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Antony and Cleopatra - Act 3, scene 12
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Antony and Cleopatra - Act 3, scene 12Act 3, scene 12
⌜Scene 12⌝
Synopsis:
Caesar refuses to grant Antony’s petition for clemency, but he agrees to hear Cleopatra’s suit if she will banish or kill Antony. Caesar sends Thidias to win Cleopatra from Antony.
Enter Caesar, Agrippa, ⌜Thidias,⌝ andDolabella, with others.
CAESAR
2107 Let him appear that’s come from Antony.
2108 Know you him?
p.
161
DOLABELLA
2109
Caesar, ’tis his schoolmaster—2110 An argument that he is plucked, when hither
2111 5 He sends so poor a pinion of his wing,
2112 Which had superfluous kings for messengers
2113 Not many moons gone by.
Enter Ambassador from Antony.
CAESAR 2114 Approach, and speak.
AMBASSADOR
2115 Such as I am, I come from Antony.
2116 10 I was of late as petty to his ends
2117 As is the morn-dew on the myrtle leaf
2118 To his grand sea.
CAESAR 2119 Be ’t so. Declare thine office.
AMBASSADOR
2120 Lord of his fortunes he salutes thee, and
2121 15 Requires to live in Egypt, which not granted,
2122 He ⌜lessens⌝ his requests, and to thee sues
2123 To let him breathe between the heavens and Earth,
2124 A private man in Athens. This for him.
2125 Next, Cleopatra does confess thy greatness,
2126 20 Submits her to thy might, and of thee craves
2127 The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs,
2128 Now hazarded to thy grace.
CAESAR 2129 For Antony,
2130 I have no ears to his request. The Queen
2131 25 Of audience nor desire shall fail, so she
2132 From Egypt drive her all-disgracèd friend,
2133 Or take his life there. This if she perform,
2134 She shall not sue unheard. So to them both.
AMBASSADOR
2135 Fortune pursue thee!
CAESAR 2136 30 Bring him through the bands.
⌜Ambassador exits, with Attendants.⌝
2137 ⌜To Thidias.⌝ To try thy eloquence now ’tis time.
2138 Dispatch.
p.
163
2139
From Antony win Cleopatra. Promise,2140 And in our name, what she requires; add more,
2141 35 From thine invention, offers. Women are not
2142 In their best fortunes strong, but want will perjure
2143 The ne’er-touched vestal. Try thy cunning, Thidias.
2144 Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we
2145 Will answer as a law.
THIDIAS 2146 40 Caesar, I go.
CAESAR
2147 Observe how Antony becomes his flaw,
2148 And what thou think’st his very action speaks
2149 In every power that moves.
THIDIAS 2150 Caesar, I shall.
They exit.