Antony and Cleopatra in modern English, scene by scene

About this translation

Every scene of Antony and Cleopatra is set out twice: William Shakespeare’s words on one side, and on the other a plain modern English rendering of the same lines, in the same order. It is a way to read the original, not a replacement for it — the rendering says what the text says, and the text is the thing you quote.

Line numbers count the verse lines of each scene in the public-domain Project Gutenberg edition these pages are set from, so they may not match the numbering in a printed edition.

1. Act 1, Scene 1 — Alexandria. A Room in Cleopatra’s palace.No, but this infatuation of our general's goes beyond all bounds. Those fine eyes of his…
2. Act 1, Scene 2 — Alexandria. Another Room in Cleopatra’s palace.Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most anything Alexas, almost absolutely perfect Alexas, where…
3. Act 1, Scene 3 — Alexandria. A Room in Cleopatra’s palace.Where is he?
4. Act 1, Scene 4 — Rome. An Apartment in Caesar’s House.You can see now, Lepidus, and from now on you'll know, that it isn't a natural fault in…
5. Act 1, Scene 5 — Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.Charmian!

1. Act 2, Scene 1 — Messina. A Room in Pompey’s house.If the great gods are just, they will help the deeds of the most just men.
2. Act 2, Scene 2 — Rome. A Room in the House of Lepidus.Good Enobarbus, it would be a worthy deed, and would suit you well, to urge your…
3. Act 2, Scene 3 — Rome. A Room in Caesar’s House.Public affairs and my high position will sometimes keep me away from your arms.
4. Act 2, Scene 4 — Rome. A street.Don't put yourselves to any more trouble. Please hurry after your generals.
5. Act 2, Scene 5 — Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.Give me some music — music, the melancholy food of those of us whose business is love.
6. Act 2, Scene 6 — Near Misenum.I have your hostages and you have mine, so we can talk before we fight.
7. Act 2, Scene 7 — On board Pompey’s Galley, lying near Misenum.They'll be here soon, man. Some of them are already unsteady on their feet; the slightest…

1. Act 3, Scene 1 — A plain in Syria.Now, arrow-shooting Parthia, you are struck, and now favorable Fortune makes me the…
2. Act 3, Scene 2 — Rome. An Ante-chamber in Caesar’s house.Well, have the brothers-in-law separated?
3. Act 3, Scene 3 — Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.Where is the man?
4. Act 3, Scene 4 — Athens. A Room in Antony’s House.No, no, Octavia, it isn't only that — that could be forgiven, that and a thousand other…
5. Act 3, Scene 5 — Athens. Another Room in Antony’s House.What's happening, my friend Eros?
6. Act 3, Scene 6 — Rome. A Room in Caesar’s House.Scorning Rome, he has done all this, and more, in Alexandria. Here is how it was: in the…
7. Act 3, Scene 7 — Antony’s Camp near the Promontory of Actium.I'll get even with you, never fear.
8. Act 3, Scene 8 — A plain near Actium.Taurus!
9. Act 3, Scene 9 — Another part of the Plain.Let's position our squadrons on that side of the hill, in sight of Caesar's army. From…
10. Act 3, Scene 10 — Another part of the Plain.Ruined, ruined, all ruined! I can't watch any longer. The Antoniad, the Egyptian…
11. Act 3, Scene 11 — Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.Listen, the land tells me to walk on it no longer. It is ashamed to carry me. Friends…
12. Act 3, Scene 12 — Caesar’s camp in Egypt.Let the man who has come from Antony be brought in. Do you know him?
13. Act 3, Scene 13 — Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.What are we going to do, Enobarbus?

1. Act 4, Scene 1 — Caesar’s Camp at Alexandria.He calls me boy, and scolds me as if he had the power to drive me out of Egypt. He has…
2. Act 4, Scene 2 — Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.He won't fight me, Domitius?
3. Act 4, Scene 3 — Alexandria. Before the Palace.Brother, good night. Tomorrow is the day.
4. Act 4, Scene 4 — Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.Eros! My armour, Eros!
5. Act 4, Scene 5 — Antony’s camp near Alexandria.May the gods make this a lucky day for Antony!
6. Act 4, Scene 6 — Alexandria. Caesar’s camp.Go out, Agrippa, and start the battle. Our order is that Antony be taken alive. Have that…
7. Act 4, Scene 7 — Field of battle between the Camps.Pull back! We have pushed ourselves in too deep. Caesar himself has his hands full, and…
8. Act 4, Scene 8 — Under the Walls of Alexandria.We have beaten him back to his camp. Someone run ahead and let the Queen know what we…
9. Act 4, Scene 9 — Caesar’s camp.If we are not relieved within the hour, we have to go back to the guardhouse. The night…
10. Act 4, Scene 10 — Ground between the two Camps.Their forces are drawn up for a sea fight today; we don't suit them on land.
11. Act 4, Scene 11 — Another part of the Ground.Unless we are attacked, we will stay quiet on land — and I think we shall not be…
12. Act 4, Scene 12 — Another part of the Ground.They haven't engaged yet. From where that pine tree stands over there I'll be able to see…
13. Act 4, Scene 13 — Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.Help me, my women! Oh, he is madder than Telamon was over his shield; the boar of…
14. Act 4, Scene 14 — Alexandria. Another Room.Eros, you can still see me?
15. Act 4, Scene 15 — Alexandria. A monument.Oh, Charmian, I will never leave this place.

1. Act 5, Scene 1 — Caesar’s Camp before Alexandria.Go to him, Dolabella, tell him to surrender. Tell him that, being so completely defeated…
2. Act 5, Scene 2 — Alexandria. A Room in the Monument.My ruin is beginning to shape a better life for me. It's a worthless thing to be Caesar…