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Antony and Cleopatra: Act II, Scene 3

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Antony and Cleopatra
Act II, Scene 3

Rome. Octavius Caesar’s house.

Kyrle Bellew as Antony

Kyrle Bellew as Antony

Napoleon Sarony, circa 1896

  1. Enter Antony, Caesar, Octavia between them.

Mark Antony

1 - 2
  1. The world and my great office will sometimes
  2. Divide me from your bosom.

Octavia

3 - 5
  1.                            All which time
  2. Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers
  3. To them for you.

Mark Antony

6 - 9
  1.                  Good night, sir. My Octavia,
  2. Read not my blemishes in the world’s report.
  3. I have not kept my square, but that to come
  4. Shall all be done by th’ rule. Good night, dear lady.

Octavia

10
  1. Good night, sir.

Caesar

11
  1. Good night.
  1. Exit with Octavia.
  1. Enter Soothsayer.

Mark Antony

12
  1. Now, sirrah; you do wish yourself in Egypt?

Soothsayer

13
  1. Would I had never come from thence, nor you thither.

Mark Antony

14
  1. If you can, your reason?

Soothsayer

15 - 16
  1. I see it in my motion, have it not in my tongue;
  2. But yet hie you to Egypt again.

Mark Antony

17 - 18
  1. Say to me, whose fortunes shall rise higher,
  2. Caesar’s or mine?

Soothsayer

19 - 25
  1. Caesar’s.
  2. Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side.
  3. Thy daemon, that thy spirit which keeps thee, is
  4. Noble, courageous, high unmatchable,
  5. Where Caesar’s is not; but near him, thy angel
  6. Becomes a fear, as being o’erpow’r’d: therefore
  7. Make space enough between you.

Mark Antony

26
  1.                                Speak this no more.

Soothsayer

27 - 33
  1. To none but thee; no more but when to thee.
  2. If thou dost play with him at any game,
  3. Thou art sure to lose; and of that natural luck,
  4. He beats thee ’gainst the odds. Thy lustre thickens
  5. When he shines by. I say again, thy spirit
  6. Is all afraid to govern thee near him;
  7. But he away, ’tis noble.

Mark Antony

34 - 47
  1.                          Get thee gone.
  2. Say to Ventidius I would speak with him.
  3. Exit Soothsayer.
  4. He shall to Parthia. Be it art or hap,
  5. He hath spoken true. The very dice obey him,
  6. And in our sports my better cunning faints
  7. Under his chance. If we draw lots, he speeds;
  8. His cocks do win the battle still of mine,
  9. When it is all to nought; and his quails ever
  10. Beat mine, inhoop’d, at odds. I will to Egypt;
  11. And though I make this marriage for my peace,
  12. I’ th’ East my pleasure lies.
  13. Enter Ventidius.
  14.                               O, come, Ventidius,
  15. You must to Parthia. Your commission’s ready;
  16. Follow me, and receive’t.
  1. Exeunt.
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