Cleo.
Where is the fellow?

Alex.
Half afeard to come.

Cleo.
Go to, go to:—Come hither, sir. Enter a Messenger.

Alex.
Good majesty,
Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you,
But when you are well pleas'd.

Cleo.
That Herod's head
I'll have: But how? when Antony is gone
Through whom I might command it.—Come thou near.

Mess.
Most gracious majesty,—

Cleo.
Didst thou behold
Octavia?

Mess.
Ay, dread queen.

Cleo.
Where?

Mess.
Madam, in Rome
I look'd her in the face; and saw her led
Between her brother and Mark Antony.

Cleo.
Is she as tall as me^{4 note}

Mess.
She is not, madam.

Cleo.
Didst hear her speak? Is she shrill-tongu'd, or low?

Mess.
Madam, I heard her speak; she is low-voic'd.

Cleo.
That's not so good:—he cannot like her long^{5 note}

Char.
Like her? O Isis! 'tis impossible.

Cleo.
I think so, Charmian: Dull of tongue, and dwarfish!—
What majesty is in her gait? Remember,
If e'er thou look'dst on majesty.

Mess.
She creeps;
Her motion and her station^{6 note}
are as one:
She shows a body rather than a life:
A statue, than a breather.

Cleo.
Is this certain?

Mess.
Or I have no observance.

Char.
Three in Egypt
Cannot make better note.

Cleo.
He's very knowing,
I do perceiv't:—There's nothing in her yet:—
The fellow has good judgment.

Char.
Excellent.

Cleo.
Guess at her years, I pr'ythee.

Mess.
Madam,
She was a widow.

Cleo.
Widow?—Charmian, hark^{7 note}.

Mess.
And I do think, she's thirty.

Cleo.
Bear'st thou her face in mind? is't long, or round?

Mess.
Round even to faultiness.

Cleo.
For the most part too, they are foolish that are so^{8 note}
.—
Her hair, what colour?

Mess.
Brown, madam: And her forehead
As low^{9 note}

Cleo.
There is gold for thee.
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 prepar'd. [Exit Messenger.

Char.
A proper man.

Cleo.
Indeed, he is so: I repent me much,
That so I harry'd him^{1 note}

Char.
Nothing^{2 note}, madam.

Cleo.
The man hath seen some majesty, and should know.

Char.
Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend,
And serving you so long!

Cleo.
I have one thing more to ask him yet, good Charmian:
But 'tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to me
Where I will write: All may be well enough.

Char.
I warrant you, madam. [Exeunt.

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