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