This riveting tragedy presents one of Shakespeare's greatest female characters—the seductive, cunning Egyptian queen, Cleopatra. Mark Antony, a virtual prisoner of his passion for her, is torn between pleasure and virtue, between sensual indolence and duty...
作者：William Shakespeare，1564-1616，英国文艺复兴时期最伟大的剧作家、诗人、文学家；朗读：苑溪仙；播出时间：晚9点。
本集文本如下：
ACT III SCENE XII Egypt. Octavius Caesar's camp.
[Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, DOLABELLA, THYREUS, with others]
OCTAVIUS CAESARLet him appear that's come from Antony.
Know you him?
DOLABELLACaesar, 'tis his schoolmaster:
An argument that he is pluck'd, when hither
He sends so poor a pinion off his wing,5
Which had superfluous kings for messengers
Not many moons gone by.
[Enter EUPHRONIUS, ambassador from MARK ANTONY]
OCTAVIUS CAESARApproach, and speak.
EUPHRONIUSSuch as I am, I come from Antony:
I was of late as petty to his ends10
As is the morn-dew on the myrtle-leaf
To his grand sea.
OCTAVIUS CAESARBe't so: declare thine office.
EUPHRONIUSLord of his fortunes he salutes thee, and
Requires to live in Egypt: which not granted,15
He lessens his requests; and to thee sues
To let him breathe between the heavens and earth,
A private man in Athens: this for him.
Next, Cleopatra does confess thy greatness;
Submits her to thy might; and of thee craves20
The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs,
Now hazarded to thy grace.
OCTAVIUS CAESARFor Antony,
I have no ears to his request. The queen
Of audience nor desire shall fail, so she25
From Egypt drive her all-disgraced friend,
Or take his life there: this if she perform,
She shall not sue unheard. So to them both.
EUPHRONIUSFortune pursue thee!
OCTAVIUS CAESARBring him through the bands.30
[Exit EUPHRONIUS]
[To THYREUS] To try eloquence, now 'tis time: dispatch;
From Antony win Cleopatra: promise,
And in our name, what she requires; add more,
From thine invention, offers: women are not
In their best fortunes strong; but want will perjure35
The ne'er touch'd vestal: try thy cunning, Thyreus;
Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we
Will answer as a law.
THYREUSCaesar, I go.
OCTAVIUS CAESARObserve how Antony becomes his flaw,40
And what thou think'st his very action speaks
In every power that moves.
THYREUSCaesar, I shall.
[Exeunt]
