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Original Text |
Modern Text |
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Enter CLEOPATRA , CHARMIAN , IRAS , and MARDIAN
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Enter CLEOPATRA , CHARMIAN , IRAS , and MARDIAN
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CLEOPATRA Charmian!
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CLEOPATRA Charmian!
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CHARMIAN Madam?
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CHARMIAN Madam?
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CLEOPATRA Ha, ha! Give me to drink mandragora.
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CLEOPATRA Ha, ha! Give me to drink mandragora.
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CHARMIAN Why, madam?
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CHARMIAN Why, madam?
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CLEOPATRA 5 That I might sleep out this great gap of time
My Antony is away.
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CLEOPATRA That I might sleep out this great gap of time
My Antony is away.
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CHARMIAN You think of him too much.
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CHARMIAN You think of him too much.
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CLEOPATRA Oh, ’tis treason!
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CLEOPATRA Oh, ’tis treason!
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CHARMIAN Madam, I trust, not so.
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CHARMIAN Madam, I trust, not so.
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CLEOPATRA Thou, eunuch Mardian!
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CLEOPATRA Thou, eunuch Mardian!
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MARDIAN What’s your highness’ pleasure?
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MARDIAN What’s your highness’ pleasure?
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CLEOPATRA 10 Not now to hear thee sing. I take no pleasure
In aught an eunuch has. ’Tis well for thee
That, being unseminared, thy freer thoughts
May not fly forth of Egypt. Hast thou affections?
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CLEOPATRA Not now to hear thee sing. I take no pleasure
In aught an eunuch has. ’Tis well for thee
That, being unseminared, thy freer thoughts
May not fly forth of Egypt. Hast thou affections?
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MARDIAN Yes, gracious madam.
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MARDIAN Yes, gracious madam.
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CLEOPATRA 15 Indeed?
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CLEOPATRA Indeed?
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MARDIAN Not in deed, madam, for I can do nothing
But what indeed is honest to be done.
Yet have I fierce affections, and think
What Venus did with Mars.
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MARDIAN Not in deed, madam, for I can do nothing
But what indeed is honest to be done.
Yet have I fierce affections, and think
What Venus did with Mars.
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CLEOPATRA O Charmian,
Or does he walk? Or is he on his horse?
O happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony!
Do bravely, horse, for wott’st thou whom thou mov’st?
The demi-Atlas of this earth, the arm
25 And burgonet of men. He’s speaking now,
Or murmuring “Where’s my serpent of old Nile?”
For so he calls me. Now I feed myself
With most delicious poison. Think on me,
That am with Phoebus’ amorous pinches black
When thou wast here above the ground, I was
A morsel for a monarch. And great Pompey
Would stand and make his eyes grow in my brow.
There would he anchor his aspect, and die
35 With looking on his life.
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CLEOPATRA O Charmian,
Or does he walk? Or is he on his horse?
O happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony!
Do bravely, horse, for wott’st thou whom thou mov’st?
The demi-Atlas of this earth, the arm
And burgonet of men. He’s speaking now,
Or murmuring “Where’s my serpent of old Nile?”
For so he calls me. Now I feed myself
With most delicious poison. Think on me,
That am with Phoebus’ amorous pinches black
When thou wast here above the ground, I was
A morsel for a monarch. And great Pompey
Would stand and make his eyes grow in my brow.
There would he anchor his aspect, and die
With looking on his life.
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Enter ALEXAS
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Enter ALEXAS
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ALEXAS Sovereign of Egypt, hail!
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ALEXAS Sovereign of Egypt, hail!
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CLEOPATRA How much unlike art thou Mark Antony!
Yet, coming from him, that great med’cine hath
With his tinct gilded thee.
40 How goes it with my brave Mark Antony?
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CLEOPATRA How much unlike art thou Mark Antony!
Yet, coming from him, that great med’cine hath
With his tinct gilded thee.
How goes it with my brave Mark Antony?
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ALEXAS Last thing he did, dear Queen,
He kissed—the last of many doubled kisses—
This orient pearl.
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ALEXAS Last thing he did, dear Queen,
He kissed—the last of many doubled kisses—
This orient pearl.
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He gives a pearl.
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He gives a pearl.
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His speech sticks in my heart.
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His speech sticks in my heart.
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CLEOPATRA Mine ear must pluck it thence.
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CLEOPATRA Mine ear must pluck it thence.
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ALEXAS “Good friend,” quoth he,
45 “Say the firm Roman to great Egypt sends
This treasure of an oyster, at whose foot,
To mend the petty present, I will piece
Her opulent throne with kingdoms. All the East,
Say thou, shall call her mistress.” So he nodded,
50 And soberly did mount an arm-gaunt steed,
Who neighed so high that what I would have spoke
Was beastly dumbed by him.
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ALEXAS “Good friend,” quoth he,
“Say the firm Roman to great Egypt sends
This treasure of an oyster, at whose foot,
To mend the petty present, I will piece
Her opulent throne with kingdoms. All the East,
Say thou, shall call her mistress.” So he nodded,
And soberly did mount an arm-gaunt steed,
Who neighed so high that what I would have spoke
Was beastly dumbed by him.
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CLEOPATRA What was he, sad or merry?
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CLEOPATRA What was he, sad or merry?
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ALEXAS Like to the time o’ th’ year between the extremes
55 Of hot and cold, he was nor sad nor merry.
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ALEXAS Like to the time o’ th’ year between the extremes
Of hot and cold, he was nor sad nor merry.
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CLEOPATRA O well-divided disposition! Note him,
Note him, good Charmian, ’tis the man, but note him.
He was not sad, for he would shine on those
That make their looks by his. He was not merry,
60 Which seemed to tell them his remembrance lay
In Egypt with his joy, but between both.
O heavenly mingle! Be’st thou sad or merry,
The violence of either thee becomes,
So does it no man else.—Mett’st thou my posts?
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CLEOPATRA O well-divided disposition! Note him,
Note him, good Charmian, ’tis the man, but note him.
He was not sad, for he would shine on those
That make their looks by his. He was not merry,
Which seemed to tell them his remembrance lay
In Egypt with his joy, but between both.
O heavenly mingle! Be’st thou sad or merry,
The violence of either thee becomes,
So does it no man else.—Mett’st thou my posts?
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ALEXAS 65 Ay, madam, twenty several messengers.
Why do you send so thick?
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ALEXAS Ay, madam, twenty several messengers.
Why do you send so thick?
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CLEOPATRA Who’s born that day
When I forget to send to Antony
Shall die a beggar. Ink and paper, Charmian.
Welcome, my good Alexas. Did I, Charmian,
70 Ever love Caesar so?
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CLEOPATRA Who’s born that day
When I forget to send to Antony
Shall die a beggar. Ink and paper, Charmian.
Welcome, my good Alexas. Did I, Charmian,
Ever love Caesar so?
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CHARMIAN Oh, that brave Caesar!
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CHARMIAN Oh, that brave Caesar!
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CLEOPATRA Be choked with such another emphasis!
Say, “the brave Antony.”
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CLEOPATRA Be choked with such another emphasis!
Say, “the brave Antony.”
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CHARMIAN The valiant Caesar!
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CHARMIAN The valiant Caesar!
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CLEOPATRA By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth
If thou with Caesar paragon again
75 My man of men.
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CLEOPATRA By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth
If thou with Caesar paragon again
My man of men.
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CHARMIAN By your most gracious pardon,
I sing but after you.
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CHARMIAN By your most gracious pardon,
I sing but after you.
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CLEOPATRA My salad days,
When I was green in judgment, cold in blood,
To say as I said then. (to everyone) But, come, away.
(to CHARMIAN) Get me ink and paper.
80 He shall have every day a several greeting,
Or I’ll unpeople Egypt.
|
CLEOPATRA My salad days,
When I was green in judgment, cold in blood,
To say as I said then. (to everyone) But, come, away.
(to CHARMIAN) Get me ink and paper.
He shall have every day a several greeting,
Or I’ll unpeople Egypt.
|
| Exeunt | Exeunt |
Original Text |
Modern Text |
|
Enter CLEOPATRA , CHARMIAN , IRAS , and MARDIAN
|
Enter CLEOPATRA , CHARMIAN , IRAS , and MARDIAN
|
|
CLEOPATRA Charmian!
|
CLEOPATRA Charmian!
|
|
CHARMIAN Madam?
|
CHARMIAN Madam?
|
|
CLEOPATRA Ha, ha! Give me to drink mandragora.
|
CLEOPATRA Ha, ha! Give me to drink mandragora.
|
|
CHARMIAN Why, madam?
|
CHARMIAN Why, madam?
|
|
CLEOPATRA 5 That I might sleep out this great gap of time
My Antony is away.
|
CLEOPATRA That I might sleep out this great gap of time
My Antony is away.
|
|
CHARMIAN You think of him too much.
|
CHARMIAN You think of him too much.
|
|
CLEOPATRA Oh, ’tis treason!
|
CLEOPATRA Oh, ’tis treason!
|
|
CHARMIAN Madam, I trust, not so.
|
CHARMIAN Madam, I trust, not so.
|
|
CLEOPATRA Thou, eunuch Mardian!
|
CLEOPATRA Thou, eunuch Mardian!
|
|
MARDIAN What’s your highness’ pleasure?
|
MARDIAN What’s your highness’ pleasure?
|
|
CLEOPATRA 10 Not now to hear thee sing. I take no pleasure
In aught an eunuch has. ’Tis well for thee
That, being unseminared, thy freer thoughts
May not fly forth of Egypt. Hast thou affections?
|
CLEOPATRA Not now to hear thee sing. I take no pleasure
In aught an eunuch has. ’Tis well for thee
That, being unseminared, thy freer thoughts
May not fly forth of Egypt. Hast thou affections?
|
|
MARDIAN Yes, gracious madam.
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MARDIAN Yes, gracious madam.
|
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CLEOPATRA 15 Indeed?
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CLEOPATRA Indeed?
|
|
MARDIAN Not in deed, madam, for I can do nothing
But what indeed is honest to be done.
Yet have I fierce affections, and think
What Venus did with Mars.
|
MARDIAN Not in deed, madam, for I can do nothing
But what indeed is honest to be done.
Yet have I fierce affections, and think
What Venus did with Mars.
|
|
CLEOPATRA O Charmian,
Or does he walk? Or is he on his horse?
O happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony!
Do bravely, horse, for wott’st thou whom thou mov’st?
The demi-Atlas of this earth, the arm
25 And burgonet of men. He’s speaking now,
Or murmuring “Where’s my serpent of old Nile?”
For so he calls me. Now I feed myself
With most delicious poison. Think on me,
That am with Phoebus’ amorous pinches black
When thou wast here above the ground, I was
A morsel for a monarch. And great Pompey
Would stand and make his eyes grow in my brow.
There would he anchor his aspect, and die
35 With looking on his life.
|
CLEOPATRA O Charmian,
Or does he walk? Or is he on his horse?
O happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony!
Do bravely, horse, for wott’st thou whom thou mov’st?
The demi-Atlas of this earth, the arm
And burgonet of men. He’s speaking now,
Or murmuring “Where’s my serpent of old Nile?”
For so he calls me. Now I feed myself
With most delicious poison. Think on me,
That am with Phoebus’ amorous pinches black
When thou wast here above the ground, I was
A morsel for a monarch. And great Pompey
Would stand and make his eyes grow in my brow.
There would he anchor his aspect, and die
With looking on his life.
|
|
Enter ALEXAS
|
Enter ALEXAS
|
|
ALEXAS Sovereign of Egypt, hail!
|
ALEXAS Sovereign of Egypt, hail!
|
|
CLEOPATRA How much unlike art thou Mark Antony!
Yet, coming from him, that great med’cine hath
With his tinct gilded thee.
40 How goes it with my brave Mark Antony?
|
CLEOPATRA How much unlike art thou Mark Antony!
Yet, coming from him, that great med’cine hath
With his tinct gilded thee.
How goes it with my brave Mark Antony?
|
|
ALEXAS Last thing he did, dear Queen,
He kissed—the last of many doubled kisses—
This orient pearl.
|
ALEXAS Last thing he did, dear Queen,
He kissed—the last of many doubled kisses—
This orient pearl.
|
|
He gives a pearl.
|
He gives a pearl.
|
|
His speech sticks in my heart.
|
His speech sticks in my heart.
|
|
CLEOPATRA Mine ear must pluck it thence.
|
CLEOPATRA Mine ear must pluck it thence.
|
|
ALEXAS “Good friend,” quoth he,
45 “Say the firm Roman to great Egypt sends
This treasure of an oyster, at whose foot,
To mend the petty present, I will piece
Her opulent throne with kingdoms. All the East,
Say thou, shall call her mistress.” So he nodded,
50 And soberly did mount an arm-gaunt steed,
Who neighed so high that what I would have spoke
Was beastly dumbed by him.
|
ALEXAS “Good friend,” quoth he,
“Say the firm Roman to great Egypt sends
This treasure of an oyster, at whose foot,
To mend the petty present, I will piece
Her opulent throne with kingdoms. All the East,
Say thou, shall call her mistress.” So he nodded,
And soberly did mount an arm-gaunt steed,
Who neighed so high that what I would have spoke
Was beastly dumbed by him.
|
|
CLEOPATRA What was he, sad or merry?
|
CLEOPATRA What was he, sad or merry?
|
|
ALEXAS Like to the time o’ th’ year between the extremes
55 Of hot and cold, he was nor sad nor merry.
|
ALEXAS Like to the time o’ th’ year between the extremes
Of hot and cold, he was nor sad nor merry.
|
|
CLEOPATRA O well-divided disposition! Note him,
Note him, good Charmian, ’tis the man, but note him.
He was not sad, for he would shine on those
That make their looks by his. He was not merry,
60 Which seemed to tell them his remembrance lay
In Egypt with his joy, but between both.
O heavenly mingle! Be’st thou sad or merry,
The violence of either thee becomes,
So does it no man else.—Mett’st thou my posts?
|
CLEOPATRA O well-divided disposition! Note him,
Note him, good Charmian, ’tis the man, but note him.
He was not sad, for he would shine on those
That make their looks by his. He was not merry,
Which seemed to tell them his remembrance lay
In Egypt with his joy, but between both.
O heavenly mingle! Be’st thou sad or merry,
The violence of either thee becomes,
So does it no man else.—Mett’st thou my posts?
|
|
ALEXAS 65 Ay, madam, twenty several messengers.
Why do you send so thick?
|
ALEXAS Ay, madam, twenty several messengers.
Why do you send so thick?
|
|
CLEOPATRA Who’s born that day
When I forget to send to Antony
Shall die a beggar. Ink and paper, Charmian.
Welcome, my good Alexas. Did I, Charmian,
70 Ever love Caesar so?
|
CLEOPATRA Who’s born that day
When I forget to send to Antony
Shall die a beggar. Ink and paper, Charmian.
Welcome, my good Alexas. Did I, Charmian,
Ever love Caesar so?
|
|
CHARMIAN Oh, that brave Caesar!
|
CHARMIAN Oh, that brave Caesar!
|
|
CLEOPATRA Be choked with such another emphasis!
Say, “the brave Antony.”
|
CLEOPATRA Be choked with such another emphasis!
Say, “the brave Antony.”
|
|
CHARMIAN The valiant Caesar!
|
CHARMIAN The valiant Caesar!
|
|
CLEOPATRA By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth
If thou with Caesar paragon again
75 My man of men.
|
CLEOPATRA By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth
If thou with Caesar paragon again
My man of men.
|
|
CHARMIAN By your most gracious pardon,
I sing but after you.
|
CHARMIAN By your most gracious pardon,
I sing but after you.
|
|
CLEOPATRA My salad days,
When I was green in judgment, cold in blood,
To say as I said then. (to everyone) But, come, away.
(to CHARMIAN) Get me ink and paper.
80 He shall have every day a several greeting,
Or I’ll unpeople Egypt.
|
CLEOPATRA My salad days,
When I was green in judgment, cold in blood,
To say as I said then. (to everyone) But, come, away.
(to CHARMIAN) Get me ink and paper.
He shall have every day a several greeting,
Or I’ll unpeople Egypt.
|
| Exeunt | Exeunt |
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