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Modern Text |
CLEOPATRA Oh, is ’t come to this?
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CLEOPATRA Oh, has it come to this?
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ANTONY I found you as a morsel cold upon
Dead Caesar’s trencher. Nay, you were a fragment
120Of Gneius Pompey’s, besides what hotter
hours,
Unregistered in vulgar fame, you have
Luxuriously picked out. For I am sure,
Though you can guess what temperance should be,
You know not what it is.
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ANTONY You were a cold crumb on dead Julius Caesar’s plate when I met
you. No, you were one of Gneius Pompey’s leftovers—not to mention
your other, more depraved affairs, which have somehow managed to
avoid becoming the subject of vulgar gossip. For I’m sure that
although you may know what temperance is, you’ve never experienced
it firsthand.
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CLEOPATRA Wherefore is
this?
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CLEOPATRA Why are you doing this?
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ANTONY
125To let a fellow that will take rewards
And say “God quit you!” be familiar with
My playfellow, your hand, this kingly seal
And plighter of high hearts! Oh, that I were
Upon the hill of Basan, to outroar
130The hornèd herd! For I have savage cause,
And to proclaim it civilly were like
A haltered neck which does the hangman thank
For being yare about him.
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ANTONY To let a servant be familiar with my little toy, your hand—a hand
that has signed royal treaties and pledged your love to me—oh, if
only I were standing on the hill of
Basanhome to herds of bulls (traditional symbols of men with adulterous wives), according to the Bible Basan , so that I could roar louder than that horned herd! For I have been savagely abused, and to state my grievances politely would be as absurd as a condemned criminal thanking the hangman for doing his job quickly. |
Enter a SERVANT with
THIDIAS
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A SERVANT enters with
THIDIAS.
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Is he
whipped?
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Has he been whipped?
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SERVANT Soundly, my lord.
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SERVANT Soundly, my lord.
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ANTONY
135Cried he? And begged he pardon?
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ANTONY Did he cry? Did he beg my pardon?
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SERVANT He did ask favor.
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SERVANT He did ask for mercy.
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