Original Text
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Modern Text
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Enter ENOBARBUS,
LAMPRIUS, a SOOTHSAYER, Rannius,
LUCILLIUS, CHARMIAN,
IRAS, MARDIAN the eunuch, and
ALEXAS
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ENOBARBUS, LAMPRIUS,
the FORTUNETELLER, Rannius, LUCILLUS,
CHARMIAN, IRAS,
MARDIAN the eunuch, and ALEXAS
enter.
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CHARMIAN
Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most anything Alexas,
almost
most absolute Alexas, where’s the soothsayer that
you
praised so to th’ Queen? Oh that I knew this
husband,
which, you say, must charge his horns with garlands!
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CHARMIAN
Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most anything Alexas, almost the most
consummate Alexas, where’s the fortuneteller you recommended so
highly to the Queen? Oh, I only wish I knew the name of that husband
you said he predicted will have a cheating wife!
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ALEXAS
5Soothsayer!
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ALEXAS
(calling)
Fortuneteller!
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SOOTHSAYER
Your will?
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FORTUNETELLER
What can I do for you?
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CHARMIAN
(to
ALEXAS
) Is this the man? (to
SOOTHSAYER
) Is ’t you, sir, that know things?
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CHARMIAN
(to
ALEXAS
) Is this the man you recommended?
(to the
FORTUNETELLER
) Are you the man who knows the
future?
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SOOTHSAYER
In nature’s infinite book of secrecy
A little I can read.
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FORTUNETELLER
I can understand a few of nature’s infinite secrets.
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ALEXAS
10
(to
CHARMIAN
) Show him your hand.
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ALEXAS
(to
CHARMIAN
) Give him your hand to read.
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ENOBARBUS
(to servants within)
Bring in the banquet quickly. Wine enough
Cleopatra’s health to drink.
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ENOBARBUS
(to the servants)
Bring the dessert in right away, and make sure there’s enough wine
to toast Cleopatra’s health.
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CHARMIAN
(giving hand to
SOOTHSAYER
) Good sir, give me good
fortune.
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CHARMIAN
(giving her hand to the
FORTUNETELLER
) Kind sir, give me a good
fortune.
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SOOTHSAYER
I make not, but foresee.
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FORTUNETELLER
I don’t make fortunes; I only see them.
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CHARMIAN
15Pray, then, foresee me one.
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CHARMIAN
Then see a good one for me.
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SOOTHSAYER
You shall be yet far fairer than you are.
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FORTUNETELLER
Your beauty will be even greater than it is now.
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CHARMIAN
(to the
others) He means in flesh.
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CHARMIAN
(to the others)
He means I’ll get fat.
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IRAS
No, you shall paint when you are old.
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IRAS
No, he means you’ll use makeup when you’re old.
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CHARMIAN
Wrinkles forbid!
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CHARMIAN
May my wrinkles forbid that!
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ALEXAS
20Vex not his prescience. Be
attentive.
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ALEXAS
Don’t joke about his predictions. Pay attention.
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CHARMIAN
Hush!
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CHARMIAN
Quiet!
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SOOTHSAYER
You shall be more beloving than beloved.
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FORTUNETELLER
You will love more than you are loved.
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