feat_summary_path: finished_summaries/shmoop/The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra/section_14_part_0.txt
feat_book_id: The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra.act iii.scene iii
feat_summary_id: act iii, scene iii
feat_summary: {"name": "Act III, Scene iii", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20210116191009/https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/antony-cleopatra/summary/act-iii-scene-iii", "summary": "Cleopatra and her servants meet the messenger she had previously whipped. He's bearing news on just how Octavia matches up with Cleopatra in the competition for Antony's affection. The news turns out to be good. He watched Octavia in Rome as she walked between Antony and Caesar. The woman, he reports, isn't beautiful. She's short, brown-haired and round-faced, with a low forehead, walks with a creep instead of a saunter, and she's at least 30. Cleopatra is overjoyed and repents that she cursed Antony. She promises the messenger plenty of gold, and asks forgiveness for that one time when she tried to knife him. Cleopatra's certain that she can win Antony's affections back.", "analysis": ""}
text: SCENE III.
                Alexandria. CLEOPATRA'S palace
  
           Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS
  
    CLEOPATRA. Where is the fellow?
    ALEXAS. Half afeard to come.
    CLEOPATRA. Go to, go to.
  
                  Enter the MESSENGER as before
  
      Come hither, sir.
    ALEXAS. Good Majesty,
      Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you
      But when you are well pleas'd.
    CLEOPATRA. That Herod's head
      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.
    CLEOPATRA. Is she as tall as me?
    MESSENGER. She is not, madam.
    CLEOPATRA. Didst hear her speak? Is she shrill-tongu'd or low?
    MESSENGER. Madam, I heard her speak: she is low-voic'd.
    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.
    MESSENGER. She creeps.
      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.
    CLEOPATRA. He's very knowing;
      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.
    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?
    MESSENGER. Brown, madam; and her forehead
      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 prepar'd.                   Exeunt MESSENGER
  
    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.
    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!
    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.
    CHARMIAN. I warrant you, madam.                         Exeunt
  
  ACT_3|SC_4
  
  
  
  
feat_summary_name: Act III, Scene iii
target: Cleopatra and her servants meet the messenger she had previously whipped. He's bearing news on just how Octavia matches up with Cleopatra in the competition for Antony's affection. The news turns out to be good. He watched Octavia in Rome as she walked between Antony and Caesar. The woman, he reports, isn't beautiful. She's short, brown-haired and round-faced, with a low forehead, walks with a creep instead of a saunter, and she's at least 30. Cleopatra is overjoyed and repents that she cursed Antony. She promises the messenger plenty of gold, and asks forgiveness for that one time when she tried to knife him. Cleopatra's certain that she can win Antony's affections back.