Antony and Cleopatra

by William Shakespeare

RenaissanceDrama
26,764 words42 chapters~108 min read
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Shakespeare's Renaissance drama follows the passionate but politically destructive romance between Roman general Mark Antony and Egyptian queen Cleopatra. Their love affair threatens Antony's military duties and political alliances, ultimately leading to tragic consequences as personal desire clashes with the demands of empire.

Opening lines

Nay, but this dotage of our general’s O’erflows the measure. Those his goodly eyes, That o’er the files and musters of the war Have glowed like plated Mars, now bend, now turn The office and devotion of their view Upon a tawny front. His captain’s heart, Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper And is become the bellows and the fan To cool a gipsy’s lust. There’s beggary in the love that can be reckoned. Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth.
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About William Shakespeare

An English playwright and poet from Stratford-upon-Avon (1564-1616) who transformed theater with timeless works like Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and Macbeth. His profound exploration of human nature, masterful use of language, and innovative storytelling techniques revolutionized drama and continue to captivate audiences worldwide four centuries later. All works by William Shakespeare

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