The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (768 page)

BOOK: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)
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Enter two Soldiers to their guard

 

First Soldier

Brother, good night: to-morrow is the day.

Brother, goodnight: tomorrow is the day.

 

Second Soldier

It will determine one way: fare you well.

One way or another, yes: farewell.

Heard you of nothing strange about the streets?

Have you not heard anything strange around the streets?

 

First Soldier

Nothing. What news?

Nothing. What news?

 

Second Soldier

Belike 'tis but a rumour. Good night to you.

Probably just a rumor. Goodnight.

 

First Soldier

Well, sir, good night.

Enter two other Soldiers

 

Second Soldier

Soldiers, have careful watch.

Soldiers, guard carefully.

 

Third Soldier

And you. Good night, good night.

They place themselves in every corner of the stage

 

Fourth Soldier

Here we: and if to-morrow

Here we are: and if tomorrow

Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope

Our navy does well, I have a firm hope
Our landmen will stand up.

That our infantry will stand up.

 

Third Soldier

'Tis a brave army,

It is a brave army,

And full of purpose.

With strong conviction.

 

Music of the hautboys as under the stage

 

Fourth Soldier

Peace! what noise?

Quiet! What noise?

 

First Soldier

List, list!

Be still, be still!

 

Second Soldier

Hark!

Listen!

 

First Soldier

Music i' the air.

Music in the air.

 

Third Soldier

Under the earth.

Underground.

 

Fourth Soldier

It signs well, does it not?

It's a good sign, right?

 

Third Soldier

No.

No.

 

First Soldier

Peace, I say!

Enough, I say!

What should this mean?

What does this mean?

 

Second Soldier

'Tis the god Hercules, whom Antony loved,

It's the god Hercules, whom Antony loved,
Now leaves him.

Now leaving him.

 

First Soldier

Walk; let's see if other watchmen

Walk; let's see if other guards
Do hear what we do?

They advance to another post

 

Second Soldier

How now, masters!

What's going on, men?

 

All

[Speaking together] How now!

What?
How now! do you hear this?

What? Do you hear this?

 

First Soldier

Ay; is't not strange?

Yes, isn't it strange?

 

Third Soldier

Do you hear, masters? do you hear?

Do you hear, men? Do you hear?

 

First Soldier

Follow the noise so far as we have quarter;

Follow the noise as far as we are able;

Let's see how it will give off.

Let's see how it will go off.

 

All

Content. 'Tis strange.

Stopped. It's strange.

 

Exeunt

 

Enter MARK ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, and others attending

 

MARK ANTONY

Eros! mine armour, Eros!

Eros! Get my armor, Eros!

 

CLEOPATRA

Sleep a little.

Sleep a little.

 

MARK ANTONY

No, my chuck. Eros, come; mine armour, Eros!

No, my darling. Eros, come; my armor, Eros!

 

Enter EROS with armour

Come good fellow, put mine iron on:

Come, my good man, put my armor on:

If fortune be not ours to-day, it is

If fortune is not ours today, it is

Because we brave her: come.

Because we challenger her: come.

 

CLEOPATRA

Nay, I'll help too.

No, I'll help too.

What's this for?

What's this for?

 

MARK ANTONY

Ah, let be, let be! thou art

Ah, leave it, leave it! You are

The armourer of my heart: false, false; this, this.

The armorer of my heart: wrong, wrong; this, this.

 

CLEOPATRA

Sooth, la, I'll help: thus it must be.

All right, now, I'll help: this is how it must be.

 

MARK ANTONY

Well, well;

Well, well;
We shall thrive now. Seest thou, my good fellow?

We will succeed now. Do you see, my good man?

Go put on thy defences.

Go put on your defenses.

 

EROS

Briefly, sir.

Quickly, sir.

 

CLEOPATRA

Is not this buckled well?

Isn't this buckled well?

 

MARK ANTONY

Rarely, rarely:

Unusually well:

He that unbuckles this, till we do please

He that unbuckles this, until we choose

To daff't for our repose, shall hear a storm.

To take if off for rest, will hear a storm.

Thou fumblest, Eros; and my queen's a squire

You fumble, Eros; and my queen's a squire

More tight at this than thou: dispatch. O love,

Who can do this better than you: go on. Oh, love,

That thou couldst see my wars to-day, and knew'st

If only you could see my wars today, and knew

The royal occupation! thou shouldst see

The royal occupoation! You would see

A workman in't.

A workman in it.

 

Enter an armed Soldier

Good morrow to thee; welcome:

Good morning to you; welcome;

Thou look'st like him that knows a warlike charge:

You look like a man who knows the ways of war:

To business that we love we rise betime,

We get up early to do things we love,

And go to't with delight.

And go to it with delight.

 

Soldier

A thousand, sir,

A thousand men, sir,

Early though't be, have on their riveted trim,

Even though it is early, have their armor on,

And at the port expect you.

And expect you at the port.

 

Shout. Trumpets flourish

Enter Captains and Soldiers

 

Captain

The morn is fair. Good morrow, general.

Beautiful weather. Good morning, general.

 

All

Good morrow, general.

Good morning, general.

 

MARK ANTONY

'Tis well blown, lads:

It is well bloomed, boys:

This morning, like the spirit of a youth

This morning, like the spirit of a young man

That means to be of note, begins betimes.

That means to make a good name for himself.

So, so; come, give me that: this way; well said.

So, so; come, give me that: this way; well said.
Fare thee well, dame, whate'er becomes of me:

Farewell, lady, whatever happens to me;

This is a soldier's kiss: rebukeable

This is a solider's kiss: a bad

 

Kisses her

And worthy shameful cheque it were, to stand

Think it would be, to stand

On more mechanic compliment; I'll leave thee

On a more meaningless compliment; I'll leave you

Now, like a man of steel. You that will fight,

Now, like a man of steel. You who will fight,
Follow me close; I'll bring you to't. Adieu.

Follow me closely; I'll bring you to it. Farewell.

 

Exeunt MARK ANTONY, EROS, Captains, and Soldiers

 

CHARMIAN

Please you, retire to your chamber.

Please, go rest in your room.

 

CLEOPATRA

Lead me.

Lead me.
He goes forth gallantly. That he and Caesar might

He goes out bravely. If only he and Caesar might

Determine this great war in single fight!

Determine this great war in a single battle!
Then Antony,--but now--Well, on.

Then Antony, -- but now -- Well, so it goes.

Exeunt

 

Trumpets sound. Enter MARK ANTONY and EROS; a Soldier meeting them

 

Soldier

The gods make this a happy day to Antony!

May the gods make this a happy day to Antony!

 

MARK ANTONY

Would thou and those thy scars had once prevail'd

If only you and your scars had convinced me

To make me fight at land!

To fight at land!

 

Soldier

Hadst thou done so,

If you had done that,

The kings that have revolted, and the soldier

The kings that have rebelled, and the soldier

That has this morning left thee, would have still

That left you this morning would still have

Follow'd thy heels.

Followed after you.

 

MARK ANTONY

Who's gone this morning?

Who left this morning?

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