Antony and Cleopatra, Act 3 Scene 3 runs 66 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 3 of Antony and Cleopatra.
Full Dialogue
Cleopatra ♀
Where is the fellow?
Alexas ♂
Half afeard to come.
Cleopatra ♀
Go to, go to.
Come hither, sir.
Come hither, sir.
Alexas ♂
Good majesty,
Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you
But when you are well pleased.
Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you
But when you are well pleased.
Cleopatra ♀
That Herod's head
I'll have: but how, when Antony is gone
Through whom I might command it? Come thou near.
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.
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 ♀
That's not so good: he cannot like her long.
Charmian ♀
Like her! O Isis! 'tis impossible.
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.
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.
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.
Charmian ♀
Three in Egypt
Cannot make better note.
Cannot make better note.
Cleopatra ♀
He's very knowing;
I do perceive't: there's nothing in her yet:
The fellow has good judgment.
I do perceive't: there's nothing in her yet:
The fellow has good judgment.
Charmian ♀
Excellent.
Cleopatra ♀
Guess at her years, I prithee.
Messenger ♂
Madam,
She was a widow,–
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?
Her hair, what colour?
Messenger ♂
Brown, madam: and her forehead
As low as she would wish it.
As low as she would wish it.
Cleopatra ♀
There's gold for thee.
Thou must not take my former sharpness ill:
I will employ thee back again; I find thee
Most fit for business: go make thee ready;
Our letters are prepared.
Thou must not take my former sharpness ill:
I will employ thee back again; I find thee
Most fit for business: go make thee ready;
Our letters are prepared.
Charmian ♀
A proper man.
Cleopatra ♀
Indeed, he is so: I repent me much
That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him,
This creature's no such thing.
That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him,
This creature's no such thing.
Charmian ♀
Nothing, madam.
Cleopatra ♀
The man hath seen some majesty, and should know.
Charmian ♀
Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend,
And serving you so long!
And serving you so long!
Cleopatra ♀
I have one thing more to ask him yet, good Charmian:
But 'tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to me
Where I will write. All may be well enough.
But 'tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to me
Where I will write. All may be well enough.
Charmian ♀
I warrant you, madam.
66 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cleopatra | 35 | 53.0% |
| Messenger | 18 | 27.3% |
| Charmian | 9 | 13.6% |
| Alexas | 4 | 6.1% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 35 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 17 lines.
Total speakers on stage
4 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 3
This is Scene 3 of 13 in Act 3 of Antony and Cleopatra.
Scene length vs. play average
At 66 lines, this scene is shorter than the Antony and Cleopatra average scene in Antony and Cleopatra (~85 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 3 Scene 2 · Next: Act 3 Scene 4
About Act 3 Scene 3 of Antony and Cleopatra
Who carries Act 3 Scene 3 of Antony and Cleopatra?
Cleopatra, with 35 lines — about 53% of the scene.
Is the scene a dialogue or a solo?
With 4 speakers and the lead holding 53% of the lines, this scene is a balanced multi-voice exchange.