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, and now favorable 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 up 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. For learn this, Silius: it is better to leave a thing undone than to win too high a reputation by what we do when the man we serve is not there. Caesar and Antony have always won more through their officers than in person. Sossius, who held my rank in Syria as Antony's lieutenant, lost his favor because he piled up glory so fast, gaining it minute by minute. Whoever does more in war than his commander can becomes his commander's commander; and ambition, which is the soldier's virtue, would sooner choose loss than a gain that casts him in shadow. I could do more to help Antonius, but it would offend him, and in that offense 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?

Ventidius, you have the quality without which a soldier and his sword are scarcely different from each other. 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 will modestly report what we have accomplished in his name, that magic word in war; how, with his banners and his well-paid troops, we have driven the never-yet-defeated cavalry of Parthia off the field and worn them out.

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 will present ourselves before him there as fast as the load we have to carry with us will allow.—Move on there, march along!