Antony: I love you too much to say.

Cleopatra: You can never love me too much.

Mark Antony: I love you all the way to the new heaven and the new earth, then.

(Servant enters)

Servant: (to Antony) There’s news from Rome, my lord.

Mark Antony: Oh, bother!

Cleopatra: Listen to him, Antony. Maybe your wife, Fulvia, is angry with you. Or who knows? Maybe young Caesar has sent you another order. (mocking Octavius Caesar) “Do this.” “Do that.” “Take over that kingdom.” “Do it or else.”

Mark Antony: Do you really think that’s what he sounds like?

Cleopatra: Maybe. And most likely Caesar is ordering you away from here. So hear the news, Antony. Is it Fulvia’s orders? Caesar’s? Both? As I am Queen of Egypt, I do declare that you’re blushing, Antony. You get all red when Fulvia yells at you.

Mark Antony: Let Rome melt into the Tiber River and the whole wide Empire fall! This is my home now. Kingdoms are as brittle as clay. Our crap-covered earth feeds animals as well as people. This is real life; when two people like us find each other and stand up against the world.

Cleopatra: (to herself) What a lie! Why did he marry Fulvia if he didn’t love her? I’ll just pretend to go along with him and Antony can do what he wants.

Mark Antony: For the sake of love, let’s not argue. We shouldn’t waste another a minute without doing something fun. What should we do tonight?

Cleopatra: Listen to the messengers from Rome.

Mark Antony: Ahh, you beautiful, frustrating queen! You make everything into something to tease or laugh about and I love it. No. No, we’ll hear no messengers except yours. And tonight we’ll walk through the streets together and talk about the people we see. Come, my queen. You wanted to last night. (to the Messenger) Don’t you dare say anything about Rome.

(Mark Antony, Cleopatra, and her servants exit)

Demetrius: Does Antony think so little of Caesar?

Philo: Like I said. Antony isn’t quite himself right now.

Demetrius: I am sorry to see that the rumors of him back in Rome are true. Still, I hope he acts better in the future. Good night!

(they exit)

Go to: Next scene (Act 1, Scene 2) or Antony and Cleopatra Table of Contents where you can also compare this scene to Shakespeare’s original.