| Antony and Cleopatra |
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| Antony and Cleopatra
| Act 3, Scene 3
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Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXASCLEOPATRA
Where is the fellow?ALEXAS
Half afeard to come.CLEOPATRA
Go to, go to.ALEXAS
Enter the Messenger as before
Come hither, sir.
Good majesty,CLEOPATRA
Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you
But when you are well pleased.
That Herod's headMessenger
I'll have: but how, when Antony is gone
Through whom I might command it? Come thou near.
Most gracious majesty,--CLEOPATRA
Didst thou behold Octavia?Messenger
Ay, dread queen.CLEOPATRA
Where?Messenger
Madam, in Rome;CLEOPATRA
I look'd her in the face, and saw her led
Between her brother and Mark Antony.
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!Messenger
What majesty is in her gait? Remember,
If e'er thou look'dst on majesty.
She creeps:CLEOPATRA
Her motion and her station are as one;
She shows a body rather than a life,
A statue than a breather.
Is this certain?Messenger
Or I have no observance.CHARMIAN
Three in EgyptCLEOPATRA
Cannot make better note.
He's very knowing;CHARMIAN
I do perceive't: there's nothing in her yet:
The fellow has good judgment.
Excellent.CLEOPATRA
Guess at her years, I prithee.Messenger
Madam,CLEOPATRA
She was a widow,--
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.Messenger
Her hair, what colour?
Brown, madam: and her foreheadCLEOPATRA
As low as she would wish it.
There's gold for thee.CHARMIAN
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 prepared.
Exit Messenger
A proper man.CLEOPATRA
Indeed, he is so: I repent me muchCHARMIAN
That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him,
This creature's no such thing.
Nothing, madam.CLEOPATRA
The man hath seen some majesty, and should know.CHARMIAN
Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend,CLEOPATRA
And serving you so long!
I have one thing more to ask him yet, good Charmian:CHARMIAN
But 'tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to me
Where I will write. All may be well enough.
I warrant you, madam.
Exeunt
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| Antony and Cleopatra
| Act 3, Scene 3
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