Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare
Act 3 - Scene 3
Alexandria. CLEOPATRA’s palace.
Cleopatra : Where is the fellow?
Alexas : Half afeard to come.
Cleopatra : Go to, go to.
[p][Enter the Messenger as before]
[p]Come hither, sir.
Alexas : Good majesty,
[p]Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you
[p]But when you
are well pleased.
Cleopatra : That Herod's head
[p]I'll have: but how, when Antony is
gone
[p]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;
[p]I look'd her in the face, and saw her
led
[p]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-tongued or low?
Messenger : Madam, I heard her speak; she is low-voiced.
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!
[p]What majesty is
in her gait? Remember,
[p]If e'er thou look'dst on majesty.
Messenger : She creeps:
[p]Her motion and her station are as one;
[p]She shows a
body rather than a life,
[p]A statue than a breather.
Cleopatra : Is this certain?
Messenger : Or I have no observance.
Charmian : Three in Egypt
[p]Cannot make better note.
Cleopatra : He's very knowing;
[p]I do perceive't: there's nothing in her
yet:
[p]The fellow has good judgment.
Charmian : Excellent.
Cleopatra : Guess at her years, I prithee.
Messenger : Madam,
[p]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.
[p]Her hair,
what colour?
Messenger : Brown, madam: and her forehead
[p]As low as she would wish it.
Cleopatra : There's gold for thee.
[p]Thou must not take my former sharpness
ill:
[p]I will employ thee back again; I find thee
[p]Most fit for
business: go make thee ready;
[p]Our letters are prepared.
Charmian : A proper man.
Cleopatra : Indeed, he is so: I repent me much
[p]That so I harried him. Why,
methinks, by him,
[p]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,
[p]And serving you so long!
Cleopatra : I have one thing more to ask him yet, good Charmian:
[p]But 'tis no
matter; thou shalt bring him to me
[p]Where I will write. All may be
well enough.
Charmian : I warrant you, madam.
Previous: Act 3 - Scene 2
Next: Act 3 - Scene 4
