Antony and Cleopatra

by: William Shakespeare

Act 2 Scene 3

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Original Text	Modern Text
Enter ANTONY, CAESAR; OCTAVIA between them	ANTONY and CAESAR enter with OCTAVIA between them.
ANTONY (to OCTAVIA ) The world and my great office will sometimes Divide me from your bosom.	ANTONY (to OCTAVIA ) There will be times when my duties and responsibilities take me away from you.
OCTAVIA All which time Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers To them for you.	OCTAVIA And I will spend our time apart on my knees, praying for you.
ANTONY (to CAESAR ) Good night, sir.—My Octavia, 5Read not my blemishes in the world’s report. I have not kept my square, but that to come Shall all be done by th’ rule. Good night, dear lady. (to CAESAR ) Good night, sir.	ANTONY (to CAESAR ) Good night, sir. My Octavia, don’t believe everything you hear about me. I haven’t always lived a conventional life, but the future will be by the book. Good night, dear lady. (to CAESAR ) Good night, sir.
CAESAR Good night.	CAESAR Good night.
He exits with OCTAVIA	CAESAR and OCTAVIA exit.
Enter SOOTHSAYER	The FORTUNETELLER enters.
ANTONY 10Now, sirrah, you do wish yourself in Egypt?	ANTONY Now, sirrah term of address for a person of lower status sirrah, I hear you wish you were back in Egypt.
SOOTHSAYER Would I had never come from thence, nor you thither.	FORTUNETELLER I wish I had never left Egypt and that you had never come to Egypt.
ANTONY If you can, your reason?	ANTONY Tell me why, if you can.
SOOTHSAYER I see it in my motion, have it not in my tongue. But yet hie you to Egypt again.	FORTUNETELLER It’s a feeling, but nothing I can put into words. But you had better get back to Egypt again.
ANTONY 15Say to me whose fortunes shall rise higher, Caesar’s or mine?	ANTONY Tell me who shall have the better luck, Caesar or me?
SOOTHSAYER Caesar’s. Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side. Thy dæmon—that thy spirit which keeps thee—is 20Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable Where Caesar’s is not. But near him thy angel Becomes afeard, as being o’erpowered. Therefore Make space enough between you.	FORTUNETELLER Caesar. So you’d better not stay with him, Antony. Your guardian angel is noble, courageous, significant, and unmatched when Caesar’s not around. But when you are with him, your angel is weakened and easily frightened. That’s why there must be space between you.

Read the Summary of Act II, scenes iii–vi

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