Read The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) Online
Authors: WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
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