Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare
Act 1 - Scene 3
The same. Another room.
Cleopatra : Where is he?
Charmian : I did not see him since.
Cleopatra : See where he is, who's with him, what he does:
[p]I did not send you:
if you find him sad,
[p]Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report
[p]That
I am sudden sick: quick, and return.
Charmian : Madam, methinks, if you did love him dearly,
[p]You do not hold the
method to enforce
[p]The like from him.
Cleopatra : What should I do, I do not?
Charmian : In each thing give him way, cross him nothing.
Cleopatra : Thou teachest like a fool; the way to lose him.
Charmian : Tempt him not so too far; I wish, forbear:
[p]In time we hate that
which we often fear.
[p]But here comes Antony.
Cleopatra : I am sick and sullen.
Cleopatra : Help me away, dear Charmian; I shall fall:
[p]It cannot be thus long,
the sides of nature
[p]Will not sustain it.
Cleopatra : Pray you, stand further from me.
Cleopatra : I know, by that same eye, there's some good news.
[p]What says the
married woman? You may go:
[p]Would she had never given you leave to
come!
[p]Let her not say 'tis I that keep you here:
[p]I have no power
upon you; hers you are.
Cleopatra : O, never was there queen
[p]So mightily betray'd! yet at the
first
[p]I saw the treasons planted.
Cleopatra : Why should I think you can be mine and true,
[p]Though you in swearing
shake the throned gods,
[p]Who have been false to Fulvia? Riotous
madness,
[p]To be entangled with those mouth-made vows,
[p]Which break
themselves in swearing!
Cleopatra : Nay, pray you, seek no colour for your going,
[p]But bid farewell, and
go: when you sued staying,
[p]Then was the time for words: no going
then;
[p]Eternity was in our lips and eyes,
[p]Bliss in our brows'
bent; none our parts so poor,
[p]But was a race of heaven: they are so
still,
[p]Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world,
[p]Art turn'd
the greatest liar.
Cleopatra : I would I had thy inches; thou shouldst know
[p]There were a heart in
Egypt.
Cleopatra : Though age from folly could not give me freedom,
[p]It does from
childishness: can Fulvia die?
Cleopatra : O most false love!
[p]Where be the sacred vials thou shouldst
fill
[p]With sorrowful water? Now I see, I see,
[p]In Fulvia's death,
how mine received shall be.
Cleopatra : Cut my lace, Charmian, come;
[p]But let it be: I am quickly ill, and
well,
[p]So Antony loves.
Cleopatra : So Fulvia told me.
[p]I prithee, turn aside and weep for her,
[p]Then
bid adieu to me, and say the tears
[p]Belong to Egypt: good now, play
one scene
[p]Of excellent dissembling; and let it look
[p]Life perfect
honour.
Cleopatra : You can do better yet; but this is meetly.
Cleopatra : And target. Still he mends;
[p]But this is not the best. Look,
prithee, Charmian,
[p]How this Herculean Roman does become
[p]The
carriage of his chafe.
Cleopatra : Courteous lord, one word.
[p]Sir, you and I must part, but that's not
it:
[p]Sir, you and I have loved, but there's not it;
[p]That you know
well: something it is I would,
[p]O, my oblivion is a very
Antony,
[p]And I am all forgotten.
Cleopatra : 'Tis sweating labour
[p]To bear such idleness so near the heart
[p]As
Cleopatra this. But, sir, forgive me;
[p]Since my becomings kill me,
when they do not
[p]Eye well to you: your honour calls you
hence;
[p]Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly.
[p]And all the gods
go with you! upon your sword
[p]Sit laurel victory! and smooth
success
[p]Be strew'd before your feet!
Previous: Act 1 - Scene 2
Next: Act 1 - Scene 4
