Antony & Cleopatra: Act III, Scene 6

CAES.

Contemning Rome, he has done all this and more

In Alexandria. Here’s the manner of’t:

I’ th’ market-place, on a tribunal silver’d,

Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold

Were publicly enthron’d. At the feet sat

Caesarion, whom they call my father’s son,

And all the unlawful issue that their lust

Since then hath made between them. Unto her

He gave the stablishment of Egypt, made her

Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia,

Absolute queen.

MAEC.

This in the public eye?

CAES.

I’ th’ common show-place, where they exercise.

His sons he there proclaim’d the kings of kings:

Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia

He gave to Alexander; to Ptolomy he assign’d

Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia. She

In th’ abiliments of the goddess Isis

That day appear’d; and oft before gave audience,

As ’tis reported, so.

MAEC.

Let Rome be thus

Inform’d.

AGR.

Who, queasy with his insolence

Already, will their good thoughts call from him.

CAES.

The people knows it, and have now receiv’d

His accusations.

AGR.

Who does he accuse?

CAES.

Caesar, and that having in Sicily

Sextus Pompeius spoil’d, we had not rated him

His part o’ th’ isle. Then does he say he lent me

Some shipping unrestor’d. Lastly, he frets

That Lepidus of the triumpherate

Should be depos’d; and being, that we detain

All his revenue.

AGR.

Sir, this should be answer’d.

CAES.

’Tis done already, and the messenger gone.

I have told him Lepidus was grown too cruel,

That he his high authority abus’d,

And did deserve his change. For what I have conquer’d,

I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia

And other of his conquer’d kingdoms, I

Demand the like.

MAEC.

He’ll never yield to that.

CAES.

Nor must not then be yielded to in this.

OCT.

Hail, Caesar, and my lord! hail, most dear Caesar!

CAES.

That ever I should call thee castaway!

OCT.

You have not call’d me so, nor have you cause.

CAES.

Why have you stol’n upon us thus? You come not

Like Caesar’s sister. The wife of Antony

Should have an army for an usher, and

The neighs of horse to tell of her approach,

Long ere she did appear; the trees by th’ way

Should have borne men, and expectation fainted,

Longing for what it had not; nay, the dust

Should have ascended to the roof of heaven,

Rais’d by your populous troops. But you are come

A market-maid to Rome, and have prevented

The ostentation of our love, which, left unshown,

Is often left unlov’d. We should have met you

By sea and land, supplying every stage

With an augmented greeting.

OCT.

Good my lord,

To come thus was I not constrain’d, but did it

On my free will. My lord, Mark Antony,

Hearing that you prepar’d for war, acquainted

My grieved ear withal; whereon I begg’d

His pardon for return.

CAES.

Which soon he granted,

Being an abstract ’tween his lust and him.

OCT.

Do not say so, my lord.

CAES.

I have eyes upon him,

And his affairs come to me on the wind.

Where is he now?

OCT.

My lord, in Athens.

CAES.

No, my most wronged sister, Cleopatra

Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire

Up to a whore, who now are levying

The kings o’ th’ earth for war. He hath assembled

Bocchus, the King of Libya; Archelaus

Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, King

Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas;

King Manchus of Arabia; King of Pont;

Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, King

Of Comagena; Polemon and Amyntas,

The Kings of Mede and Lycaonia,

With a more larger list of sceptres.

OCT.

Ay me, most wretched,

That have my heart parted betwixt two friends

That does afflict each other!

CAES.

Welcome hither!

Your letters did withhold our breaking forth,

Till we perceiv’d both how you were wrong led

And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart,

Be you not troubled with the time, which drives

O’er your content these strong necessities,

But let determin’d things to destiny

Hold unbewail’d their way. Welcome to Rome,

Nothing more dear to me. You are abus’d

Beyond the mark of thought; and the high gods,

To do you justice, makes his ministers

Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort,

And ever welcome to us.

AGR.

Welcome, lady.

MAEC.

Welcome, dear madam,

Each heart in Rome does love and pity you;

Only th’ adulterous Antony, most large

In his abominations, turns you off,

And gives his potent regiment to a trull

That noises it against us.

OCT.

Is it so, sir?

CAES.

Most certain. Sister, welcome. Pray you

Be ever known to patience. My dear’st sister!