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Antony and Cleopatra
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-BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
William Shakespeare (1564–1616). The Oxford Shakespeare. 1914.
Act III. Scene IV.
Antony and Cleopatra
Athens.A Room in ANTONY’S House.
Enter ANTONY and OCTAVIA.
Ant.Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that,
That were excusable, that, and thousands more
Of semblable import, but he hath wag’d
New wars ’gainst Pompey; made his will, and read it
To public ear:
Spoke scantly of me; when perforce he could not
But pay me terms of honour, cold and sickly
He vented them; most narrow measure lent me;
When the best hint was given him, he not took ’t,
Or did it from his teeth.
Oct.O my good lord!
Believe not all; or, if you must believe,
Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady,
If this division chance, ne’er stood between,
Praying for both parts:
The good gods will mock me presently,
When I shall pray, ‘O! bless my lord and husband;’
Undo that prayer, by crying out as loud,
‘O! bless my brother!’ Husband win, win brother,
Prays, and destroys the prayer; no midway
’Twixt these extremes at all.
Ant.Gentle Octavia,
Best to preserve it. If I lose mine honour
Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested,
So your desires are yours.