Antony and Cleopatra, Act 2 Scene 1 runs 62 lines of dialogue, spoken by 4 speakers. That is shorter than the play’s average scene length of about 85 lines. This scene is part of Act 2 of Antony and Cleopatra.
Full Dialogue
Pompey ♂
If the great gods be just, they shall assist
The deeds of justest men.
The deeds of justest men.
Menecrates ♂
Know, worthy Pompey,
That what they do delay, they not deny.
That what they do delay, they not deny.
Pompey ♂
Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays
The thing we sue for.
The thing we sue for.
Menecrates ♂
We, ignorant of ourselves,
Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers
Deny us for our good; so find we profit
By losing of our prayers.
Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers
Deny us for our good; so find we profit
By losing of our prayers.
Pompey ♂
I shall do well:
The people love me, and the sea is mine;
My powers are crescent, and my auguring hope
Says it will come to the full. Mark Antony
In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make
No wars without doors: Caesar gets money where
He loses hearts: Lepidus flatters both,
Of both is flatter'd; but he neither loves,
Nor either cares for him.
The people love me, and the sea is mine;
My powers are crescent, and my auguring hope
Says it will come to the full. Mark Antony
In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make
No wars without doors: Caesar gets money where
He loses hearts: Lepidus flatters both,
Of both is flatter'd; but he neither loves,
Nor either cares for him.
Menas ♂
Caesar and Lepidus
Are in the field: a mighty strength they carry.
Are in the field: a mighty strength they carry.
Pompey ♂
Where have you this? 'tis false.
Menas ♂
From Silvius, sir.
Pompey ♂
He dreams: I know they are in Rome together,
Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love,
Salt Cleopatra, soften thy waned lip!
Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both!
Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts,
Keep his brain fuming; Epicurean cooks
Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite;
That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour
Even till a Lethe'd dulness!
How now, Varrius!
Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love,
Salt Cleopatra, soften thy waned lip!
Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both!
Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts,
Keep his brain fuming; Epicurean cooks
Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite;
That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour
Even till a Lethe'd dulness!
How now, Varrius!
Varrius ♂
This is most certain that I shall deliver:
Mark Antony is every hour in Rome
Expected: since he went from Egypt 'tis
A space for further travel.
Mark Antony is every hour in Rome
Expected: since he went from Egypt 'tis
A space for further travel.
Pompey ♂
I could have given less matter
A better ear. Menas, I did not think
This amorous surfeiter would have donn'd his helm
For such a petty war: his soldiership
Is twice the other twain: but let us rear
The higher our opinion, that our stirring
Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck
The ne'er-lust-wearied Antony.
A better ear. Menas, I did not think
This amorous surfeiter would have donn'd his helm
For such a petty war: his soldiership
Is twice the other twain: but let us rear
The higher our opinion, that our stirring
Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck
The ne'er-lust-wearied Antony.
Menas ♂
I cannot hope
Caesar and Antony shall well greet together:
His wife that's dead did trespasses to Caesar;
His brother warr'd upon him; although, I think,
Not moved by Antony.
Caesar and Antony shall well greet together:
His wife that's dead did trespasses to Caesar;
His brother warr'd upon him; although, I think,
Not moved by Antony.
Pompey ♂
I know not, Menas,
How lesser enmities may give way to greater.
Were't not that we stand up against them all,
'Twere pregnant they should square between
themselves;
For they have entertained cause enough
To draw their swords: but how the fear of us
May cement their divisions and bind up
The petty difference, we yet not know.
Be't as our gods will have't! It only stands
Our lives upon to use our strongest hands.
Come, Menas.
How lesser enmities may give way to greater.
Were't not that we stand up against them all,
'Twere pregnant they should square between
themselves;
For they have entertained cause enough
To draw their swords: but how the fear of us
May cement their divisions and bind up
The petty difference, we yet not know.
Be't as our gods will have't! It only stands
Our lives upon to use our strongest hands.
Come, Menas.
62 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pompey | 44 | 71.0% |
| Menas | 8 | 12.9% |
| Menecrates | 6 | 9.7% |
| Varrius | 4 | 6.5% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 44 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 16 lines.
Total speakers on stage
4 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 2
This is Scene 1 of 7 in Act 2 of Antony and Cleopatra.
Scene length vs. play average
At 62 lines, this scene is shorter than the Antony and Cleopatra average scene in Antony and Cleopatra (~85 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 1 Scene 5 · Next: Act 2 Scene 2
About Act 2 Scene 1 of Antony and Cleopatra
Who carries Act 2 Scene 1 of Antony and Cleopatra?
Pompey, with 44 lines — about 71% of the scene.
Is the scene a dialogue or a solo?
With 4 speakers and the lead holding 71% of the lines, this scene is a showcase for the lead voice.