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

Cleopatra	Where is the fellow?

Alexas						Half afeard to come.

Cleopatra	Go to, go to.

                      Enter the MESSENGER as before.

					Come hither, sir.

Alexas									Good majesty,
	Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you
	But when you are well pleased.

Cleopatra									That Herod's head
	I'll have; but how, when Antony is gone,
	Through whom I might command it? Come thou near.

Messenger	Most gracious majesty!

Cleopatra							Didst thou behold
	Octavia?

Messenger				Ay, dread queen.

Cleopatra								Where?

Messenger										Madam, in Rome;
	I looked her in the face, and saw her led
	Between her brother and Mark Antony.

Cleopatra	Is she as tall as me?

Messenger							She is not, madam.

Cleopatra	Didst hear her speak? Is she shrill-tongued or low?

Messenger	Madam, I heard her speak; she is low-voiced.

Cleopatra	That's not so good: he cannot like her long.

Charmian	Like her? O Isis, 'tis impossible!

Cleopatra	I think so, Charmian: - dull of tongue, and dwarfish!
	What majesty is in her gait? Remember,
	If e'er thou look'st on majesty.

Messenger										She creeps.
	Her motion and her station are as one:
	She shows a body rather than a life,
	A statue than a breather.

Cleopatra								Is this certain?

Messenger	Or I have no observance.

Charmian							Three in Egypt
	Cannot make better note.

Cleopatra								He's very knowing,
	I do perceive't. There's nothing in her yet.
	The fellow has good judgment.

Charmian										Excellent.

Cleopatra	Guess at her years, I prithee.

Messenger										Madam,
	She was a widow-

Cleopatra						Widow! Charmian, hark.

Messenger	And I do think she's thirty.

Cleopatra	Bear'st thou her face in mind? Is't long or round?

Messenger	Round even to faultiness.

Cleopatra	For the most part, too, they are foolish that are so.
	Her hair what colour?

Messenger							Brown, madam; and her forehead
	As low as she would wish it.

Cleopatra								There'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.

Charmian								A proper man.

Cleopatra	Indeed he is so. I repent me much
	That so I harried him. Why, methinks by him
	This creature's no such thing.

Charmian										Nothing, madam.

Cleopatra	The man hath seen some majesty, and should know.

Charmian	Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend,
	And serving you so long!

Cleopatra	I 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.

Charmian	I warrant you, madam.
													[Exeunt.

