Antony and Cleopatra, Act 3, Scene 12

Let him appear that’s come from Antony. Know you him?

Let the man who has come from Antony appear. Do you know him?

Caesar, ’tis his schoolmaster— An argument that he is plucked, when hither He sends so poor a pinion of his wing, Which had superfluous kings for messengers Not many moons gone by.

Caesar, it's his children's teacher — a sign that he has been stripped bare, when he sends here such a poor little feather from his wing, when not many months ago he had spare kings to use as messengers.

Approach, and speak.

Come forward, and speak.

Such as I am, I come from Antony. I was of late as petty to his ends As is the morn-dew on the myrtle leaf To his grand sea.

Such as I am, I come from Antony. Until recently I was as small a thing to his purposes as the morning dew on a myrtle leaf is to his great sea.

Be’t so. Declare thine office.

So be it. State your errand.

Lord of his fortunes he salutes thee, and Requires to live in Egypt, which not granted, He lessens his requests, and to thee sues To let him breathe between the heavens and earth, A private man in Athens. This for him. Next, Cleopatra does confess thy greatness, Submits her to thy might, and of thee craves The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs, Now hazarded to thy grace.

The master of his own fortunes greets you, and asks to live in Egypt; and if that is not granted, he reduces his request, and begs you to let him breathe between the heavens and the earth as a private man in Athens. That is for him. Next, Cleopatra acknowledges your greatness, submits herself to your power, and asks of you the crown of the Ptolemies for her heirs, which now depends on your favour.

For Antony, I have no ears to his request. The queen Of audience nor desire shall fail, so she From Egypt drive her all-disgraced friend, Or take his life there. This if she perform, She shall not sue unheard. So to them both.

As for Antony, I have no ears for his request. The queen shall not fail of a hearing, nor of what she desires, provided she drives her utterly disgraced friend out of Egypt, or takes his life there. If she does this, she will not plead unheard. Say that to them both.

Fortune pursue thee!

May Fortune follow you!

Bring him through the bands.

Escort him through the ranks of soldiers.

[To Thidias.] To try thy eloquence now ’tis time. Dispatch. From Antony win Cleopatra. Promise, And in our name, what she requires; add more, From thine invention, offers. Women are not In their best fortunes strong, but want will perjure The ne’er-touch’d vestal. Try thy cunning, Thidias; Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we Will answer as a law.

[To Thidias.] Now is the time to test your persuasiveness. Hurry. Win Cleopatra away from Antony. Promise her, in our name, whatever she asks; and add more offers of your own invention. Women are not strong even when their fortunes are at their best, and need will make the untouched virgin break her oath. Use your cleverness, Thidias; set your own terms as your reward, and we will honour them as law.

Caesar, I go.

Caesar, I'm going.

Observe how Antony becomes his flaw, And what thou think’st his very action speaks In every power that moves.

Notice how Antony carries his ruin, and what you think his every action says in every gesture he makes.

Caesar, I shall.

Caesar, I will.