The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)
Page 463
Never get very far. You will write to Antony!
VENTIDIUS
I'll humbly signify what in his name,
I'll humbly tell him what in his name,
That magical word of war, we have effected;
That magical word of war, we have made happen;
How, with his banners and his well-paid ranks,
How, with his flags and his well-paid soldiers,
The ne'er-yet-beaten horse of Parthia
The never-before-beaten Parthia
We have jaded out o' the field.
We have defeated.
SILIUS
Where is he now?
Where is he now?
VENTIDIUS
He purposeth to Athens: whither, with what haste
He has rushed off to Athens: which is where, with whatever speed
The weight we must convey with's will permit,
The weight we have to take with us will allow,
We shall appear before him. On there; pass along!
We will appear in front of him. Go on there; pass it along!
Exeunt
Enter AGRIPPA at one door, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS at another
AGRIPPA
What, are the brothers parted?
What, have the brothers been separated?
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
They have dispatch'd with Pompey, he is gone;
They have finished with Pompey, he is gone;
The other three are sealing. Octavia weeps
The other three are recovering. Octavia cries
To part from Rome; Caesar is sad; and Lepidus,
To be separated from Rome; Caesar is sad, and Lepidus
Since Pompey's feast, as Menas says, is troubled
Since Pompey's feast, as Menas says, has been affected
With the green sickness.
With sickness.
AGRIPPA
'Tis a noble Lepidus.
He is a noble Lepidus.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
A very fine one: O, how he loves Caesar!
A very fine one: oh, how he loves Caesar!
AGRIPPA
Nay, but how dearly he adores Mark Antony!
No, but how dearly he adores Mark Antony!
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
Caesar? Why, he's the Jupiter of men.
Caesar? Why, he's a leader god of men.
AGRIPPA
What's Antony? The god of Jupiter.
What is Antony, then? The god to a god.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
Spake you of Caesar? How! the non-pareil!
Did you speak of Caesar? How! The example of perfection!
AGRIPPA
O Antony! O thou Arabian bird!
Oh Antony! Oh you Arabian bird!
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
Would you praise Caesar, say 'Caesar:' go no further.
If you want to praise Caesar, just say 'Caesar:' go no further.
AGRIPPA
Indeed, he plied them both with excellent praises.
Indeed, he flattered them both with excellent praises.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
But he loves Caesar best; yet he loves Antony:
But he loves Caesar best; still he loves Antony:Ho! hearts, tongues, figures, scribes, bards, poets cannot
Hey! Hearts, words, numbers, writers, singers, poets cannot
Think, speak, cast, write, sing, number, ho!
Think, speak, show, write, sing, number, hey!
His love to Antony. But as for Caesar,
His love for Antony. But as for Caesar,
Kneel down, kneel down, and wonder.
Kneel down, kneel down, and be amazed.
AGRIPPA
Both he loves.
He loves both.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
They are his shards, and he their beetle.
They are his fragments, and he their beetle.
Trumpets within
So;This is to horse. Adieu, noble Agrippa.
I must go to my horse. Goodbye, noble Agrippa.
AGRIPPA
Good fortune, worthy soldier; and farewell.
Good luck, worthy soldier, and farewell.
Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, MARK ANTONY, LEPIDUS, and OCTAVIA
MARK ANTONY
No further, sir.
No farther, sir.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
You take from me a great part of myself;
You take from me a large part of myself;
Use me well in 't. Sister, prove such a wife
Take good care of her. Sister, be the kind of wife
As my thoughts make thee, and as my farthest band
As I think you can be, and as my farthest people
Shall pass on thy approof. Most noble Antony,
Can approve of. Most noble Antony,
Let not the piece of virtue, which is set
Let not this example of goodness, which has been put
Betwixt us as the cement of our love,
Between us as the cement of our love,
To keep it builded, be the ram to batter
To keep it built up, turn out to be the battering ram
The fortress of it; for better might we
To bring down the fortress of it: for it would be better
Have loved without this mean, if on both parts
To have loved without this reason, if on both parts
This be not cherish'd.
It is not respected and treasured.
MARK ANTONY
Make me not offended
Do not offend me
In your distrust.
With your distrust.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
I have said.
I have spoken.
MARK ANTONY
You shall not find,
You will not find,
Though you be therein curious, the least cause
Though you seem to be worried about it, the least reason
For what you seem to fear: so, the gods keep you,
For your fears: so, may the gods take care of you,
And make the hearts of Romans serve your ends!
And may the hearts of Romans do as you want!
We will here part.
We will leave now.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
Farewell, my dearest sister, fare thee well:
Goodbye, my dearest sister, farewell:
The elements be kind to thee, and make
May the world be kind to you, and make
Thy spirits all of comfort! fare thee well.
Your spirits full of comfort! Farewell.
OCTAVIA
My noble brother!
My noble brother!
MARK ANTONY
The April 's in her eyes: it is love's spring,
April is in her eyes: it is love's spring,
And these the showers to bring it on. Be cheerful.
And here is the rain to bring it on. Be cheerful.
OCTAVIA
Sir, look well to my husband's house; and--
Sir, take care of my husband's house; and --
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
What, Octavia?
Yes, Octavia?
OCTAVIA
I'll tell you in your ear.
I'll whisper in your ear.
MARK ANTONY
Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can
Her words will not obey her heart, nor can
Her heart inform her tongue,--the swan's down-feather,
Her heart control her words, -- the swan's downy feather,
That stands upon the swell at full of tide,
That stands upon the ocean wave,
And neither way inclines.
And does not tilt either way.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
[Aside to AGRIPPA] Will Caesar weep?
Is Caesar going to cry?
AGRIPPA
[Aside to DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS] He has a cloud in
's face.
He has a cloud in his face.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
[Aside to AGRIPPA] He were the worse for that,
He would be the worse for that,
were he a horse;
if he were a horse;
So is he, being a man.
And so he is, being a man.
AGRIPPA
[Aside to DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS] Why, Enobarbus,When Antony found Julius Caesar dead,
When Antony found Julius Caesar dead,He cried almost to roaring; and he wept
He cried until he was almost screaming; and he sobbed
When at Philippi he found Brutus slain.
When he found Brutus killed at Philippi.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
[Aside to AGRIPPA] That year, indeed, he was
That year, also, he wastroubled with a rheum;
troubled with a painful sickness:
What willingly he did confound he wail'd,
What he willingly dealt with made him cry,
Believe't, till I wept too.
Believe it, until I cried too.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
No, sweet Octavia,
No, sweet Octavia,You shall hear from me still; the time shall not
You will still hear from me; the time will not
Out-go my thinking on you.
Stop me thinking of you.
MARK ANTONY
Come, sir, come;
Come on, sir, come on;
I'll wrestle with you in my strength of love:
I'll wrestle with you over how strong my love is:
Look, here I have you; thus I let you go,
Look, here I have you; and like this I let you go,
And give you to the gods.
And give you to the gods.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
Adieu; be happy!
Goodbye; be happy!
LEPIDUS
Let all the number of the stars give light
May all of the stars give light
To thy fair way!
To your beautiful way!
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
Farewell, farewell!
Farewell, farewell!
Kisses OCTAVIA
MARK ANTONY
Farewell!
Farewell!
Trumpets sound. Exeunt
Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS
CLEOPATRA
Where is the fellow?
Where is the man?
ALEXAS
Half afeard to come.
Half afraid to come.
CLEOPATRA
Go to, go to.
Go on, go on.
Enter the Messenger as before
Come hither, sir.
Come here, sir.
ALEXAS
Good majesty,
My good queen,
Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you
Even Herod of the Jews would not dare to look at you
But when you are well pleased.
Except when you are pleaed.
CLEOPATRA
That Herod's head
That traitor's headI'll have: but how, when Antony is gone
I want: but how, when Antony is gone
Through whom I might command it? Come thou near.
Whom should I command it through? Come closer.
Messenger
Most gracious majesty,--
Most kind ruler,--
CLEOPATRA
Didst thou behold Octavia?
Did you see Octavia?
Messenger
Ay, dread queen.
Yes, fearsome queen.
CLEOPATRA
Where?
Where?
Messenger
Madam, in Rome;
In Rome, Madam;I look'd her in the face, and saw her led
I looked her in the face, and saw her being led
Between her brother and Mark Antony.
Between her brother and Mark Antony.
CLEOPATRA
Is she as tall as me?
Is she as tall as I am?
Messenger
She is not, madam.
She isn't.
CLEOPATRA
Didst hear her speak? is she shrill-tongued or low?
Did you hear her speak? Does she have a high or low voice?
Messenger
Madam, I heard her speak; she is low-voiced.
Madam, I heard her speak; she has a low voice.
CLEOPATRA
That's not so good: he cannot like her long.
That is not good for her: he cannot like her long.
CHARMIAN
Like her! O Isis! 'tis impossible.
Like her! Oh Isis! That would be impossible.
CLEOPATRA
I think so, Charmian: dull of tongue, and dwarfish!
I think so, Charmian: dull-sounding, and dwarfish!
What majesty is in her gait? Remember,
What grace is their in her walk? Remember,
If e'er thou look'dst on majesty.
If you ever saw gracefulness.
Messenger
She creeps:
She creeps:Her motion and her station are as one;
Her motion and her position are the same;
She shows a body rather than a life,
She seems more like a body than a living person,
A statue than a breather.
A statue rather than someone breathing.
CLEOPATRA
Is this certain?
Are you sure?
Messenger
Or I have no observance.
Or else I have no powers of observation.
CHARMIAN
Three in Egypt
Three Egyptians
Cannot make better note.
Could not be more observing.
CLEOPATRA
He's very knowing;
He is very wise;
I do perceive't: there's nothing in her yet:
I can see it: there's no threat from her yet:
The fellow has good judgment.
The man has good judgment.
CHARMIAN
Excellent.
Excellent.
CLEOPATRA
Guess at her years, I prithee.
Guess how old she is, please.
Messenger
Madam,
Madam,She was a widow,--
She was a widow,--
CLEOPATRA
Widow! Charmian, hark.
Widow! Charmian, pay attention.
Messenger
And I do think she's thirty.
And I think she's thirty.
CLEOPATRA
Bear'st thou her face in mind? is't long or round?
Do you have her face in your mind's eye? Is it long or round?
Messenger
Round even to faultiness.
A bit too round.
CLEOPATRA
For the most part, too, they are foolish that are so.
Most of the time, too, round-faced women are foolish.
Her hair, what colour?
What color is her hair?
Messenger
Brown, madam: and her forehead
Brown, madam: and her foreheadAs low as she would wish it.
Is as low as it could be.
CLEOPATRA
There's gold for thee.
Here's some gold for you.
Thou must not take my former sharpness ill:
You must not be too offended by my earlier harshness:
I will employ thee back again; I find thee
I will hire you again; I find you
Most fit for business: go make thee ready;
Very suitable fore business: go make yourself ready;
Our letters are prepared.
My letters have been prepared.
Exit Messenger
CHARMIAN
A proper man.
A good man.
CLEOPAT
RA
Indeed, he is so: I repent me much
Yes, he is: I very much regret
That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him,
That I caused him so much trouble. Why, I think, through him,
This creature's no such thing.
This woman isn't much of anything.
CHARMIAN
Nothing, madam.
Nothing, madam.
CLEOPATRA
The man hath seen some majesty, and should know.
This man has seen some grace and dignity, and should know.
CHARMIAN
Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend,
Has he seen grace and dignity? By Isis,
And serving you so long!
Of course he would have after serving you for so long!
CLEOPATRA
I have one thing more to ask him yet, good Charmian:
I have one more thing to ask him still, good Charmian:
But 'tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to me
But it's no matter; you will bring him to me
Where I will write. All may be well enough.
Where I will be writing. All may turn out all right.
CHARMIAN
I warrant you, madam.
I am sure it will, madam.
Exeunt
Enter MARK ANTONY and OCTAVIA
MARK ANTONY
Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that,--
No, no, Octavia, not only that, --
That were excusable, that, and thousands more
That could be excused, that, and thousands more
Of semblable import,--but he hath waged
Of similar importance, -- but he has fought
New wars 'gainst Pompey; made his will, and read it
New wars against Pompey; made his will, and read it