Enter a Messenger.
Att. News, my good lord, from Rome.
Ant. Grates me; the sum.
Cleo. Nay, hear them, Antony:
Fulvia, perchance, is angry; or, who knows 20
If the scarce-bearded Cæsar have not sent
His powerful mandate to you, 'Do this, or this;
Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that;
Perform 't, or else we damn thee.'
Ant. How, my love! 24
Cleo. Perchance! nay, and most like;
You must not stay here longer; your dismission
Is come from Cæsar; therefore hear it, Antony.
Where's Fulvia's process? Cæsar's I would say? both? 28
Call in the messengers. As I am Egypt's queen,
Thou blushest, Antony, and that blood of thine
Is Cæsar's homager; else so thy cheek pays shame
When shrill-tongu'd Fulvia scolds. The messengers! 32
Ant. Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch
Of the rang'd empire fall! Here is my space.
Kingdoms are clay; our dungy earth alike
Feeds beast as man; the nobleness of life 36
Is to do thus; when such a mutual pair
[Embracing.]
And such a twain can do 't, in which I bind,
On pain of punishment, the world to weet
We stand up peerless.
Cleo. Excellent falsehood! 40
18 Grates: irritates
23 Take in: conquer
enfranchise: set free
26 dismission: discharge from office
28 process: command
31 homager: humble servant
34 rang'd: ordered
35 dungy: vile
39 weet: know
