ANTHONY AND CLEOPATRA - Contextual Question 9
Read carefully the passage below and discuss the extent to which Shakespeare’s presentation of the relationship between Antony and Cleopatra in this passage is typical of how he presents it in the rest of the play.
Antony. Most sweet queen.
Cleopatra: Nay, pray you seek no colour for your going,
But bid farewell, and go. When you sued staying,
Then was the time for words. No going then!
Eternity was in our lips and eyes,
Bliss in our brows’ bent; none our parts so poor
But was a race of heaven. They are so still,
Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world,
Art turned the greatest liar.
Antony. How now, lady!
Cleopatra. I would I had thy inches. Thou shouldst know
There were a heart in Egypt.
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 honour, 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.
Look here,[he gives her the letter)
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 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 Egypt. Good now, play one scene
Of excellent dissembling, and let it look
Like perfect honour.
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.