The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)

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The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) Page 473

by William Shakespeare


  PROCULEIUS

  So, Dolabella,

  So, Dolabella,It shall content me best: be gentle to her.

  I would like you to be gentle to her.

  To CLEOPATRA

  To Caesar I will speak what you shall please,

  I will say to Caesar what you want,

  If you'll employ me to him.

  If you'll send me to him.

  CLEOPATRA

  Say, I would die.

  Say I want to die.

  Exeunt PROCULEIUS and Soldiers

  DOLABELLA

  Most noble empress, you have heard of me?

  My noble empress, you have heard of me?

  CLEOPATRA

  I cannot tell.

  I don't know.

  DOLABELLA

  Assuredly you know me.

  You must know me.

  CLEOPATRA

  No matter, sir, what I have heard or known.

  It does not matter, sir, what I have heard or known.

  You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams;

  You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams;Is't not your trick?

  Isn't that your trick?

  DOLABELLA

  I understand not, madam.

  I don't understand, madam.

  CLEOPATRA

  I dream'd there was an Emperor Antony:

  I dreamed there was an Emperor Antony:

  O, such another sleep, that I might see

  Oh, may I sleep like that again, so I might see

  But such another man!

  Another man like that!

  DOLABELLA

  If it might please ye,--

  If it pleases you, --

  CLEOPATRA

  His face was as the heavens; and therein stuck

  His face was like the sky; and in there was stuck

  A sun and moon, which kept their course,

  A sun and moon, which stayed on their path,

  and lightedThe little O, the earth.

  The little circle, the Earth.

  DOLABELLA

  Most sovereign creature,--

  Honorable ruler,--

  CLEOPATRA

  His legs bestrid the ocean: his rear'd arm

  His legs crossed the ocean: his raised arm

  Crested the world: his voice was propertied

  Was over the world: his voice was as loud

  As all the tuned spheres, and that to friends;

  As any planet, and that to friends;

  But when he meant to quail and shake the orb,

  But when he meant to frighten and shake the sphere,

  He was as rattling thunder. For his bounty,

  He was like rattling thunder. As for his wealth,

  There was no winter in't; an autumn 'twas

  There was no winter in it; it was an autumn

  That grew the more by reaping: his delights

  That grew the more it was harvested: his delights

  Were dolphin-like; they show'd his back above

  Were like the playing of a dolphin; they showed his back above

  The element they lived in: in his livery

  The water they lived in: in his clothes

  Walk'd crowns and crownets; realms and islands were

  Were crowns and jewels; kingdoms and islands were

  As plates dropp'd from his pocket.

  Like plates dropped from his pocket.

  DOLABELLA

  Cleopatra!

  Cleopara!

  CLEOPATRA

  Think you there was, or might be, such a man

  Do you think there was, or might be, a man

  As this I dream'd of?

  Like this that I dreamed of?

  DOLABELLA

  Gentle madam, no.

  Gentle lady, no.

  CLEOPATRA

  You lie, up to the hearing of the gods.

  You lie, in the hearing of the gods.

  But, if there be, or ever were, one such,

  But, if there ever would be, or ever were, on like that

  It's past the size of dreaming: nature wants stuff

  It's bigger than can be dreamed: nature needs stuff

  To vie strange forms with fancy; yet, to imagine

  To compete strange forms with imagination; yet, to imagine

  And Antony, were nature's piece 'gainst fancy,

  And Antony, was nature's argument against imagination,

  Condemning shadows quite.

  Driving the shadows away.

  DOLABELLA

  Hear me, good madam.

  Listen to me, good madam.

  Your loss is as yourself, great; and you bear it

  Your loss is like you, important; and you carry it

  As answering to the weight: would I might never

  According to your own importance: I wish that I might never

  O'ertake pursued success, but I do feel,

  Go beyond chased success, but I do feel,

  By the rebound of yours, a grief that smites

  By the tragedy of yours, a grief that hits

  My very heart at root.

  The very bottom of my heart.

  CLEOPATRA

  I thank you, sir,

  Thank you, sir.Know you what Caesar means to do with me?

  Do you know what Caesar means to do to me?

  DOLABELLA

  I am loath to tell you what I would you knew.

  I don't want to tell you what I want you to know.

  CLEOPATRA

  Nay, pray you, sir,--

  No, please, sir,--

  DOLABELLA

  Though he be honourable,--

  Even though he is honorable, --

  CLEOPATRA

  He'll lead me, then, in triumph?

  He will parade me, then, in victory?

  DOLABELLA

  Madam, he will; I know't.

  Lady, he will; I know it.

  Flourish, and shout within, 'Make way there: Octavius Caesar!'

  Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, GALLUS, PROCULEIUS, MECAENAS, SELEUCUS, and others of his Train

  OCTAVIUS CAESAR

  Which is the Queen of Egypt?

  Which is the Queen of Egypt?

  DOLABELLA

  It is the emperor, madam.

  It is the emperor, madam.

  CLEOPATRA kneels

  OCTAVIUS CAESAR

  Arise, you shall not kneel:

  Get up, you shall not kneel:

  I pray you, rise; rise, Egypt.

  Please, get up; get up, Egypt.

  CLEOPATRA

  Sir, the gods

  Sir, the godsWill have it thus; my master and my lord

  Will have it like this; my master and my lord

  I must obey.

  I must obey.

  OCTAVIUS CAESAR

  Take to you no hard thoughts:

  Do not worry about

  The record of what injuries you did us,

  The record of the harm you did to us,

  Though written in our flesh, we shall remember

  Even if permanent wounds, we shall remember

  As things but done by chance.

  Them as pure happenstance.

  CLEOPATRA

  Sole sir o' the world,

  Ruler of the world,

  I cannot project mine own cause so well

  I cannot argue my own cause well enough

  To make it clear; but do confess I have

  To make it clear; but do confess I haveBeen laden with like frailties which before

  Had to deal with similar weaknesses which before

  Have often shamed our sex.

  Have often caused shame to women.

  OCTAVIUS CAESAR

  Cleopatra, know,

  Cleopatra, know,We will extenuate rather than enforce:

  We will convince rather than force:

  If you apply yourself to our intents,

  If you apply yourself to what we want,

  Which towards you ar
e most gentle, you shall find

  Which are very gentle towards you, you will find

  A benefit in this change; but if you seek

  A benefit in this change; but if you try

  To lay on me a cruelty, by taking

  To be cruel to me, by taking

  Antony's course, you shall bereave yourself

  Antony's path, you will rob yourself

  Of my good purposes, and put your children

  From the opportunities I will give you, and put your children

  To that destruction which I'll guard them from,

  To the destruction which I will protect them from,

  If thereon you rely. I'll take my leave.

  If you trust me to. I'll leave now.

  CLEOPATRA

  And may, through all the world: 'tis yours; and we,

  And may, through all the world, it is yours; and we,

  Your scutcheons and your signs of conquest, shall

  Your trophies and your signs of conquest, shall

  Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord.

  Be put in whatever place you please. Here, my good lord.

  OCTAVIUS CAESAR

  You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra.

  You will advice me what I should do for Cleopatra.

  CLEOPATRA

  This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels,

  This is a list of money, precious metal, and jewels,

  I am possess'd of: 'tis exactly valued;

  I have: it is exact and correct;

  Not petty things admitted. Where's Seleucus?

  Nothing too minor. Where's Seleucus?

  SELEUCUS

  Here, madam.

  Here, madam.

  CLEOPATRA

  This is my treasurer: let him speak, my lord,

  This is my treasurer: let him speak, sir,Upon his peril, that I have reserved

  At his own risk, that I have kept

  To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.

  Nothing to myself. Tell the truth, Seleucus.

  SELEUCUS

  Madam,

  Madam,I had rather seal my lips, than, to my peril,

  I would rather stay silent, then, at my own risk,

  Speak that which is not.

  Tell a lie.

  CLEOPATRA

  What have I kept back?

  What have I kept back?

  SELEUCUS

  Enough to purchase what you have made known.

  Enough to buy what you have admitted to.

  OCTAVIUS CAESAR

  Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve

  No, do not blush, Cleopatra; I approve

  Your wisdom in the deed.

  Your wisdom in doing so.

  CLEOPATRA

  See, Caesar! O, behold,

  See, Caesar! Oh, look,

  How pomp is follow'd! mine will now be yours;

  How wealth is followed! Mine will now be yours;

  The ingratitude of this Seleucus does

  The ingratitude of Seleucus is enough toEven make me wild: O slave, of no more trust

  Make me wild with anger: Oh slave, no more trustworthy

  Than love that's hired! What, goest thou back? thou shalt

  Than love that's paid for! What, are you going back, you will

  Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine eyes,

  Go back, I grant you; but I'll catch your eyes,

  Though they had wings: slave, soulless villain, dog!

  Even if they had wings: slave, soulless villain, dog!O rarely base!

  Oh unusually bad!

  OCTAVIUS CAESAR

  Good queen, let us entreat you.

  Good queen, calm down.

  CLEOPATRA

  O Caesar, what a wounding shame is this,

  Oh Caesar, what a painful shame this is,

  That thou, vouchsafing here to visit me,

  That you, coming here to visit me,

  Doing the honour of thy lordliness

  Doing the honor of your greatness

  To one so meek, that mine own servant should

  To one so humble, that my own servant would

  Parcel the sum of my disgraces by

  Add on to my disgrace by

  Addition of his envy! Say, good Caesar,

  Adding on his envy! Say, good Caesar,

  That I some lady trifles have reserved,

  That I have reserved some minor lady things,

  Immoment toys, things of such dignity

  Little toys, with such dignity

  As we greet modern friends withal; and say,

  That we use to greet modern friends; and say,

  Some nobler token I have kept apart

  Some better items I have kept apart

  For Livia and Octavia, to induce

  For Livia and Octavia, to encourage

  Their mediation; must I be unfolded

  Their friendship; must I be revealed

  With one that I have bred? The gods! it smites me

  By one of my servants? The gods! It hits me

  Beneath the fall I have.

  Lower than I have already sunk.

  To SELEUCUS

  Prithee, go hence;

  Please, go away;

  Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits

  Or I will show the remaining coals of my spirits

  Through the ashes of my chance: wert thou a man,

  Through the ashes of my destiny: if you were a real man,

  Thou wouldst have mercy on me.

  You would have mercy on me.

  OCTAVIUS CAESAR

  Forbear, Seleucus.

  Hold back, Seleucus.

  Exit SELEUCUS

  CLEOPATRA

  Be it known, that we, the greatest, are misthought

  Let it be known that we, the greatest, are thought wrongly

  For things that others do; and, when we fall,

  For things that others do; and, when we fall,We answer others' merits in our name,

  We are held responsible for things others did,

  Are therefore to be pitied.

  And should therefore be pitied.

  OCTAVIUS CAESAR

  Cleopatra,

  Cleopatra,Not what you have reserved, nor what acknowledged,

  None of what you have reserved, or what you have admitted to,

  Put we i' the roll of conquest: still be't yours,

  Will we make a part of our booty: it is still yours,

  Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe,

  Do what you like with it; and believe

  Caesar's no merchant, to make prize with you

  Caesar is no merchant, to make a prize of you

  Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheer'd;

  With things that merchants sell. Therefore, cheer up;

  Make not your thoughts your prisons: no, dear queen;

  Do not turn your thoughts into your prisons: now, dear queen;

  For we intend so to dispose you as

  For we intend to treat you the way

  Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed, and sleep:

  You yourself want to be treated. Eat, and sleep:

  Our care and pity is so much upon you,

  Our care and pity is so much upon you,That we remain your friend; and so, adieu.

  That we are still your friend; and so, goodbye.

  CLEOPATRA

  My master, and my lord!

  My master, and my lord!

  OCTAVIUS CAESAR

  Not so. Adieu.

  Oh, no, not like that. Farewell.

  Flourish. Exeunt OCTAVIUS CAESAR and his train

  CLEOPATRA

  He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not

  He persuades me, girls, her persuades me, that I should not

  Be noble to myself: but, hark thee, Charmian.

  Do what I want: but, listen, Charmian.

  Whispers to CHARMIAN

  IRAS


  Finish, good lady; the bright day is done,

  Finish, good lady; the bright day is done,And we are for the dark.

  And we are now in the dark.

  CLEOPATRA

  Hie thee again:

  Go now again:

  I have spoke already, and it is provided;

  I have spoken it already, and it has been taken care of;

  Go put it to the haste.

  Go make it happen quickly.

  CHARMIAN

  Madam, I will.

  Madam, I will.

  Re-enter DOLABELLA

  DOLABELLA

  Where is the queen?

  Where's the queen?

  CHARMIAN

  Behold, sir.

  See, sir.

  Exit

  CLEOPATRA

  Dolabella!

  DOLABELLA

  Madam, as thereto sworn by your command,

  Madam, as you made me promise to tell,

  Which my love makes religion to obey,

  Which my love commands me to obey,I tell you this: Caesar through Syria

  I tell you this: Caesar intends to travel

  Intends his journey; and within three days

  Through Syria; and within three days

  You with your children will he send before:

  You and your children will be sent in front of him:

  Make your best use of this: I have perform'd

  Do your best with this information: I have done

  Your pleasure and my promise.

  What you wanted and what I promised.

  CLEOPATRA

  Dolabella,

  Dolabella,I shall remain your debtor.

  I will be in your debt.

  DOLABELLA

  I your servant,

  I will stay your servant,

  Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Caesar.

  Farewell, good queen; I must serve Caesar.

  CLEOPATRA

  Farewell, and thanks.

  Farewell, and thanks.

  Exit DOLABELLA

  Now, Iras, what think'st thou?

  Now, Iras, what do you think?

  Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown

  You, an Egyptian puppet, will be shown

 

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