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 VI Rome. Octavius Caesar's house.
[Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, AGRIPPA, and MECAENAS]
OCTAVIUS CAESARContemning Rome, he has done all this, and more,
In Alexandria: here's the manner of 't:
I' the market-place, on a tribunal silver'd,
Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold
Were publicly enthroned: at the feet sat5
Caesarion, whom they call my father's son,
And all the unlawful issue that their lust
Since then hath made between them. Unto her
He gave the stablishment of Egypt; made her
Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia,10
Absolute queen.
MECAENASThis in the public eye?
OCTAVIUS CAESARI' the common show-place, where they exercise.
His sons he there proclaim'd the kings of kings:
Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia.15
He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assign'd
Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia: she
In the habiliments of the goddess Isis
That day appear'd; and oft before gave audience,
As 'tis reported, so.20
MECAENASLet Rome be thus Inform'd.
AGRIPPAWho, queasy with his insolence
Already, will their good thoughts call from him.
OCTAVIUS CAESARThe people know it; and have now received
His accusations.25
AGRIPPAWho does he accuse?
OCTAVIUS CAESARCaesar: and that, having in Sicily
Sextus Pompeius spoil'd, we had not rated him
His part o' the isle: then does he say, he lent me
Some shipping unrestored: lastly, he frets30
That Lepidus of the triumvirate
Should be deposed; and, being, that we detain
All his revenue.
AGRIPPASir, this should be answer'd.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR'Tis done already, and the messenger gone.35
I have told him, Lepidus was grown too cruel;
That he his high authority abused,
And did deserve his change: for what I have conquer'd,
I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia,
And other of his conquer'd kingdoms, I40
Demand the like.
MECAENASHe'll never yield to that.
OCTAVIUS CAESARNor must not then be yielded to in this.
[Enter OCTAVIA with her train]
OCTAVIAHail, Caesar, and my lord! hail, most dear Caesar!
OCTAVIUS CAESARThat ever I should call thee castaway!45
OCTAVIAYou have not call'd me so, nor have you cause.
OCTAVIUS CAESARWhy have you stol'n upon us thus! You come not
Like Caesar's sister: the wife of Antony
Should have an army for an usher, and
The neighs of horse to tell of her approach50
Long ere she did appear; the trees by the way
Should have borne men; and expectation fainted,
Longing for what it had not; nay, the dust
Should have ascended to the roof of heaven,
Raised by your populous troops: but you are come55
A market-maid to Rome; and have prevented
The ostentation of our love, which, left unshown,
Is often left unloved; we should have met you
By sea and land; supplying every stage
With an augmented greeting.60
OCTAVIAGood my lord,
To come thus was I not constrain'd, but did
On my free will. My lord, Mark Antony,
Hearing that you prepared for war, acquainted
My grieved ear withal; whereon, I begg'd65
His pardon for return.
OCTAVIUS CAESARWhich soon he granted,
Being an obstruct 'tween his lust and him.
OCTAVIADo not say so, my lord.
OCTAVIUS CAESARI have eyes upon him,70
And his affairs come to me on the wind.
Where is he now?
OCTAVIAMy lord, in Athens.
OCTAVIUS CAESARNo, my most wronged sister; Cleopatra
Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire75
Up to a whore; who now are levying
The kings o' the earth for war; he hath assembled
Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus,
Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king
Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas;80
King Malchus of Arabia; King of Pont;
Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, king
Of Comagene; Polemon and Amyntas,
The kings of Mede and Lycaonia,
With a more larger list of sceptres.85
OCTAVIAAy me, most wretched,
That have my heart parted betwixt two friends
That do afflict each other!
OCTAVIUS CAESARWelcome hither:
Your letters did withhold our breaking forth;90
Till we perceived, both how you were wrong led,
And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart;
Be you not troubled with the time, which drives
O'er your content these strong necessities;
But let determined things to destiny95
Hold unbewail'd their way. Welcome to Rome;
Nothing more dear to me. You are abused
Beyond the mark of thought: and the high gods,
To do you justice, make them ministers
Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort;100
And ever welcome to us.
AGRIPPAWelcome, lady.
MECAENASWelcome, dear madam.
Each heart in Rome does love and pity you:
Only the adulterous Antony, most large105
In his abominations, turns you off;
And gives his potent regiment to a trull,
That noises it against us.
OCTAVIAIs it so, sir?
OCTAVIUS CAESARMost certain. Sister, welcome: pray you,110
Be ever known to patience: my dear'st sister!
[Exeunt]
