Thus did I desire it:
        What our contempts doth often hurl from us
        We wish it ours again128. The present pleasure,
        By revolution low’ring130, does become
        The opposite of itself. She’s good, being gone.
        The hand could132 pluck her back that shoved her on.
        I must from this enchanting133 queen break off:
        Ten thousand harms, more than the ills I know,
        My idleness135 doth hatch.—

Enter Enobarbus

                How now, Enobarbus?

ENOBARBUS    What’s your pleasure, sir?

ANTONY    I must with haste from hence.

ENOBARBUS    Why, then, we kill all our women. We see how
        mortal139 an unkindness is to them: if they suffer our
        departure, death’s the word.

ANTONY    I must be gone.

ENOBARBUS    Under a compelling occasion, let women die142. It
        were pity to cast them away for nothing, though between
        them and a great cause they should be esteemed nothing.
        Cleopatra, catching but the least noise145 of this, dies instantly:
        I have seen her die twenty times upon far poorer moment146. I
        do think there is mettle147 in death which commits some loving
        act upon her, she hath such a celerity148 in dying.

ANTONY    She is cunning149 past man’s thought.

ENOBARBUS    Alack, sir, no: her passions are made of nothing
        but the finest part151 of pure love. We cannot call her winds and
        waters sighs and tears: they are greater storms and tempests than
        almanacs153 can report. This cannot be cunning in her; if
        it be, she makes a shower of rain as well as Jove154.

ANTONY    Would155 I had never seen her.

ENOBARBUS    O sir, you had then left unseen a wonderful piece of
        work156, which not to have been blest withal157 would have
        discredited your travel158.

ANTONY    Fulvia is dead.

ENOBARBUS    Sir?

ANTONY    Fulvia is dead.

ENOBARBUS    Fulvia?

ANTONY    Dead.

ENOBARBUS    Why, sir, give the gods a thankful sacrifice. When it
        pleaseth their deities to take the wife of a man from him, it
        shows to man the tailors of the earth166: comforting therein,
        that when old robes are worn out, there are members167 to
        make new. If there were no more women but Fulvia, then
        had you indeed a cut169, and the case to be lamented. This grief
        is crowned170 with consolation: your old smock brings forth a
        new petticoat171, and indeed the tears live in an onion that
        should water this sorrow.

ANTONY    The business she hath broachèd in the state
        Cannot endure my absence.

ENOBARBUS    And the business175 you have broached here cannot
        be without you, especially that of Cleopatra’s, which wholly
        depends on your abode177.

ANTONY    No more light178 answers. Let our officers
        Have notice what we purpose. I shall break
        The cause of our expedience180 to the queen,
        And get her leave to part181. For not alone
        The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches182,
        Do strongly speak to us, but the letters too
        Of many our contriving184 friends in Rome
        Petition us at home185. Sextus Pompeius
        Hath given the dare to186 Caesar and commands
        The empire of the sea. Our slippery187 people,
        Whose love is never linked to the deserver
        Till his deserts are past, begin to throw189
        Pompey the Great190 and all his dignities
        Upon his son, who, high191 in name and power,
        Higher than both in blood and life192, stands up
        For the main193 soldier, whose quality going on,
        The sides o’th’world may danger194. Much is breeding
        Which, like the courser’s hair, hath yet but life
        And not a serpent’s poison195. Say our pleasure,
        To such whose place is under us, requires
        Our quick remove198 from hence196.

ENOBARBUS    I shall do’t.
[Exeunt separately]

[Act 1 Scene 3]                               
running scene 1 continues

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Alexas and Iras

CLEOPATRA    Where is he?

CHARMIAN    I did not see him since2.

CLEOPATRA    See where he is, who’s with him, what he
        does.
To Alexas

        I did not send you4: if you find him sad,
        Say I am dancing, if in mirth, report
        That I am sudden sick. Quick, and return.
[Exit Alexas]

CHARMIAN    Madam, methinks if you did love him dearly,
        You do not hold8 the method to enforce
        The like9 from him.

CLEOPATRA    What should I do I do not?

CHARMIAN    In each thing give him way11: cross him in nothing.

CLEOPATRA    Thou teachest like a fool, the way to lose him.

CHARMIAN    Tempt13 him not so too far. I wish, forbear:
        In time we hate that which we often fear.

Enter Antony

        But here comes Antony.

CLEOPATRA    I am sick and sullen16.

ANTONY    I am sorry to give breathing17 to my purpose—

CLEOPATRA    Help me away, dear Charmian! I shall fall.
        It cannot be thus long19: the sides of nature
        Will not sustain it.

ANTONY    Now, my dearest queen—

CLEOPATRA    Pray you stand further from me22.

ANTONY    What’s the matter?

CLEOPATRA    I know by that same eye24 there’s some good news.
        What, says the married woman25 you may go?
        Would she had never given you leave to come.
        Let her not say ’tis I that keep you here.
        I have no power upon you: hers you are.

ANTONY    The gods best know—

CLEOPATRA    O, never was there queen
        So mightily betrayed! Yet at the first
        I saw the treasons planted.

ANTONY    Cleopatra—

CLEOPATRA    Why should I think you can be mine, and true —
        Though you in swearing shake the thronèd gods —
        Who have been false36 to Fulvia? Riotous madness,
        To be entangled with those mouth-made37 vows
        Which break themselves in swearing38!

ANTONY    Most sweet queen—

CLEOPATRA    Nay, pray you seek no colour40 for your going,
        But bid farewell and go: when you sued staying41,
        Then was the time for words: no going then.
        Eternity was in our43 lips and eyes,
        Bliss in our brows bent44: none our parts so poor
        But was a race of heaven45. They are so still,
        Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world,
        Art turned the greatest liar.

ANTONY    How now48, lady?

CLEOPATRA    I would I had thy inches49: thou shouldst know
        There were a heart50 in Egypt.

ANTONY    Hear me, queen:
        The strong necessity of time commands
        Our services awhile, but my full heart
        Remains in use54 with you. Our Italy
        Shines o’er with civil swords55; Sextus Pompeius
        Makes his approaches to the port56 of Rome.
        Equality of two domestic powers
        Breed scrupulous faction57: the hated, grown to strength,
        Are newly grown to love58: the condemned Pompey,
        Rich in his father’s honour, creeps apace60
        Into the hearts of such as have not thrived
        Upon the present state62, whose numbers threaten,
        And quietness, grown sick of rest, would purge63
        By any desperate change. My more particular64,
        And that which most with you should safe65 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.
Gives her the letters
        Look here, and at thy sovereign leisure read
        The garboils71 she awaked: at the last, best,
        See when and where she died.

CLEOPATRA    O most false love!
        Where be the sacred vials74 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 know77
        The purposes I bear78, which are, or cease,
        As you shall give th’advice79. By the fire
        That quickens Nilus’ slime, I go from hence
        Thy soldier, servant, making peace or war
        As thou affects82.

CLEOPATRA    Cut my lace83, Charmian, come!
        But let it be84: I am quickly ill and well,
        So Antony loves85.

ANTONY    My precious queen, forbear86
        And give true evidence87 to his love, which stands
        An honourable 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 Egypt92. Good now, play one scene
        Of excellent dissembling93, and let it look
        Like perfect honour.

ANTONY    You’ll heat my blood95 no more!

CLEOPATRA    You can do better yet, but this is meetly96.

ANTONY    Now, by sword—

CLEOPATRA    And target98.