ACT III. SCENE III.
Alexandria. CLEOPATRA'S palace
Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS
| CLEOPATRA. | Where is the fellow?
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| ALEXAS. | Half afeard to come.
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| CLEOPATRA. | Go to, go to.
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Enter the MESSENGER as before
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Come hither, sir.
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| ALEXAS. | Good Majesty,
Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you
But when you are well pleas'd.
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| CLEOPATRA. | That Herod's head
I'll have. But how, when Antony is gone,
Through whom I might command it? Come thou near.
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| MESSENGER. | Most gracious Majesty!
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| CLEOPATRA. | Didst thou behold Octavia?
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| MESSENGER. | Ay, dread Queen.
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| CLEOPATRA. | Where?
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| MESSENGER. | Madam, in Rome
I look'd her in the face, and saw her led
Between her brother and Mark Antony.
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| CLEOPATRA. | Is she as tall as me?
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| MESSENGER. | She is not, madam.
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| CLEOPATRA. | Didst hear her speak? Is she shrill-tongu'd or low?
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| MESSENGER. | Madam, I heard her speak: she is low-voic'd.
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| CLEOPATRA. | That's not so good. He cannot like her long.
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| CHARMIAN. | Like her? O Isis! 'tis impossible.
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| CLEOPATRA. | I think so, Charmian. Dull of tongue and dwarfish!
What majesty is in her gait? Remember,
If e'er thou look'dst on majesty.
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| MESSENGER. | She creeps.
Her motion and her station are as one;
She shows a body rather than a life,
A statue than a breather.
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| CLEOPATRA. | Is this certain?
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| MESSENGER. | Or I have no observance.
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| CHARMIAN. | Three in Egypt
Cannot make better note.
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| CLEOPATRA. | He's very knowing;
I do perceive't. There's nothing in her yet.
The fellow has good judgment.
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| CHARMIAN. | Excellent.
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| CLEOPATRA. | Guess at her years, I prithee.
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| MESSENGER. | Madam,
She was a widow.
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| CLEOPATRA. | Widow? Charmian, hark!
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| MESSENGER. | And I do think she's thirty.
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| CLEOPATRA. | Bear'st thou her face in mind? Is't long or round?
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| MESSENGER. | Round even to faultiness.
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| CLEOPATRA. | For the most part, too, they are foolish that are so.
Her hair, what colour?
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| MESSENGER. | Brown, madam; and her forehead
As low as she would wish it.
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| CLEOPATRA. | There's 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 prepar'd
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Exeunt MESSENGER
| CHARMIAN. | A proper man.
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| CLEOPATRA. | Indeed, he is so. I repent me much
That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him,
This creature's no such thing.
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| CHARMIAN. | Nothing, madam.
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| CLEOPATRA. | The man hath seen some majesty, and should know.
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| CHARMIAN. | Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend,
And serving you so long!
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| 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.
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| CHARMIAN. | I warrant you, madam
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Exeunt
Next
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ACT III. SCENE III.