Antony and Cleopatra, Act 2 Scene 7 runs 161 lines of dialogue, spoken by 8 speakers. That is longer than the play’s average scene length of about 85 lines. This scene is part of Act 2 of Antony and Cleopatra.
Full Dialogue
First Servant ♂
Here they'll be, man. Some o' their plants are
ill-rooted already: the least wind i' the world
will blow them down.
ill-rooted already: the least wind i' the world
will blow them down.
Second Servant ♂
Lepidus is high-coloured.
First Servant ♂
They have made him drink alms-drink.
Second Servant ♂
As they pinch one another by the disposition, he
cries out 'No more;' reconciles them to his
entreaty, and himself to the drink.
cries out 'No more;' reconciles them to his
entreaty, and himself to the drink.
First Servant ♂
But it raises the greater war between him and
his discretion.
his discretion.
Second Servant ♂
Why, this is to have a name in great men's
fellowship: I had as lief have a reed that will do
me no service as a partisan I could not heave.
fellowship: I had as lief have a reed that will do
me no service as a partisan I could not heave.
First Servant ♂
To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen
to move in't, are the holes where eyes should be,
which pitifully disaster the cheeks.
to move in't, are the holes where eyes should be,
which pitifully disaster the cheeks.
Mark Antony ♂
[To OCTAVIUS CAESAR] Thus do they, sir: they take
the flow o' the Nile
By certain scales i' the pyramid; they know,
By the height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth
Or foison follow: the higher Nilus swells,
The more it promises: as it ebbs, the seedsman
Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain,
And shortly comes to harvest.
the flow o' the Nile
By certain scales i' the pyramid; they know,
By the height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth
Or foison follow: the higher Nilus swells,
The more it promises: as it ebbs, the seedsman
Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain,
And shortly comes to harvest.
Lepidus ♂
You've strange serpents there.
Mark Antony ♂
Ay, Lepidus.
Lepidus ♂
Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the
operation of your sun: so is your crocodile.
operation of your sun: so is your crocodile.
Mark Antony ♂
They are so.
Pompey ♂
Sit,–and some wine! A health to Lepidus!
Lepidus ♂
I am not so well as I should be, but I'll ne'er out.
Domitius Enobarbus ♂
Not till you have slept; I fear me you'll be in till then.
Lepidus ♂
Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies'
pyramises are very goodly things; without
contradiction, I have heard that.
pyramises are very goodly things; without
contradiction, I have heard that.
Menas ♂
[Aside to POMPEY] Pompey, a word.
Pompey ♂
[Aside to MENAS] Say in mine ear:
what is't?
what is't?
Menas ♂
[Aside to POMPEY] Forsake thy seat, I do beseech
thee, captain,
And hear me speak a word.
thee, captain,
And hear me speak a word.
Pompey ♂
[Aside to MENAS] Forbear me till anon.
This wine for Lepidus!
This wine for Lepidus!
Lepidus ♂
What manner o' thing is your crocodile?
Mark Antony ♂
It is shaped, sir, like itself; and it is as broad
as it hath breadth: it is just so high as it is,
and moves with its own organs: it lives by that
which nourisheth it; and the elements once out of
it, it transmigrates.
as it hath breadth: it is just so high as it is,
and moves with its own organs: it lives by that
which nourisheth it; and the elements once out of
it, it transmigrates.
Lepidus ♂
What colour is it of?
Mark Antony ♂
Of it own colour too.
Lepidus ♂
'Tis a strange serpent.
Mark Antony ♂
'Tis so. And the tears of it are wet.
Octavius Caesar ♂
Will this description satisfy him?
Mark Antony ♂
With the health that Pompey gives him, else he is a
very epicure.
very epicure.
Pompey ♂
[Aside to MENAS] Go hang, sir, hang! Tell me of
that? away!
Do as I bid you. Where's this cup I call'd for?
that? away!
Do as I bid you. Where's this cup I call'd for?
Menas ♂
[Aside to POMPEY] If for the sake of merit thou
wilt hear me,
Rise from thy stool.
wilt hear me,
Rise from thy stool.
Pompey ♂
[Aside to MENAS] I think thou'rt mad.
The matter?
The matter?
Menas ♂
I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.
Pompey ♂
Thou hast served me with much faith. What's else to say?
Be jolly, lords.
Be jolly, lords.
Mark Antony ♂
These quick-sands, Lepidus,
Keep off them, for you sink.
Keep off them, for you sink.
Menas ♂
Wilt thou be lord of all the world?
Pompey ♂
What say'st thou?
Menas ♂
Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That's twice.
Pompey ♂
How should that be?
Menas ♂
But entertain it,
And, though thou think me poor, I am the man
Will give thee all the world.
And, though thou think me poor, I am the man
Will give thee all the world.
Pompey ♂
Hast thou drunk well?
Menas ♂
Now, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup.
Thou art, if thou darest be, the earthly Jove:
Whate'er the ocean pales, or sky inclips,
Is thine, if thou wilt ha't.
Thou art, if thou darest be, the earthly Jove:
Whate'er the ocean pales, or sky inclips,
Is thine, if thou wilt ha't.
Pompey ♂
Show me which way.
Menas ♂
These three world-sharers, these competitors,
Are in thy vessel: let me cut the cable;
And, when we are put off, fall to their throats:
All there is thine.
Are in thy vessel: let me cut the cable;
And, when we are put off, fall to their throats:
All there is thine.
Pompey ♂
Ah, this thou shouldst have done,
And not have spoke on't! In me 'tis villany;
In thee't had been good service. Thou must know,
'Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour;
Mine honour, it. Repent that e'er thy tongue
Hath so betray'd thine act: being done unknown,
I should have found it afterwards well done;
But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.
And not have spoke on't! In me 'tis villany;
In thee't had been good service. Thou must know,
'Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour;
Mine honour, it. Repent that e'er thy tongue
Hath so betray'd thine act: being done unknown,
I should have found it afterwards well done;
But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.
Menas ♂
[Aside] For this,
I'll never follow thy pall'd fortunes more.
Who seeks, and will not take when once 'tis offer'd,
Shall never find it more.
I'll never follow thy pall'd fortunes more.
Who seeks, and will not take when once 'tis offer'd,
Shall never find it more.
Pompey ♂
This health to Lepidus!
Mark Antony ♂
Bear him ashore. I'll pledge it for him, Pompey.
Domitius Enobarbus ♂
Here's to thee, Menas!
Menas ♂
Enobarbus, welcome!
Pompey ♂
Fill till the cup be hid.
Domitius Enobarbus ♂
There's a strong fellow, Menas.
Menas ♂
Why?
Domitius Enobarbus ♂
A' bears the third part of the world, man; see'st
not?
not?
Menas ♂
The third part, then, is drunk: would it were all,
That it might go on wheels!
That it might go on wheels!
Domitius Enobarbus ♂
Drink thou; increase the reels.
Menas ♂
Come.
Pompey ♂
This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.
Mark Antony ♂
It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho?
Here is to Caesar!
Here is to Caesar!
Octavius Caesar ♂
I could well forbear't.
It's monstrous labour, when I wash my brain,
And it grows fouler.
It's monstrous labour, when I wash my brain,
And it grows fouler.
Mark Antony ♂
Be a child o' the time.
Octavius Caesar ♂
Possess it, I'll make answer:
But I had rather fast from all four days
Than drink so much in one.
But I had rather fast from all four days
Than drink so much in one.
Domitius Enobarbus ♂
Ha, my brave emperor!
Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals,
And celebrate our drink?
Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals,
And celebrate our drink?
Pompey ♂
Let's ha't, good soldier.
Mark Antony ♂
Come, let's all take hands,
Till that the conquering wine hath steep'd our sense
In soft and delicate Lethe.
Till that the conquering wine hath steep'd our sense
In soft and delicate Lethe.
Domitius Enobarbus ♂
All take hands.
Make battery to our ears with the loud music:
The while I'll place you: then the boy shall sing;
The holding every man shall bear as loud
As his strong sides can volley.
THE SONG.
Come, thou monarch of the vine,
Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne!
In thy fats our cares be drown'd,
With thy grapes our hairs be crown'd:
Cup us, till the world go round,
Cup us, till the world go round!
Make battery to our ears with the loud music:
The while I'll place you: then the boy shall sing;
The holding every man shall bear as loud
As his strong sides can volley.
THE SONG.
Come, thou monarch of the vine,
Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne!
In thy fats our cares be drown'd,
With thy grapes our hairs be crown'd:
Cup us, till the world go round,
Cup us, till the world go round!
Octavius Caesar ♂
What would you more? Pompey, good night. Good brother,
Let me request you off: our graver business
Frowns at this levity. Gentle lords, let's part;
You see we have burnt our cheeks: strong Enobarb
Is weaker than the wine; and mine own tongue
Splits what it speaks: the wild disguise hath almost
Antick'd us all. What needs more words? Good night.
Good Antony, your hand.
Let me request you off: our graver business
Frowns at this levity. Gentle lords, let's part;
You see we have burnt our cheeks: strong Enobarb
Is weaker than the wine; and mine own tongue
Splits what it speaks: the wild disguise hath almost
Antick'd us all. What needs more words? Good night.
Good Antony, your hand.
Pompey ♂
I'll try you on the shore.
Mark Antony ♂
And shall, sir; give's your hand.
Pompey ♂
O Antony,
You have my father's house,–But, what? we are friends.
Come, down into the boat.
You have my father's house,–But, what? we are friends.
Come, down into the boat.
Domitius Enobarbus ♂
Take heed you fall not.
Menas, I'll not on shore.
Menas, I'll not on shore.
Menas ♂
No, to my cabin.
These drums! these trumpets, flutes! what!
Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell
To these great fellows: sound and be hang'd, sound out!
These drums! these trumpets, flutes! what!
Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell
To these great fellows: sound and be hang'd, sound out!
Domitius Enobarbus ♂
Ho! says a' There's my cap.
Menas ♂
Ho! Noble captain, come.
161 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Menas | 35 | 21.7% |
| Pompey | 32 | 19.9% |
| Mark Antony | 29 | 18.0% |
| Domitius Enobarbus | 24 | 14.9% |
| Octavius Caesar | 15 | 9.3% |
| Lepidus | 10 | 6.2% |
| First Servant | 9 | 5.6% |
| Second Servant | 7 | 4.3% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 35 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 20 lines.
Total speakers on stage
8 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 2
This is Scene 7 of 7 in Act 2 of Antony and Cleopatra.
Scene length vs. play average
At 161 lines, this scene is longer than the Antony and Cleopatra average scene in Antony and Cleopatra (~85 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 2 Scene 6 · Next: Act 3 Scene 1
About Act 2 Scene 7 of Antony and Cleopatra
Who carries Act 2 Scene 7 of Antony and Cleopatra?
Menas, with 35 lines — about 22% of the scene.
Is the scene a dialogue or a solo?
With 8 speakers and the lead holding 22% of the lines, this scene is a balanced multi-voice exchange.