Cleo.
Where is he? ^note

Char.
I ^note did not see him since.

Cleo.
See where he is, who's ^note with him, what he does: ^note
I did not send you: if ^note you find him sad,
Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report
That I am sudden sick: quick ^note, and return. [Exit Alexas. ^note

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 ^note way to lose him.

Char.
Tempt him not so too far; I wish, ^note forbear:
In time we hate that which we often fear.
But here comes Antony. Enter Antony. ^note

Cleo.
I am ^note sick and sullen.

Ant.
I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose,— ^note

Cleo.
Help me away, dear Charmian; I shall fall: ^note
It cannot be thus long, the sides of nature
Will not sustain it.

Ant.
Now, my dearest queen,— ^note

Cleo.
Pray you, stand farther ^note 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: ^note
Would she had never given you leave to come!
Let her not say 'tis I that keep you here,
I have no power upon you; hers you are.

Ant.
The gods best know— ^note

Cleo.
O, never was there queen
So mightily betray'd ^note! yet at the first
I saw the treasons ^note planted.

Ant.
Cleopatra,— ^note

Cleo.
Why should I think you can be mine and true,
Though you in ^note swearing shake the throned gods,
Who have been false to Fulvia? Riotous madness, ^note
To be entangled with those mouth-made vows,
Which break themselves in swearing!

Ant.
Most sweet queen,— ^{note note}

Cleo.
Nay, pray you, seek no colour for your going,
But bid farewell, and go: when you sued staying, ^note
Then was the time for words: no going then;
Eternity was in our lips and eyes,
Bliss in our brows' bent, none our parts ^note so poor
But was a race ^note of heaven: they are so still,
Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world,
Art turn'd the greatest ^note liar.

Ant.
How now, lady!

Cleo.
I would I had thy inches; thou shouldst know
There were a heart in Egypt.

Ant.
Hear me, queen:
The strong necessity of time commands
Our services ^note awhile; but my full heart
Remains in use with you. Our Italy
Shines o'er with civil swords: Sextus Pompeius
Makes his approaches to the port of Rome:
Equality of two domestic powers
Breed ^note scrupulous faction: the hated, grown to strength,
Are newly grown to love: the condemn'd Pompey,
Rich in his father's honour, creeps apace
Into the hearts of such as have not thrived ^note
Upon the present state, whose numbers threaten;
And quietness grown sick of rest ^note would purge
By any desperate change. My more particular,
And that which most with you should safe ^note my going,
Is Fulvia's death.

Cleo.
Though age from folly could not give me freedom,
It does from childishness: can Fulvia die?

Ant.
She's dead, my queen:
Look here, and at thy sovereign leisure read
The garboils she awaked: at the last, best;
See when and where she died.

Cleo.
O most false love!
Where be the sacred vials ^note thou shouldst fill
With sorrowful water? Now I see, I see,
In Fulvia's death, how mine received shall be ^note.

Ant.
Quarrel no more, but be prepared to know
The purposes I bear, which are, or cease,
As you shall give the advice ^note. By ^note the fire
That quickens Nilus' slime ^note, I go from hence

Thy soldier, servant, making peace or war
As thou affect'st ^note.

Cleo.
Cut my lace, Charmian, come;
But let it be: I am quickly ill and well,
So Antony ^note loves.

Ant.
My precious queen, forbear;
And give true evidence ^note to his love, which stands
An honourable trial.

Cleo.
So Fulvia told me.
I prithee, turn aside and weep for her;
Then bid adieu to me, and say the tears
Belong to Egypt: good now, play one scene
Of excellent dissembling, and let it look
Like perfect honour.

Ant.
You'll heat my blood: no more. ^note

Cleo.
You can do better yet; but this is meetly.

Ant.
Now, by my ^note sword,— ^note

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 ^note.

Ant.
I'll leave you, lady.

Cleo.
Courteous lord, one word.
Sir, you and I must part, but that's not it:
Sir, you and I have loved, but there's not it:
That you know well: something it is I would,—
O, my ^note oblivion is ^note a very Antony,
And I am all forgotten ^note.

Ant.
But that your royalty
Holds idleness your subject, I should take you
For idleness itself.

Cleo.
'Tis 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
Eye well to you. Your honour calls you hence;
Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly,
And all the gods go with you! Upon ^note your sword
Sit laurel ^note victory! and smooth success
Be strew'd before your feet!

Ant.
Let us go. Come;
Our separation so abides and flies, ^note
That thou residing ^note here go'st ^note yet with me,
And I hence fleeting here remain with thee.
Away! [Exeunt. ^note

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