ARKCODEX
Act III, Scene 3
1Alexandria. Cleopatra’s palace.
2Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas.
3CleopatraWhere is the fellow?
4AlexasHalf afeard to come.
5CleopatraGo to, go to.
6Enter the Messenger as before.
7Come hither, sir.
8AlexasGood majesty,
Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you
But when you are well pleased.
9CleopatraThat Herod’s head
I’ll have: but how, when Antony is gone
Through whom I might command it? Come thou near.
10MessengerMost gracious majesty—
11CleopatraDidst thou behold Octavia?
12MessengerAy, dread queen.
13CleopatraWhere?
14MessengerMadam, in Rome;
I look’d her in the face, and saw her led
Between her brother and Mark Antony.
15CleopatraIs she as tall as me?
16MessengerShe is not, madam.
17CleopatraDidst hear her speak? is she shrill-tongued or low?
18MessengerMadam, I heard her speak; she is low-voiced.
19CleopatraThat’s not so good: he cannot like her long.
20CharmianLike her! O Isis! ’tis impossible.
21CleopatraI think so, Charmian: dull of tongue, and dwarfish!
What majesty is in her gait? Remember,
If e’er thou look’dst on majesty.
22MessengerShe creeps:
Her motion and her station are as one;
She shows a body rather than a life,
A statue than a breather.
23CleopatraIs this certain?
24MessengerOr I have no observance.
25CharmianThree in Egypt
Cannot make better note.
26CleopatraHe’s very knowing;
I do perceive’t: there’s nothing in her yet:
The fellow has good judgment.
27CharmianExcellent.
28CleopatraGuess at her years, I prithee.
29MessengerMadam,
She was a widow—
30CleopatraWidow! Charmian, hark.
31MessengerAnd I do think she’s thirty.
32CleopatraBear’st thou her face in mind? is’t long or round?
33MessengerRound even to faultiness.
34CleopatraFor the most part, too, they are foolish that are so.
Her hair, what colour?
35MessengerBrown, madam: and her forehead
As low as she would wish it.
36CleopatraThere’s 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 prepared. Exit Messenger.
37CharmianA proper man.
38CleopatraIndeed, he is so: I repent me much
That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him,
This creature’s no such thing.
39CharmianNothing, madam.
40CleopatraThe man hath seen some majesty, and should know.
41CharmianHath he seen majesty? Isis else defend,
And serving you so long!
42CleopatraI 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.
43CharmianI warrant you, madam. Exeunt.