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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 Hes 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 wouldnt dare look at you unless you were in a good mood. |
CLEOPATRA That Herods head 5 Ill have! But how? When Antony is gone, Through whom I might command it? (toMESSENGER) Come thou near. | CLEOPATRA Ill have Herods head chopped off! But now that Antonys gone, who will do it for me? (toMESSENGER) 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 10 Between 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 Thats not so good. He cannot like her long. | CLEOPATRA Thats not in her favor. He cant like her very long. |
CHARMIAN 15 Like her? O Isis, tis impossible. | CHARMIAN Like her? Oh, Isis, thats impossible. |
CLEOPATRA I think so, Charmian. Dull of tongue, and dwarfish. What majesty is in her gait? Remember, If eer thou lookedst on majesty. | CLEOPATRA Youre right, Charmian. Shes both dull-spoken and dwarfishly little.Did she carry herself with majesty? Compare her to any memory you might have of royalty. |
MESSENGER She creeps. Her motion and her station are as one. 20 She shows a body rather than a life, A statue than a breather. | MESSENGER She creeps along. Moving or standing still, her bearing is about the same. She has a body, not a life. Shes more like a statue than a living, breathing human being. |
CLEOPATRA Is this certain? | CLEOPATRA Is this true? |
MESSENGER Or I have no observance. | MESSENGER If not, then I have no powers of observation. |
CHARMIAN Three in Egypt Cannot make better note. | CHARMIAN There arent three people in all of Egypt who could do better. |
CLEOPATRA Hes very knowing, I do perceive t. Theres nothing in her yet. 25 The fellow has good judgment. | CLEOPATRA Hes very observant. I can tell. She doesnt have anything going for her so far. This messenger is wise. |
CHARMIAN Excellent. | CHARMIAN Very wise. |
CLEOPATRA (toMESSENGER) Guess at her years, I prithee. | CLEOPATRA (toMESSENGER) How old do you think she is? |
MESSENGER Madam, she was a widow | MESSENGER She was a widow previously, madam. |
CLEOPATRA Widow? Charmian, hark. | CLEOPATRA A widow? Do you hear that, Charmian? |
MESSENGER And I do think shes thirty. | MESSENGER And I think shes at least thirty. |
CLEOPATRA | CLEOPATRA Do you remember her face? Was it long or round? |
MESSENGER Round, even to faultiness. | MESSENGER Round enough to be unattractive. |
CLEOPATRA For the most part, too, they are foolish that are so. Her hair, what color? | CLEOPATRA Usually that means a person is foolish. What color is her hair? |
MESSENGER Brown, madam, and her forehead 35 As low as she would wish it. | MESSENGER Brown, madam, and she wouldnt want her forehead to be any lower. |
CLEOPATRA (giving money) Theres gold for thee. Thou must not take my former sharpness ill. I will employ thee back again; I find thee Most fit for business. Go make thee ready; Our letters are prepared. | CLEOPATRA Heres gold for you. You mustnt hold my earlier outburst against me. Ill hire you again to go back to Rome. I find that youre very good at this kind of work. Go, prepare to travel. My letters are ready to go. |
CHARMIAN A proper man. | CHARMIAN Hes an admirable man. |
CLEOPATRA 40 Indeed, he is so. I repent me much That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him, This creatures no such thing. | CLEOPATRA He certainly is. Im very sorry I was so hard on him. Why, from what he says, Octavia isnt worth getting upset over. |
CHARMIAN Nothing, madam. | CHARMIAN Not a bit, madam. |
CLEOPATRA The man hath seen some majesty and should know. | CLEOPATRA This mans been around royalty. He should recognize it when he sees it. |
CHARMIAN Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend, 45 And serving you so long! | CHARMIAN Been around royalty! Isis forbid it were otherwise, since hes been in your service so long. |
CLEOPATRA I have one thing more to ask him yet, good Charmian But tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to me Where I will write. All may be well enough. | CLEOPATRA I want to ask him one more thing, Charmian. But its not important. Bring him to my writing room. Everything may still be all right. |
CHARMIAN I warrant you, madam. | CHARMIAN I assure you it is, madam. |
Exit MESSENGER | The MESSENGER exits. |