Monologue

Cleopatra Monologue from Antony and Cleopatra

From Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare

female · anguished · 2:25 min

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Give me my robe. Put on my crown. I have Immortal longings in me. Now no more The juice of Egypt’s grape shall moist this lip. Yare, yare, good Iras; quick. Methinks I hear Antony call. I see him rouse himself To praise my noble act. I hear him mock The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men To excuse their after wrath. Husband, I come! Now to that name my courage prove my title! I am fire and air; my other elements I give to baser life.—So, have you done? Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips. Farewell, kind Charmian. Iras, long farewell. (Kisses them. Iras falls and dies.) Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall? If thou and nature can so gently part, The stroke of death is as a lover’s pinch, Which hurts and is desired. Dost thou lie still? If thus thou vanishest, thou tell’st the world It is not worth leave-taking. (CHARMIAN: Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain, that I may say The gods themselves do weep!) This proves me base. If she first meet the curled Antony, He’ll make demand of her, and spend that kiss Which is my heaven to have.—Come, thou mortal wretch, (To an asp, which she applies to her breast.) With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate Of life at once untie. Poor venomous fool, Be angry and dispatch. O couldst thou speak, That I might hear thee call great Caesar ass Unpolicied! (CHARMIAN: O eastern star!) Peace, peace! Dost thou not see my baby at my breast That sucks the nurse asleep?

About this piece

Cleopatra prepares for her final moments, reflecting on her love for Antony and the inevitability of death, as she embraces her fate with both courage and sorrow.

30s · longing · death · love · identity · power

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