Antony and Cleopatra, Act 3, Scene 1

Now, darting Parthia, art thou struck, and now Pleased Fortune does of Marcus Crassus’ death Make me revenger. Bear the king’s son’s body Before our army. Thy Pacorus, Orodes, Pays this for Marcus Crassus.

Now, arrow-shooting Parthia, you are struck down, and now pleased Fortune makes me the avenger of Marcus Crassus' death. Carry the king's son's body in front of our army. Your Pacorus, Orodes, pays this price for Marcus Crassus.

Noble Ventidius, Whilst yet with Parthian blood thy sword is warm, The fugitive Parthians follow. Spur through Media, Mesopotamia, and the shelters whither The routed fly. So thy grand captain Antony Shall set thee on triumphant chariots, and Put garlands on thy head.

Noble Ventidius, while your sword is still warm with Parthian blood, chase the fleeing Parthians. Ride hard through Media, Mesopotamia, and every refuge the beaten men run to. Then your great commander Antony will set you on triumphal chariots and put garlands on your head.

O Silius, Silius, I have done enough. A lower place, note well, May make too great an act. For learn this, Silius: Better to leave undone than by our deed Acquire too high a fame when him we serve’s away. Caesar and Antony have ever won More in their officer, than person. Sossius, One of my place in Syria, his lieutenant, For quick accumulation of renown, Which he achieved by th’ minute, lost his favour. Who does i’ th’ wars more than his captain can Becomes his captain’s captain; and ambition, The soldier’s virtue, rather makes choice of loss Than gain which darkens him. I could do more to do Antonius good, But ’twould offend him, and in his offence Should my performance perish.

Oh Silius, Silius, I have done enough. A man in a lower position, mark this well, can perform too great a deed. Learn this, Silius: it is better to leave a thing undone than by doing it to win too high a reputation while the man we serve is absent. Caesar and Antony have always won more through their officers than in their own persons. Sossius, who held my rank in Syria as Antony's lieutenant, lost his favour because he piled up fame so fast, winning it minute by minute. Whoever does more in war than his commander can do becomes his commander's commander; and ambition, the soldier's virtue, would rather choose loss than a gain that overshadows him. I could do more to help Antonius, but it would offend him, and in his being offended my achievement would be destroyed.

Thou hast, Ventidius, that Without the which a soldier and his sword Grants scarce distinction. Thou wilt write to Antony?

You have, Ventidius, the quality without which a soldier and his sword can hardly be told apart. Will you write to Antony?

I’ll humbly signify what in his name, That magical word of war, we have effected; How, with his banners, and his well-paid ranks, The ne’er-yet-beaten horse of Parthia We have jaded out o’ th’ field.

I'll modestly report what we have accomplished in his name, that magical word of war; how, under his banners and with his well-paid troops, we have driven the never-yet-defeated cavalry of Parthia exhausted from the field.

Where is he now?

Where is he now?

He purposeth to Athens, whither, with what haste The weight we must convey with ’s will permit, We shall appear before him.—On there, pass along!

He intends to go to Athens, and we shall appear before him there, with as much speed as the load we have to carry with us will allow.—Move on there, march along!