Call in the Messengers: As I am Egypts Queene, Thou blushest Anthony, and that blood of thine Is Caesars homager: else so thy cheeke payes shame, When shrill-tongu"d Fuluia scolds. The Messengers
Ant. Let Rome in Tyber melt, and the wide Arch Of the raing"d Empire fall: Heere is my s.p.a.ce, Kingdomes are clay: Our dungie earth alike Feeds Beast as Man; the n.o.blenesse of life Is to do thus: when such a mutuall paire, And such a twaine can doo"t, in which I binde One paine of punishment, the world to weete We stand vp Peerelesse
Cleo. Excellent falshood: Why did he marry Fuluia, and not loue her?
Ile seeme the Foole I am not. Anthony will be himselfe
Ant. But stirr"d by Cleopatra.
Now for the loue of Loue, and her soft houres, Let"s not confound the time with Conference harsh; There"s not a minute of our liues should stretch Without some pleasure now. What sport to night?
Cleo. Heare the Amba.s.sadors
Ant. Fye wrangling Queene: Whom euery thing becomes, to chide, to laugh, To weepe: who euery pa.s.sion fully striues To make it selfe (in Thee) faire, and admir"d.
No Messenger but thine, and all alone, to night Wee"l wander through the streets, and note The qualities of people. Come my Queene, Last night you did desire it. Speake not to vs.
Exeunt. with the Traine.
Dem. Is Caesar with Anthonius priz"d so slight?
Philo. Sir, sometimes when he is not Anthony, He comes too short of that great Property Which still should go with Anthony
Dem. I am full sorry, that hee approues the common Lyar, who thus speakes of him at Rome; but I will hope of better deeds to morrow. Rest you happy.
Exeunt.
Enter En.o.barbus, Lamprius, a Southsayer, Rannius, Lucillius, Charmian, Iras, Mardian the Eunuch, and Alexas.
Char. L[ord]. Alexas, sweet Alexas, most any thing Alexas, almost most absolute Alexas, where"s the Soothsayer that you prais"d so to"th" Queene? Oh that I knewe this Husband, which you say, must change his Hornes with Garlands
Alex. Soothsayer
Sooth. Your will?
Char. Is this the Man? Is"t you sir that know things?
Sooth. In Natures infinite booke of Secrecie, a little I can read
Alex. Shew him your hand
En.o.b. Bring in the Banket quickly: Wine enough, Cleopatra"s health to drinke
Char. Good sir, giue me good Fortune
Sooth. I make not, but foresee
Char. Pray then, foresee me one
Sooth. You shall be yet farre fairer then you are
Char. He meanes in flesh
Iras. No, you shall paint when you are old
Char. Wrinkles forbid
Alex. Vex not his prescience, be attentiue
Char. Hush
Sooth. You shall be more belouing, then beloued
Char. I had rather heate my Liuer with drinking
Alex. Nay, heare him
Char. Good now some excellent Fortune: Let mee be married to three Kings in a forenoone, and Widdow them all: Let me haue a Childe at fifty, to whom Herode of Iewry may do Homage. Finde me to marrie me with Octauius Caesar, and companion me with my Mistris
Sooth. You shall out-liue the Lady whom you serue
Char. Oh excellent, I loue long life better then Figs
Sooth. You haue seene and proued a fairer former fortune, then that which is to approach
Char. Then belike my Children shall haue no names: Prythee how many Boyes and Wenches must I haue
Sooth. If euery of your wishes had a wombe, & foretell euery wish, a Million
Char. Out Foole, I forgiue thee for a Witch
Alex. You thinke none but your sheets are priuie to your wishes
Char. Nay come, tell Iras hers
Alex. Wee"l know all our Fortunes
En.o.b. Mine, and most of our Fortunes to night, shall be drunke to bed
Iras. There"s a Palme presages Chast.i.ty, if nothing els
Char. E"ne as the o"re-flowing Nylus presageth Famine
Iras. Go you wilde Bedfellow, you cannot Soothsay
Char. Nay, if an oyly Palme bee not a fruitfull Prognostication, I cannot scratch mine eare. Prythee tel her but a worky day Fortune
Sooth. Your Fortunes are alike
Iras. But how, but how, giue me particulars
Sooth. I haue said
Iras. Am I not an inch of Fortune better then she?
Char. Well, if you were but an inch of fortune better then I: where would you choose it