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Antony and Cleopatra

Please see the bottom of this page for explanatory notes and resources.

ACT II SCENE III The same. Octavius Caesar's house 
[ Enter MARK ANTONY, OCTAVIUS CAESAR, OCTAVIA between them, and Attendants ]
MARK ANTONYThe world and my great office will sometimes
Divide me from your bosom.
OCTAVIAAll which time
Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers
To them for you.5
MARK ANTONYGood night, sir. My Octavia,
Read not my blemishes in the world's report:
I have not kept my square; but that to come
Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear lady.
Good night, sir.10
OCTAVIUS CAESARGood night.
[Exeunt OCTAVIUS CAESAR and OCTAVIA]
[Enter Soothsayer]
MARK ANTONYNow, sirrah; you do wish yourself in Egypt?
SoothsayerWould I had never come from thence, nor you Thither!
MARK ANTONYIf you can, your reason?
SoothsayerI see it in15
My motion, have it not in my tongue: but yet
Hie you to Egypt again.
MARK ANTONYSay to me,
Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Caesar's or mine?
SoothsayerCaesar's.20
Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side:
Thy demon, that's thy spirit which keeps thee, is
Noble, courageous high, unmatchable,
Where Caesar's is not; but, near him, thy angel
Becomes a fear, as being o'erpower'd: therefore25
Make space enough between you.
MARK ANTONYSpeak this no more.
SoothsayerTo none but thee; no more, but when to thee.
If thou dost play with him at any game,
Thou art sure to lose; and, of that natural luck,30
He beats thee 'gainst the odds: thy lustre thickens,
When he shines by: I say again, thy spirit
Is all afraid to govern thee near him;
But, he away, 'tis noble.
MARK ANTONYGet thee gone:35
Say to Ventidius I would speak with him:
[Exit Soothsayer]
He shall to Parthia. Be it art or hap,
He hath spoken true: the very dice obey him;
And in our sports my better cunning faints
Under his chance: if we draw lots, he speeds;40
His cocks do win the battle still of mine,
When it is all to nought; and his quails ever
Beat mine, inhoop'd, at odds. I will to Egypt:
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
I' the east my pleasure lies.45
[Enter VENTIDIUS]
O, come, Ventidius,
You must to Parthia: your commission's ready;
Follow me, and receive't.
[Exeunt]


Antony and Cleopatra, Act 2, Scene 4
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Explanatory Notes for Act 2, Scene 3
From Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. Ed. M. Eaton. Boston: Educational Publishing Company.
(Line numbers have been altered.)
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1. Office. Affairs of state.

8. Square. That is, I have not squared or ordered my conduct well.

12. Sirrah. Sir. This word is generally addressed to inferiors.

16. Motion. Mind, mental vision.

22. Demon. Familiar spirit, the spirit that watches over a man.

25. Fear. Becomes the very personification of fear; is utterly afraid.

31. Gainst the odds. In spite of the odds being in your favor.

31. Thickens. Grows dull.

37. Parthia. A province in western Asia.

37. Hap. Chance.

38. Dice. Even when he throws dice, he turns up the lucky numbers.

39. Cunning. Skill.

40. Chance. Good luck.

40. Speeds. Is successful.

41. Cocks. Cock fights were popular sports in England.

41. Still. Always.

42. Nought. Even when the odds are as much in my favor as everything to nothing.

42. Quails. These birds were often used in place of cocks as fighters.

43. Inhoop'd. The birds were confined within a hoop to keep them fighting.

43. At odds. Though the odds were in my favor.

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How to cite the explanatory notes:

Shakespeare, William. Antony and Cleopatra. Ed. M. Eaton. Boston: Educational Publishing Company, 1908. Shakespeare Online. 20 Feb. 2010. (date when you accessed the information) < http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/antony_2_3.html >.

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