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Antony and Cleopatra - Act 2, scene 5
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Antony and Cleopatra - Act 2, scene 5Act 2, scene 5
⌜Scene 5⌝
Synopsis:
Cleopatra learns of Antony’s marriage and, in her fury, beats the messenger who brought the news.
Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas.CLEOPATRA
1017 Give me some music—music, moody food
1018 Of us that trade in love.
ALL 1019 The music, ho!
Enter Mardian the eunuch.
CLEOPATRA
1020 Let it alone. Let’s to billiards. Come, Charmian.
CHARMIAN
1021 5 My arm is sore. Best play with Mardian.
CLEOPATRA
1022 As well a woman with an eunuch played
1023 As with a woman.—Come, you’ll play with me, sir?
MARDIAN 1024 As well as I can, madam.
CLEOPATRA
1025 And when good will is showed, though ’t come too
1026 10 short,
1027 The actor may plead pardon. I’ll none now.
1028 Give me mine angle; we’ll to th’ river. There,
1029 My music playing far off, I will betray
1030 ⌜Tawny-finned⌝ fishes. My bended hook shall pierce
1031 15 Their slimy jaws, and as I draw them up
1032 I’ll think them every one an Antony
1033 And say “Aha! You’re caught.”
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CHARMIAN
1034
’Twas merry when1035 You wagered on your angling; when your diver
1036 20 Did hang a salt fish on his hook, which he
1037 With fervency drew up.
CLEOPATRA 1038 That time?—O, times!—
1039 I laughed him out of patience; and that night
1040 I laughed him into patience; and next morn,
1041 25 Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed,
1042 Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst
1043 I wore his sword Philippan.
Enter a Messenger.
1044 O, from Italy!
1045 Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
1046 30 That long time have been barren.
MESSENGER 1047 Madam, madam—
CLEOPATRA
1048 Antonio’s dead! If thou say so, villain,
1049 Thou kill’st thy mistress. But well and free,
1050 If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here
1051 35 My bluest veins to kiss, a hand that kings
1052 Have lipped and trembled kissing.
MESSENGER 1053 First, madam, he is well.
CLEOPATRA
1054 Why, there’s more gold. But sirrah, mark, we use
1055 To say the dead are well. Bring it to that,
1056 40 The gold I give thee will I melt and pour
1057 Down thy ill-uttering throat.
MESSENGER 1058 Good madam, hear me.
CLEOPATRA 1059 Well, go to, I will.
1060 But there’s no goodness in thy face—if Antony
1061 45 Be free and healthful, so tart a favor
1062 To trumpet such good tidings! If not well,
1063 Thou shouldst come like a Fury crowned with snakes,
1064 Not like a formal man.
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83
MESSENGER
1065
Will ’t please you hear me?CLEOPATRA
1066 50 I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak’st.
1067 Yet if thou say Antony lives, ⌜is⌝ well,
1068 Or friends with Caesar or not captive to him,
1069 I’ll set thee in a shower of gold and hail
1070 Rich pearls upon thee.
MESSENGER 1071 55 Madam, he’s well.
CLEOPATRA 1072 Well said.
MESSENGER
1073 And friends with Caesar.
CLEOPATRA 1074 Th’ art an honest man.
MESSENGER
1075 Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.
CLEOPATRA
1076 60 Make thee a fortune from me.
MESSENGER 1077 But yet, madam—
CLEOPATRA
1078 I do not like “But yet.” It does allay
1079 The good precedence. Fie upon “But yet.”
1080 “But yet” is as a jailer to bring forth
1081 65 Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend,
1082 Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,
1083 The good and bad together: he’s friends with Caesar,
1084 In state of health, thou say’st, and, thou say’st, free.
MESSENGER
1085 Free, madam, no. I made no such report.
1086 70 He’s bound unto Octavia.
CLEOPATRA 1087 For what good turn?
MESSENGER
1088 For the best turn i’ th’ bed.
CLEOPATRA 1089 I am pale, Charmian.
MESSENGER
1090 Madam, he’s married to Octavia.
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85
CLEOPATRA 1091 75 The most infectious pestilence upon thee!
Strikes him down.
MESSENGER 1092 Good madam, patience!
CLEOPATRA 1093 What say you?Strikes him.
1094 Hence, horrible villain, or I’ll spurn thine eyes
1095 Like balls before me! I’ll unhair thy head!
She hales him up and down.
1096 80 Thou shalt be whipped with wire and stewed in
1097 brine,
1098 Smarting in ling’ring pickle.
MESSENGER 1099 Gracious madam,
1100 I that do bring the news made not the match.
CLEOPATRA
1101 85 Say ’tis not so, a province I will give thee
1102 And make thy fortunes proud. The blow thou hadst
1103 Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage,
1104 And I will boot thee with what gift beside
1105 Thy modesty can beg.
MESSENGER 1106 90 He’s married, madam.
CLEOPATRA
1107 Rogue, thou hast lived too long.Draw a knife.
MESSENGER 1108 Nay then, I’ll run.
1109 What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.
He exits.
CHARMIAN
1110 Good madam, keep yourself within yourself.
1111 95 The man is innocent.
CLEOPATRA
1112 Some innocents ’scape not the thunderbolt.
1113 Melt Egypt into Nile, and kindly creatures
1114 Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again.
1115 Though I am mad, I will not bite him. Call!
CHARMIAN
1116 100 He is afeard to come.
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87
CLEOPATRA
1117
I will not hurt him.1118 These hands do lack nobility that they strike
1119 A meaner than myself, since I myself
1120 Have given myself the cause.
Enter the Messenger again.
1121 105 Come hither, sir.
1122 Though it be honest, it is never good
1123 To bring bad news. Give to a gracious message
1124 An host of tongues, but let ill tidings tell
1125 Themselves when they be felt.
MESSENGER 1126 110I have done my duty.
CLEOPATRA 1127 Is he married?
1128 I cannot hate thee worser than I do
1129 If thou again say “yes.”
MESSENGER 1130 He’s married, madam.
CLEOPATRA
1131 115 The gods confound thee! Dost thou hold there still?
MESSENGER
1132 Should I lie, madam?
CLEOPATRA 1133 O, I would thou didst,
1134 So half my Egypt were submerged and made
1135 A cistern for scaled snakes! Go, get thee hence.
1136 120 Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me
1137 Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?
MESSENGER
1138 I crave your Highness’ pardon.
CLEOPATRA 1139 He is married?
MESSENGER
1140 Take no offense that I would not offend you.
1141 125 To punish me for what you make me do
1142 Seems much unequal. He’s married to Octavia.
CLEOPATRA
1143 O, that his fault should make a knave of thee
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89
1144
That art not what th’ art sure of! Get thee hence.1145 The merchandise which thou hast brought from
1146 130 Rome
1147 Are all too dear for me. Lie they upon thy hand,
1148 And be undone by ’em!⌜Messenger exits.⌝
CHARMIAN 1149 Good your Highness,
1150 patience.
CLEOPATRA
1151 135 In praising Antony, I have dispraised Caesar.
CHARMIAN 1152 Many times, madam.
CLEOPATRA
1153 I am paid for ’t now. Lead me from hence;
1154 I faint. O, Iras, Charmian! ’Tis no matter.—
1155 Go to the fellow, good Alexas. Bid him
1156 140 Report the feature of Octavia, her years,
1157 Her inclination; let him not leave out
1158 The color of her hair. Bring me word quickly.
⌜Alexas exits.⌝
1159 Let him forever go—let him not, Charmian.
1160 Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
1161 145 The other way ’s a Mars. (⌜To Mardian.⌝) Bid you
1162 Alexas
1163 Bring me word how tall she is.—Pity me,
1164 Charmian,
1165 But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.
They exit.