Antony and Cleopatra

by: William Shakespeare

Act 3 Scene 3

1 2 3

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

Read the Summary of Act II, scene vii; Act III, scenes i–iii

1 2 3