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