William Shakespeare (1564–1616). The Oxford Shakespeare. 1914.

Act III. Scene VI.

Antony and Cleopatra

Rome.A Room in CÆSAR’S House.

Enter CÆSAR, AGRIPPA, and MECÆNAS.

Cæs.Contemning Rome, he has done all this and more

In Alexandria; here’s the manner of ’t;

I’ the market-place, on a tribunal silver’d,

Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold

Were publicly enthron’d; at the feet sat

Cæsarion, whom they call my father’s son,

And all the unlawful issue that their lust

Since then hath made between them. Unto her

He gave the ’stablishment of Egypt; made her

Of Lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia,

Absolute queen.

Mec.This in the public eye?

Cæs.I’ the common show-place, where they exercise.

His sons he there proclaim’d the kings of kings;

Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia

He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assign’d

Syria, Cilicia, and Phœnicia. She

In the habiliments of the goddess Isis

That day appear’d; and oft before gave audience,

As ’tis reported, so.

Mec.Let Rome be thus

Informed.

Agr.Who, queasy with his insolence

Already, will their good thoughts call from him.

Cæs.The people know it; and have now receiv’d

His accusations.

Agr.Whom does he accuse?

Cæs.Cæsar; and that, having in Sicily

Sextus Pompeius spoil’d, we had not rated him

His part o’ the isle; then does he say, he lent me

Some shipping unrestor’d; lastly, he frets

That Lepidus of the triumvirate

Should be depos’d; and, being, that we detain

All his revenue.

Agr.Sir, this should be answer’d.

Cæs.’Tis done already, and the messenger gone.

I have told him, Lepidus was grown too cruel;

That he his high authority abus’d,

And did deserve his change: for what I have conquer’d,

I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia,

And other of his conquer’d kingdoms, I

Demand the like.

Mec.He’ll never yield to that.

Cæs.Nor must not then be yielded to in this.

Enter OCTAVIA, with her Train.

Oct.Hail, Cæsar, and my lord! hail, most dear Cæsar!

Cæs.That ever I should call thee cast-away!

Oct.You have not call’d me so, nor have you cause.

Cæs.Why have you stol’n upon us thus? You come not

Like Cæsar’s sister; the wife of Antony

Should have an army for an usher, and

The neighs of horse to tell of her approach

Long ere she did appear; the trees by the way

Should have borne men; and expectation fainted,

Longing for what it had not; nay, the dust

Should have ascended to the roof of heaven,

Rais’d by your populous troops. But you are come

A market-maid to Rome, and have prevented

The ostentation of our love, which, left unshown,

Is often left unlov’d: we should have met you

By sea and land, supplying every stage

With an augmented greeting.

Oct.Good my lord,

To come thus was I not constrain’d, but did it

On my free-will. My lord, Mark Antony,

Hearing that you prepar’d for war, acquainted

My grieved ear withal; whereon, I begg’d

His pardon for return.

Cæs.Which soon he granted,

Being an obstruct ’tween his lust and him.

Oct.Do not say so, my lord.

Cæs.I have eyes upon him,

And his affairs come to me on the wind.

Where is he now?

Oct.My lord, in Athens.

Cæs.No, my most wrong’d sister; Cleopatra

Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire

Up to a whore; who now are levying

The kings o’ the earth for war. He hath assembled

Bocchus, the King of Libya; Archelaus,

Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, King

Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas;

King Malchus of Arabia; King of Pont;

Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, King

Of Comagene; Polemon and Amintas,

The Kings of Mede and Lycaonia,

With a more larger list of sceptres.

Oct.Ay me, most wretched,

That have my heart parted betwixt two friends

That do afflict each other!

Cæs.Welcome hither:

Your letters did withhold our breaking forth,

Till we perceiv’d both how you were wrong led

And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart;

Be you not troubled with the time, which drives

O’er your content these strong necessities,

But let determin’d things to destiny

Hold unbewail’d their way. Welcome to Rome;

Nothing more dear to me. You are abus’d

Beyond the mark of thought, and the high gods,

To do you justice, make their ministers

Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort,

And ever welcome to us.

Agr.Welcome, lady.

Mec.Welcome, dear madam.

Each heart in Rome does love and pity you;

Only the adulterous Antony, most large

In his abominations, turns you off,

And gives his potent regiment to a trull,

That noises it against us.

Oct.Is it so, sir?

Cæs.Most certain. Sister, welcome; pray you,

Be ever known to patience; my dearest sister![Exeunt.

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