Antony and Cleopatra, Act 2, Scene 7

Here they’ll be, man. Some o’ their plants are ill-rooted already; the least wind i’ th’ world will blow them down.

They'll be here soon, man. Some of them are already unsteady on their feet; the slightest breeze in the world will knock them over.

Lepidus is high-coloured.

Lepidus is flushed in the face.

They have made him drink alms-drink.

They've made him drink the leftovers that nobody else wanted.

As they pinch one another by the disposition, he cries out “no more”, reconciles them to his entreaty and himself to th’ drink.

When they needle each other about their differences, he shouts "stop"; he talks them into making peace at his request, and he makes his own peace with the drink.

But it raises the greater war between him and his discretion.

But it stirs up an even bigger fight between him and his good sense.

Why, this it is to have a name in great men’s fellowship. I had as lief have a reed that will do me no service as a partisan I could not heave.

Well, that's what comes of having a reputation in the company of great men. I'd just as soon have a reed that's no use to me as a heavy spear I couldn't lift.

To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in ’t, are the holes where eyes should be, which pitifully disaster the cheeks.

To be raised to a huge position and not to be seen doing anything in it is like having empty sockets where the eyes should be, which pitifully ruins the face.

[To Caesar.] Thus do they, sir: they take the flow o’ th’ Nile By certain scales i’ th’ pyramid; they know By th’ height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth Or foison follow. The higher Nilus swells, The more it promises. As it ebbs, the seedsman Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain, And shortly comes to harvest.

[To Caesar.] This is how they do it, sir: they measure the rise of the Nile by certain marked scales on the pyramid; they can tell from whether the level is high, low or middling whether famine or plenty will follow. The higher the Nile swells, the more it promises. As it goes down, the sower scatters his seed on the mud and slime, and soon it comes to harvest.

You’ve strange serpents there?

You have odd snakes there?

Ay, Lepidus.

Yes, Lepidus.

Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun; so is your crocodile.

Your Egyptian snake is bred out of your mud by the action of your sun; and so is your crocodile.

They are so.

That's right.

Sit, and some wine! A health to Lepidus!

Sit down, and bring some wine! A toast to Lepidus!

I am not so well as I should be, but I’ll ne’er out.

I'm not as well as I ought to be, but I'll never drop out.

Not till you have slept. I fear me you’ll be in till then.

Not until you've slept it off. I'm afraid you'll be deep in it until then.

Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies’ pyramises are very goodly things. Without contradiction I have heard that.

No, honestly, I've heard the pyramids of the Ptolemies are very fine things. I've heard that without anyone denying it.

[Aside to Pompey.] Pompey, a word.

[Aside to Pompey.] Pompey, a word.

[Aside to Menas.] Say in mine ear what is ’t?

[Aside to Menas.] Whisper it in my ear. What is it?

[Whispers in ’s ear.] Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, captain, And hear me speak a word.

[He whispers in his ear.] Leave your seat, I beg you, captain, and listen to me say one word.

[Aside to Menas.] Forbear me till anon.— This wine for Lepidus!

[Aside to Menas.] Leave me alone for a while.— This wine is for Lepidus!

What manner o’ thing is your crocodile?

What sort of thing is your crocodile?

It is shaped, sir, like itself, and it is as broad as it hath breadth. It is just so high as it is, and moves with it own organs. It lives by that which nourisheth it, and the elements once out of it, it transmigrates.

It is shaped, sir, like itself, and it is as broad as it is wide. It is exactly as tall as it is, and it moves with its own limbs. It lives on whatever feeds it, and once the life goes out of it, it passes into another form.

What colour is it of?

What colour is it?

Of its own colour too.

Its own colour, too.

’Tis a strange serpent.

It's a strange snake.

’Tis so, and the tears of it are wet.

It is, and its tears are wet.

Will this description satisfy him?

Will that description be enough for him?

With the health that Pompey gives him, else he is a very epicure.

With the toast Pompey is drinking to him it will, or else he's far too hard to please.

[Aside to Menas.] Go hang, sir, hang! Tell me of that? Away! Do as I bid you.—Where’s this cup I called for?

[Aside to Menas.] Go hang, sir, hang! Bothering me about that? Get away! Do as I tell you.— Where's this cup I asked for?

[Aside to Pompey.] If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me, Rise from thy stool.

[Aside to Pompey.] If you'll listen to me for the sake of my past services, get up from your stool.

[Aside to Menas.] I think thou’rt mad.

[Aside to Menas.] I think you're mad.

The matter?

What's the matter?

I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.

I have always taken my cap off in respect for your fortunes.

Thou hast served me with much faith. What’s else to say?— Be jolly, lords.

You have served me very faithfully. What else is there to say?— Be merry, gentlemen.

These quicksands, Lepidus, Keep off them, for you sink.

Stay clear of these quicksands, Lepidus, or you'll sink.

Wilt thou be lord of all the world?

Do you want to be master of the whole world?

What sayst thou?

What are you saying?

Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That’s twice.

Do you want to be master of the whole world? That's twice I've asked.

How should that be?

How could that happen?

But entertain it, And though you think me poor, I am the man Will give thee all the world.

Just consider it, and though you think I'm of no account, I'm the man who will give you the whole world.

Hast thou drunk well?

Have you been drinking hard?

No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup. Thou art, if thou dar’st be, the earthly Jove. Whate’er the ocean pales or sky inclips Is thine, if thou wilt have’t.

No, Pompey, I've kept away from the cup. You are, if you dare to be, the Jove of this earth. Everything the ocean fences in or the sky encloses is yours, if you'll take it.

Show me which way.

Show me how.

These three world-sharers, these competitors, Are in thy vessel. Let me cut the cable, And when we are put off, fall to their throats. All then is thine.

These three men who share the world, these rivals, are on your ship. Let me cut the anchor cable, and once we're out at sea, go for their throats. Then everything is yours.

Ah, this thou shouldst have done And not have spoke on ’t! In me ’tis villainy; In thee ’t had been good service. Thou must know ’Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour; Mine honour it. Repent that e’er thy tongue Hath so betray’d thine act. Being done unknown, I should have found it afterwards well done, But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.

Ah, you should have done this and not talked about it! Coming from me it is villainy; coming from you it would have been good service. You have to understand that it isn't my advantage that guides my honour, but my honour that guides my advantage. Be sorry that your tongue has betrayed your plan like this. If it had been done without my knowing, I would have decided afterwards that it was well done, but now I have to condemn it. Give it up, and drink.

[Aside.] For this, I’ll never follow thy palled fortunes more. Who seeks, and will not take when once ’tis offered, Shall never find it more.

[Aside.] For this, I'll never follow your fading fortunes any longer. A man who wants something and won't take it when it's offered once will never find it again.

This health to Lepidus!

Here's this toast to Lepidus!

Bear him ashore. I’ll pledge it for him, Pompey.

Carry him ashore. I'll drink it on his behalf, Pompey.

Here’s to thee, Menas!

Here's to you, Menas!

Enobarbus, welcome!

Enobarbus, welcome!

Fill till the cup be hid.

Fill it up until you can't see the cup.

There’s a strong fellow, Menas.

That's a strong fellow, Menas.

Why?

Why?

’A bears the third part of the world, man. Seest not?

He's carrying a third of the world, man. Can't you see?

The third part, then, is drunk. Would it were all, That it might go on wheels!

Then a third of the world is drunk. I wish the whole of it were, so that it could roll along on wheels!

Drink thou. Increase the reels.

You drink too. Add to the staggering.

Come.

Come on.

This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.

This still isn't an Alexandrian feast.

It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho! Here is to Caesar!

It's getting close to one. Bring on the wine jars, ho! Here's to Caesar!

I could well forbear’t. It’s monstrous labour when I wash my brain And it grows fouler.

I could easily do without it. It's a terrible effort, washing my brain when it only gets dirtier.

Be a child o’ the time.

Go along with the occasion.

Possess it, I’ll make answer. But I had rather fast from all, four days, Than drink so much in one.

Master it — that's my answer. But I would rather go without food entirely for four days than drink this much in one.

[To Antony.] Ha, my brave emperor, Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals And celebrate our drink?

[To Antony.] Come on, my splendid commander, shall we now dance the Egyptian revels in honour of Bacchus and celebrate our drinking?

Let’s ha’t, good soldier.

Let's have it, good soldier.

Come, let’s all take hands Till that the conquering wine hath steeped our sense In soft and delicate Lethe.

Come, let's all join hands until the conquering wine has soaked our senses in soft and delicate forgetfulness.

All take hands. Make battery to our ears with the loud music, The while I’ll place you; then the boy shall sing. The holding every man shall beat as loud As his strong sides can volley.

Everyone join hands. Batter our ears with the loud music while I arrange you in place; then the boy will sing. Every man must pound out the refrain as loudly as his strong lungs can fire it.

Come, thou monarch of the vine, Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne! In thy vats our cares be drowned, With thy grapes our hairs be crowned. Cup us till the world go round, Cup us till the world go round!

Come, you king of the vine, plump Bacchus with the pink eyes! Let our cares be drowned in your wine vats, let our hair be crowned with your grapes. Fill our cups till the world spins, fill our cups till the world spins!

What would you more? Pompey, good night. Good brother, Let me request you off. Our graver business Frowns at this levity.—Gentle lords, let’s part. You see we have burnt our cheeks. Strong Enobarb Is weaker than the wine, and mine own tongue Splits what it speaks. The wild disguise hath almost Anticked us all. What needs more words. Good night. Good Antony, your hand.

What more do you want? Pompey, good night. Good brother, let me ask you to come away. Our more serious business scowls at this frivolity. — Gentle lords, let's break up. You see we have flushed our cheeks. Strong Enobarb is weaker than the wine, and my own tongue breaks up the words it speaks. This wild carnival has nearly turned us all into clowns. What need is there for more words? Good night. Good Antony, give me your hand.

I’ll try you on the shore.

I'll test you on the shore.

And shall, sir. Give’s your hand.

And you shall, sir. Give us your hand.

O Antony, You have my father’s house. But, what? We are friends. Come, down into the boat.

Oh, Antony, you own my father's house. But so what? We are friends. Come, down into the boat.

Take heed you fall not.

Be careful you don't fall.

Menas, I’ll not on shore.

Menas, I'm not going ashore.

No, to my cabin. These drums, these trumpets, flutes! What! Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell To these great fellows. Sound and be hanged, sound out!

No, come to my cabin. These drums, these trumpets, flutes! Hey! Let Neptune hear that we are saying a loud goodbye to these great men. Sound out, and be hanged — sound out!

Hoo, says ’a! There’s my cap!

Whoo, he says! There goes my cap!

Hoo! Noble captain, come.

Whoo! Noble captain, come along.