The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (761 page)

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 Lydia
Absolute 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 Armenia
He 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, she
In 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 visitors
As '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 wife
Should 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 you
By 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; Cleopatra
Hath 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, king
Of 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, king
Of 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.

That pushes it against us.

OCTAVIA

Is it so, sir?

Is that true, sir?

OCTAVIUS CAESAR

Most certain. Sister, welcome: pray you,