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

CLEOPATRA. We will not look upon him: go with us.

Messenger. Fulvia thy wife first came into the field.

ANTONY. Against my brother Lucius?

Messenger. Ay:
But soon that war had end, and the time's state
Made friends of them, joining their force 'gainst Caesar;
Whose better issue in the war, from Italy,
Upon the first encounter, drave them.

ANTONY. Well, what worst?

Messenger. The nature of bad news infects the teller.

ANTONY. When it concerns the fool or coward. On:
Things that are past are done with me. 'Tis thus:
Who tells me true, though in his tale lie death,
I hear him as he flatter'd.

Messenger. Labienus--
This is stiff news--hath, with his Parthian force,
Extended Asia from Euphrates;
His conquering banner shook from Syria
To Lydia and to Ionia; Whilst--

ANTONY. Antony, thou wouldst say,--

Messenger. O, my lord!

ANTONY. Speak to me home, mince not the general tongue:
Name Cleopatra as she is call'd in Rome;
Rail thou in Fulvia's phrase; and taunt my faults
With such full licence as both truth and malice
Have power to utter. O, then we bring forth weeds,
When our quick minds lie still; and our ills told us
Is as our earing. Fare thee well awhile.

Messenger. At your noble pleasure.

LEPIDUS. Here's more news.

Messenger. Thy biddings have been done; and every hour,
Most noble Caesar, shalt thou have report
How 'tis abroad. Pompey is strong at sea;
And it appears he is beloved of those
That only have fear'd Caesar: to the ports
The discontents repair, and men's reports
Give him much wrong'd.

OCTAVIUS. I should have known no less.
It hath been taught us from the primal state,
That he which is was wish'd until he were;
And the ebb'd man, ne'er loved till ne'er worth love,
Comes dear'd by being lack'd. This common body,
Like to a vagabond flag upon the stream,
Goes to and back, lackeying the varying tide,
To rot itself with motion.

Messenger. Caesar, I bring thee word,
Menecrates and Menas, famous pirates,
Make the sea serve them, which they ear and wound
With keels of every kind: many hot inroads
They make in Italy; the borders maritime
Lack blood to think on't, and flush youth revolt:
No vessel can peep forth, but 'tis as soon
Taken as seen; for Pompey's name strikes more
Than could his war resisted.

CLEOPATRA. That time,--O times!--
I laugh'd him out of patience; and that night
I laugh'd him into patience; and next morn,
Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed;
Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst
I wore his sword Philippan.
[Enter a Messenger]
O, from Italy
Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
That long time have been barren.

Messenger. Madam, madam,--

CLEOPATRA. Antonius dead!--If thou say so, villain,
Thou kill'st thy mistress: but well and free,
If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here
My bluest veins to kiss; a hand that kings
Have lipp'd, and trembled kissing.

Messenger. First, madam, he is well.

CLEOPATRA. Why, there's more gold.
But, sirrah, mark, we use
To say the dead are well: bring it to that,
The gold I give thee will I melt and pour
Down thy ill-uttering throat.

Messenger. Good madam, hear me.

CLEOPATRA. Well, go to, I will;
But there's no goodness in thy face: if Antony
Be free and healthful,--so tart a favour
To trumpet such good tidings! If not well,
Thou shouldst come like a Fury crown'd with snakes,
Not like a formal man.

Messenger. Will't please you hear me?

CLEOPATRA. I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak'st:
Yet if thou say Antony lives, is well,
Or friends with Caesar, or not captive to him,
I'll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail
Rich pearls upon thee.

Messenger. Madam, he's well.

CLEOPATRA. Well said.

Messenger. And friends with Caesar.

CLEOPATRA. Thou'rt an honest man.

Messenger. Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.

CLEOPATRA. Make thee a fortune from me.

Messenger. But yet, madam,--

CLEOPATRA. I do not like 'But yet,' it does allay
The good precedence; fie upon 'But yet'!
'But yet' is as a gaoler to bring forth
Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend,
Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,
The good and bad together: he's friends with Caesar:
In state of health thou say'st; and thou say'st free.

Messenger. Free, madam! no; I made no such report:
He's bound unto Octavia.

CLEOPATRA. For what good turn?

Messenger. For the best turn i' the bed.

CLEOPATRA. I am pale, Charmian.

Messenger. Madam, he's married to Octavia.

CLEOPATRA. The most infectious pestilence upon thee!

Messenger. Good madam, patience.

CLEOPATRA. What say you? Hence,
[Strikes him again]
Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine eyes
Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head:
[She hales him up and down]
Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in brine,
Smarting in lingering pickle.

Messenger. Gracious madam,
I that do bring the news made not the match.

CLEOPATRA. Say 'tis not so, a province I will give thee,
And make thy fortunes proud: the blow thou hadst
Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage;
And I will boot thee with what gift beside
Thy modesty can beg.

Messenger. He's married, madam.

CLEOPATRA. Rogue, thou hast lived too long.

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

CLEOPATRA. I will not hurt him.
[Exit CHARMIAN]
These hands do lack nobility, that they strike
A meaner than myself; since I myself
Have given myself the cause.
[Re-enter CHARMIAN and Messenger]
Come hither, sir.
Though it be honest, it is never good
To bring bad news: give to a gracious message.
An host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell
Themselves when they be felt.

Messenger. I have done my duty.

CLEOPATRA. Is he married?
I cannot hate thee worser than I do,
If thou again say 'Yes.'

Messenger. He's married, madam.

CLEOPATRA. The gods confound thee! dost thou hold there still?

Messenger. Should I lie, madam?

CLEOPATRA. O, I would thou didst,
So half my Egypt were submerged and made
A cistern for scaled snakes! Go, get thee hence:
Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me
Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?

Messenger. I crave your highness' pardon.

CLEOPATRA. He is married?

Messenger. Take no offence that I would not offend you:
To punish me for what you make me do.
Seems much unequal: he's married to Octavia.

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. 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.

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.

ANTONY. Our overplus of shipping will we burn;
And, with the rest full-mann'd, from the head of Actium
Beat the approaching Caesar. But if we fail,
We then can do't at land.
[Enter a Messenger]
Thy business?

Messenger. The news is true, my lord; he is descried;
Caesar has taken Toryne.

CANIDIUS. Well I know the man.

Messenger. The emperor calls Canidius.

OCTAVIUS. The time of universal peace is near:
Prove this a prosperous day, the three-nook'd world
Shall bear the olive freely.

Messenger. Antony
Is come into the field.