The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (746 page)

shower of rain as well as Jove.

shower of rain as well as Jove [God of storms].

MARK ANTONY

Would I had never seen her.

I wish I had never seen her.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS

O, sir, you had then left unseen a wonderful piece

Oh, sir, but then you would have not seen a wonderful piece

of work; which not to have been blest withal would

of work; which to not have been blessed with would

have discredited your travel.

have been a shame on your travels.

MARK ANTONY

Fulvia is dead.

Fulvia died.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS

Sir?

Sir?

MARK ANTONY

Fulvia is dead.

Fulvia is dead.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS

Fulvia!

Fulvia?

MARK ANTONY

Dead.

Dead.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS

Why, sir, give the gods a thankful sacrifice. When

Well, sir, thank the gods with a sacrifice. When

it pleaseth their deities to take the wife of a man

it pleases the gods to take the wife of a man

from him, it shows to man the tailors of the earth;

from him, it shows to mankind the tailors of the earth;

comforting therein, that when old robes are worn

comforting them with this, that when old robes are worn

out, there are members to make new. If there were

out, there are new ones made. If there were

no more women but Fulvia, then had you indeed a cut,

no more women except Fulvia, then you would have an injury indeed,

and the case to be lamented: this grief is crowned
and we would mourn: this grief instead is topped

with consolation; your old smock brings forth a new

with comfort; your old clothes can now be replaced with new

petticoat: and indeed the tears live in an onion

ones: and indeed there are enough tears in an onion

that should water this sorrow.

to provide water for this sadness.

MARK ANTONY

The business she hath broached in the state

The business she has begun in politics

Cannot endure my absence.

Cannot stand my being away.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS

And the business you have broached here cannot be

And the business you have begun here cannot be

without you; especially that of Cleopatra's, which

without you; especially Cleopatra's, which

wholly depends on your abode.

completely depends on where you live.

MARK ANTONY

No more light answers. Let our officers

No more silliness. Let our officers

Have notice what we purpose. I shall break

Know what we intend to do. I will break

The cause of our expedience to the queen,

The news of our required actions to the queen,

And get her leave to part. For not alone

And get her permission to leave. For it is not only

The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches,

The death of Fulvia, with more urgent reasons,

Do strongly speak to us; but the letters too

Speak to us strongly; but also the many letters

Of many our contriving friends in Rome

That our friends in Rome

Petition us at home: Sextus Pompeius

Demand we come home: Sextus Pompeius

Hath given the dare to Caesar, and commands

Has challenged Caesar, and orders

The empire of the sea: our slippery people,

The empire of the sea: our unfaithful people,

Whose love is never link'd to the deserver

Whose love is never for the person who deserves it

Till his deserts are past, begin to throw

Until he no longer deserves it, have begun to throw

Pompey the Great and all his dignities

Pompey the Great and all this authority

Upon his son; who, high in name and power,

Upon his won; who, high up in name and power,

Higher than both in blood and life, stands up

Higher than both in ancestry and life, stands up

For the main soldier: whose quality, going on,

For the common soldier: whose quality, going on,

The sides o' the world may danger: much is breeding,

The borders of the world may put in danger: there is much in heritage,

Which, like the courser's hair, hath yet but life,

Which, like the horse's hair, has still only life,

And not a serpent's poison. Say, our pleasure,

And not a snake's poison. Say, what we want,

To such whose place is under us, requires

To those whose position is under us, requires

Our quick remove from hence.

Us to leave here quickly.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS

I shall do't.

I will do it.

Exeunt

Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS

CLEOPATRA

Where is he?

Where is he?

CHARMIAN

I did not see him since.

I have not seen him recently.

CLEOPATRA

See where he is, who's with him, what he does:

See where he is, who is with him, what he is doing:

I did not send you: if you find him sad,

Pretend I didn't send you: if you find him sad,

Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report

Say I am dancing; if having fun, tell him

That I am sudden sick: quick, and return.

That I am suddenly sick: be quick, and return.

Exit ALEXAS

CHARMIAN

Madam, methinks, if you did love him dearly,

Madam, I think if you did love him dearly,

You do not hold the method to enforce

You would not try all these things to force

The like from him.

His emotions and liking.

CLEOPATRA

What should I do, I do not?

What should I do if I didn't?

CHARMIAN

In each thing give him way, cross him nothing.

Give him everything he wants; don't go against him in anything.

CLEOPATRA

Thou teachest like a fool; the way to lose him.

You teach like a fool; that is the way to lose him.

CHARMIAN

Tempt him not so too far; I wish, forbear:

Do not manipulate him too much; please, hold back:

In time we hate that which we often fear.

We eventually come to hate what we often fear.

But here comes Antony.

But here Antony comes.

Enter MARK ANTONY

CLEOPATRA

I am sick and sullen.

I am sick and in a bad mood.

MARK ANTONY

I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose,--

I am sorry to speak aloud what I need to do, --

CLEOPATRA

Help me away, dear Charmian; I shall fall:

Help me leave, dear Charmian; I will faint:

It cannot be thus long, the sides of nature

It can't be long from now, the laws of nature

Will not sustain it.

Will not keep it going

MARK ANTONY

Now, my dearest queen,--

Now, my beloved queen, --

CLEOPATRA

Pray you, stand further from me.

Please, stand further away from me.

MARK ANTONY

What's the matter?

What's the matter?

CLEOPATRA

I know, by that same eye, there's some good news.

I know by your face that there's some good news.

What says the married woman? You may go:

What does the married woman say? You may go:

Would she had never given you leave to come!

I wish she had never given you permission to come!

Let her not say 'tis I that keep you here:

May she not say that I keep you here:

I have no power upon you; hers you are.

I have no power over you; you are hers.

MARK ANTONY

The gods best know,--

The gods know best,--

CLEOPATRA

O, never was there queen

Oh, there was never a queen

So mightily betray'd! yet at the first

Betrayed so much! Yet from the beginning

I saw the treasons planted.

I saw the betrayal begun.

MARK ANTONY

Cleopatra,--

Cleopatra,--

CLEOPATRA

Why should I think you can be mine and true,

Why should I think you can be mine and faithful,

Though you in swearing shake the throned gods,

Even if you swear by all the gods,

Who have been false to Fulvia? Riotous madness,

You who have betrayed Fulvia? Chaotic madness,

To be entangled with those mouth-made vows,

To be mixed up with those promises spoken,

Which break themselves in swearing!

Which break themselves as they are being sworn!

MARK ANTONY

Most sweet queen,--

Sweetest queen,--

CLEOPATRA

Nay, pray you, seek no colour for your going,

No, please, don't look for permission to leave,

But bid farewell, and go: when you sued staying,

But say goodbye, and go: when you begged to stay,

Then was the time for words: no going then;

That was the time for words: you wouldn't go then;

Eternity was in our lips and eyes,

Our lips and eyes saw forever,
Bliss in our brows' bent; none our parts so poor,

Perfect happiness in our faces; none of our parts, however unimportant

But was a race of heaven: they are so still,

Were less than heavenly: they are still that way,
Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world,

Or you, the greatest soldier in the world,

Art turn'd the greatest liar.

Have become the biggest liar.

MARK ANTONY

How now, lady!

What, lady!

CLEOPATRA

I would I had thy inches; thou shouldst know

I wish I were as tall and strong as you; you would know