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Antony and CleopatraModern English

Antony and Cleopatra, Act 3, Scene 3

Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.

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Modern English

  1. Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras and Alexas.

    Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras and Alexas come in.

  2. Cleopatra1

    Where is the fellow?

    Where is the man?

  3. Alexas2

    Half afeared to come.

    He's half afraid to come.

  4. Cleopatra3

    Go to, go to.

    Oh, come on, come on.

  5. Enter a Messenger as before.

    The same Messenger as before comes in.

  6. Cleopatra4

    Come hither, sir.

    Come here, sir.

  7. Alexas5

    Good majesty, Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you But when you are well pleased.

    Good majesty, Herod of Jewry doesn't dare look at you except when you're in a good mood.

  8. Cleopatra8

    That Herod’s head I’ll have! But how, when Antony is gone, Through whom I might command it?—Come thou near.

    I'll have that Herod's head! But how can I, now that Antony is gone, through whom I might have ordered it?—Come closer.

  9. Messenger11

    Most gracious majesty!

    Most gracious majesty!

  10. Cleopatra12

    Didst thou behold Octavia?

    Did you see Octavia?

  11. Messenger13

    Ay, dread queen.

    Yes, dread queen.

  12. Cleopatra14

    Where?

    Where?

  13. Messenger15

    Madam, in Rome I looked her in the face, and saw her led Between her brother and Mark Antony.

    Madam, in Rome. I looked her right in the face, and saw her walking arm in arm between her brother and Mark Antony.

  14. Cleopatra18

    Is she as tall as me?

    Is she as tall as I am?

  15. Messenger19

    She is not, madam.

    She is not, madam.

  16. Cleopatra20

    Didst hear her speak? Is she shrill-tongued or low?

    Did you hear her speak? Is her voice shrill or low?

  17. Messenger21

    Madam, I heard her speak. She is low-voiced.

    Madam, I heard her speak. Her voice is low.

  18. Cleopatra22

    That’s not so good. He cannot like her long.

    That's not so good. He can't like her for long.

  19. Charmian23

    Like her? O Isis! ’Tis impossible.

    Like her? Oh, Isis! It's impossible.

  20. Cleopatra24

    I think so, Charmian: dull of tongue and dwarfish! What majesty is in her gait? Remember, If e’er thou look’dst on majesty.

    I think so too, Charmian: slow of speech and stunted! What majesty is there in the way she walks? Think back, if you've ever set eyes on majesty.

  21. Messenger27

    She creeps. Her motion and her station are as one. She shows a body rather than a life, A statue than a breather.

    She creeps. Her moving and her standing still look the same. She shows a body rather than a life, a statue rather than something that breathes.

  22. Cleopatra31

    Is this certain?

    Is this certain?

  23. Messenger32

    Or I have no observance.

    Either that, or I have no powers of observation.

  24. Charmian33

    Three in Egypt Cannot make better note.

    Three people in all Egypt couldn't take better notice than he does.

  25. Cleopatra35

    He’s very knowing; I do perceive’t. There’s nothing in her yet. The fellow has good judgment.

    He's very sharp; I can see that. There's nothing to her at all. The man has good judgment.

  26. Charmian38

    Excellent.

    Excellent.

  27. Cleopatra39

    Guess at her years, I prithee.

    Make a guess at her age, please.

  28. Messenger40

    Madam, She was a widow.

    Madam, she had been a widow.

  29. Cleopatra42

    Widow! Charmian, hark!

    A widow! Charmian, listen to that!

  30. Messenger43

    And I do think she’s thirty.

    And I think she's thirty.

  31. Cleopatra44

    Bear’st thou her face in mind? Is’t long or round?

    Do you remember her face? Is it long or round?

  32. Messenger45

    Round even to faultiness.

    Round — round to a fault.

  33. Cleopatra46

    For the most part, too, they are foolish that are so. Her hair, what colour?

    Mostly, too, women like that are stupid. Her hair — what colour?

  34. Messenger48

    Brown, madam, and her forehead As low as she would wish it.

    Brown, madam, and her forehead is as low as she could wish it.

  35. Cleopatra50

    There’s gold for thee. Thou must not take my former sharpness ill. I will employ thee back again; I find thee Most fit for business. Go make thee ready; Our letters are prepared.

    Here's gold for you. You mustn't hold my earlier harshness against me. I'll send you out on my business again; I find you very well suited to the work. Go and get yourself ready; my letters are prepared.

  36. Exit Messenger.

    The Messenger leaves.

  37. Charmian55

    A proper man.

    A fine man.

  38. Cleopatra56

    Indeed, he is so. I repent me much That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him, This creature’s no such thing.

    He is indeed. I'm very sorry that I bullied him the way I did. Why, from what he says, it seems to me this creature is nothing much.

  39. Charmian59

    Nothing, madam.

    Nothing at all, madam.

  40. Cleopatra60

    The man hath seen some majesty, and should know.

    The man has seen majesty before, and ought to know.

  41. Charmian61

    Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend, And serving you so long!

    Has he seen majesty? Isis forbid otherwise, when he has served you so long!

  42. Cleopatra63

    I have one thing more to ask him yet, good Charmian. But ’tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to me Where I will write. All may be well enough.

    I have one more thing to ask him, good Charmian. But it doesn't matter; you'll bring him to me in the room where I'm going to write. Everything may turn out well enough.

  43. Charmian66

    I warrant you, madam.

    I promise you I will, madam.

  44. Exeunt.

    They all leave.

Original text: Project Gutenberg edition #1534 (public domain, edited by the PG Shakespeare Team). Modern English rendering by Storgy.