Speeches (Lines) for Charmian in "Antony and Cleopatra"

DEMETRIUS. I am full sorry
That he approves the common liar, who
Thus speaks of him at Rome: but I will hope
Of better deeds to-morrow. Rest you happy!

Charmian. Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most any thing Alexas,
almost most absolute Alexas, where's the soothsayer
that you praised so to the queen? O, that I knew
this husband, which, you say, must charge his horns
with garlands!

Soothsayer. Your will?

Charmian. Is this the man? Is't you, sir, that know things?

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS. Bring in the banquet quickly; wine enough
Cleopatra's health to drink.

Charmian. Good sir, give me good fortune.

Soothsayer. I make not, but foresee.

Charmian. Pray, then, foresee me one.

Soothsayer. You shall be yet far fairer than you are.

Charmian. He means in flesh.

IRAS. No, you shall paint when you are old.

Charmian. Wrinkles forbid!

ALEXAS. Vex not his prescience; be attentive.

Charmian. Hush!

Soothsayer. You shall be more beloving than beloved.

Charmian. I had rather heat my liver with drinking.

ALEXAS. Nay, hear him.

Charmian. Good now, some excellent fortune! Let me be married
to three kings in a forenoon, and widow them all:
let me have a child at fifty, to whom Herod of Jewry
may do homage: find me to marry me with Octavius
Caesar, and companion me with my mistress.

Soothsayer. You shall outlive the lady whom you serve.

Charmian. O excellent! I love long life better than figs.

Soothsayer. You have seen and proved a fairer former fortune
Than that which is to approach.

Charmian. Then belike my children shall have no names:
prithee, how many boys and wenches must I have?

Soothsayer. If every of your wishes had a womb.
And fertile every wish, a million.

Charmian. Out, fool! I forgive thee for a witch.

ALEXAS. You think none but your sheets are privy to your wishes.

Charmian. Nay, come, tell Iras hers.

IRAS. There's a palm presages chastity, if nothing else.

Charmian. E'en as the o'erflowing Nilus presageth famine.

IRAS. Go, you wild bedfellow, you cannot soothsay.

Charmian. Nay, if an oily palm be not a fruitful
prognostication, I cannot scratch mine ear. Prithee,
tell her but a worky-day fortune.

IRAS. Am I not an inch of fortune better than she?

Charmian. Well, if you were but an inch of fortune better than
I, where would you choose it?

IRAS. Not in my husband's nose.

Charmian. Our worser thoughts heavens mend! Alexas,--come,
his fortune, his fortune! O, let him marry a woman
that cannot go, sweet Isis, I beseech thee! and let
her die too, and give him a worse! and let worst
follow worse, till the worst of all follow him
laughing to his grave, fifty-fold a cuckold! Good
Isis, hear me this prayer, though thou deny me a
matter of more weight; good Isis, I beseech thee!

IRAS. Amen. Dear goddess, hear that prayer of the people!
for, as it is a heartbreaking to see a handsome man
loose-wived, so it is a deadly sorrow to behold a
foul knave uncuckolded: therefore, dear Isis, keep
decorum, and fortune him accordingly!

Charmian. Amen.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS. Hush! here comes Antony.

Charmian. Not he; the queen.

CLEOPATRA. Was he not here?

Charmian. No, madam.

CLEOPATRA. Where is he?

Charmian. I did not see him since.

CLEOPATRA. See where he is, who's with him, what he does:
I did not send you: if you find him sad,
Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report
That I am sudden sick: quick, and return.

Charmian. Madam, methinks, if you did love him dearly,
You do not hold the method to enforce
The like from him.

CLEOPATRA. What should I do, I do not?

Charmian. In each thing give him way, cross him nothing.

CLEOPATRA. Thou teachest like a fool; the way to lose him.

Charmian. Tempt him not so too far; I wish, forbear:
In time we hate that which we often fear.
But here comes Antony.

CLEOPATRA. Charmian!

Charmian. Madam?

CLEOPATRA. Ha, ha!
Give me to drink mandragora.

Charmian. Why, madam?

CLEOPATRA. That I might sleep out this great gap of time
My Antony is away.

Charmian. You think of him too much.

CLEOPATRA. O, 'tis treason!

Charmian. Madam, I trust, not so.

CLEOPATRA. Who's born that day
When I forget to send to Antony,
Shall die a beggar. Ink and paper, Charmian.
Welcome, my good Alexas. Did I, Charmian,
Ever love Caesar so?

Charmian. O that brave Caesar!

CLEOPATRA. Be choked with such another emphasis!
Say, the brave Antony.

Charmian. The valiant Caesar!

CLEOPATRA. By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth,
If thou with Caesar paragon again
My man of men.

Charmian. By your most gracious pardon,
I sing but after you.

CLEOPATRA. Let it alone; let's to billiards: come, Charmian.

Charmian. My arm is sore; best play with Mardian.

CLEOPATRA. And when good will is show'd, though't come
too short,
The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now:
Give me mine angle; we'll to the river: there,
My music playing far off, I will betray
Tawny-finn'd fishes; my bended hook shall pierce
Their slimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,
I'll think them every one an Antony,
And say 'Ah, ha! you're caught.'

Charmian. 'Twas merry when
You wager'd on your angling; when your diver
Did hang a salt-fish on his hook, which he
With fervency drew up.

Messenger. Nay, then I'll run.
What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.

Charmian. Good madam, keep yourself within yourself:
The man is innocent.

CLEOPATRA. Some innocents 'scape not the thunderbolt.
Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures
Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again:
Though I am mad, I will not bite him: call.

Charmian. He is afeard to come.

CLEOPATRA. O, that his fault should make a knave of thee,
That art not what thou'rt sure of! Get thee hence:
The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome
Are all too dear for me: lie they upon thy hand,
And be undone by 'em!

Charmian. Good your highness, patience.

CLEOPATRA. In praising Antony, I have dispraised Caesar.

Charmian. Many times, madam.

CLEOPATRA. That's not so good: he cannot like her long.

Charmian. Like her! O Isis! 'tis impossible.

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. 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.

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.

IRAS. Do, most dear queen.

Charmian. Do! why: what else?

ANTONY. O fie, fie, fie!

Charmian. Madam!

ANTONY. 'Tis well blown, lads:
This morning, like the spirit of a youth
That means to be of note, begins betimes.
So, so; come, give me that: this way; well said.
Fare thee well, dame, whate'er becomes of me:
This is a soldier's kiss: rebukeable
[Kisses her]
And worthy shameful cheque it were, to stand
On more mechanic compliment; I'll leave thee
Now, like a man of steel. You that will fight,
Follow me close; I'll bring you to't. Adieu.

Charmian. Please you, retire to your chamber.

CLEOPATRA. Help me, my women! O, he is more mad
Than Telamon for his shield; the boar of Thessaly
Was never so emboss'd.

Charmian. To the monument!
There lock yourself, and send him word you are dead.
The soul and body rive not more in parting
Than greatness going off.

CLEOPATRA. O Charmian, I will never go from hence.

Charmian. Be comforted, dear madam.

CLEOPATRA. Noblest of men, woo't die?
Hast thou no care of me? shall I abide
In this dull world, which in thy absence is
No better than a sty? O, see, my women,
[MARK ANTONY dies]
The crown o' the earth doth melt. My lord!
O, wither'd is the garland of the war,
The soldier's pole is fall'n: young boys and girls
Are level now with men; the odds is gone,
And there is nothing left remarkable
Beneath the visiting moon.

Charmian. O, quietness, lady!

IRAS. She is dead too, our sovereign.

Charmian. Lady!

IRAS. Madam!

Charmian. O madam, madam, madam!

IRAS. Royal Egypt, Empress!

Charmian. Peace, peace, Iras!

IRAS. Royal queen!

Charmian. O Cleopatra! thou art taken, queen:

CLEOPATRA. Hie thee again:
I have spoke already, and it is provided;
Go put it to the haste.

Charmian. Madam, I will.

DOLABELLA. Where is the queen?

Charmian. Behold, sir.

CLEOPATRA. Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have
Immortal longings in me: now no more
The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip:
Yare, yare, good Iras; quick. Methinks I hear
Antony call; I see him rouse himself
To praise my noble act; I hear him mock
The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men
To excuse their after wrath: husband, I come:
Now to that name my courage prove my title!
I am fire and air; my other elements
I give to baser life. So; have you done?
Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips.
Farewell, kind Charmian; Iras, long farewell.
[Kisses them. IRAS falls and dies]
Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall?
If thou and nature can so gently part,
The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch,
Which hurts, and is desired. Dost thou lie still?
If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world
It is not worth leave-taking.

Charmian. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I may say,
The gods themselves do weep!

CLEOPATRA. This proves me base:
If she first meet the curled Antony,
He'll make demand of her, and spend that kiss
Which is my heaven to have. Come, thou
mortal wretch,
[To an asp, which she applies to her breast]
With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate
Of life at once untie: poor venomous fool
Be angry, and dispatch. O, couldst thou speak,
That I might hear thee call great Caesar ass
Unpolicied!

Charmian. O eastern star!

CLEOPATRA. Peace, peace!
Dost thou not see my baby at my breast,
That sucks the nurse asleep?

Charmian. O, break! O, break!

CLEOPATRA. As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle,--
O Antony!--Nay, I will take thee too.
[Applying another asp to her arm]
What should I stay--

Charmian. In this vile world? So, fare thee well.
Now boast thee, death, in thy possession lies
A lass unparallel'd. Downy windows, close;
And golden Phoebus never be beheld
Of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry;
I'll mend it, and then play.

First Guard. Where is the queen?

Charmian. Speak softly, wake her not.

First Guard. Caesar hath sent--

Charmian. Too slow a messenger.
[Applies an asp]
O, come apace, dispatch! I partly feel thee.

First Guard. What work is here! Charmian, is this well done?

Charmian. It is well done, and fitting for a princess
Descended of so many royal kings.
Ah, soldier!