The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)
Page 464
To public ear:
For the public to hear:
Spoke scantly of me: when perforce he could not
Which hardly mentioned me: when it happened that he could not
But pay me terms of honour, cold and sickly
Do anything but pay me terms of honor, cold and weak
He vented them; most narrow measure lent me:
He spoke them; he gave me the least honor he could:
When the best hint was given him, he not took't,
When he was given a hint, he either didn't take it,
Or did it from his teeth.
Or did through his teeth.
OCTAVIA
O my good lord,
Oh, my good husband,
Believe not all; or, if you must believe,
Do not believe it all; or, if you must believe,
Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady,
Do not be upset by all. A more unhappy lady,
If this division chance, ne'er stood between,
If this tears you apart, has never had to stand between,Praying for both parts:
Praying for both sides:The good gods me presently,
The good gods towards me soon,
When I shall pray, 'O bless my lord and husband!'
When I will pray, 'Oh bless my honored husband!'
Undo that prayer, by crying out as loud,
Undo that prayer, by crying out as loudly,'O, bless my brother!' Husband win, win brother,
'Oh, bless my brother!' If the husband wins, or the brother wins
Prays, and destroys the prayer; no midway
The prays destroy the prayers: there is no midway
'Twixt these extremes at all.
Between those extremes at all.
MARK ANTONY
Gentle Octavia,
Gentle Octavia,Let your best love draw to that point, which seeks
Let your best love take you to that point, which searches
Best to preserve it: if I lose mine honour,
For how best to preserve it: if I lose my honor,
I lose myself: better I were not yours
I lost myself: it would be better if I were not yours
Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested,
Than yours so without branches. But, as you requested,
Yourself shall go between 's: the mean time, lady,
You will go between us: in the mean time, lady,
I'll raise the preparation of a war
I'll begin preparing for war
Shall stain your brother: make your soonest haste;
That will ruin your brother: hurry as best you can;
So your desires are yours.
So you go with what you really want.
OCTAVIA
Thanks to my lord.
Thank you to my husband.
The Jove of power make me most weak, most weak,
The god of power makes me weak, very weak,Your reconciler! Wars 'twixt you twain would be
Your diplomat! Wars between you two would be
As if the world should cleave, and that slain men
As if the world would split, and killed men
Should solder up the rift.
Would fill up the crack.
MARK ANTONY
When it appears to you where this begins,
When you come to a decision where this began,
Turn your displeasure that way: for our faults
Turn your blame that way: for our faults
Can never be so equal, that your love
Can never be equal enough to allow your love
Can equally move with them. Provide your going;
To equally move between them. Prepare for leaving;
Choose your own company, and command what cost
Choose your own company, and pay the price
Your heart has mind to.
Your heart decides upon.
Exeunt
Enter DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS and EROS, meeting
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
How now, friend Eros!
What's going on, my friend Eros?
EROS
There's strange news come, sir.
There is strange news now, sir.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
What, man?
What?
EROS
Caesar and Lepidus have made wars upon Pompey.
Caesar and Lepidus have fought Pompey.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
This is old: what is the success?
I knew that: what is the result?
EROS
Caesar, having made use of him in the wars 'gainst
Caesar, having made use of him in the wars against
Pompey, presently denied him rivality; would not let
Pompey, soon after would not share with him, would not let
him partake in the glory of the action: and not
him take part in the glory of the action: and not
resting here, accuses him of letters he had formerly
resting here, accused him of betraying him in letters
wrote to Pompey; upon his own appeal, seizes him: so
written to Pompey: and put him in prison, so
the poor third is up, till death enlarge his confine.
the poor third is out of the game, until death frees him.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
Then, world, thou hast a pair of chaps, no more;
Then, world, you have a pair of gears, no more;
And throw between them all the food thou hast,
And throw between them all the food you have,
They'll grind the one the other. Where's Antony?
And they'll grind each other. Where's Antony?
EROS
He's walking in the garden--thus; and spurns
He's walking in the garden --- like this; and avoids
The rush that lies before him; cries, 'Fool Lepidus!'
The work that is in front of him; yells, 'Fool Lepidus!'
And threats the throat of that his officer
And threatens the throat of the officer
That murder'd Pompey.
That murdered Pompey.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
Our great navy's rigg'd.
Our great navy is ready.
EROS
For Italy and Caesar. More, Domitius;
For Italy and Caesar. More, Domitius;My lord desires you presently: my news
My lord wants to talk to you: my news
I might have told hereafter.
I could have told afterwards.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
'Twill be naught:
It makes no difference:
But let it be. Bring me to Antony.
But leave it alone. Take me to Antony.
EROS
Come, sir.
Exeunt
Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, AGRIPPA, and MECAENAS
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
Contemning Rome, he has done all this, and more,
Condemning Rome, he has done all this, and more
In Alexandria: here's the manner of 't:
In Alexandria: here is how it happened:
I' the market-place, on a tribunal silver'd,
In the market-place, on a silver-plated stage,
Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold
Cleopatra and Mark Antony in gold chairs,Were publicly enthroned: at the feet sat
Were throned in public: at their feet sat
Caesarion, whom they call my father's son,
Caesarion, whom they call my father's son,And all the unlawful issue that their lust
And all the illegitimate offspring that their lust
Since then hath made between them. Unto her
Has since been made betweem them. To her
He gave the stablishment of Egypt; made her
He gave her the ruling of Egypt; made her
Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia,
; Of lower Syria, Cyprus, and LydiaAbsolute queen.
Absolute ruler.
MECAENAS
This in the public eye?
This in front of the common people?
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
I' the common show-place, where they exercise.
In the common show-place, where they exercise.
His sons he there proclaim'd the kings of kings:
His sons he called the kings of kings there:
Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia,
Great Media, Parthia, and ArmeniaHe gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assign'd
He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he gave
Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia: she
Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia, sheIn the habiliments of the goddess Isis
In the clothing of the goddess Isis
That day appear'd; and oft before gave audience,
Appeared that day; and had often before received visitorsAs 'tis reported, so.
As it is reported, in that way.
MECAENAS
Let Rome be thus inform'd.
Let Rome be informed about this.
AGRIPPA
Who, queasy with his insolence
Who, uncomfortable with his rudeness
Already, will their good thoughts call from him.
Already, will stop thinking good thoughts about him.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
The people know it; and have now received
The people know it; and now know about
His accusations.
His accusations.
AGRIPPA
Who does he accuse?
Whom does he accuse?
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
Caesar: and that, having in Sicily
Caesar: that, having in Sicily
Sextus Pompeius spoil'd, we had not rated him
Ruined Sextus Pompeius, we have not given him
His part o' the isle: then does he say, he lent me
His part of the island: then he says he lent me
Some shipping unrestored: lastly, he frets
Some ships that were not returned: finally, he worries
That Lepidus of the triumvirate
That Lepidus of the three-way rule
Should be deposed; and, being, that we detain
Was deposed; and, this happening, that we hold back
All his revenue.
All his money.
AGRIPPA
Sir, this should be answer'd.
Sir, this should be answered.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
'Tis done already, and the messenger gone.
It is done already, and the messenger gone.
I have told him, Lepidus was grown too cruel;
I have told him that Lepidus had become too cruel;
That he his high authority abused,
And that he abused his high authority,
And did deserve his change: for what I have conquer'd,
And deserved to be deposed: for what I have conquered
I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia,
I gave him part; but then, in his Armenia
And other of his conquer'd kingdoms, I
And his other conquered kingdoms, I
Demand the like.
Demand the same treatment.
MECAENAS
He'll never yield to that.
He'll never give in to that.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
Nor must not then be yielded to in this.
And we must not give in to him.
Enter OCTAVIA with her train
OCTAVIA
Hail, Caesar, and my lord! hail, most dear Caesar!
Greetings, Caesar, and my brother! Greetings, most beloved Caesar!
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
That ever I should call thee castaway!
That I ever would have to call you a castaway!
OCTAVIA
You have not call'd me so, nor have you cause.
You have not called me that, and you have no reason to.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
Why have you stol'n upon us thus! You come not
Why have you crept up on us like this? You do not come
Like Caesar's sister: the wife of Antony
Like Caesar's sister: Mark Antony's wifeShould have an army for an usher, and
Should have an army for a guide, and
The neighs of horse to tell of her approach
The neighs of horses to reveal her coming
Long ere she did appear; the trees by the way
Long before she appears; the trees beside the path
Should have borne men; and expectation fainted,
Should have been full of men; and expectation fainted,
Longing for what it had not; nay, the dust
Longing for what it did not have; no, the dust
Should have ascended to the roof of heaven,
Should have climbed to the sky,
Raised by your populous troops: but you are come
Raised by your many troops: but you have come
A market-maid to Rome; and have prevented
Like an ordinary woman to Rome; and have prevented
The ostentation of our love, which, left unshown,
A fancy show of our love, which, left not shown,Is often left unloved; we should have met you
Is often not loved; we should have met youBy sea and land; supplying every stage
By sea and land; adding to every stage
With an augmented greeting.
With an elaborate greeting.
OCTAVIA
Good my lord,
My good lord,
To come thus was I not constrain'd, but did
I was not required to come this way, but did
On my free will. My lord, Mark Antony,
Of my own free will. My lord, Mark Antony,
Hearing that you prepared for war, acquainted
Hearing that you were preparing for war, let
My grieved ear withal; whereon, I begg'd
Me know about it; after which, I begged
His pardon for return.
His pardon to let me return.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
Which soon he granted,
Which he quickly granted,
Being an obstruct 'tween his lust and him.
Since you were an obstacle between his lust and him.
OCTAVIA
Do not say so, my lord.
Don't say that, my lord.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
I have eyes upon him,
I have spies watching him,
And his affairs come to me on the wind.
And I learn about his affairs.
Where is he now?
Where is he now?
OCTAVIA
My lord, in Athens.
In Athens, my lord.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
No, my most wronged sister; Cleopatra
No, my much-wronged sister; CleopatraHath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire
Has pulled him to her. He has given his empire
Up to a whore; who now are levying
Up to a whore; who are now organizing
The kings o' the earth for war; he hath assembled
The kings of the Earth for war; he has assembled
Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus,
Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus,Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king
Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, kingOf Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas;
Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas;King Malchus of Arabia; King of Pont;
King Malchus of Arabia; King of Pont;Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, king
Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, kingOf Comagene; Polemon and Amyntas,
Of Comagene; Polemon and Amyntas,The kings of Mede and Lycaonia,
The kings of Mede and Lycaonia,With a more larger list of sceptres.
And there is an even larger list of rulers.
OCTAVIA
Ay me, most wretched,
Oh me, so unfortunate
That have my heart parted betwixt two friends
To have my heart separated between two friends
That do afflict each other!
That are having such problems with each other!
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
Welcome hither:
Welcome here:
Your letters did withhold our breaking forth;
Your letters did keep us from breaking apart;
Till we perceived, both how you were wrong led,
Until we saw, both how how wrong you had been treated
And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart;
And how much careless danger we were in. Cheer up;
Be you not troubled with the time, which drives
Do not be troubled with the time, which drives
O'er your content these strong necessities;
Over your contentment these things that must be;
But let determined things to destiny
But let decided things to destiny
Hold unbewail'd their way. Welcome to Rome;
Go on without being cried over. Welcome to Rome;
Nothing more dear to me. You are abused
There is nothing more loved by me. You have been abused
Beyond the mark of thought: and the high gods,
Beyond what anyone could have thought; and the high gods,
To do you justice, make them ministers
To do you justice, make them servants
Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort;
Of us and those that love you. Be comforted;
And ever welcome to us.
And always be welcome to us.
AGRIPPA
Welcome, lady.
Welcome, lady.
MECAENAS
Welcome, dear madam.
Welcome, dear madam.Each heart in Rome does love and pity you:
Every heart in Rome loves and pities you:
Only the adulterous Antony, most large
Only the unfaithful Antony, terrible
In his abominations, turns you off;
In his sins, pushes you away;
And gives his potent regiment to a trull,
And gives his armies to a slut,
That noises it against us.