Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

Laf. I saw the man to-day, if man he be.
King. Find him, and bring him hither.
Ber. What of him?

He's quoted for a most perfidious slave,
With all the spots o'the world tax'd and debosh'd;
Whose nature sickens, but to speak a truth:
Am I or that, or this, for what he'll utter,
That will speak any thing?

1

King. She hath that ring of yours.
Ber. I think, she has: certain it is, I lik'd her,
And boarded her i'the wanton way of youth:
She knew her distance, and did angle for me,
Madding my eagerness with her restraint,
As all impediments in fancy's course

Are motives of more fancy; and, in fine,
Her insuit coming with her modern grace
Subdued me to her rate: she got the ring:
And I had that, which any inferior might
At market-price have bought.

Dia. I must be patient;

You, that turn'd off a first so noble wife,
May justly diet me. I pray you yet

(Since you lack virtue, I will lose a husband), Send for your ring, I will return it home,

And give me mine again.

Ber. I have it not.

[blocks in formation]

Dia. Ay, my lord.

King. Tell me, sirrah, but, tell me true, I charge you,

Not fearing the displeasure of your master, (Which, on your just proceeding, I'll keep off), By him, and by this woman here, what know you?

Par. So please your majesty, my master hath been an honourable gentleman! tricks he hath had in him, which gentlemen have.

King. Come, come, to the purpose: did he love this woman?

Par. 'Faith, sir, he did love her; but how?
King. How, I pray you?

Par. He did love her, sir, as a gentleman loves

[blocks in formation]

Dia. Do you know, he promised me marriage? Par. 'Faith, I know more than I'll speak.

King. But wilt thou not speak all thou know'st?

Par. Yes, so please your majesty; I did go

loved her, for, indeed, he was mad for her, and talked of Satan, and of limbo, and of furies, and I know not what; yet I was in that credit with them at that time, that I knew of their going to bed: and of other motions, as promising her marriage, and things that would derive me ill will to speak of, therefore I will not speak what I know.

King. Thou hast spoken all already, unless thou canst say they are married: but thou art too fine in thy evidence: therefore, stand aside. This ring, you say, was your's?

Dia. Ay, my good lord.

[you? King. Where did you buy it? or who gave it Dia. It was not given me, nor I did not buy it. King. Who lent it you?

Dia. It was not lent me neither.

King. Where did you find it then?

Dia. I found it not.

[blocks in formation]

know.

King. Take her away, I do not like her now;

To prison with her: and away with him.
Unless thou tell'st me where thou had'st this ring,
Thou diest within this hour.

Dia. I'll never tell you. King. Take her away.

[tomer.

Dia. I'll put in bail, my liege.
King. I think thee now some common cus-
Dia. By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you.
King. Wherefore hast thou accus'd him all this

while?

Dia. Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty; He knows, I am no maid, and he'll swear to't: I'll swear, I am a maid, and he knows not. Great king, I am no strumpet, by my life; I am either maid, or else this old man's wife. [pointing to Lafeu. King. She does abuse our ears; to prison with her.

Dia. Good mother, fetch my bail. - Stay, royal
sir;
[exit Widow.

The jeweller, that owes the ring, is sent for,
And he shall surety me. But for this lord,
Who hath abus'd me, as he knows himself,
Though yet he never harm'd me, here I quit him:
He knows himself, my bed he hath defil'd:
And at that time he got his wife with child:
Dead though she be, she feels her young one kick;
So there's my riddle, One, that's dead, is quick:
And now behold the meaning.

Re-enter Widow, and Helena.

King. Is there no exorcist
Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes?
Is't real, that I see?

Hel. No, my good lord;
'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see,
The name, and not the thing.

Ber. Both, both; O, pardon!

Hel. O, my good lord, when I was like this maid, And, look you, here's your letter; this it says, When from my finger you can get this ring, And are by me with child,' &c. - This is done: Will you be mine, now you are doubly won?

between them, as I said; but more than that, he I found you wondrous kind. There is your ring,

Ber. If she, my liege, can make me know this clearly,

I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly.

Hel. If it appear not plain, and prove untrue, Deadly divorce step between me and you!O, my dear mother, do I see you living?

Laf. Mine eyes smell onions, I shall weep anon : -Good Tom Drum [to Parolles], lend me a handkerchief. So, I thank thee; wait on me home, I'll make sport with thee. Let thy courtesies alone, they are scurvy ones.

King. Let us from point to point this story know,

To make the even truth in pleasure flow:

[blocks in formation]

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.

M. Antony,
Octavius Cæsar,
M. Æmil. Lepidus,
Sextus Pompeius.
Domitius Enobarbus,
Ventidius,

Eros,

Scarus,

Dercetas,

Demetrius,

Philo,

Mecænas,
Agrippa,
Dolabella,
Proculcius,
Thyreus,

Gallus,

Triumvirs.

DRAMATIS PERSONE.

Friends of Antony.

Friends of Cæsar.

[blocks in formation]

Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and otlser Attendants.

SCENE-dispersed; in several Parts of the Roman Empire.

ACT I.

SCENE I. Alexandria. A ROOM IN CLEOPATRA'S | Thou blushest, Antony; and that blood of thine

PALACE.

Enter Demetrius and Philo.

Is Cæsar's homager: else so thy cheek pays shame,
When shrill-tongue'd Fulvia scolds. - The mes-

Phi. Nar, but this dotage of our general's

sengers.

O'erflows the measure: those his goodly eyes,
That o'er the files and musters of the war
Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now
The office and devotion of their view

Ant. Let Rome in Tiber melt! and the wide arch

[turn,

Of the rang'd empire fall! Here is my space;
Kingdoms are clay: our dungy earth alike
Feeds beast as man: the nobleness of life
Is, to do thus; when such a mutual pair,

[embracing.

Upon a tawny front: his captain's heart,
Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst
The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper;
And is become the bellows, and the fan,
To cool a gipsy's lust. Look, where they come!
Flourish. Enter Antony and Cleopatra, with their
Trains; Eunuchs fanning her.

Take but good note, and you shall see in him
The triple pillar of the world transform'd
Into a strumpet's fool: behold, and see.

Cleo. If it be love indeed, tell me how much.
Ant. There's beggary in the love that can be

[blocks in formation]

Enter an Attendant.

Att. News, my good lord, from Rome
Ant. Grates me: - The sum.
Cleo. Nay, hear them, Antony:

Fulvia, perchance, is angry; or, who knows
If the scarce-bearded Cæsar have not sent
His powerful mandate to you, Do this, or this;
Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that:
Perform't, or else we damn thee.

Ant. How, my love!

Cleo. Perchance,-nay, and most like,
You must not stay here longer, your dismission
Is come from Cæsar; therefore hear it, Antony.
Where's Fulvia's process? Cæsar's, I would say?--

Both?

And such a twain can do't, in which, I bind
On pain of punishment, the world to weet,
We stand up peerless.

Cleo. Excellent falsehood!

Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?-
I'll seem the fool I am not; Antony
Will be himself.

Ant. But stirr'd by Cleopatra. -
Now, for the love of Love, and her soft hours,
Let's not confound the time with conference harsh:
There's not a minute of our lives should stretch
Without some pleasure now: what sport to-night?
Cleo. Hear the ambassadors.

Ant. Fie, wrangling queen!

Whom every thing becomes, to chide, to laugh,
To weep; whose every passion fully strives
To make itself, in thee, fair and admir'd!
No messenger; but thine and all alone,
To-night, we'll wander through the streets, and

note

The qualities of people. Come, my queen;
Last night you did desire it: -Speak not to us.
[exeunt Ant. and Cleo. with their Train.
Dem. Is Cæsar with Antonius priz'd so slight?
Phi. Sir, sometimes, when he is not Antony,
He comes too short of that great property
Which still should go with Antony.
Dem. I'm full sorry,

Call in the messengers. - As I am Egypt's queen. | That he approves the common liar, who

[blocks in formation]

Eno. Bring in the banquet quickly; wine Cleopatra's health to drink.

Char. Good sir, give me good fortune.

Sooth. I make not, but foresee.

Char. Pray then, foresee me one.

[enough,

Sooth. You shall be yet far fairer than you are. Char. He means, in flesh.

Iras. No, you shall paint when you are old.
Char. Wrinkles forbid!

Alex. Vex not his prescience; be attentive.
Char. Hush!

Sooth. You shall be more beloving, than beloved.
Char. I had rather heat my liver with drinking.
Alex. Nay, hear him.

Char. Good now, some excellent fortune! Let me be married to three kings in a forenoon, and widow them all: let me have a child at fifty, to whom Herod of Jewry may do homage: find me to marry me with Octavius Cæsar, and companion me with my mistress.

[serve.

Sooth. You shall outlive the lady whom you Char. O excellent! I love long life better than figs. [fortune, Sooth. You have seen and proved a fairer former Than that which is to approach.

names.

Char. Then, belike, my children shall have no [have? Pr'ythee, how many boys and wenches must I Sooth. If every of your wishes had a womb,

And fertile every wish, a million.

Char. Out, fool! I forgive thee for a witch. Alex. You think, none but your sheets are privy to your wishes.

Char. Nay, come, tell Iras hers.

Alex. We'll know all our fortunes.

Eno. Mine, and most of our fortunes, to-night, shall be drunk to bed.

[else. Iras. There's a palm presages chastity, if nothing Char. Even as the o'erflowing Nilus presageth faminc.

Iras. Go, you wild bed-fellow, you cannot soothsay.

Char. Nay, if an oily palm be not a fruitful prognostication, I cannot scratch mine ear. Pr'ythee, tell her but a worky-day fortune.

Sooth. Your fortunes are alike.

Iras. But how, but how? give me particulars.
Sooth. I have said.

Char. Well, if you were but an inch of fortune

better than I, where would you choose it? Iras. Not in my husband's nose.

Char. Our worser thoughts heavens mend! Alexas, come, his fortune, his fortune. - O, let him marry a woman that cannot go, sweet Isis, I beseech thee! And let her die too, and give him a worse! and let worse follow worse, till the worst of all follow him laughing to his grave, fifty-fold a cuckold! Good Isis, hear me this prayer, though thou deny me a matter of more weight; good Isis, I beseech thee!

Iras. Amen. Dear goddess, hear that prayer of the people! for, as it is a heart-breaking to see a handsome man loose-wived, so it is a deadly sorrow to behold a foul knave uncuckolded; therefore, dear Isis, keep decorum, and fortune him accordingly!

Char. Amen.

[blocks in formation]

Alexas?

Cleo. Seek him, and bring him hither. Where's [approaches. Alex. Here madam, at your service. - My lord Enter Antony, with a Messenger, and Attendants. Cleo. We will not look upon him: go with us. [exeunt Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Alexas, Iras, Charmian, Soothsayer, and Attendants. Mess. Fulvia thy wife first came into the field. Ant. Against my brother Lucius? Mess. Ay:

But soon that war had end, and the time's state
Made friends of them, jointing their force 'gainst
Cæsar;

Whose better issue in the war, from Italy,
Upon the first encounter, drave them
Ant. Well,

[blocks in formation]

[she?

tongue;

Iras. Am I not an inch of fortune better than

Name Cleopatra as she's call'd in Rome:

Rail thou in Fulvia's phrase; and taunt my faults | this grief is crowned with consolation; your old

With such full licence, as both truth and malice Have power to utter. O, then we bring forth weeds, When our quick winds liestill; and our ills told us, Is as our earing. Fare thee well awhile.

Mess. At your noble pleasure. [exit. Ant. From Sicyon how the news? Speak there. 1 Att. The man from Sicyon. - Is there such an 2 Att. He stays upon your will

Ant. Let him appear.

These strong Egyptian fetters, I must break,
Enter another Messenger.

Or lose myself in dotage. - What are you?
2 Mess. Fulvia, thy wife, is dead.!
Ant. Where died she?

2 Mess. In Sicyon:

[one?

Her length of sickness, with what else more serious Importeth thee to know, this bears. [gives a letter. Ant. Forbear me.

[exit Messenger. it:

There's a great spirit gone! Thus did I desire
What our contempts do often hurl from us,
We wish it ours again; the present pleasure,
By revolution lowering, does become

The opposite of itself: she's good, being gone;
The hand could pluck her back, that shov'd her on.
I must from this enchanting queen break off;
Ten thousand harms, more than the ills I know,
My idleness doth hatch. - How now, Enobarbus!
Enter Enobarbus.

Eno. What's your pleasure, sir?

Ant. I must with haste from hence..

Eno. Why, then, we kill all our women: We see how mortal an unkindness is to them; if they suffer our departure, death's the word.

Ant. I must be gone.ανι

Eno. Under a compelling occasion, let women die: It were pity to cast them away for nothing; though, between them and agreat cause, they should be esteemed nothing. Cleopatra, catching but the least noise of this, dies instantly; I have seen her die twenty times upon far poorer moment: I do think, there is mettle in death, which commits some loving act upon her, she hath such celerity in dying. Ant. She is cunning past man's thought.

Eno. Alack, sir, no; her passions are made of nothing but the finest part of pure love: We cannot call her winds and waters, sighs, and tears; they are greater storms and tempests than almanacks can report: this cannot be cunning in her; if it be, she makes a shower of rain as well as Jove. Ant. Would I had never seen her!

Eno. O, sir, you had then left unseen a wonderful piece of work; which not to have been blessed withal, would have discredited your travel. Ant. Fulvia is dead..

Eno. Sir?

Ant. Fulvia is dead. Eno. Fulvia?

Ant. Dead.

[ocr errors]

Eno. Why, sir, give the gods a thankful sacrifice. When it pleaseth their deities so take the wife of a man from him, it shows to man the tailors of the earth; comforting therein, that when old robes are worn out, there are members to make new. If there were no more women but Fulvia, then had you indoed a cut, and the case to be lamented:

smock brings forth a new petticoat: -and, indeed, the tears live in an onion, that should water this

sorrow.

Ant. The business she hath broached in the state, Cannot endure my absence.

Eno. And the business you have broached here cannot be without you; especially that of Cleopatra's, which wholly depends on your abode.

Ant. No more light answers. Let our officer Have notice what we purpose. I shall break The cause of our expedience to the queen, And get her love to part. For not alone The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches, Do strongly speak to us; but the letters too Of many our contriving friends in Rome. Petition us at home: Sextus Pompeius Hath given the dare to Cæsar, and commands The empire of the sea: our slippery peoplesd (Whose love is never link'd to the deserver, Till his deserts are past), begin to throw. Pompey the Great, and all his dignities, Upon his son; who, high in name and power, Higher than both in blood and life, stands up) For the main soldier: whose quality, going on, The sides o'the world may danger: Much is breeding Which, like the courser's hair, bath yet but life, And not a serpent's poison. Say, our pleasure, To such whose place is under us, requires Our quick remove from hence.

[blocks in formation]

I did not send you :- If you find him sad,
Say, I am dancing; if in mirth, report
That I am sudden sick: Quick, and return. [exit At.

Char. Madam, methinks, if you did love him You do not hold the method to enforce [dearly, The like from him.

Cleo. What should I do, I do not? Char. In each thing give him way, cross him in nothing. [him. Cleo. Thou teachest like a fool; the way to lose Char. Tempthim not so too far: I wish, forbear: In time we hate that which we often fear.

Enter Antony.

But here comes Antony.

Cleo. I am sick, and sullen.
[pose,-
Ant. I am sorry to give breathing to my pur-
Cleo. Help me away, dear Charmian, I shall
It cannot be thus long, the sides of nature [fall;
Will not sustain it.قل اثاث بال

Ant. Now, my dearest queen,
Cleo. Pray you, stand further from me. A
Ant. What's the matter?

[good news.

Cleo. I know, by that same eye, there's some What says the married woman? You may go;! Would she had never given you leave to come! Let her not say, 'tis I that keep you here, I have no power upon you; hers you are. Ant. The gods best know, Cleo. O, never was there queen

« EdellinenJatka »