Antony and Cleopatra
Act III, Scene 4

Athens. A room in Antony’s house.

Octavia the Younger

circa 20 BC

0. Enter Antony and Octavia.

Mark Antony

1 - 10

1. Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that—
2. That were excusable, that, and thousands more
3. Of semblable import—but he hath wag’d
4. New wars ’gainst Pompey; made his will, and read it
5. To public ear;
6. Spoke scantly of me; when perforce he could not
7. But pay me terms of honor, cold and sickly
8. He vented them, most narrow measure lent me;
9. When the best hint was given him, he not took’t,
10. Or did it from his teeth.

Octavia

11 - 21

11.                           O my good lord,
12. Believe not all, or if you must believe,
13. Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady,
14. If this division chance, ne’er stood between,
15. Praying for both parts.
16. The good gods will mock me presently,
17. When I shall pray, “O, bless my lord and husband!”
18. Undo that prayer, by crying out as loud,
19. “O, bless my brother!” Husband win, win brother,
20. Prays, and destroys the prayer, no midway
21. ’Twixt these extremes at all.

Mark Antony

22 - 30

22.                               Gentle Octavia,
23. Let your best love draw to that point which seeks
24. Best to preserve it. If I lose mine honor,
25. I lose myself; better I were not yours
26. Than yours so branchless. But as you requested,
27. Yourself shall go between ’s. The mean time, lady,
28. I’ll raise the preparation of a war
29. Shall stain your brother. Make your soonest haste;
30. So your desires are yours.

Octavia

31 - 35

31.                            Thanks to my lord.
32. The Jove of power make me most weak, most weak,
33. Your reconciler! Wars ’twixt you twain would be
34. As if the world should cleave, and that slain men
35. Should solder up the rift.

Mark Antony

36 - 41

36. When it appears to you where this begins,
37. Turn your displeasure that way, for our faults
38. Can never be so equal that your love
39. Can equally move with them. Provide your going,
40. Choose your own company, and command what cost
41. Your heart has mind to.

0. Exeunt.