First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
| |
Enter Cleopater, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas. | Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas | | AC II.v.1.1 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
Giue me some Musicke: Musicke, moody foode | Give me some music – music, moody food | moody (adj.)melancholy, sombre, gloomy | AC II.v.1 | |
of vs that trade in Loue. | Of us that trade in love. | | AC II.v.2.1 | |
Omnes. | ALL | | | |
The Musicke, hoa. | The music, ho! | | AC II.v.2.2 | |
Enter Mardian the Eunuch. | Enter Mardian the eunuch | | AC II.v.3 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
Let it alone, let's to Billards: come Charmian. | Let it alone! Let's to billiards. Come, Charmian. | | AC II.v.3 | |
Char. | CHARMIAN | | | |
My arme is sore, best play with Mardian. | My arm is sore; best play with Mardian. | | AC II.v.4 | |
Cleopa. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
As well a woman with an Eunuch plaide, | As well a woman with an eunuch played | | AC II.v.5 | |
as with a woman. Come you'le play with me Sir? | As with a woman. Come, you'll play with me, sir? | | AC II.v.6 | |
Mardi. | MARDIAN | | | |
As well as I can Madam. | As well as I can, madam. | | AC II.v.7 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
And when good will is shewed, / Though't come to short | And when good will is showed, though't come too short, | | AC II.v.8 | |
The Actor may pleade pardon. Ile none now, | The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now. | | AC II.v.9 | |
Giue me mine Angle, weele to'th'Riuer there | Give me mine angle. We'll to th' river; there, | angle (n.)fishing rod, line, hook | AC II.v.10 | |
My Musicke playing farre off. I will betray | My music playing far off, I will betray | betray (v.)deceive, seduce, mislead | AC II.v.11 | |
Tawny fine fishes, my bended hooke shall pierce | Tawny-finned fishes. My bended hook shall pierce | | AC II.v.12 | |
Their slimy iawes: and as I draw them vp, | Their slimy jaws; and as I draw them up, | | AC II.v.13 | |
Ile thinke them euery one an Anthony, | I'll think them every one an Antony, | | AC II.v.14 | |
And say, ah ha; y'are caught. | And say ‘ Ah, ha! Y'are caught.’ | | AC II.v.15.1 | |
Char. | CHARMIAN | | | |
'Twas merry when | 'Twas merry when | | AC II.v.15.2 | |
you wager'd on your Angling, when your diuer | You wagered on your angling; when your diver | | AC II.v.16 | |
did hang a salt fish on his hooke which he | Did hang a salt fish on his hook, which he | salt (adj.)salted, preserved, dried | AC II.v.17 | |
with feruencie drew vp. | With fervency drew up. | fervency (n.)enthusiasm, ardour, fervour | AC II.v.18.1 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
That time? Oh times: | That time – O times! – | | AC II.v.18.2 | |
I laught him out of patience: and that night | I laughed him out of patience; and that night | | AC II.v.19 | |
I laught him into patience, and next morne, | I laughed him into patience; and next morn, | morn (n.)morning, dawn | AC II.v.20 | |
Ere the ninth houre, I drunke him to his bed: | Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed; | | AC II.v.21 | |
Then put my Tires and Mantles on him, whilst | Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst | tire (n.)head-dress, ornament for the head, raiment | AC II.v.22 | |
| | mantle (n.)loose sleeveless cloak | | |
I wore his Sword Phillippan. | I wore his sword Philippan. | Philippi (n.)battle site in Thrace, Asia Minor, a victory for Mark Antony | AC II.v.23.1 | |
Enter a Messenger. | Enter a Messenger | | AC II.v.23 | |
Oh from Italie, | O, from Italy! | | AC II.v.23.2 | |
Ramme thou thy fruitefull tidings in mine eares, | Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears, | | AC II.v.24 | |
That long time haue bin barren. | That long time have been barren. | | AC II.v.25.1 | |
Mes. | MESSENGER | | | |
Madam, Madam. | Madam, madam – | | AC II.v.25.2 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
Anthonyo's dead. / If thou say so Villaine, | Antonio's dead! If thou say so, villain, | | AC II.v.26 | |
thou kil'st thy Mistris: / But well and free, | Thou kill'st thy mistress; but well and free, | | AC II.v.27 | |
if thou so yeild him. / There is Gold, and heere | If thou so yield him, there is gold and here | yield (v.)concede, acknowledge, grant | AC II.v.28 | |
My blewest vaines to kisse: a hand that Kings | My bluest veins to kiss, a hand that kings | | AC II.v.29 | |
Haue lipt, and trembled kissing. | Have lipped, and trembled kissing. | lip (v.)kiss | AC II.v.30 | |
Mes. | MESSENGER | | | |
First Madam, he is well. | First, madam, he is well. | | AC II.v.31.1 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
Why there's more Gold. | Why, there's more gold. | | AC II.v.31.2 | |
But sirrah marke, we vse | But, sirrah, mark, we use | mark (v.)note, pay attention [to], take notice [of] | AC II.v.32 | |
| | use (v.)be accustomed, make a habit [of] | | |
| | sirrah (n.)sir [commanding, insulting, or familiar, depending on context] | | |
To say, the dead are well: bring it to that, | To say the dead are well. Bring it to that, | well (adv.)in a state of happiness, in bliss | AC II.v.33 | |
The Gold I giue thee, will I melt and powr | The gold I give thee will I melt and pour | | AC II.v.34 | |
Downe thy ill vttering throate. | Down thy ill-uttering throat. | ill-uttering (adj.)speaking displeasing news, reporting bad tidings | AC II.v.35 | |
Mes. | MESSENGER | | | |
Good Madam heare me. | Good madam, hear me. | | AC II.v.36.1 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
Well, go too I will: | Well, go to, I will. | | AC II.v.36.2 | |
But there's no goodnesse in thy face if Anthony | But there's no goodness in thy face if Antony | | AC II.v.37 | |
Be free and healthfull; so tart a fauour | Be free and healthful; so tart a favour | favour (n.)[facial] appearance, countenance, features, looks | AC II.v.38 | |
| | tart (adj.)sour, severe, grim | | |
To trumpet such good tidings. If not well, | To trumpet such good tidings? If not well, | | AC II.v.39 | |
Thou shouldst come like a Furie crown'd with Snakes, | Thou shouldst come like a Fury crowned with snakes, | | AC II.v.40 | |
Not like a formall man. | Not like a formal man. | formal (adj.)normal, sane, rational | AC II.v.41.1 | |
Mes. | MESSENGER | | | |
Wilt please you heare me? | Will't please you hear me? | | AC II.v.41.2 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
I haue a mind to strike thee ere thou speak'st: | I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak'st. | | AC II.v.42 | |
Yet if thou say Anthony liues, 'tis well, | Yet, if thou say Antony lives, is well, | | AC II.v.43 | |
Or friends with Casar, or not Captiue to him, | Or friends with Caesar, or not captive to him, | | AC II.v.44 | |
Ile set thee in a shower of Gold, and haile | I'll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail | | AC II.v.45 | |
Rich Pearles vpon thee. | Rich pearls upon thee. | | AC II.v.46.1 | |
Mes. | MESSENGER | | | |
Madam, he's well. | Madam, he's well. | | AC II.v.46.2 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
Well said. | Well said. | | AC II.v.46.3 | |
Mes. | MESSENGER | | | |
And Friends with Caesar. | And friends with Caesar. | | AC II.v.47.1 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
Th'art an honest man. | Th'art an honest man. | | AC II.v.47.2 | |
Mes. | MESSENGER | | | |
Caesar, and he, are greater Friends then euer. | Caesar and he are greater friends than ever. | | AC II.v.48 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
Make thee a Fortune from me. | Make thee a fortune from me. | fortune (n.)wealth, possessions, substance | AC II.v.49.1 | |
Mes. | MESSENGER | | | |
But yet Madam. | But yet, madam – | | AC II.v.49.2 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
I do not like but yet, it does alay | I do not like ‘But yet’; it does allay | allay (v.)spoil, dilute, qualify | AC II.v.50 | |
The good precedence, fie vpon but yet, | The good precedence. Fie upon ‘But yet’! | precedence (n.)previous utterance, prior speech | AC II.v.51 | |
But yet is as a Iaylor to bring foorth | ‘But yet' is as a gaoler to bring forth | | AC II.v.52 | |
Some monstrous Malefactor. Prythee Friend, | Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend, | | AC II.v.53 | |
Powre out the packe of matter to mine eare, | Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear, | matter (n.)subject-matter, content, substance | AC II.v.54 | |
The good and bad together: he's friends with Casar, | The good and bad together. He's friends with Caesar, | | AC II.v.55 | |
In state of health thou saist, and thou saist, free. | In state of health, thou sayst, and, thou sayst, free. | | AC II.v.56 | |
Mes. | MESSENGER | | | |
Free Madam, no: I made no such report, | Free, madam! No; I made no such report. | | AC II.v.57 | |
He's bound vnto Octauia. | He's bound unto Octavia. | | AC II.v.58.1 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
For what good turne? | For what good turn? | turn (n.)need, requirement, purpose [especially in the phrase ‘serve one's turn’ = meet one's need] | AC II.v.58.2 | |
Mes. | MESSENGER | | | |
For the best turne i'th'bed. | For the best turn i'th' bed. | | AC II.v.59.1 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
I am pale Charmian. | I am pale, Charmian. | | AC II.v.59.2 | |
Mes. | MESSENGER | | | |
Madam, he's married to Octauia. | Madam, he's married to Octavia. | | AC II.v.60 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
The most infectious Pestilence vpon thee. | The most infectious pestilence upon thee! | | AC II.v.61 | |
Strikes him downe. | She strikes him down | | AC II.v.62 | |
Mes. | MESSENGER | | | |
Good Madam patience. | Good madam, patience. | | AC II.v.62.1 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
What say you? | What say you? | | AC II.v.62.2 | |
Strikes him. | She strikes him | | AC II.v.62 | |
Hence | Hence, | | AC II.v.62.3 | |
horrible Villaine, or Ile spurne thine eyes | Horrible villain, or I'll spurn thine eyes | spurn (v.)kick, strike, stamp [on], dash | AC II.v.63 | |
Like balls before me: Ile vnhaire thy head, | Like balls before me! I'll unhair thy head! | unhair (v.)take the hair from | AC II.v.64 | |
She hales him vp and downe. | She hales him up and down | hale (v.)drag, pull, haul | AC II.v.65 | |
Thou shalt be whipt with Wyer, and stew'd in brine, | Thou shalt be whipped with wire and stewed in brine, | | AC II.v.65 | |
Smarting in lingring pickle. | Smarting in lingering pickle! | | AC II.v.66.1 | |
Mes. | MESSENGER | | | |
Gratious Madam, | Gracious madam, | | AC II.v.66.2 | |
I that do bring the newes, made not the match. | I that do bring the news made not the match. | | AC II.v.67 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
Say 'tis not so, a Prouince I will giue thee, | Say 'tis not so, a province I will give thee, | | AC II.v.68 | |
And make thy Fortunes proud: the blow thou had'st | And make thy fortunes proud. The blow thou hadst | | AC II.v.69 | |
Shall make thy peace, for mouing me to rage, | Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage, | | AC II.v.70 | |
And I will boot thee with what guift beside | And I will boot thee with what gift beside | boot (v.)benefit, increase, compensate | AC II.v.71 | |
Thy modestie can begge. | Thy modesty can beg. | | AC II.v.72.1 | |
Mes. | MESSENGER | | | |
He's married Madam. | He's married, madam. | | AC II.v.72.2 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
Rogue, thou hast liu'd too long. | Rogue, thou hast lived too long. | | AC II.v.73.1 | |
Draw a knife. | She draws a knife | | AC II.v.73 | |
Mes. | MESSENGER | | | |
Nay then Ile runne: | Nay, then I'll run. | | AC II.v.73.2 | |
What meane you Madam, I haue made no fault. | What mean you, madam? I have made no fault. | | AC II.v.74 | |
Exit. | Exit | | AC II.v.74 | |
Char. | CHARMIAN | | | |
Good Madam keepe your selfe within your selfe, | Good madam, keep yourself within yourself. | | AC II.v.75 | |
The man is innocent. | The man is innocent. | | AC II.v.76 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
Some Innocents scape not the thunderbolt: | Some innocents 'scape not the thunderbolt. | scape, 'scape (v.)escape, avoid | AC II.v.77 | |
Melt Egypt into Nyle: and kindly creatures | Melt Egypt into Nile, and kindly creatures | kindly (adj.)friendly, good-natured, well-disposed | AC II.v.78 | |
Turne all to Serpents. Call the slaue againe, | Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again. | slave (n.)fellow, rascal, rogue, villain | AC II.v.79 | |
Though I am mad, I will not byte him: Call? | Though I am mad, I will not bite him. Call! | | AC II.v.80 | |
Char. | CHARMIAN | | | |
He is afeard to come. | He is afeard to come. | afeard (adj.)afraid, frightened, scared | AC II.v.81.1 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
I will not hurt him, | I will not hurt him. | | AC II.v.81.2 | |
| Exit Charmian | | AC II.v.81 | |
These hands do lacke Nobility, that they strike | These hands do lack nobility, that they strike | | AC II.v.82 | |
A meaner then my selfe: since I my selfe | A meaner than myself; since I myself | meaner (n.)lower ranking, less eminent | AC II.v.83 | |
Haue giuen my selfe the cause. | Have given myself the cause. | | AC II.v.84.1 | |
Enter the Messenger againe. | Enter Charmian and the Messenger | | AC II.v.84 | |
Come hither Sir. | Come hither, sir. | | AC II.v.84.2 | |
Though it be honest, it is neuer good | Though it be honest, it is never good | | AC II.v.85 | |
To bring bad newes: giue to a gratious Message | To bring bad news. Give to a gracious message | | AC II.v.86 | |
An host of tongues, but let ill tydings tell | An host of tongues, but let ill tidings tell | ill (adj.)bad, adverse, unfavourable | AC II.v.87 | |
Themselues, when they be felt. | Themselves when they be felt. | | AC II.v.88.1 | |
Mes. | MESSENGER | | | |
I haue done my duty. | I have done my duty. | | AC II.v.88.2 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
Is he married? | Is he married? | | AC II.v.89 | |
I cannot hate thee worser then I do, | I cannot hate thee worser than I do | | AC II.v.90 | |
If thou againe say yes. | If thou again say ‘ Yes.’ | | AC II.v.91.1 | |
Mes. | MESSENGER | | | |
He's married Madam. | He's married, madam. | | AC II.v.91.2 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
The Gods confound thee, / Dost thou hold there still? | The gods confound thee! Dost thou hold there still? | hold (v.)stand firm, continue, carry on | AC II.v.92 | |
| | confound (v.)destroy, overthrow, ruin | | |
Mes. | MESSENGER | | | |
Should I lye Madame? | Should I lie, madam? | | AC II.v.93.1 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
Oh, I would thou didst: | O, I would thou didst, | | AC II.v.93.2 | |
So halfe my Egypt were submerg'd and made | So half my Egypt were submerged and made | so (conj.)even though | AC II.v.94 | |
A Cesterne for scal'd Snakes. Go get thee hence, | A cistern for scaled snakes! Go get thee hence. | cestern, cesterne (n.)variant spelling of ‘cistern’ [= water receptacle, vessel, reservoir] | AC II.v.95 | |
Had'st thou Narcissus in thy face to me, | Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me | Narcissus (n.)handsome youth who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool; he pined away and was turned into a flower | AC II.v.96 | |
Thou would'st appeere most vgly: He is married? | Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married? | | AC II.v.97 | |
Mes. | MESSENGER | | | |
I craue your Highnesse pardon. | I crave your highness' pardon. | crave (v.)beg, entreat, request | AC II.v.98.1 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
He is married? | He is married? | | AC II.v.98.2 | |
Mes. | MESSENGER | | | |
Take no offence, that I would not offend you, | Take no offence that I would not offend you; | | AC II.v.99 | |
To punnish me for what you make me do | To punish me for what you make me do | | AC II.v.100 | |
Seemes much vnequall, he's married to Octauia. | Seems much unequal. He's married to Octavia. | unequal (adj.)unjust, unfair, undeserved | AC II.v.101 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
Oh that his fault should make a knaue of thee, | O, that his fault should make a knave of thee, | knave (n.)scoundrel, rascal, rogue | AC II.v.102 | |
That art not what th'art sure of. Get thee hence, | That art not what th'art sure of! Get thee hence. | | AC II.v.103 | |
The Marchandize which thou hast brought from Rome | The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome | | AC II.v.104 | |
Are all too deere for me: / Lye they vpon thy hand, | Are all too dear for me. Lie they upon thy hand, | | AC II.v.105 | |
| Exit Messenger | | AC II.v.106 | |
and be vndone by em. | And be undone by 'em. | undo (v.)ruin, destroy, wipe out | AC II.v.106.1 | |
Char. | CHARMIAN | | | |
Good your Highnesse patience. | Good your highness, patience. | | AC II.v.106.2 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
In praysing Anthony, I haue disprais'd Casar. | In praising Antony I have dispraised Caesar. | | AC II.v.107 | |
Char. | CHARMIAN | | | |
Many times Madam. | Many times, madam. | | AC II.v.108.1 | |
Cleo. | CLEOPATRA | | | |
I am paid for't now: | I am paid for't now. | | AC II.v.108.2 | |
lead me from hence, | Lead me from hence; | | AC II.v.109 | |
I faint, oh Iras, Charmian: 'tis no matter. | I faint. O Iras, Charmian! 'Tis no matter. | | AC II.v.110 | |
Go to the Fellow, good Alexas bid him | Go to the fellow, good Alexas; bid him | | AC II.v.111 | |
Report the feature of Octauia: her yeares, | Report the feature of Octavia, her years, | feature (n.)physical appearance, bodily shape, looks | AC II.v.112 | |
Her inclination, let him not leaue out | Her inclination. Let him not leave out | inclination (n.)character, temperament, disposition | AC II.v.113 | |
The colour of her haire. Bring me word quickly, | The colour of her hair. Bring me word quickly. | | AC II.v.114 | |
| Exit Alexas | | AC II.v.114 | |
Let him for euer go, let him not Charmian, | Let him for ever go – let him not, Charmian. | | AC II.v.115 | |
Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon, | Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon, | | AC II.v.116 | |
The other wayes a Mars. Bid you Alexas | The other way's a Mars. (To Mardian) Bid you Alexas | Mars (n.)Roman god of war | AC II.v.117 | |
Bring me word, how tall she is: pitty me Charmian, | Bring me word how tall she is. – Pity me, Charmian, | | AC II.v.118 | |
But do not speake to me. Lead me to my Chamber. | But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber. | | AC II.v.119 | |
Exeunt. | Exeunt | | AC II.v.119 | |