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Antony and Cleopatra - Act 3, scene 6
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Antony and Cleopatra - Act 3, scene 6Act 3, scene 6
⌜Scene 6⌝
Synopsis:
Octavia arrives in Rome, to be told that Antony has left Athens for Egypt.
Enter Agrippa, Maecenas, and Caesar.CAESAR
1755 Contemning Rome, he has done all this and more
1756 In Alexandria. Here’s the manner of ’t:
1757 I’ th’ marketplace, on a tribunal silvered,
1758 Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold
1759 5 Were publicly enthroned. At the feet sat
1760 Caesarion, whom they call my father’s son,
1761 And all the unlawful issue that their lust
1762 Since then hath made between them. Unto her
1763 He gave the stablishment of Egypt, made her
1764 10 Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia,
1765 Absolute queen.
MAECENAS 1766 This in the public eye?
CAESAR
1767 I’ th’ common showplace where they exercise.
1768 His sons ⌜he there⌝ proclaimed the ⌜kings⌝ of kings.
1769 15 Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia
1770 He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assigned
1771 Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia. She
1772 In th’ habiliments of the goddess Isis
1773 That day appeared, and oft before gave audience,
1774 20 As ’tis reported, so.
MAECENAS 1775 Let Rome be thus informed.
AGRIPPA
1776 Who, queasy with his insolence already,
1777 Will their good thoughts call from him.
CAESAR
1778 The people knows it and have now received
1779 25 His accusations.
AGRIPPA 1780 Who does he accuse?
CAESAR
1781 Caesar, and that, having in Sicily
1782 Sextus Pompeius spoiled, we had not rated him
1783 His part o’ th’ isle. Then does he say he lent me
p.
137
1784
30 Some shipping, unrestored. Lastly, he frets1785 That Lepidus of the triumvirate
1786 Should be deposed and, being, that we detain
1787 All his revenue.
AGRIPPA 1788 Sir, this should be answered.
CAESAR
1789 35 ’Tis done already, and the messenger gone.
1790 I have told him Lepidus was grown too cruel,
1791 That he his high authority abused
1792 And did deserve his change. For what I have
1793 conquered,
1794 40 I grant him part; but then in his Armenia
1795 And other of his conquered kingdoms I
1796 Demand the like.
MAECENAS 1797 He’ll never yield to that.
CAESAR
1798 Nor must not then be yielded to in this.
Enter Octavia with her Train.
OCTAVIA
1799 45 Hail, Caesar, and my lord! Hail, most dear Caesar.
CAESAR
1800 That ever I should call thee castaway!
OCTAVIA
1801 You have not called me so, nor have you cause.
CAESAR
1802 Why have you stol’n upon us thus? You come not
1803 Like Caesar’s sister. The wife of Antony
1804 50 Should have an army for an usher and
1805 The neighs of horse to tell of her approach
1806 Long ere she did appear. The trees by th’ way
1807 Should have borne men, and expectation fainted,
1808 Longing for what it had not. Nay, the dust
1809 55 Should have ascended to the roof of heaven,
1810 Raised by your populous troops. But you are come
1811 A market-maid to Rome, and have prevented
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139
1812
The ostentation of our love, which, left unshown,1813 Is often left unloved. We should have met you
1814 60 By sea and land, supplying every stage
1815 With an augmented greeting.
OCTAVIA 1816 Good my lord,
1817 To come thus was I not constrained, but did it
1818 On my free will. My lord, Mark Antony,
1819 65 Hearing that you prepared for war, acquainted
1820 My grievèd ear withal, whereon I begged
1821 His pardon for return.
CAESAR 1822 Which soon he granted,
1823 Being an abstract ’tween his lust and him.
OCTAVIA
1824 70 Do not say so, my lord.
CAESAR 1825 I have eyes upon him,
1826 And his affairs come to me on the wind.
1827 Where is he now?
OCTAVIA 1828 My lord, in Athens.
CAESAR
1829 75 No, my most wrongèd sister. Cleopatra
1830 Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire
1831 Up to a whore, who now are levying
1832 The kings o’ th’ Earth for war. He hath assembled
1833 Bocchus, the King of Libya; Archelaus
1834 80 Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, King
1835 Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas;
1836 King Manchus of Arabia; King of Pont;
1837 Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, King
1838 Of Comagen; Polemon and Amyntas,
1839 85 The Kings of Mede and Lycaonia,
1840 With a more larger list of scepters.
OCTAVIA 1841 Ay me, most wretched,
1842 That have my heart parted betwixt two friends
1843 That does afflict each other!
CAESAR 1844 90 Welcome hither.
1845 Your letters did withhold our breaking forth
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141
1846
Till we perceived both how you were wrong led1847 And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart.
1848 Be you not troubled with the time, which drives
1849 95 O’er your content these strong necessities,
1850 But let determined things to destiny
1851 Hold unbewailed their way. Welcome to Rome,
1852 Nothing more dear to me. You are abused
1853 Beyond the mark of thought, and the high gods,
1854 100 To do you justice, makes his ministers
1855 Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort,
1856 And ever welcome to us.
AGRIPPA 1857 Welcome, lady.
MAECENAS 1858 Welcome, dear madam.
1859 105 Each heart in Rome does love and pity you;
1860 Only th’ adulterous Antony, most large
1861 In his abominations, turns you off
1862 And gives his potent regiment to a trull
1863 That noises it against us.
OCTAVIA, ⌜to Caesar⌝ 1864 110 Is it so, sir?
CAESAR
1865 Most certain. Sister, welcome. Pray you
1866 Be ever known to patience. My dear’st sister!
They exit.