The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [984]
CAESAR.
No, sweet Octavia,
You shall hear from me still; the time shall not
Out-go my thinking on you.
ANTONY.
Come, sir, come;
I'll wrestle with you in my strength of love.
Look, here I have you; thus I let you go,
And give you to the gods.
CAESAR.
Adieu; be happy!
LEPIDUS.
Let all the number of the stars give light
To thy fair way!
CAESAR.
Farewell, farewell! [Kisses OCTAVIA]
ANTONY.
Farewell! Trumpets sound. Exeunt
ACT_3|SC_3
SCENE III.
Alexandria. CLEOPATRA'S palace
Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS
CLEOPATRA.
Where is the fellow?
ALEXAS.
Half afeard to come.
CLEOPATRA.
Go to, go to.
Enter the MESSENGER as before
Come hither, sir.
ALEXAS.
Good Majesty,
Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you
But when you are well pleas'd.
CLEOPATRA.
That Herod's head
I'll have. But how, when Antony is gone,
Through whom I might command it? Come thou near.
MESSENGER.
Most gracious Majesty!
CLEOPATRA.
Didst thou behold Octavia?
MESSENGER.
Ay, dread Queen.
CLEOPATRA.
Where?
MESSENGER.
Madam, in Rome
I look'd her in the face, and saw her led
Between her brother and Mark Antony.
CLEOPATRA.
Is she as tall as me?
MESSENGER.
She is not, madam.
CLEOPATRA.
Didst hear her speak? Is she shrill-tongu'd or low?
MESSENGER.
Madam, I heard her speak: she is low-voic'd.
CLEOPATRA.
That's not so good. He cannot like her long.
CHARMIAN.
Like her? O Isis! 'tis impossible.
CLEOPATRA.
I think so, Charmian. Dull of tongue and dwarfish!
What majesty is in her gait? Remember,
If e'er thou look'dst on majesty.
MESSENGER.
She creeps.
Her motion and her station are as one;
She shows a body rather than a life,
A statue than a breather.
CLEOPATRA.
Is this certain?
MESSENGER.
Or I have no observance.
CHARMIAN.
Three in Egypt
Cannot make better note.
CLEOPATRA.
He's very knowing;
I do perceive't. There's nothing in her yet.
The fellow has good judgment.
CHARMIAN.
Excellent.
CLEOPATRA.
Guess at her years, I prithee.
MESSENGER.
Madam,
She was a widow.
CLEOPATRA.
Widow? Charmian, hark!
MESSENGER.
And I do think she's thirty.
CLEOPATRA.
Bear'st thou her face in mind? Is't long or round?
MESSENGER.
Round even to faultiness.
CLEOPATRA.
For the most part, too, they are foolish that are so.
Her hair, what colour?
MESSENGER.
Brown, madam; and her forehead
As low as she would wish it.
CLEOPATRA.
There's gold for thee.
Thou must not take my former sharpness ill.
I will employ thee back again; I find thee
Most fit for business. Go make thee ready;
Our letters are prepar'd. Exeunt MESSENGER
CHARMIAN.
A proper man.
CLEOPATRA.
Indeed, he is so. I repent me much
That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him,
This creature's no such thing.
CHARMIAN.
Nothing, madam.
CLEOPATRA.
The man hath seen some majesty, and should know.
CHARMIAN.
Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend,
And serving you so long!
CLEOPATRA.
I have one thing more to ask him yet, good Charmian.
But 'tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to me
Where I will write. All may be well enough.
CHARMIAN.
I warrant you, madam. Exeunt
ACT_3|SC_4
SCENE IV.
Athens. ANTONY'S house
Enter ANTONY and OCTAVIA
ANTONY.
Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that-
That were excusable, that and thousands more
Of semblable import- but he hath wag'd
New wars 'gainst Pompey; made his will, and read it
To public ear;
Spoke scandy of me; when perforce he could not
But pay me terms of honour, cold and sickly
He vented them, most narrow measure lent me;
When the best hint was given him, he not took't,
Or did it from his teeth.
OCTAVIA.
O my good lord,
Believe not all; or if you must believe,
Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady,
If this division chance, ne'er stood between,
Praying for both parts.
The good gods will mock me presently
When I shall pray 'O, bless my lord and husband!'
Undo that prayer by crying out as loud
'O, bless my brother!' Husband win, win brother,
Prays,