Antony and Cleopatra Act 1, Scene 1

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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 within.)/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.

(Enter Antony and Cleopatra, with their trains; Eunuchs fanning her.)

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.

(Enter an Attendant.)

Attendant: 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 powerful 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 (Embracing); 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 their 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.)

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