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.

Scorning 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, and 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 games. There he proclaimed his sons the kings of kings: he gave great Media, Parthia and Armenia to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assigned Syria, Cilicia and Phoenicia. That day she appeared 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 it, and they have now received the charges he makes.

Who does he accuse?

Whom 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: that when we had stripped Sextus Pompeius of his power in Sicily, we did not assign 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 be removed from the triumvirate, and that, since he has been, we are holding on to all his income.

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 is done already, and the messenger has gone. I have told him Lepidus had grown too cruel, that he abused his great authority, and deserved to be removed. Of what I have conquered, I grant him a share; 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 agreed with in his demands 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 woman cast off!

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. Antony's wife should have an army to announce her, and the neighing of horses to declare she is coming long before she appeared. The trees along the road should have been loaded with men climbing up to watch, and expectation should have grown faint with longing for what it did not yet have. Indeed, the dust should have risen to the roof of heaven, kicked up by your crowded troops. But you have come to Rome like a market girl, and you have forestalled 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, with a greater welcome 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 so 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 deeply wronged sister. Cleopatra has beckoned him to her. He has handed over his empire 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, along with a still longer list of rulers.

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

Oh, how miserable I am, with my heart divided between two loved ones who are tearing each other apart!

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 back our outbreak of war until we saw both how you were being misled and how our own carelessness put us in danger. Take heart. Do not be distressed by the present situation, which drives these harsh necessities over your happiness, but let things already settled go their fixed way without being mourned. Welcome to Rome; nothing is dearer to me than you. You have been wronged beyond anything thought can measure, and the high gods, to do you justice, are making their agents of us and of those who love you. Take all the comfort you can, and always be welcome with 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 and pities you. Only the adulterous Antony, utterly unrestrained in his vile behaviour, casts you aside and hands over his powerful command to a slut who makes a noisy uproar 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, make patience your constant companion. My dearest sister!