Shakespeare - First Folio facsimile (1910)/The Tragedie of Anthonie, and Cleopatra/Act 3 Scene 3
Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas.
Cleo.Where is the Fellow?
Alex.Halfe afeard to come.
Cleo.Go too, go too: Come hither Sir.
Enter the Messenger as before.
Alex.Good Maiestie: Herod of Iury dare not lookevpon you, but when you are well pleas'd.
Cleo.That Herods head, Ile haue: but how? WhenAnthony is gone, through whom I might commaund it:Come thou neere.
Mes.Most gratious Maiestie.
Cleo.Did'st thou behold Octauia?
Mes.I dread Queene.
Cleo.Where?
Mes.Madam in Rome, I lookt her in the face: andsaw her led betweene her Brother, and Marke Anthony.
Cleo.Is she as tall as me?
Mes.She is not Madam.
Cleo.Didst heare her speake?Is she shrill tongu'd or low?
Mes.Madam, I heard her speake, she is low voic'd.
Cleo.That's not so good: he cannot like her long.
Char.Like her? Oh Isis: 'tis impossible.
Cleo.I thinke so Charmian: dull of tongue, & dwarfishWhat Maiestie is in her gate, rememberIf ere thou look'st on Maiestie.
Mes.She creepes: her motion, & her station are as one.She shewes a body, rather then a life,A Statue, then a Breather.
Cleo.Is this certaine?
Mes.Or I haue no obseruance.
Cha.Three in Egypt cannot make better note.
Cleo.He's very knowing, I do perceiu't,There's nothing in her yet.
The Fellow ha's good iudgement.
Char.Excellent.
Cleo.Guesse at her yeares, I prythee.
Mess.Madam, she was a widdow.
Cleo.Widdow? Charmian, hearke.
Mes.And I do thinke she's thirtie.
Cle.Bear'st thou her face in mind? is't long or round?
Mess.Round, euen to faultinesse.
Cleo.For the most part too, they are foolish that areso. Her haire what colour?
Mess.Browne Madam: and her foreheadAs low as she would wish it.
Cleo.There's Gold for thee,Thou must not take my former sharpenesse ill,I will employ thee backe againe: I finde theeMost fit for businesse. Go, make thee ready,Our Letters are prepar'd.
Char.A proper man.
Cleo.Indeed he is so: I repent me muchThat so I harried him. Why me think's by him,This Creature's no such thing.
Char.Nothing Madam.
Cleo.The man hath seene some Maiesty, and should know.
Char.Hath he seene Maiestie? Isis else defend: andseruing you so long.
Cleopa.I haue one thing more to aske him yet goodCharmian: but 'tis no matter, thou shalt bring him to mewhere I will write; all may be well enough.
Char.Exeunt.I warrant you Madam.