Executive Director's Notes:

In addition to the notes below, and so you will *NOT* think all
the spelling errors introduced by the printers of the time have
been corrected, here are the first few lines of Hamlet, as they
are presented herein:

  Barnardo. Who's there?
  Fran. Nay answer me: Stand & vnfold
your selfe

   Bar. Long liue the King

***

As I understand it, the printers often ran out of certain words
or letters they had often packed into a "cliche". . .this is the
original meaning of the term cliche. . .and thus, being unwilling
to unpack the cliches, and thus you will see some substitutions
that look very odd. . .such as the exchanges of u for v, v for u,
above. . .and you may wonder why they did it this way, presuming
Shakespeare did not actually write the play in this manner. . . .

The answer is that they MAY have packed "liue" into a cliche at a
time when they were out of "v"'s. . .possibly having used "vv" in
place of some "w"'s, etc.  This was a common practice of the day,
as print was still quite expensive, and they didn't want to spend
more on a wider selection of characters than they had to.

You will find a lot of these kinds of "errors" in this text, as I
have mentioned in other times and places, many "scholars" have an
extreme attachment to these errors, and many have accorded them a
very high place in the "canon" of Shakespeare.  My father read an
assortment of these made available to him by Cambridge University
in England for several months in a glass room constructed for the
purpose.  To the best of my knowledge he read ALL those available
. . .in great detail. . .and determined from the various changes,
that Shakespeare most likely did not write in nearly as many of a
variety of errors we credit him for, even though he was in/famous
for signing his name with several different spellings.

So, please take this into account when reading the comments below
made by our volunteer who prepared this file:  you may see errors
that are "not" errors. . . .

So. . .with this caveat. . .we have NOT changed the canon errors,


Michael S. Hart

Executive Director


***


Scanner's Notes: What this is and isn't.  This was taken from 
a copy of Shakespeare's first folio and it is as close as I can
come in ASCII to the printed text.

The elongated S's have been changed to small s's and the
conjoined ae have been changed to ae.  I have left the spelling,
punctuation, capitalization as close as possible to the
printed text.  I have corrected some spelling mistakes (I have put
together a spelling dictionary devised from the spellings of the
Geneva Bible and Shakespeare's First Folio and have unified
spellings according to this template), typo's and expanded
abbreviations as I have come across them.  Everything within
brackets [] is what I have added.  So if you don't like that
you can delete everything within the brackets if you want a
purer Shakespeare.

Another thing that you should be aware of is that there are textual
differences between various copies of the first folio.  So there may
be differences (other than what I have mentioned above) between
this and other first folio editions.  This is due to the printer's
habit of setting the type and running off a number of copies and
then proofing the printed copy and correcting the type and then
continuing the printing run.  The proof run wasn't thrown away but
incorporated into the printed copies.  This is just the way it is.
The text I have used was a composite of more than 30 different
First Folio editions' best pages.

If you find any scanning errors, out and out typos, punctuation
errors, or if you disagree with my spelling choices please feel
free to email me those errors.  I wish to make this the best
etext possible.  My email address for right now are haradda@aol.com
and davidr@inconnect.com.  I hope that you enjoy this.

David Reed

The Tragedie of Anthonie, and Cleopatra

Actus Primus. Scoena Prima.

Enter Demetrius and Philo.

  Philo. Nay, but this dotage of our Generals
Ore-flowes the measure: those his goodly eyes
That o're the Files and Musters of the Warre,
Haue glow'd like plated Mars:
Now bend, now turne
The Office and Deuotion of their view
Vpon a Tawny Front. His Captaines heart,
Which in the scuffles of great Fights hath burst
The Buckles on his brest, reneages all temper,
And is become the Bellowes and the Fan
To coole a Gypsies Lust.

Flourish. Enter Anthony, Cleopatra, her Ladies, the Traine, with
Eunuchs
fanning her.

Looke where they come:
Take but good note, and you shall see in him
(The triple Pillar of the world) transform'd
Into a Strumpets Foole. Behold and see

   Cleo. If it be Loue indeed, tell me how much

   Ant. There's beggery in the loue that can be reckon'd
  Cleo. Ile set a bourne how farre to be belou'd

   Ant. Then must thou needes finde out new Heauen,
new Earth.
Enter a Messenger.

  Mes. Newes (my good Lord) from Rome

   Ant. Grates me, the summe

   Cleo. Nay heare them Anthony.
Fuluia perchance is angry: Or who knowes,
If the scarse-bearded Caesar haue not sent
His powrefull Mandate to you. Do this, or this;
Take in that Kingdome, and Infranchise that:
Perform't, or else we damne thee

   Ant. How, my Loue?
  Cleo. Perchance? Nay, and most like:
You must not stay heere longer, your dismission
Is come from Caesar, therefore heare it Anthony,
Where's Fuluias Processe? (Caesars I would say) both?
Call in the Messengers: As I am Egypts Queene,
Thou blushest Anthony, and that blood of thine
Is Caesars homager: else so thy cheeke payes shame,
When shrill-tongu'd Fuluia scolds. The Messengers

   Ant. Let Rome in Tyber melt, and the wide Arch
Of the raing'd Empire fall: Heere is my space,
Kingdomes are clay: Our dungie earth alike
Feeds Beast as Man; the Noblenesse of life
Is to do thus: when such a mutuall paire,
And such a twaine can doo't, in which I binde
One paine of punishment, the world to weete
We stand vp Peerelesse

   Cleo. Excellent falshood:
Why did he marry Fuluia, and not loue her?
Ile seeme the Foole I am not. Anthony will be himselfe

   Ant. But stirr'd by Cleopatra.
Now for the loue of Loue, and her soft houres,
Let's not confound the time with Conference harsh;
There's not a minute of our liues should stretch
Without some pleasure now. What sport to night?
  Cleo. Heare the Ambassadors

   Ant. Fye wrangling Queene:
Whom euery thing becomes, to chide, to laugh,
To weepe: who euery passion fully striues
To make it selfe (in Thee) faire, and admir'd.
No Messenger but thine, and all alone, to night
Wee'l wander through the streets, and note
The qualities of people. Come my Queene,
Last night you did desire it. Speake not to vs.

Exeunt. with the Traine.

  Dem. Is Caesar with Anthonius priz'd so slight?
  Philo. Sir, sometimes when he is not Anthony,
He comes too short of that great Property
Which still should go with Anthony

   Dem. I am full sorry, that hee approues the common
Lyar, who thus speakes of him at Rome; but I will hope
of better deeds to morrow. Rest you happy.

Exeunt.

Enter Enobarbus, Lamprius, a Southsayer, Rannius, Lucillius,
Charmian,
Iras, Mardian the Eunuch, and Alexas.

  Char. L[ord]. Alexas, sweet Alexas, most any thing Alexas,
almost most absolute Alexas, where's the Soothsayer
that you prais'd so to'th' Queene? Oh that I knewe this
Husband, which you say, must change his Hornes with
Garlands

   Alex. Soothsayer

   Sooth. Your will?
  Char. Is this the Man? Is't you sir that know things?
  Sooth. In Natures infinite booke of Secrecie, a little I
can read

   Alex. Shew him your hand

   Enob. Bring in the Banket quickly: Wine enough,
Cleopatra's health to drinke

   Char. Good sir, giue me good Fortune

   Sooth. I make not, but foresee

   Char. Pray then, foresee me one

   Sooth. You shall be yet farre fairer then you are

   Char. He meanes in flesh

   Iras. No, you shall paint when you are old

   Char. Wrinkles forbid

   Alex. Vex not his prescience, be attentiue

   Char. Hush

   Sooth. You shall be more belouing, then beloued

   Char. I had rather heate my Liuer with drinking

   Alex. Nay, heare him

   Char. Good now some excellent Fortune: Let mee
be married to three Kings in a forenoone, and Widdow
them all: Let me haue a Childe at fifty, to whom Herode
of Iewry may do Homage. Finde me to marrie me with
Octauius Caesar, and companion me with my Mistris

   Sooth. You shall out-liue the Lady whom you serue

   Char. Oh excellent, I loue long life better then Figs

   Sooth. You haue seene and proued a fairer former fortune,
then that which is to approach

   Char. Then belike my Children shall haue no names:
Prythee how many Boyes and Wenches must I haue

   Sooth. If euery of your wishes had a wombe, & foretell
euery wish, a Million

   Char. Out Foole, I forgiue thee for a Witch

   Alex. You thinke none but your sheets are priuie to
your wishes

   Char. Nay come, tell Iras hers

   Alex. Wee'l know all our Fortunes

   Enob. Mine, and most of our Fortunes to night, shall
be drunke to bed

   Iras. There's a Palme presages Chastity, if nothing els

   Char. E'ne as the o're-flowing Nylus presageth Famine

   Iras. Go you wilde Bedfellow, you cannot Soothsay

   Char. Nay, if an oyly Palme bee not a fruitfull Prognostication,
I cannot scratch mine eare. Prythee tel her
but a worky day Fortune

   Sooth. Your Fortunes are alike

   Iras. But how, but how, giue me particulars

   Sooth. I haue said

   Iras. Am I not an inch of Fortune better then she?
  Char. Well, if you were but an inch of fortune better
then I: where would you choose it

   Iras. Not in my Husbands nose

   Char. Our worser thoughts Heauens mend

   Alexas. Come, his Fortune, his Fortune. Oh let him
mary a woman that cannot go, sweet Isis, I beseech thee,
and let her dye too, and giue him a worse, and let worse
follow worse, till the worst of all follow him laughing to
his graue, fifty-fold a Cuckold. Good Isis heare me this
Prayer, though thou denie me a matter of more waight:
good Isis I beseech thee

   Iras. Amen, deere Goddesse, heare that prayer of the
people. For, as it is a heart-breaking to see a handsome
man loose-Wiu'd, so it is a deadly sorrow, to beholde a
foule Knaue vncuckolded: Therefore deere Isis keep decorum,
and Fortune him accordingly

   Char. Amen

   Alex. Lo now, if it lay in their hands to make mee a
Cuckold, they would make themselues Whores, but
they'ld doo't.
Enter Cleopatra.

  Enob. Hush, heere comes Anthony

   Char. Not he, the Queene

   Cleo. Saue you, my Lord

   Enob. No Lady

   Cleo. Was he not heere?
  Char. No Madam

   Cleo. He was dispos'd to mirth, but on the sodaine
A Romane thought hath strooke him.
Enobarbus?
  Enob. Madam

   Cleo. Seeke him, and bring him hither: wher's Alexias?
  Alex. Heere at your seruice.
My Lord approaches.
Enter Anthony, with a Messenger.

  Cleo. We will not looke vpon him:
Go with vs.

Exeunt.

  Messen. Fuluia thy Wife,
First came into the Field

   Ant. Against my Brother Lucius?
  Messen. I: but soone that Warre had end,
And the times state
Made friends of them, ioynting their force 'gainst Caesar,
Whose better issue in the warre from Italy,
Vpon the first encounter draue them

   Ant. Well, what worst

   Mess. The Nature of bad newes infects the Teller

   Ant. When it concernes the Foole or Coward: On.
Things that are past, are done, with me. 'Tis thus,
Who tels me true, though in his Tale lye death,
I heare him as he flatter'd

   Mes. Labienus (this is stiffe-newes)
Hath with his Parthian Force
Extended Asia: from Euphrates his conquering
Banner shooke, from Syria to Lydia,
And to Ionia, whil'st-
  Ant. Anthony thou would'st say

   Mes. Oh my Lord

   Ant. Speake to me home,
Mince not the generall tongue, name
Cleopatra as she is call'd in Rome:
Raile thou in Fuluia's phrase, and taunt my faults
With such full License, as both Truth and Malice
Haue power to vtter. Oh then we bring forth weeds,
When our quicke windes lye still, and our illes told vs
Is as our earing: fare thee well awhile

   Mes. At your Noble pleasure.

Exit Messenger

Enter another Messenger.

  Ant. From Scicion how the newes? Speake there

   1.Mes. The man from Scicion,
Is there such an one?
  2.Mes. He stayes vpon your will

   Ant. Let him appeare:
These strong Egyptian Fetters I must breake,
Or loose my selfe in dotage.
Enter another Messenger with a Letter.

What are you?
  3.Mes. Fuluia thy wife is dead

   Ant. Where dyed she

   Mes. In Scicion, her length of sicknesse,
With what else more serious,
Importeth thee to know, this beares

   Antho. Forbeare me
There's a great Spirit gone, thus did I desire it:
What our contempts doth often hurle from vs,
We wish it ours againe. The present pleasure,
By reuolution lowring, does become
The opposite of it selfe: she's good being gon,
The hand could plucke her backe, that shou'd her on.
I must from this enchanting Queene breake off,
Ten thousand harmes, more then the illes I know
My idlenesse doth hatch.
Enter Enobarbus.

How now Enobarbus

   Eno. What's your pleasure, Sir?
  Anth. I must with haste from hence

   Eno. Why then we kill all our Women. We see how
mortall an vnkindnesse is to them, if they suffer our departure
death's the word

   Ant. I must be gone

   Eno. Vnder a compelling an occasion, let women die.
It were pitty to cast them away for nothing, though betweene
them and a great cause, they should be esteemed
nothing. Cleopatra catching but the least noyse of this,
dies instantly: I haue seene her dye twenty times vppon
farre poorer moment: I do think there is mettle in death,
which commits some louing acte vpon her, she hath such
a celerity in dying

   Ant. She is cunning past mans thought

   Eno. Alacke Sir no, her passions are made of nothing
but the finest part of pure Loue. We cannot cal her winds
and waters, sighes and teares: They are greater stormes
and Tempests then Almanackes can report. This cannot
be cunning in her; if it be, she makes a showre of Raine
as well as Ioue

   Ant. Would I had neuer seene her

   Eno. Oh sir, you had then left vnseene a wonderfull
peece of worke, which not to haue beene blest withall,
would haue discredited your Trauaile

   Ant. Fuluia is dead

   Eno. Sir

   Ant. Fuluia is dead

   Eno. Fuluia?
  Ant. Dead

   Eno. Why sir, giue the Gods a thankefull Sacrifice:
when it pleaseth their Deities to take the wife of a man
from him, it shewes to man the Tailors of the earth: comforting
therein, that when olde Robes are worne out,
there are members to make new. If there were no more
Women but Fuluia, then had you indeede a cut, and the
case to be lamented: This greefe is crown'd with Consolation,
your old Smocke brings foorth a new Petticoate,
and indeed the teares liue in an Onion, that should water
this sorrow

   Ant. The businesse she hath broached in the State,
Cannot endure my absence

   Eno. And the businesse you haue broach'd heere cannot
be without you, especially that of Cleopatra's, which
wholly depends on your abode

   Ant. No more light Answeres:
Let our Officers
Haue notice what we purpose. I shall breake
The cause of our Expedience to the Queene,
And get her loue to part. For not alone
The death of Fuluia, with more vrgent touches
Do strongly speake to vs: but the Letters too
Of many our contriuing Friends in Rome,
Petition vs at home. Sextus Pompeius
Haue giuen the dare to Caesar, and commands
The Empire of the Sea. Our slippery people,
Whose Loue is neuer link'd to the deseruer,
Till his deserts are past, begin to throw
Pompey the great, and all his Dignities
Vpon his Sonne, who high in Name and Power,
Higher then both in Blood and Life, stands vp
For the maine Souldier. Whose quality going on,
The sides o'th' world may danger. Much is breeding,

Which like the Coursers heire, hath yet but life,
And not a Serpents poyson. Say our pleasure,
To such whose places vnder vs, require
Our quicke remoue from hence

   Enob. I shall doo't.
Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Alexas, and Iras.

  Cleo. Where is he?
  Char. I did not see him since

   Cleo. See where he is,
Whose with him, what he does:
I did not send you. If you finde him sad,
Say I am dauncing: if in Myrth, report
That I am sodaine sicke. Quicke, and returne

   Char. Madam, me thinkes if you did loue him deerly,
You do not hold the method, to enforce
The like from him

   Cleo. What should I do, I do not?
  Ch. In each thing giue him way, crosse him in nothing

   Cleo. Thou teachest like a foole: the way to lose him

   Char. Tempt him not so too farre. I wish forbeare,
In time we hate that which we often feare.
Enter Anthony.

But heere comes Anthony

   Cleo. I am sicke, and sullen

   An. I am sorry to giue breathing to my purpose

   Cleo. Helpe me away deere Charmian, I shall fall,
It cannot be thus long, the sides of Nature
Will not sustaine it

   Ant. Now my deerest Queene

   Cleo. Pray you stand farther from mee

   Ant. What's the matter?
  Cleo. I know by that same eye ther's some good news.
What sayes the married woman you may goe?
Would she had neuer giuen you leaue to come.
Let her not say 'tis I that keepe you heere,
I haue no power vpon you: Hers you are

   Ant. The Gods best know

   Cleo. Oh neuer was there Queene
So mightily betrayed: yet at the first
I saw the Treasons planted

   Ant. Cleopatra

   Cleo. Why should I thinke you can be mine, & true,
(Though you in swearing shake the Throaned Gods)
Who haue beene false to Fuluia?
Riotous madnesse,
To be entangled with those mouth-made vowes,
Which breake themselues in swearing

   Ant. Most sweet Queene

   Cleo. Nay pray you seeke no colour for your going,
But bid farewell, and goe:
When you sued staying,
Then was the time for words: No going then,
Eternity was in our Lippes, and Eyes,
Blisse in our browes bent: none our parts so poore,
But was a race of Heauen. They are so still,
Or thou the greatest Souldier of the world,
Art turn'd the greatest Lyar

   Ant. How now Lady?
  Cleo. I would I had thy inches, thou should'st know
There were a heart in Egypt

   Ant. Heare me Queene:
The strong necessity of Time, commands
Our Seruices a-while: but my full heart
Remaines in vse with you. Our Italy,
Shines o're with ciuill Swords; Sextus Pompeius
Makes his approaches to the Port of Rome,
Equality of two Domesticke powers,
Breed scrupulous faction: The hated growne to strength
Are newly growne to Loue: The condemn'd Pompey,
Rich in his Fathers Honor, creepes apace
Into the hearts of such, as haue not thriued
Vpon the present state, whose Numbers threaten,
And quietnesse growne sicke of rest, would purge
By any desperate change: My more particular,
And that which most with you should safe my going,
Is Fuluias death

   Cleo. Though age from folly could not giue me freedom
It does from childishnesse. Can Fuluia dye?
  Ant. She's dead my Queene.
Looke heere, and at thy Soueraigne leysure read
The Garboyles she awak'd: at the last, best,
See when, and where shee died

   Cleo. O most false Loue!
Where be the Sacred Violles thou should'st fill
With sorrowfull water? Now I see, I see,
In Fuluias death, how mine receiu'd shall be

   Ant. Quarrell no more, but bee prepar'd to know
The purposes I beare: which are, or cease,
As you shall giue th' aduice. By the fire
That quickens Nylus slime, I go from hence
Thy Souldier, Seruant, making Peace or Warre,
As thou affects

   Cleo. Cut my Lace, Charmian come,
But let it be, I am quickly ill, and well,
So Anthony loues

   Ant. My precious Queene forbeare,
And giue true euidence to his Loue, which stands
An honourable Triall

   Cleo. So Fuluia told me.
I prythee turne aside, and weepe for her,
Then bid adiew to me, and say the teares
Belong to Egypt. Good now, play one Scene
Of excellent dissembling, and let it looke
Like perfect Honor

   Ant. You'l heat my blood no more?
  Cleo. You can do better yet: but this is meetly

   Ant. Now by Sword

   Cleo. And Target. Still he mends.
But this is not the best. Looke prythee Charmian,
How this Herculean Roman do's become
The carriage of his chafe

   Ant. Ile leaue you Lady

   Cleo. Courteous Lord, one word:
Sir, you and I must part, but that's not it:
Sir, you and I haue lou'd, but there's not it:
That you know well, something it is I would:
Oh, my Obliuion is a very Anthony,
And I am all forgotten

   Ant. But that your Royalty
Holds Idlenesse your subiect, I should take you
For Idlenesse it selfe

   Cleo. 'Tis sweating Labour,
To beare such Idlenesse so neere the heart
As Cleopatra this. But Sir, forgiue me,
Since my becommings kill me, when they do not
Eye well to you. Your Honor calles you hence,
Therefore be deafe to my vnpittied Folly,
And all the Gods go with you. Vpon your Sword
Sit Lawrell victory, and smooth successe
Be strew'd before your feete

   Ant. Let vs go.
Come: Our separation so abides and flies,
That thou reciding heere, goes yet with mee;
And I hence fleeting, heere remaine with thee.
Away.

Exeunt.

Enter Octauius reading a Letter, Lepidus, and their Traine.

  Caes You may see Lepidus, and henceforth know,
It is not Caesars Naturall vice, to hate
One great Competitor. From Alexandria
This is the newes: He fishes, drinkes, and wastes
The Lampes of night in reuell: Is not more manlike
Then Cleopatra: nor the Queene of Ptolomy
More Womanly then he. Hardly gaue audience
Or vouchsafe to thinke he had Partners. You
Shall finde there a man, who is th' abstracts of all faults,
That all men follow

   Lep. I must not thinke
There are, euils enow to darken all his goodnesse:
His faults in him, seeme as the Spots of Heauen,
More fierie by nights Blacknesse; Hereditarie,
Rather then purchaste: what he cannot change,
Then what he chooses

   Caes You are too indulgent. Let's graunt it is not
Amisse to tumble on the bed of Ptolomy,
To giue a Kingdome for a Mirth, to sit
And keepe the turne of Tipling with a Slaue,
To reele the streets at noone, and stand the Buffet
With knaues that smels of sweate: Say this becoms him
(As his composure must be rare indeed,
Whom these things cannot blemish) yet must Anthony
No way excuse his foyles, when we do beare
So great waight in his lightnesse. If he fill'd
His vacancie with his Voluptuousnesse,
Full surfets, and the drinesse of his bones,
Call on him for't. But to confound such time,
That drummes him from his sport, and speakes as lowd
As his owne State, and ours, 'tis to be chid:
As we rate Boyes, who being mature in knowledge,
Pawne their experience to their present pleasure,
And so rebell to iudgement.
Enter a Messenger.

  Lep. Heere's more newes

   Mes. Thy biddings haue beene done, & euerie houre
Most Noble Caesar, shalt thou haue report
How 'tis abroad. Pompey is strong at Sea,
And it appeares, he is belou'd of those
That only haue feard Caesar: to the Ports
The discontents repaire, and mens reports
Giue him much wrong'd

   Caes I should haue knowne no lesse,
It hath bin taught vs from the primall state
That he which is was wisht, vntill he were:
And the ebb'd man,
Ne're lou'd, till ne're worth loue,
Comes fear'd, by being lack'd. This common bodie,
Like to a Vagabond Flagge vpon the Streame,
Goes too, and backe, lacking the varrying tyde
To rot it selfe with motion

   Mes. Caesar I bring thee word,
Menacrates and Menas famous Pyrates
Makes the Sea serue them, which they eare and wound
With keeles of euery kinde. Many hot inrodes
They make in Italy, the Borders Maritime
Lacke blood to thinke on't, and flush youth reuolt,
No Vessell can peepe forth: but 'tis as soone
Taken as seene: for Pompeyes name strikes more
Then could his Warre resisted
  Caesar. Anthony,
Leaue thy lasciuious Vassailes. When thou once
Was beaten from Medena, where thou slew'st
Hirsius, and Pansa Consuls, at thy heele
Did Famine follow, whom thou fought'st against,
(Though daintily brought vp) with patience more
Then Sauages could suffer. Thou did'st drinke
The stale of Horses, and the gilded Puddle
Which Beasts would cough at. Thy pallat the[n] did daine
The roughest Berry, on the rudest Hedge.
Yea, like the Stagge, when Snow the Pasture sheets,
The barkes of Trees thou brows'd. On the Alpes,
It is reported thou did'st eate strange flesh,
Which some did dye to looke on: And all this
(It wounds thine Honor that I speake it now)
Was borne so like a Soldiour, that thy cheeke
So much as lank'd not

   Lep. 'Tis pitty of him

   Caes Let his shames quickely
Driue him to Rome, 'tis time we twaine
Did shew our selues i'th' Field, and to that end
Assemble me immediate counsell, Pompey
Thriues in our Idlenesse

   Lep. To morrow Caesar,
I shall be furnisht to informe you rightly
Both what by Sea and Land I can be able
To front this present time

   Caes Til which encounter, it is my busines too. Farwell

   Lep. Farwell my Lord, what you shal know mean time
Of stirres abroad, I shall beseech you Sir
To let me be partaker

   Caesar. Doubt not sir, I knew it for my Bond.

Exeunt.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, & Mardian.

  Cleo. Charmian

   Char. Madam

   Cleo. Ha, ha, giue me to drinke Mandragora

   Char. Why Madam?
  Cleo. That I might sleepe out this great gap of time:
My Anthony is away

   Char. You thinke of him too much

   Cleo. O 'tis Treason

   Char. Madam, I trust not so

   Cleo. Thou, Eunuch Mardian?
  Mar. What's your Highnesse pleasure?
  Cleo. Not now to heare thee sing. I take no pleasure
In ought an Eunuch ha's: Tis well for thee,
That being vnseminar'd, thy freer thoughts
May not flye forth of Egypt. Hast thou Affections?
  Mar. Yes gracious Madam

   Cleo. Indeed?
  Mar. Not in deed Madam, for I can do nothing
But what in deede is honest to be done:
Yet haue I fierce Affections, and thinke
What Venus did with Mars

   Cleo. Oh Charmion:
Where think'st thou he is now? Stands he, or sits he?
Or does he walke? Or is he on his Horse?
Oh happy horse to beare the weight of Anthony!
Do brauely Horse, for wot'st thou whom thou moou'st,
The demy Atlas of this Earth, the Arme
And Burganet of men. Hee's speaking now,
Or murmuring, where's my Serpent of old Nyle,
(For so he cals me:) Now I feede my selfe
With most delicious poyson. Thinke on me
That am with Phoebus amorous pinches blacke,
And wrinkled deepe in time. Broad-fronted Caesar,
When thou was't heere aboue the ground, I was
A morsell for a Monarke: and great Pompey
Would stand and make his eyes grow in my brow,
There would he anchor his Aspect, and dye
With looking on his life.
Enter Alexas from Caesar.

  Alex. Soueraigne of Egypt, haile

   Cleo. How much vnlike art thou Marke Anthony?
Yet comming from him, that great Med'cine hath
With his Tinct gilded thee.
How goes it with my braue Marke Anthonie?
  Alex. Last thing he did (deere Queene)
He kist the last of many doubled kisses
This Orient Pearle. His speech stickes in my heart

   Cleo. Mine eare must plucke it thence

   Alex. Good Friend, quoth he:
Say the firme Roman to great Egypt sends
This treasure of an Oyster: at whose foote
To mend the petty present, I will peece
Her opulent Throne, with Kingdomes. All the East,
(Say thou) shall call her Mistris. So he nodded,
And soberly did mount an Arme-gaunt Steede,
Who neigh'd so hye, that what I would haue spoke,
Was beastly dumbe by him

   Cleo. What was he sad, or merry?
  Alex. Like to the time o'th' yeare, between y extremes
Of hot and cold, he was nor sad nor merrie

   Cleo. Oh well diuided disposition: Note him,
Note him good Charmian, 'tis the man; but note him.
He was not sad, for he would shine on those
That make their lookes by his. He was not merrie,
Which seem'd to tell them, his remembrance lay
In Egypt with his ioy, but betweene both.
Oh heauenly mingle! Bee'st thou sad, or merrie,
The violence of either thee becomes,
So do's it no mans else. Met'st thou my Posts?
  Alex. I Madam, twenty seuerall Messengers.
Why do you send so thicke?
  Cleo. Who's borne that day, when I forget to send
to Anthonie, shall dye a Begger. Inke and paper Charmian.
Welcome my good Alexas. Did I Charmian, euer
loue Caesar so?
  Char. Oh that braue Caesar!
  Cleo. Be choak'd with such another Emphasis,
Say the braue Anthony

   Char. The valiant Caesar

   Cleo. By Isis, I will giue thee bloody teeth,
If thou with Caesar Paragon againe:
My man of men

   Char. By your most gracious pardon,
I sing but after you

   Cleo. My Sallad dayes,
When I was greene in iudgement, cold in blood,
To say, as I saide then. But come, away,
Get me Inke and Paper,
he shall haue euery day a seuerall greeting, or Ile vnpeople
Egypt.

Exeunt.

Enter Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas, in warlike manner.

  Pom. If the great Gods be iust, they shall assist
The deeds of iustest men

   Mene. Know worthy Pompey, that what they do delay,
they not deny

   Pom. Whiles we are sutors to their Throne, decayes
the thing we sue for

   Mene. We ignorant of our selues,
Begge often our owne harmes, which the wise Powres
Deny vs for our good: so finde we profit
By loosing of our Prayers

   Pom. I shall do well:
The people loue me, and the Sea is mine;
My powers are Cressent, and my Auguring hope
Sayes it will come to'th' full. Marke Anthony
In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make
No warres without doores. Caesar gets money where
He looses hearts: Lepidus flatters both,
Of both is flatter'd: but he neither loues,
Nor either cares for him

   Mene. Caesar and Lepidus are in the field,
A mighty strength they carry

   Pom. Where haue you this? 'Tis false

   Mene. From Siluius, Sir

   Pom. He dreames: I know they are in Rome together
Looking for Anthony: but all the charmes of Loue,
Salt Cleopatra soften thy wand lip,
Let Witchcraft ioyne with Beauty, Lust with both,
Tye vp the Libertine in a field of Feasts,
Keepe his Braine fuming. Epicurean Cookes,
Sharpen with cloylesse sawce his Appetite,
That sleepe and feeding may prorogue his Honour,
Euen till a Lethied dulnesse-
Enter Varrius.

How now Varrius?
  Var. This is most certaine, that I shall deliuer:
Marke Anthony is euery houre in Rome
Expected. Since he went from Egypt, 'tis
A space for farther Trauaile

   Pom. I could haue giuen lesse matter
A better eare. Menas, I did not thinke
This amorous Surfetter would haue donn'd his Helme
For such a petty Warre: His Souldiership
Is twice the other twaine: But let vs reare
The higher our Opinion, that our stirring
Can from the lap of Egypts Widdow, plucke
The neere Lust-wearied Anthony

   Mene. I cannot hope,
Caesar and Anthony shall well greet together;
His Wife that's dead, did trespasses to Caesar,
His Brother wan'd vpon him, although I thinke
Not mou'd by Anthony

   Pom. I know not Menas,
How lesser Enmities may giue way to greater,
Were't not that we stand vp against them all:
'Twer pregnant they should square between themselues,
For they haue entertained cause enough
To draw their swords: but how the feare of vs
May Ciment their diuisions, and binde vp
The petty difference, we yet not know:
Bee't as our Gods will haue't; it onely stands
Our liues vpon, to vse our strongest hands
Come Menas.

Exeunt.

Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus.

  Lep. Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed,
And shall become you well, to intreat your Captaine
To soft and gentle speech

   Enob. I shall intreat him
To answer like himselfe: if Caesar moue him,
Let Anthony looke ouer Caesars head,
And speake as lowd as Mars. By Iupiter,
Were I the wearer of Anthonio's Beard,
I would not shaue't to day

   Lep. 'Tis not a time for priuate stomacking

   Eno. Euery time serues for the matter that is then
borne in't

   Lep. But small to greater matters must giue way

   Eno. Not if the small come first

   Lep. Your speech is passion: but pray you stirre
No Embers vp. Heere comes the Noble Anthony.
Enter Anthony and Ventidius.

  Eno. And yonder Caesar.
Enter Caesar, Mecenas, and Agrippa.

  Ant. If we compose well heere, to Parthia:
Hearke Ventidius

   Caesar. I do not know Mecenas, aske Agrippa

   Lep. Noble Friends:
That which combin'd vs was most great, and let not
A leaner action rend vs. What's amisse,
May it be gently heard. When we debate
Our triuiall difference loud, we do commit
Murther in healing wounds. Then Noble Partners,
The rather for I earnestly beseech,
Touch you the sowrest points with sweetest tearmes,
Nor curstnesse grow to'th' matter

   Ant. 'Tis spoken well:
Were we before our Armies, and to fight,
I should do thus.
Flourish.

  Caes Welcome to Rome

   Ant. Thanke you

   Caes Sit

   Ant. Sit sir

   Caes Nay then

   Ant. I learne, you take things ill, which are not so:
Or being, concerne you not

   Caes I must be laught at, if or for nothing, or a little, I
Should say my selfe offended, and with you
Chiefely i'th' world. More laught at, that I should
Once name you derogately: when to sound your name
It not concern'd me

   Ant. My being in Egypt Caesar, what was't to you?
  Caes No more then my reciding heere at Rome
Might be to you in Egypt: yet if you there
Did practise on my State, your being in Egypt
Might be my question

   Ant. How intend you, practis'd?
  Caes You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent,
By what did heere befall me. Your Wife and Brother
Made warres vpon me, and their contestation
Was Theame for you, you were the word of warre

   Ant. You do mistake your busines, my Brother neuer
Did vrge me in his Act: I did inquire it.
And haue my Learning from some true reports
That drew their swords with you, did he not rather
Discredit my authority with yours,
And make the warres alike against my stomacke,
Hauing alike your cause. Of this, my Letters
Before did satisfie you. If you'l patch a quarrell,
As matter whole you haue to make it with,
It must not be with this

   Caes You praise your selfe, by laying defects of iudgement
to me: but you patcht vp your excuses

   Anth. Not so, not so:
I know you could not lacke, I am certaine on't,
Very necessity of this thought, that I
Your Partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,
Could not with gracefull eyes attend those Warres
Which fronted mine owne peace. As for my wife,
I would you had her spirit, in such another,
The third oth' world is yours, which with a Snaffle,
You may pace easie, but not such a wife

   Enobar. Would we had all such wiues, that the men
might go to Warres with the women

   Anth. So much vncurbable, her Garboiles (Caesar)
Made out of her impatience: which not wanted
Shrodenesse of policie to: I greeuing grant,
Did you too much disquiet, for that you must,
But say I could not helpe it

   Caesar. I wrote to you, when rioting in Alexandria you
Did pocket vp my Letters: and with taunts
Did gibe my Misiue out of audience

   Ant. Sir, he fell vpon me, ere admitted, then:
Three Kings I had newly feasted, and did want
Of what I was i'th' morning: but next day
I told him of my selfe, which was as much
As to haue askt him pardon. Let this Fellow
Be nothing of our strife: if we contend
Out of our question wipe him

   Caesar. You haue broken the Article of your oath,
which you shall neuer haue tongue to charge me with

   Lep. Soft Caesar

   Ant. No Lepidus, let him speake,
The Honour is Sacred which he talks on now,
Supposing that I lackt it: but on Caesar,
The Article of my oath

   Caesar. To lend me Armes, and aide when I requir'd
them, the which you both denied

   Anth. Neglected rather:
And then when poysoned houres had bound me vp
From mine owne knowledge, as neerely as I may,
Ile play the penitent to you. But mine honesty,
Shall not make poore my greatnesse, nor my power
Worke without it. Truth is, that Fuluia,
To haue me out of Egypt, made Warres heere,
For which my selfe, the ignorant motiue, do
So farre aske pardon, as befits mine Honour
To stoope in such a case

   Lep. 'Tis Noble spoken

   Mece. If it might please you, to enforce no further
The griefes betweene ye: to forget them quite,
Were to remember: that the present neede,
Speakes to attone you

   Lep. Worthily spoken Mecenas

   Enobar. Or if you borrow one anothers Loue for the
instant, you may when you heare no more words of
Pompey returne it againe: you shall haue time to wrangle
in, when you haue nothing else to do

   Anth. Thou art a Souldier, onely speake no more

   Enob. That trueth should be silent, I had almost forgot

   Anth. You wrong this presence, therefore speake no
more

   Enob. Go too then: your Considerate stone

   Caesar. I do not much dislike the matter, but
The manner of his speech: for't cannot be,
We shall remaine in friendship, our conditions
So diffring in their acts. Yet if I knew,
What Hoope should hold vs staunch from edge to edge
Ath' world: I would persue it

   Agri. Giue me leaue Caesar

   Caesar. Speake Agrippa

   Agri. Thou hast a Sister by the Mothers side, admir'd
Octauia: Great Mark Anthony is now a widdower

   Caesar. Say not, say Agrippa; if Cleopater heard you, your
proofe were well deserued of rashnesse

   Anth. I am not marryed Caesar: let me heere Agrippa
further speake

   Agri. To hold you in perpetuall amitie,
To make you Brothers, and to knit your hearts
With an vn-slipping knot, take Anthony,
Octauia to his wife: whose beauty claimes
No worse a husband then the best of men: whose
Vertue, and whose generall graces, speake
That which none else can vtter. By this marriage,
All little Ielousies which now seeme great,
And all great feares, which now import their dangers,
Would then be nothing. Truth's would be tales,
Where now halfe tales be truth's: her loue to both,
Would each to other, and all loues to both
Draw after her. Pardon what I haue spoke,
For 'tis a studied not a present thought,
By duty ruminated

   Anth. Will Caesar speake?
  Caesar. Not till he heares how Anthony is toucht,
With what is spoke already

   Anth. What power is in Agrippa,
If I would say Agrippa, be it so,
To make this good?
  Caesar. The power of Caesar,
And his power, vnto Octauia

   Anth. May I neuer
(To this good purpose, that so fairely shewes)
Dreame of impediment: let me haue thy hand
Further this act of Grace: and from this houre,
The heart of Brothers gouerne in our Loues,
And sway our great Designes

   Caesar. There's my hand:
A Sister I bequeath you, whom no Brother
Did euer loue so deerely. Let her liue
To ioyne our kingdomes, and our hearts, and neuer
Flie off our Loues againe

   Lepi. Happily, Amen

   Ant. I did not think to draw my Sword 'gainst Pompey,
For he hath laid strange courtesies, and great
Of late vpon me. I must thanke him onely,
Least my remembrance, suffer ill report:
At heele of that, defie him

   Lepi. Time cals vpon's,
Of vs must Pompey presently be sought,
Or else he seekes out vs

   Anth. Where lies he?
  Caesar. About the Mount-Mesena

   Anth. What is his strength by land?
  Caesar. Great, and encreasing:
But by Sea he is an absolute Master

   Anth. So is the Fame.
Would we had spoke together. Hast we for it,
Yet ere we put our selues in Armes, dispatch we
The businesse we haue talkt of

   Caesar. With most gladnesse,
And do inuite you to my Sisters view,
Whether straight Ile lead you

   Anth. Let vs Lepidus not lacke your companie

   Lep. Noble Anthony, not sickenesse should detaine
me.

Flourish. Exit omnes. Manet Enobarbus, Agrippa, Mecenas.

  Mec. Welcome from aegypt Sir

   Eno. Halfe the heart of Caesar, worthy Mecenas. My
honourable Friend Agrippa

   Agri. Good Enobarbus

   Mece. We haue cause to be glad, that matters are so
well disgested: you staid well by't in Egypt

   Enob. I Sir, we did sleepe day out of countenaunce:
and made the night light with drinking

   Mece. Eight Wilde-Boares rosted whole at a breakfast:
and but twelue persons there. Is this true?
  Eno. This was but as a Flye by an Eagle: we had much
more monstrous matter of Feast, which worthily deserued
noting

   Mecenas. She's a most triumphant Lady, if report be
square to her

   Enob. When she first met Marke Anthony, she purst
vp his heart vpon the Riuer of Sidnis

   Agri. There she appear'd indeed: or my reporter deuis'd
well for her

   Eno. I will tell you,
The Barge she sat in, like a burnisht Throne
Burnt on the water: the Poope was beaten Gold,
Purple the Sailes: and so perfumed that
The Windes were Loue-sicke.
With them the Owers were Siluer,
Which to the tune of Flutes kept stroke, and made
The water which they beate, to follow faster;
As amorous of their strokes. For her owne person,
It beggerd all discription, she did lye
In her Pauillion, cloth of Gold, of Tissue,
O're-picturing that Venus, where we see
The fancie out-worke Nature. On each side her,
Stood pretty Dimpled Boyes, like smiling Cupids,
With diuers coulour'd Fannes whose winde did seeme,
To gloue the delicate cheekes which they did coole,
And what they vndid did

   Agrip. Oh rare for Anthony

   Eno. Her Gentlewoman, like the Nereides,
So many Mer-maides tended her i'th' eyes,
And made their bends adornings. At the Helme,
A seeming Mer-maide steeres: The Silken Tackle,
Swell with the touches of those Flower-soft hands,
That yarely frame the office. From the Barge
A strange inuisible perfume hits the sense
Of the adiacent Wharfes. The Citty cast
Her people out vpon her: and Anthony
Enthron'd i'th' Market-place, did sit alone,
Whisling to'th' ayre: which but for vacancie,
Had gone to gaze on Cleopater too,
And made a gap in Nature

   Agri. Rare Egiptian

   Eno. Vpon her landing, Anthony sent to her,
Inuited her to Supper: she replyed,
It should be better, he became her guest:
Which she entreated, our Courteous Anthony,
Whom nere the word of no woman hard speake,
Being barber'd ten times o're, goes to the Feast;
And for his ordinary, paies his heart,
For what his eyes eate onely

   Agri. Royall Wench:
She made great Caesar lay his Sword to bed,
He ploughed her, and she cropt

   Eno. I saw her once
Hop forty Paces through the publicke streete,
And hauing lost her breath, she spoke, and panted,
That she did make defect, perfection,
And breathlesse powre breath forth

   Mece. Now Anthony, must leaue her vtterly

   Eno. Neuer he will not:
Age cannot wither her, nor custome stale
Her infinite variety: other women cloy
The appetites they feede, but she makes hungry,
Where most she satisfies. For vildest things
Become themselues in her, that the holy Priests
Blesse her, when she is Riggish

   Mece. If Beauty, Wisedome, Modesty, can settle
The heart of Anthony: Octauia is
A blessed Lottery to him

   Agrip. Let vs go. Good Enobarbus, make your selfe
my guest, whilst you abide heere

   Eno. Humbly Sir I thanke you.

Exeunt.

Enter Anthony, Caesar, Octauia betweene them.

  Anth. The world, and my great office, will
Sometimes deuide me from your bosome

   Octa. All which time, before the Gods my knee shall
bowe my prayers to them for you

   Anth. Goodnight Sir. My Octauia
Read not my blemishes in the worlds report:
I haue not kept my square, but that to come
Shall all be done byth' Rule: good night deere Lady:
Good night Sir

   Caesar. Goodnight.
Enter.

Enter Soothsaier.

  Anth. Now sirrah: you do wish your selfe in Egypt?
  Sooth. Would I had neuer come from thence, nor you
thither

   Ant. If you can, your reason?
  Sooth. I see it in my motion: haue it not in my tongue,
But yet hie you to Egypt againe

   Antho. Say to me, whose Fortunes shall rise higher
Caesars or mine?
  Sooth. Caesars. Therefore (oh Anthony) stay not by his side
Thy Daemon that thy spirit which keepes thee, is
Noble, Couragious, high vnmatchable,
Where Caesars is not. But neere him, thy Angell
Becomes a feare: as being o're-powr'd, therefore
Make space enough betweene you

   Anth. Speake this no more

   Sooth. To none but thee no more but: when to thee,
If thou dost play with him at any game,
Thou art sure to loose: And of that Naturall lucke,
He beats thee 'gainst the oddes. Thy Luster thickens,
When he shines by: I say againe, thy spirit
Is all affraid to gouerne thee neere him:
But he alway 'tis Noble

   Anth. Get thee gone:
Say to Ventigius I would speake with him.
Enter.

He shall to Parthia, be it Art or hap,
He hath spoken true. The very Dice obey him,
And in our sports my better cunning faints,
Vnder his chance, if we draw lots he speeds,
His Cocks do winne the Battaile, still of mine,
When it is all to naught: and his Quailes euer
Beate mine (in hoopt) at odd's. I will to Egypte:
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
I'th' East my pleasure lies. Oh come Ventigius.

Enter Ventigius.

You must to Parthia, your Commissions ready:
Follow me, and reciue't.

Exeunt.

Enter Lepidus, Mecenas and Agrippa.

  Lepidus. Trouble your selues no further: pray you
hasten your Generals after

   Agr. Sir, Marke Anthony, will e'ne but kisse Octauia,
and weele follow

   Lepi. Till I shall see you in your Souldiers dresse,
Which will become you both: Farewell

   Mece. We shall: as I conceiue the iourney, be at
Mount before you Lepidus

   Lepi. Your way is shorter, my purposes do draw me
much about, you'le win two dayes vpon me

   Both. Sir good successe

   Lepi. Farewell.

Exeunt.

Enter Cleopater, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas.

  Cleo. Giue me some Musicke: Musicke, moody foode
of vs that trade in Loue

   Omnes. The Musicke, hoa.
Enter Mardian the Eunuch.

  Cleo. Let it alone, let's to Billiards: come Charmian

   Char. My arme is sore, best play with Mardian

   Cleopa. As well a woman with an Eunuch plaide, as
with a woman. Come you'le play with me Sir?
  Mardi. As well as I can Madam

   Cleo. And when good will is shewed,
Though't come to short
The Actor may pleade pardon. Ile none now,
Giue me mine Angle, weele to'th' Riuer there
My Musicke playing farre off. I will betray
Tawny fine fishes, my bended hooke shall pierce
Their slimy iawes: and as I draw them vp,
Ile thinke them euery one an Anthony,
And say, ah ha; y'are caught

   Char. 'Twas merry when you wager'd on your Angling,
when your diuer did hang a salt fish on his hooke
which he with feruencie drew vp

   Cleo. That time? Oh times:
I laught him out of patience: and that night
I laught him into patience, and next morne,
Ere the ninth houre, I drunke him to his bed:
Then put my Tires and Mantles on him, whilst
I wore his Sword Phillippan. Oh from Italie,
Enter a Messenger.

Ramme thou thy fruitefull tidings in mine eares,
That long time haue bin barren

   Mes. Madam, Madam

   Cleo. Anthonyo's dead.
If thou say so Villaine, thou kil'st thy Mistris:
But well and free, if thou so yeild him.
There is Gold, and heere
My blewest vaines to kisse: a hand that Kings
Haue lipt, and trembled kissing

   Mes. First Madam, he is well

   Cleo. Why there's more Gold.
But sirrah marke, we vse
To say, the dead are well: bring it to that,
The Gold I giue thee, will I melt and powr
Downe thy ill vttering throate

   Mes. Good Madam heare me

   Cleo. Well, go too I will:
But there's no goodnesse in thy face if Anthony
Be free and healthfull; so tart a fauour
To trumpet such good tidings. If not well,
Thou shouldst come like a Furie crown'd with Snakes,
Not like a formall man

   Mes. Wilt please you heare me?
  Cleo. I haue a mind to strike thee ere thou speak'st:
Yet if thou say Anthony liues, 'tis well,
Or friends with Caesar, or not Captiue to him,
Ile set thee in a shower of Gold, and haile
Rich Pearles vpon thee

   Mes. Madam, he's well

   Cleo. Well said

   Mes. And Friends with Caesar

   Cleo. Th'art an honest man

   Mes. Caesar, and he, are greater Friends then euer

   Cleo. Make thee a Fortune from me

   Mes. But yet Madam

   Cleo. I do not like but yet, it does alay
The good precedence, fie vpon but yet,
But yet is as a Iaylor to bring foorth
Some monstrous Malefactor. Prythee Friend,
Powre out the packe of matter to mine eare,
The good and bad together: he's friends with Caesar,
In state of health thou saist, and thou saist, free

   Mes. Free Madam, no: I made no such report,
He's bound vnto Octauia

   Cleo. For what good turne?
  Mes. For the best turne i'th' bed

   Cleo. I am pale Charmian

   Mes. Madam, he's married to Octauia

   Cleo. The most infectious Pestilence vpon thee.

Strikes him downe.

  Mes. Good Madam patience

   Cleo. What say you?

Strikes him.

Hence horrible Villaine, or Ile spurne thine eyes
Like balls before me: Ile vnhaire thy head,

She hales him vp and downe.

Thou shalt be whipt with Wyer, and stew'd in brine,
Smarting in lingring pickle

   Mes. Gratious Madam,
I that do bring the newes, made not the match

   Cleo. Say 'tis not so, a Prouince I will giue thee,
And make thy Fortunes proud: the blow thou had'st
Shall make thy peace, for mouing me to rage,
And I will boot thee with what guift beside
Thy modestie can begge

   Mes. He's married Madam

   Cleo. Rogue, thou hast liu'd too long.

Draw a knife.

  Mes. Nay then Ile runne:
What meane you Madam, I haue made no fault.
Enter.

  Char. Good Madam keepe your selfe within your selfe,
The man is innocent

   Cleo. Some Innocents scape not the thunderbolt:
Melt Egypt into Nyle: and kindly creatures
Turne all to Serpents. Call the slaue againe,
Though I am mad, I will not byte him: Call?
  Char. He is afeard to come

   Cleo. I will not hurt him,
These hands do lacke Nobility, that they strike
A meaner then my selfe: since I my selfe
Haue giuen my selfe the cause. Come hither Sir.
Enter the Messenger againe.

Though it be honest, it is neuer good
To bring bad newes: giue to a gratious Message
An host of tongues, but let ill tydings tell
Themselues, when they be felt

   Mes. I haue done my duty

   Cleo. Is he married?
I cannot hate thee worser then I do,
If thou againe say yes

   Mes. He's married Madam

   Cleo. The Gods confound thee,
Dost thou hold there still?
  Mes. Should I lye Madame?
  Cleo. Oh, I would thou didst:
So halfe my Egypt were submerg'd and made
A Cesterne for scal'd Snakes. Go get thee hence,
Had'st thou Narcissus in thy face to me,
Thou would'st appeere most vgly: He is married?
  Mes. I craue your Highnesse pardon

   Cleo. He is married?
  Mes. Take no offence, that I would not offend you,
To punnish me for what you make me do
Seemes much vnequall, he's married to Octauia

   Cleo. Oh that his fault should make a knaue of thee,
That art not what th'art sure of. Get thee hence,
The Marchandize which thou hast brought from Rome
Are all too deere for me:
Lye they vpon thy hand, and be vndone by em