The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches, Eno. I shall do 't. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAs, and ALEXAS. Cleo. Where is he? Char. I did not see him since. Cleo. See where he is, who 's with him, what he does : I did not send you :-If you find him sad, That I am sudden sick: Quick, and return. [Exit ALEX. Char. Madam, methinks, if you did love him dearly, You do not hold the method to enforce The like from him. Cleo. What should I do I do not? Char. In each thing give him way, cross him in nothing. Cleo. Thou teachest like a fool: the way to lose him. Char. Tempt him not so too far: I wish, forbear; In time we hate that which we often fear. Enter ANTONY. I am sick and sullen. But here comes Antony. Cleo. Ant. I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose.Cleo. Help me away, dear Charmian, I shall fall; It cannot be thus long, the sides of nature Will not sustain it. Ant. Now, my dearest queen, Cleo. Pray you, stand farther from me. Ant. What's the matter? Cleo. I know, by that same eye, there's some good news. What says the married woman?--You may go; Cleo. O, never was there queen So mightily betray'd! Yet, at the first, Ant. Cleopatra, Cleo. Why should I think you can be mine, and true, Though you in swearing shake the throned gods, Most sweet queen, Ant. Bliss in our brows' bent; none our parts so poor, Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world, Ant. How now, lady! Cleo. I would I had thy inches; thou shouldst know There were a heart in Egypt. Hear me, queen: Ant. Our services a while; but my full heart Shines o'er with civil swords: Sextus Pompeius Equality of two domestic powers Breeds scrupulous faction: The hated, grown to strength, Into the hearts of such as have not thriv'd Cleo. Though age from folly could not give me free. dom, It does from childishness :-Can Fulvia die? b Look here, and at thy sovereign leisure read Cleo. With sorrowful water? Now I see, I see, The purposes I bear; which are, or cease, As you shall give the advice: By the fire That quickens Nilus' slime, I go from hence, Cleo. Cut my lace, Charmian, come ;- Ant. My precious queen, forbear; And give true evidence to his love, which stands Cleo. So Fulvia told me. I prithee, turn aside, and weep for her; Ant. You'll heat my blood: no more. Cleo. You can do better yet; but this is meetly. Ant. Now, by my sword,— Cleo. And target,-Still he mends; But this is not the best: Look, prithee, Charmian, How this Herculean Roman does become The carriage of his chafe. Ant. I'll leave you, lady. Cleo. Courteous lord, one word. Sir, you and I must part,-but that 's not it: And I am all forgotten. Ant. But that your royalty Holds idleness your subject, I should take you For idleness itself. Cleo. 'T is sweating labour To bear such idleness so near the heart As Cleopatra this. But, sir, forgive me; Since my becomings kill me, when they do not a Egypt the queen of Egypt. Eye well to you: Your honour calls you hence; Be strew'd before your feet! Ant. Let us go. Our separation so abides, and flies, Come: That thou, residing here, go'st yet with me, [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-Rome. An Apartment in Cæsar's House. Enter OCTAVIUS CÆSAR, LEPIDUS, and Attendants. Cæs. You may see, Lepidus, and henceforth know, It is not Cæsar's natural vice to hate One great competitor: from Alexandria This is the news: He fishes, drinks, and wastes A man who is the abstract of all faults That all men follow. Lep. I must not think there are His faults, in him, seem as the spots of heaven, Cæs. You are too indulgent: Let's grant it is not Amiss to tumble on the bed of Ptolemy; a Laurel. The use of the substantive adjectively was a pecu liarity of the poetry of Shakspere's time, which has been revived with advantage in our own day. |