Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.
 Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS.

Cleopatra	Give me some music; music, moody food
	Of us that trade in love.

All									The music, ho!

                        Enter MARDIAN the eunuch.


Cleopatra	Let it alone; let's to billiards. Come, Charmian.

Charmian	My arm is sore, best play with Mardian.

Cleopatra	As well a woman with a eunuch played
	As with a woman. Come, you'll play with me, sir?

Mardian	As well as I can, madam.

Cleopatra	And when good will is showed, though't come too short,
	The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now.
	Give me mine angle, we'll to th' river. There,
	My music playing far off, I will betray
	Tawny-finned fishes; my bended hook shall pierce
	Their slimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,
	I'll think them every one an Antony,
	And say "Ah, ha, y'are caught!".

Charmian										'Twas merry when
	You wagered on your angling; when your diver
	Did hang a salt-fish on his hook, which he
	With fervency drew up.

Cleopatra							That time - O times!-
	I laughed him out of patience; and that night
	I laughed 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.

                            Enter a MESSENGER.

									O, from Italy!
	Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
	That long time have been barren.

Messenger										Madam, madam-

Cleopatra	Antony's dead! - If thou say so, villain,
	Thou kill'st thy mistress; but well and free,
	If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here
	My bluest veins to kiss - a hand that kings
	Have lipped, and trembled kissing.

Messenger	First, madam, he is well.

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

Messenger	Good madam, hear me.

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

Messenger							Will't please you hear me?

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

Messenger						Madam, he's well.

Cleopatra										Well said.

Messenger	And friends with Caesar.

Cleopatra							Thou'rt an honest man.

Messenger	Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.

Cleopatra	Make thee a fortune from me.

Messenger									But yet, madam-

Cleopatra	I do not like "but yet"; it does allay
	The good precedence. Fie upon "but yet"!
	"But yet" is as a gaoler to bring forth
	Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend,
	Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,
	The good and bad together. He's friends with Caesar,
	In state of health, thou sayst, and, thou sayst, free.

Messenger	Free, madam? No; I made no such report.
	He's bound unto Octavia.

Cleopatra							For what good turn?

Messenger	For the best turn i'th' bed.

Cleopatra									I am pale, Charmian.

Messenger	Madam, he's married to Octavia.

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

Messenger	Good madam, patience.

Cleopatra						What say you?
													[Strikes him.
										Hence,
	Horrible villain, or I'll spurn thine eyes
	Like balls before me. I'll unhair thy head.
									 [She hales him up and down.
	Thou shalt be whipped with wire and stewed in brine,
	Smarting in ling'ring pickle.

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

Cleopatra	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.

Messenger							He's married, madam.

Cleopatra	Rogue, thou hast lived too long.
													[Draws a knife.

Messenger										Nay, then I'll run.
	What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.
													[Exit.
Charmian	Good madam, keep yourself within yourself;
	The man is innocent.

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

Charmian	He is afeard to come.

Cleopatra							I will not hurt him.
	These hands do lack nobility, that they strike
	A meaner than myself; since I myself
	Have given myself the cause.

                        Enter the MESSENGER again.

									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 tidings tell
	Themselves when they be felt.

Messenger									I have done my duty.

Cleopatra	Is he married?
	I cannot hate thee worser than I do
	If thou again say "Yes".

Messenger							He's married, madam.

Cleopatra	The gods confound thee, dost thou hold there still?

Messenger	Should I lie, madam?

Cleopatra						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
	Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?

Messenger	I crave your highness' pardon.

Cleopatra								He is married?

Messenger	Take no offence that I would not offend you;
	To punish me for what you make me do
	Seems much unequal. He's married to Octavia.

Cleopatra	O that his fault should make a knave of thee,
	That art not what thou'rt sure of! Get thee hence;
	The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome
	Are all too dear for me. Lie they upon thy hand,
	And be undone by 'em!
													[Exit MESSENGER.

Charmian							Good your highness, patience.

Cleopatra	In praising Antony I have dispraised Caesar.

Charmian	Many times, madam.

Cleopatra	I am paid for't now. Lead me from hence,
	I faint. - O Iras, Charmian! 'Tis no matter.
	Go to the fellow, good Alexas; bid 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.
	Let him for ever go - let him not, Charmian;
	Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
	The other way's a Mars. [To MARDIAN.] Bid you Alexas
	Bring me word how tall she is. - Pity me, Charmian,
	But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.
													[Exeunt.

