Antony and Cleopatra, Act 3, Scene 6

Contemning Rome, he has done all this, and more In Alexandria. Here’s the manner of ’t: I’ th’ market-place, on a tribunal silvered, Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold Were publicly enthroned. At the feet sat Caesarion, whom they call my father’s son, And all the unlawful issue that their lust Since then hath made between them. Unto her He gave the stablishment of Egypt; made her Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia, Absolute queen.

Showing his contempt for Rome, he has done all this, and more, in Alexandria. Here is how it was: in the market-place, on a platform plated with silver, Cleopatra and he were publicly enthroned in chairs of gold. At their feet sat Caesarion, whom they call my father's son, along with all the illegitimate children their lust has produced between them since then. To her he gave the established rule of Egypt; he made her absolute queen of lower Syria, Cyprus and Lydia.

This in the public eye?

This in front of everyone?

I’ th’ common showplace where they exercise. His sons he there proclaimed the kings of kings: Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assigned Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia. She In th’ habiliments of the goddess Isis That day appeared, and oft before gave audience, As ’tis reported, so.

In the public arena where they hold their athletic exercises. There he proclaimed his sons the kings of kings: great Media, Parthia and Armenia he gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assigned Syria, Cilicia and Phoenicia. She appeared that day in the robes of the goddess Isis, and she has often given audience dressed that way before, so it is reported.

Let Rome be thus informed.

Let Rome be told of this.

Who, queasy with his insolence already, Will their good thoughts call from him.

And Rome, already sickened by his insolence, will withdraw its good opinion from him.

The people knows it and have now received His accusations.

The people know about it, and they have now received the charges he brings.

Who does he accuse?

Who does he accuse?

Caesar, and that, having in Sicily Sextus Pompeius spoiled, we had not rated him His part o’ th’ isle. Then does he say he lent me Some shipping, unrestored. Lastly, he frets That Lepidus of the triumvirate Should be deposed and, being, that we detain All his revenue.

Caesar — and this is the charge: that when we had stripped Sextus Pompeius of his power in Sicily, we did not allot him his share of the island. Then he says he lent me some ships that were never returned. Lastly, he is angry that Lepidus should have been removed from the triumvirate, and that, since he was removed, we are keeping all his revenue.

Sir, this should be answered.

Sir, this ought to be answered.

’Tis done already, and messenger gone. I have told him Lepidus was grown too cruel, That he his high authority abused, And did deserve his change. For what I have conquered I grant him part; but then in his Armenia And other of his conquered kingdoms, I Demand the like.

It has been answered already, and the messenger has gone. I have told him that Lepidus had grown too cruel, that he abused his high authority, and that he deserved to be removed. As for what I have conquered, I grant him a share of it; but then in his Armenia and the other kingdoms he has conquered, I demand the same.

He’ll never yield to that.

He will never agree to that.

Nor must not then be yielded to in this.

Then he must not be given his way in this either.

Hail, Caesar, and my lord! Hail, most dear Caesar!

Greetings, Caesar, my lord! Greetings, dearest Caesar!

That ever I should call thee castaway!

To think that I should ever have to call you a castaway!

You have not called me so, nor have you cause.

You have not called me that, and you have no reason to.

Why have you stolen upon us thus? You come not Like Caesar’s sister. The wife of Antony Should have an army for an usher, and The neighs of horse to tell of her approach Long ere she did appear. The trees by th’ way Should have borne men, and expectation fainted, Longing for what it had not. Nay, the dust Should have ascended to the roof of heaven, Raised by your populous troops. But you are come A market-maid to Rome, and have prevented The ostentation of our love, which, left unshown, Is often left unloved. We should have met you By sea and land, supplying every stage With an augmented greeting.

Why have you crept up on us like this? You do not arrive like Caesar's sister. Mark Antony's wife should have an army as her escort, and the neighing of horses to announce her coming long before she appeared. The trees along the road should have been loaded with men, and expectation should have grown faint with longing for what it had not yet seen. Indeed, the dust should have risen to the roof of heaven, thrown up by your crowded troops. But you have come to Rome like a market-girl, and you have prevented the public display of our love, which, when it is not shown, is often taken for no love at all. We should have met you by sea and land, adding a greater greeting at every stage of the journey.

Good my lord, To come thus was I not constrained, but did it On my free will. My lord, Mark Antony, Hearing that you prepared for war, acquainted My grieved ear withal, whereon I begged His pardon for return.

My good lord, I was not forced to come this way; I did it of my own free will. My lord, Mark Antony, hearing that you were preparing for war, told my grieving ear about it, and then I begged his permission to return.

Which soon he granted, Being an abstract ’tween his lust and him.

Which he granted quickly enough, since you stood in the way between him and his lust.

Do not say so, my lord.

Do not say that, my lord.

I have eyes upon him, And his affairs come to me on the wind. Where is he now?

I have people watching him, and news of what he does comes to me on the wind. Where is he now?

My lord, in Athens.

My lord, in Athens.

No, my most wronged sister. Cleopatra Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire Up to a whore, who now are levying The kings o’ th’ earth for war. He hath assembled Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas; King Manchus of Arabia; King of Pont; Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, king Of Comagene; Polemon and Amyntas, The kings of Mede and Lycaonia, With a more larger list of sceptres.

No, my most wronged sister. Cleopatra has beckoned him to her. He has handed his empire over to a whore, and the two of them are now raising the kings of the earth for war. He has gathered Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas; King Manchus of Arabia; the King of Pont; Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, king of Comagene; Polemon and Amyntas, the kings of Mede and Lycaonia, and a longer list of rulers besides.

Ay me, most wretched, That have my heart parted betwixt two friends That does afflict each other!

Oh, how wretched I am, with my heart divided between two friends who wound each other!

Welcome hither. Your letters did withhold our breaking forth Till we perceived both how you were wrong led And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart. Be you not troubled with the time, which drives O’er your content these strong necessities, But let determined things to destiny Hold unbewailed their way. Welcome to Rome, Nothing more dear to me. You are abused Beyond the mark of thought, and the high gods, To do you justice, make their ministers Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort, And ever welcome to us.

Welcome here. Your letters held us back from bursting out into war until we saw both how you were being led astray and how carelessly we were putting ourselves in danger. Take heart. Do not be distressed by these times, which drive these harsh necessities over your happiness, but let things that are already settled go their way to destiny without being mourned. Welcome to Rome — nothing is dearer to me than you. You have been wronged beyond what thought can measure, and the high gods, to give you justice, make their agents of us and of those who love you. Take the best of comfort, and be always welcome to us.

Welcome, lady.

Welcome, lady.

Welcome, dear madam. Each heart in Rome does love and pity you. Only th’ adulterous Antony, most large In his abominations, turns you off And gives his potent regiment to a trull That noises it against us.

Welcome, dear madam. Every heart in Rome loves you and pities you. Only adulterous Antony, utterly unrestrained in his foul behaviour, casts you off and gives his powerful command to a slut who makes a noise against us.

Is it so, sir?

Is that true, sir?

Most certain. Sister, welcome. Pray you Be ever known to patience. My dear’st sister!

Absolutely certain. Sister, welcome. Please, be always a friend to patience. My dearest sister!