Act I, Scene 1

Alexandria - A room in CLEOPATRA’s palace

[Enter DEMETRIUS and PHILO]

Philo - Nay, but this dotage of our general's O'erflows the measure: those his goodly eyes, That o'er the files and musters of the war Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn, The office and devotion of their view Upon a tawny front: his captain's heart, Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper, And is become the bellows and the fan To cool a gipsy's lust.

[Flourish. Enter ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, her Ladies, the Train, with Eunuchs fanning her]

Look, where they come: Take but good note, and you shall see in him. The triple pillar of the world transform'd Into a strumpet's fool: behold and see.

Cleopatra - If it be love indeed, tell me how much.

Antony - There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd.

Cleopatra - I'll set a bourn how far to be beloved.

Antony - Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth.

[Enter an Attendant]

Attendant - News, my good lord, from Rome.

Antony - Grates me: the sum.

Cleopatra - Nay, hear them, Antony: Fulvia perchance is angry; or, who knows If the scarce-bearded Caesar have not sent His powerful mandate to you, 'Do this, or this; Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that; Perform 't, or else we damn thee.'

Antony - How, my love!

Cleopatra - Perchance! nay, and most like: You must not stay here longer, your dismission Is come from Caesar; therefore hear it, Antony - Where's Fulvia's process? Caesar's I would say? both? Call in the messengers. As I am Egypt's queen, Thou blushest, Antony; and that blood of thine Is Caesar's homager: else so thy cheek pays shame When shrill-tongued Fulvia scolds. The messengers!

Antony - Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch Of the ranged empire fall! Here is my space. Kingdoms are clay: our dungy earth alike Feeds beast as man: the nobleness of life Is to do thus; when such a mutual pair

[Embracing]

And such a twain can do't, in which I bind, On pain of punishment, the world to weet We stand up peerless.

Cleopatra - Excellent falsehood! Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her? I'll seem the fool I am not; Antony Will be himself.

Antony - But stirr'd by Cleopatra - Now, for the love of Love and her soft hours, Let's not confound the time with conference harsh: There's not a minute of our lives should stretch Without some pleasure now. What sport tonight?

Cleopatra - Hear the ambassadors.

Antony - Fie, wrangling queen! Whom every thing becomes, to chide, to laugh, To weep; whose every passion fully strives To make itself, in thee, fair and admired! No messenger, but thine; and all alone To-night we'll wander through the streets and note The qualities of people. Come, my queen; Last night you did desire it: speak not to us.

[Exeunt MARK ANTONY and CLEOPATRA with their train]

Demetrius - Is Caesar with Antonius prized so slight?

Philo - Sir, sometimes, when he is not Antony, He comes too short of that great property Which still should go with Antony.

Demetrius - I am full sorry That he approves the common liar, who Thus speaks of him at Rome: but I will hope Of better deeds to-morrow. Rest you happy!

[Exeunt]