Cleo.
Give me some music; music, moody food
Of us that trade in love. ^note

All. ^note
The music, ho! Enter Mardian the Eunuch. ^note

Cleo.
Let it alone; let's ^note to billiards ^note: come, ^note Charmian.

Char.
My arm is sore; best play with Mardian.

Cleo.
As well a woman with an eunuch play'd
As with a woman. Come, you'll play with me, sir? ^note

Mar.
As well as I can, madam.

Cleo.
And when good will is show'd ^note, though't come too ^note short, ^note
The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now:
Give me mine angle; we'll to the river: there ^note,
My music playing far off, I ^note will betray
Tawny-finn'd ^note fishes ^note; my bended ^note hook shall pierce
Their slimy jaws, and as I draw them up,
I'll think them every one an Antony,
And say ‘Ah, ha! you're ^note caught.’

Char.
'Twas merry when

You wager'd on your angling; when your diver
Did hang a salt-fish on his hook, which he
With fervency drew up. ^note

Cleo.
That time—O times!— ^note
I laugh'd him out of patience, and that night
I laugh'd him into patience: and next morn,
Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed;
Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst
I wore his sword Philippan ^note. Enter ^note a Messenger.
O, from Italy! ^note
Ram ^note thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
That long time have been barren.

Mess.
Madam, madam,— ^note

Cleo.
Antonius ^note dead! If thou say ^note so, villain ^note,
Thou kill'st thy mistress: but well and free, ^note
If thou so yield him, there ^note is gold, and here ^note
My bluest veins to kiss: a hand that kings
Have lipp'd, and trembled kissing.

Mess.
First, madam, he is well.

Cleo.
Why, there's more gold.
But, sirrah, mark, we use ^note
To say the dead are well: bring it ^note to that,
The gold I give thee will I melt and pour
Down thy ill-uttering throat.

Mess.
Good madam, hear me.

Cleo.
Well, go to ^note, I will;
But there's no goodness in thy face: if ^note Antony
Be free and healthful,—so ^note tart a favour ^note
To trumpet ^note such good tidings! If not well,
Thou shouldst come like a Fury crown'd with snakes,
Not like a formal man.

Mess.
Will't ^note please you hear me?

Cleo.
I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak'st:
Yet, if thou say Antony lives, is ^note well,
Or friends with Cæsar, or not captive ^note to him,
I'll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail
Rich pearls upon thee.

Mess.
Madam, he's well.

Cleo.
Well said.

Mess.
And friends with Cæsar.

Cleo.
Thou'rt ^note an honest man.

Mess.
Cæsar and he are greater friends than ever.

Cleo.
Make ^note thee a fortune ^note from me. ^note

Mess.
But, yet, madam,— ^note

Cleo.
I do not like ‘But yet,’ it does allay
The good precedence ^note; fie upon ‘But yet’!
‘But yet’ is a gaoler to bring forth
Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend,
Pour out the pack ^note of matter to mine ear,
The good and bad together: he's friends with Cæsar,
In state of health, thou say'st, and thou say'st, free.

Mess.
Free, madam! no; I made no such report ^note:

He's bound unto Octavia.

Cleo.
For what good turn?

Mess.
For the best turn i' the bed.

Cleo.
I am pale, Charmian.

Mess.
Madam, he's married to Octavia.

Cleo.
The most infectious pestilence upon thee! [Strikes him down.

Mess.
Good madam, patience ^note.

Cleo.
What say you? Hence, [Strikes him again. ^note
Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine eyes ^note
Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head: [She hales him up and down.
Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in brine,
Smarting in lingering pickle.

Mess.
Gracious madam,
I that do bring the news made not the match.

Cleo.
Say 'tis not so, a province I will give thee
And make thy fortunes proud: the blow thou hadst
Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage,
And I will boot thee with what gift beside
Thy modesty can beg.

Mess.
He's married, madam.

Cleo.
Rogue, thou hast lived too long. [Draws a knife. ^note

Mess.
Nay, then I'll run.
What mean you, madam? I have made no fault. [Exit.

Char.
Good madam, keep yourself within yourself:
The man is innocent.

Cleo.
Some innocents ^note 'scape not the thunderbolt.
Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly ^note creatures
Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again:
Though I am mad, I will not bite him: call.

Char.
He is afeard ^note to come.

Cleo.
I will not hurt him. [Exit Charmian. ^note
These hands do lack nobility, that they strike
A meaner than myself; since I myself
Have given myself the cause. Re-enter ^note Charmian and Messenger.
Come hither, sir.
Though it be honest, it is never good
To bring bad news: give to a gracious message
An host of tongues, but let ill ^note tidings tell
Themselves ^note when they be felt.

Mess.
I have done ^note my duty.

Cleo.
Is he married?
I cannot hate thee worser than I do,
If thou again say ‘Yes.’

Mess.
He's married, madam.

Cleo.
The gods confound thee! dost thou hold there still? ^note

Mess.
Should I lie, madam?

Cleo.
O, I would thou didst,
So half my Egypt were submerged and made
A cistern for scaled snakes! Go, get thee hence:
Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me ^note
Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married? ^note

Mess.
I crave your highness' pardon.

Cleo.
He is married? ^note

Mess.
Take no offence that ^note I would not offend you:
To punish me for what you make me do
Seems much unequal: he's married to Octavia.

Cleo.
O, that his fault should make a knave of thee,

That art not what thou'rt sure of! ^note Get thee hence:
The merchandise which ^note thou hast brought from Rome
Are all too dear for me: lie they upon thy hand,
And be undone by 'em! ^note [Exit Messenger. ^note

Char.
Good your highness, patience.

Cleo.
In praising ^note Antony, I have dispraised Cæsar.

Char.
Many times, madam.

Cleo.
I am ^note paid for't ^note now.
Lead me from hence; ^note
I faint: O Iras, Charmian! 'tis no matter.
Go to the ^note fellow, good Alexas; bid ^note him
Report the feature of Octavia, her years,
Her inclination; let him not leave out
The colour of her hair: bring me word quickly. [Exit Alexas. ^note
Let him for ever go: let him not— ^noteCharmian,
Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
The other way's ^note a Mars. [To Mardian ^note] Bid you Alexas
Bring me ^note word how tall she is. Pity me, Charmian,
But do not speak ^note to me. Lead me to my chamber. [Exeunt.

^note

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