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Hear me, queen

Antony
Hear me, queen:
The strong necessity of time commands
Our services awhile, but my full heart
Remains in use with you. Our Italy
Shines o'er with civil swords; Sextus Pompeius
Makes his approaches to the port of Rome;
Equality of two domestic powers
Breed scrupulous faction; the hated grown to strength
Are newly grown to love; the condemned Pompey,
Rich in his father's honor, creeps apace
Into the hearts of such as have not thrived
Upon the present state, whose numbers threaten;
And quietness, grown sick of rest, would purge
By any desperate change. My more particular,
And that which most with you should safe my going,
Is Fulvia's death.
Cleopatra
Though age from folly could not give me freedom,
It does from childishness. Can Fulvia die?
Antony
She's dead, my queen. He shows her papers.
Look here, and at thy sovereign leisure read
The garboils she awaked; at the last, best,
See when and where she died.
Cleopatra
O, most false love!
Where be the sacred vials thou shouldst fill
With sorrowful water? Now I see, I see,
In Fulvia's death, how mine received shall be.
Antony
Quarrel no more, but be prepared to know
The purposes I bear, which are or cease
As you shall give th' advice. By the fire
That quickens Nilus' slime, I go from hence
Thy soldier, servant, making peace or war
As thou affects.
Cleopatra
Cut my lace, Charmian, come!
But let it be; I am quickly ill and well;
So Antony loves.
Antony
My precious queen, forbear,
And give true evidence to his love, which stands
An honorable trial.
Cleopatra
So Fulvia told me.
I prithee turn aside and weep for her,
Then bid adieu to me, and say the tears
Belong to Egypt. Good now, play one scene
Of excellent dissembling, and let it look
Like perfect honor.
Antony
You'll heat my blood. No more!
Cleopatra
You can do better yet, but this is meetly.
Antony
Now by my  sword—
Cleopatra
And target. Still he mends.
But this is not the best. Look, prithee, Charmian,
How this Herculean Roman does become
The carriage of his chafe.
Antony
I'll leave you, lady.
Cleopatra
Courteous lord, one word.
Sir, you and I must part, but that's not it;
Sir, you and I have loved, but there's not it;
That you know well. Something it is I would—
O, my oblivion is a very Antony,
And I am all forgotten.
Antony
But that your Royalty
Holds idleness your subject, I should take you
For idleness itself.
Cleopatra
‘Tis sweating labor
To bear such idleness so near the heart
As Cleopatra this. But, sir, forgive me,
Since my becomings kill me when they do not
Eye well to you. Your honor calls you hence;
Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly,
And all the gods go with you. Upon your sword
Sit laurel victory, and smooth success
Be strewed before your feet.
Antony
Let us go. Come.
Our separation so abides and flies
That thou, residing here, goes yet with me,
And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee.
Away!
They exit.

Source:
Act 1
Scene 3
Line 52

Source Type:

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