Antony and CleopatraModern English
Antony and Cleopatra, Act 3, Scene 2
Original
Modern English
Enter Agrippa at one door, Enobarbus at another.
Agrippa comes in at one door, and Enobarbus at another.
Agrippa1
What, are the brothers parted?
Well, have the brothers separated?
Enobarbus2
They have dispatched with Pompey; he is gone. The other three are sealing. Octavia weeps To part from Rome. Caesar is sad, and Lepidus, Since Pompey’s feast, as Menas says, is troubled With the greensickness.
They've finished their business with Pompey; he has gone. The other three are sealing the agreement. Octavia is crying at leaving Rome. Caesar is downcast, and Lepidus, ever since Pompey's feast, as Menas says, has been suffering from the greensickness.
Agrippa7
’Tis a noble Lepidus.
He's a noble man, Lepidus.
Enobarbus8
A very fine one. O, how he loves Caesar!
A very fine one. Oh, how he loves Caesar!
Agrippa9
Nay, but how dearly he adores Mark Antony!
Yes, but how dearly he adores Mark Antony!
Enobarbus10
Caesar? Why he’s the Jupiter of men.
Caesar? Why, he's the Jupiter of men.
Agrippa11
What’s Antony? The god of Jupiter.
And Antony? He's the god of Jupiter himself.
Enobarbus12
Spake you of Caesar? How, the nonpareil!
Did you speak of Caesar? What, the one without equal!
Agrippa13
O, Antony! O thou Arabian bird!
Oh, Antony! Oh, you Arabian bird!
Enobarbus14
Would you praise Caesar, say “Caesar”. Go no further.
If you want to praise Caesar, just say "Caesar". Say nothing more.
Agrippa15
Indeed, he plied them both with excellent praises.
Truly, he loaded them both with excellent praises.
Enobarbus16
But he loves Caesar best, yet he loves Antony. Hoo! Hearts, tongues, figures, scribes, bards, poets, cannot Think, speak, cast, write, sing, number—hoo!— His love to Antony. But as for Caesar, Kneel down, kneel down, and wonder.
But he loves Caesar best — and yet he loves Antony. Ho! Hearts, tongues, figures, scribes, bards, poets cannot think, speak, calculate, write, sing, count — ho! — his love for Antony. But as for Caesar, kneel down, kneel down, and marvel.
Agrippa21
Both he loves.
He loves them both.
Enobarbus22
They are his shards, and he their beetle.
They are his wing-cases, and he is their beetle.
Trumpets within.
Trumpets sound offstage.
Enobarbus23
So, This is to horse. Adieu, noble Agrippa.
There — that's the signal to mount. Goodbye, noble Agrippa.
Agrippa25
Good fortune, worthy soldier, and farewell.
Good luck, worthy soldier, and farewell.
Enter Caesar, Antony, Lepidus and Octavia.
Caesar, Antony, Lepidus and Octavia come in.
Antony26
No further, sir.
Come no further, sir.
Caesar27
You take from me a great part of myself. Use me well in’t. Sister, prove such a wife As my thoughts make thee, and as my farthest bond Shall pass on thy approof. Most noble Antony, Let not the piece of virtue which is set Betwixt us, as the cement of our love To keep it builded, be the ram to batter The fortress of it. For better might we Have loved without this mean, if on both parts This be not cherished.
You are taking a great part of myself away from me. Treat me well in her. Sister, prove yourself the kind of wife my thoughts believe you to be, and such a wife as my furthest pledge will stand guarantee for. Most noble Antony, don't let this piece of virtue, who is set between us as the cement of our love to keep it standing, become the battering ram that knocks down the fortress of it. It would have been better for us to love without this go-between, if she is not cherished by both sides.
Antony37
Make me not offended In your distrust.
Don't offend me with your suspicion.
Caesar39
I have said.
I've said what I have to say.
Antony40
You shall not find, Though you be therein curious, the least cause For what you seem to fear. So the gods keep you, And make the hearts of Romans serve your ends. We will here part.
However carefully you look for it, you will not find the slightest reason for what you seem to fear. So may the gods protect you, and make the hearts of Romans serve your purposes. Let's part here.
Caesar45
Farewell, my dearest sister, fare thee well. The elements be kind to thee, and make Thy spirits all of comfort! Fare thee well.
Farewell, my dearest sister, farewell. May the elements be kind to you and fill your spirits with comfort! Farewell.
Octavia48
My noble brother!
My noble brother!
Antony49
The April’s in her eyes. It is love’s spring, And these the showers to bring it on.—Be cheerful.
April is in her eyes. It's the springtime of love, and these tears are the showers that bring it on. — Be cheerful.
Octavia51
Sir, look well to my husband’s house, and—
Sir, take good care of my husband's house, and—
Caesar52
What, Octavia?
What is it, Octavia?
Octavia53
I’ll tell you in your ear.
I'll whisper it in your ear.
Antony54
Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can Her heart inform her tongue—the swan’s-down feather, That stands upon the swell at the full of tide, And neither way inclines.
Her tongue won't obey her heart, nor can her heart tell her tongue what to say — she's like the swan's-down feather that rests on the swell at the height of the tide and leans neither way.
Enobarbus58
[Aside to Agrippa.] Will Caesar weep?
[Aside to Agrippa.] Is Caesar going to cry?
Agrippa59
[Aside to Enobarbus.] He has a cloud in ’s face.
[Aside to Enobarbus.] He has a cloud on his face.
Enobarbus60
[Aside to Agrippa.] He were the worse for that were he a horse; So is he, being a man.
[Aside to Agrippa.] He'd be worth less for that if he were a horse; and he is, being a man.
Agrippa62
[Aside to Enobarbus.] Why, Enobarbus, When Antony found Julius Caesar dead, He cried almost to roaring, and he wept When at Philippi he found Brutus slain.
[Aside to Enobarbus.] Why, Enobarbus, when Antony found Julius Caesar dead, he cried almost to the point of roaring, and he wept when he found Brutus killed at Philippi.
Enobarbus66
[Aside to Agrippa.] That year, indeed, he was troubled with a rheum; What willingly he did confound he wailed, Believe ’t, till I weep too.
[Aside to Agrippa.] That year, in fact, he was troubled with a head cold; he wailed over what he had gladly destroyed. Believe it when you see me weep too.
Caesar69
No, sweet Octavia, You shall hear from me still. The time shall not Outgo my thinking on you.
No, sweet Octavia, you'll keep hearing from me. Time will not outrun my thoughts of you.
Antony72
Come, sir, come, I’ll wrestle with you in my strength of love. Look, here I have you, thus I let you go, And give you to the gods.
Come, sir, come, I'll wrestle with you with the strength of my love. Look, here I hold you, and now I let you go, and give you over to the gods.
Caesar76
Adieu, be happy!
Goodbye, be happy!
Lepidus77
Let all the number of the stars give light To thy fair way!
May every star there is give light to your fair journey!
Caesar79
Farewell, farewell!
Farewell, farewell!
Kisses Octavia.
He kisses Octavia.
Antony80
Farewell!
Farewell!
Trumpets sound. Exeunt.
Trumpets sound. They all leave.
Original text: Project Gutenberg edition #1534 (public domain, edited by the PG Shakespeare Team). Modern English rendering by Storgy.