The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra
ACT FIRST
Scene One
[Alexandria. A Room in Cleopatra's Palace]
Enter Demetrius and Philo.
Phi. Nay, but this dotage of our general's
O'erflows the measure; those his goodly eyes,
That o'er the files and musters of the war
Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn 4
The office and devotion of their view
Upon a tawny front; his captain's heart,
Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst
The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper, 8
And is become the bellows and the fan
To cool a gipsy's lust. Look! where they come.
Flourish. Enter Antony, Cleopatra, her Ladies, the Train, with Eunuchs fanning her.
Take but good note, and you shall see in him
The triple pillar of the world transform'd 12
Into a strumpet's fool; behold and see.
Cleo. If it be love indeed, tell me how much.
Ant. There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd.
Cleo. I'll set a bourn how far to be belov'd. 16
Ant. Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth.
4 plated: armored
8 reneges: renounces
12 triple: one of three; cf. n.
16 bourn: boundary
