Original Text |
Modern Text |
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Enter CLEOPATRA,
CHARMIAN, IRAS, and
ALEXAS
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CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN,
IRAS, and ALEXAS
enter.
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CLEOPATRA Where is the fellow?
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CLEOPATRA Where is that messenger?
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ALEXAS Half afeard to
come.
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ALEXAS He’s afraid to come in.
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CLEOPATRA Go to, go to.—Come hither, sir.
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CLEOPATRA Oh, come on.—Come here, sir.
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Enter the MESSENGER as
before
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The MESSENGER
enters.
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ALEXAS Good
majesty,
Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you
But when you are well pleased.
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ALEXAS Gracious Queen, even Herod of Judea wouldn’t dare look at you
unless you were in a good mood.
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CLEOPATRA That
Herod’s head
5I’ll have! But how? When Antony is gone,
Through whom I might command it? (to
MESSENGER
) Come thou
near.
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CLEOPATRA I’ll have Herod’s head chopped off! But now that Antony’s gone,
who will do it for me? (to
MESSENGER
) Come closer.
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MESSENGER Most gracious majesty!
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MESSENGER Most formidable Queen!
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CLEOPATRA Didst thou behold
Octavia?
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CLEOPATRA Did you see Octavia?
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MESSENGER Ay, dread Queen.
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MESSENGER Yes, revered Queen.
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CLEOPATRA Where?
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CLEOPATRA Where?
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MESSENGER Madam, in
Rome.
I looked her in the face, and saw her led
10Between her brother and Mark Antony.
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MESSENGER In Rome, Madam. I saw her face as she walked with her brother and
Mark Antony.
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CLEOPATRA Is she as tall as me?
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CLEOPATRA Is she as tall as I am?
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MESSENGER She is not, madam.
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MESSENGER She is not, madam.
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CLEOPATRA Didst hear her speak? Is she shrill-tongued or low?
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CLEOPATRA Did you hear her speak? Is her voice pitched high or low?
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MESSENGER Madam, I heard her speak. She is low-voiced.
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MESSENGER Madam, I heard her speak. She has a low-pitched voice.
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CLEOPATRA That’s not so good. He cannot like her long.
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CLEOPATRA That’s not in her favor. He can’t like her very long.
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