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Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS
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Where is the fellow?
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Half afeard to come.
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Go to, go to.
Enter the Messenger as before
Come hither, sir.
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Good majesty,
Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you
But when you are well pleased.
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That Herod's head
I'll have: but how, when Antony is gone
Through whom I might command it? Come thou near.
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Most gracious majesty,--
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Didst thou behold Octavia?
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Ay, dread queen.
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Where?
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Madam, in Rome;
I look'd her in the face, and saw her led
Between her brother and Mark Antony.
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Is she as tall as me?
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She is not, madam.
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Didst hear her speak? is she shrill-tongued or low?
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Madam, I heard her speak; she is low-voiced.
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That's not so good: he cannot like her long.
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Like her! O Isis! 'tis impossible.
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I think so, Charmian: dull of tongue, and dwarfish!
What majesty is in her gait? Remember,
If e'er thou look'dst on majesty.
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She creeps:
Her motion and her station are as one;
She shows a body rather than a life,
A statue than a breather.
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Is this certain?
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Or I have no observance.
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Three in Egypt
Cannot make better note.
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He's very knowing;
I do perceive't: there's nothing in her yet:
The fellow has good judgment.
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Excellent.
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Guess at her years, I prithee.
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Madam,
She was a widow,--
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Widow! Charmian, hark.
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And I do think she's thirty.
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Bear'st thou her face in mind? is't long or round?
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Round even to faultiness.
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For the most part, too, they are foolish that are so.
Her hair, what colour?
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Brown, madam: and her forehead
As low as she would wish it.
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There's gold for thee.
Thou must not take my former sharpness ill:
I will employ thee back again; I find thee
Most fit for business: go make thee ready;
Our letters are prepared.
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Exit Messenger
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A proper man.
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Indeed, he is so: I repent me much
That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him,
This creature's no such thing.
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Nothing, madam.
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The man hath seen some majesty, and should know.
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Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend,
And serving you so long!
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I have one thing more to ask him yet, good Charmian:
But 'tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to me
Where I will write. All may be well enough.
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I warrant you, madam.
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Exeunt