In Cleopatra’s palace, Cleopatra questions a messenger about Octavia, Antony’s new wife, after first making him nervous through Alexas. She presses him for details about Octavia’s appearance, voice, height, age, face, hair, and manner. The messenger, who has seen Octavia in Rome between Antony and Caesar, describes her as short, low-voiced, plain, and lifeless in movement. Cleopatra uses every answer to reassure herself that Antony will not be satisfied with her for long. After mocking Octavia and listening to Charmian’s agreement, Cleopatra rewards the messenger, apologizes for her harshness, and decides to use him again for business before returning to write letters.
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