The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (754 page)

Say the dead are well: if that is the case,

The gold I give thee will I melt and pour

I will melt the gold I give you and pour

Down thy ill-uttering throat.

Down your throat that tells bad news.

Messenger

Good madam, hear me.

Good lady, please listen to me.

CLEOPATRA

Well, go to, I will;

Well, go on, I will'

But there's no goodness in thy face: if Antony

But there's no goodness in your face: if Antony

Be free and healthful,--so tart a favour

Is free and healthy, -- so important a favor

To trumpet such good tidings! If not well,

To announce such good news! If not well,

Thou shouldst come like a Fury crown'd with snakes,

You should come like a Fury crowned with snakes,

Not like a formal man.

Not like an official man.

Messenger

Will't please you hear me?

Would you please listen to me?

CLEOPATRA

I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak'st:

I am thinking maybe I'll hit you before you speak:

Yet if thou say Antony lives, is well,

But if you say Antony lives, is doing well,

Or friends with Caesar, or not captive to him,

Or friends with Caesar, or not his prisoner,

I'll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail

I'll put you in a shower of gold, and drop

Rich pearls upon thee.

Rich pearls on you.

Messenger

Madam, he's well.

Lady, he is doing well.

CLEOPATRA

Well said.

Good.

Messenger

And friends with Caesar.

And friends with Caesar.

CLEOPATRA

Thou'rt an honest man.

You are an honest man.

Messenger

Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.

Caesar and he are better friends than ever.

CLEOPATRA

Make thee a fortune from me.

Have a fortune from me.

Messenger

But yet, madam,--

But still, madam, --

CLEOPATRA

I do not like 'But yet,' it does allay

I do not like 'But still,' it ruins

The good precedence; fie upon 'But yet'!

What came before; out with 'But still'!

'But yet' is as a gaoler to bring forth

'But still" is like a jailor to bring ut

Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend,

Some evil monster. Please, friend,

Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,

Tell me the whole story,

The good and bad together: he's friends with Caesar:

The good and bad news together: he is friends with Caesar:

In state of health thou say'st; and thou say'st free.

You say healthy, and you say free.

Messenger

Free, madam! no; I made no such report:

Free, lady! No, I said no such thing:

He's bound unto Octavia.

He's tied to Octavia.

CLEOPATRA

For what good turn?

In what way?

Messenger

Madam, he's married to Octavia.

Madam, he married Octavia.

CLEOPATRA

The most infectious pestilence upon thee!

May you have the most terrible disease!

Strikes him down

Messenger

Good madam, patience.

Good lady, calm down.

CLEOPATRA

What say you? Hence,

What did you say? Go,

Strikes him again

Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine eyes

Horrible villain! Or I'll pull out your eyes

Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head:

Like balls in front of me; I'll pull out your hair:

She hales him up and down

Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in brine,

You will be whipped with wire, and stewed in vinegar,

Smarting in lingering pickle.

With all the sting of pickles.

Messenger

Gracious madam,

Kind lady,

I that do bring the news made not the match.

I bring the news, I had nothing to do with the match.

CLEOPATRA

Say 'tis not so, a province I will give thee,

Say it is not true, I will give you a province,

And make thy fortunes proud: the blow thou hadst

And I will make you rich: the blows you received

Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage;

Will bring apology for bringing me to anger;

And I will boot thee with what gift beside

And I will send you away with better gifts

Thy modesty can beg.

Than you can ask for.

Messenger

He's married, madam.

He's married, lady.

CLEOPATRA

Rogue, thou hast lived too long.

Villain, you have lived too long.

Draws a knife

Messenger

Nay, then I'll run.

No, then I'll run.

What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.

What do you mean, lady? I have done nothing wrong.

Exit

CHARMIAN

Good madam, keep yourself within yourself:

Good lady, stay calm and be reasonable:

The man is innocent.

The man is innocent.

CLEOPATRA

Some innocents 'scape not the thunderbolt.

Some innocent people do not escape the thunderbolt.

Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures

Melt Egypt into the Nile! And may all gentle creatures

Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again:

Turn into snakes! Call the slave again:

Though I am mad, I will not bite him: call.

Though I am insane with rage, I will not bite him: call.

CHARMIAN

He is afeard to come.

He is afraid to come.

CLEOPATRA

I will not hurt him.

I won't hurt him.

Exit CHARMIAN

These hands do lack nobility, that they strike

These hands are not acting nobly, for them to hit

A meaner than myself; since I myself

Someone below me; since I myself

Have given myself the cause.

Have given myself the reason.

Re-enter CHARMIAN and Messenger

Come hither, sir.

Come here, sir.

Though it be honest, it is never good

Though it is honest, it is never good

To bring bad news: give to a gracious message

To bring bad news: give a happy message

An host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell

A crowd of speakers; but let bad news tell

Themselves when they be felt.

Itself when it is felt.

Messenger

I have done my duty.

I have done my job.

CLEOPATRA

Is he married?

Is he married?
I cannot hate thee worser than I do,

I cannot hate you worse that I do,

If thou again say 'Yes.'

If you say 'Yes' again.

Messenger

He's married, madam.

He's married, lady.

CLEOPATRA

The gods confound thee! dost thou hold there still?

May the gods ruin you! Are you sticking to that?

Messenger

Should I lie, madam?

Should I lie, lady?

CLEOPATRA

O, I would thou didst,

Oh, I wish you were lying,

So half my Egypt were submerged and made

So half my Egypt were underwater and made

A cistern for scaled snakes! Go, get thee hence:

A container for scaled snakes! Go, get out:

Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me

If you were the most handsome man in the world, to me

Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?

You would appear incredibly ugly. He is married?

Messenger

I crave your highness' pardon.

Please forgive me, your highness.

CLEOPATRA

He is married?

He's married?

Messenger

Take no offence that I would not offend you:

Take no offense that I do not want to offend you:

To punish me for what you make me do

To punish me for what you force me to do

Seems much unequal: he's married to Octavia.

Seems very unfair: he's married to Octavia.

Exit Messenger

CHARMIAN

Good your highness, patience.

Please, your highness, calm down.

CLEOPATRA

In praising Antony, I have dispraised Caesar.

While praising Antony, I have insulted Caesar.

CHARMIAN

Many times, madam.

Many times, lady.

CLEOPATRA

I am paid for't now.

I am paying for it now.
Lead me from hence:

Take me from here:

I faint: O Iras, Charmian! 'tis no matter.

I feel faint: Oh, by Iras, Charmian! It is not important.

Go to the fellow, good Alexas; bid him

Go to that man, good Alexas; tell him

Report the feature of Octavia, her years,

To tell the appearance of Octavia, her age,

Her inclination, let him not leave out

Her personality, let him not leave out

The colour of her hair: bring me word quickly.

The color of her hair: bring me answers quickly.

Exit ALEXAS

Let him for ever go:--let him not--Charmian,

Let him go forever: --do not let him -- Charmian,

Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,

Even if one way he looks like a Gorgon [an ugly monster],

The other way's a Mars. Bid you Alexas

The other way is like Mars [handsome god of war]. Tell Alexas

To MARDIAN

Bring me word how tall she is. Pity me, Charmian,

Bring me answers about how tall she is. Pity me, Charmian,

But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.

But do not speak to me. Lead me to my room.

Exeunt