A Queen’s Longing (Antony and Cleopatra)

Themes: Antony and Cleopatra, Desire, Dramatic, Shakespeare
Length: 1 Minute
Gender: Female

[Cleopatra, lost in her thoughts and emotions, speaks to her attendant Charmian about Antony. Her voice fluctuates between longing and despair as she imagines Antony’s actions and yearns for his presence. Her expressions and gestures are intensely dramatic, reflecting the depth of her desire and love.]

O Charmian!
Where think’st thou he is now? Stands he, or sits he?
Or does he walk? or is he on his horse?
O happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony!
Do bravely, horse! for wot’st thou whom thou movest?
The demi-Atlas of this earth, the arm
And burgonet of men. He’s speaking now,
Or murmuring ‘Where’s my serpent of old Nile?’
For so he calls me: now I feed myself
With most delicious poison. Think on me,
That am with Phoebus’ amorous pinches black
And wrinkled deep in time? Broad-fronted Caesar,
When thou wast here above the ground, I was
A morsel for a monarch: and great Pompey
Would stand and make his eyes grow in my brow;
There would he anchor his aspect and die
With looking on his life.