Antony and Cleopatra, Act 3, Scene 7

I will be even with thee, doubt it not.

I'll get even with you, never fear.

But why, why, why?

But why, why, why?

Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars And say’st it is not fit.

You have spoken against my being in this war, and you say it isn't proper.

Well, is it, is it?

Well, is it, is it?

Is ’t not denounced against us? Why should not we Be there in person?

Hasn't war been declared against us? Why shouldn't we be there in person?

Well, I could reply: If we should serve with horse and mares together, The horse were merely lost. The mares would bear A soldier and his horse.

Well, I could answer: if we put stallions and mares into service together, the stallions would be simply wasted. The mares would carry off both a soldier and his horse.

What is’t you say?

What is it you're saying?

Your presence needs must puzzle Antony, Take from his heart, take from his brain, from ’s time, What should not then be spared. He is already Traduced for levity, and ’tis said in Rome That Photinus, an eunuch, and your maids Manage this war.

Your presence is bound to distract Antony, and take from his heart, from his brain, from his time, what ought not to be spared then. He is already slandered for frivolity, and they say in Rome that Photinus, a eunuch, and your serving women are running this war.

Sink Rome, and their tongues rot That speak against us! A charge we bear i’ th’ war, And, as the president of my kingdom, will Appear there for a man. Speak not against it. I will not stay behind.

Let Rome sink, and let the tongues rot of those who speak against us! We bear a share of the cost of the war, and, as the ruler of my kingdom, I will appear there as a man would. Don't argue against it. I will not stay behind.

Nay, I have done. Here comes the Emperor.

No, I've finished. Here comes the Emperor.

Is it not strange, Canidius, That from Tarentum and Brundusium He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea And take in Toryne?—You have heard on ’t, sweet?

Isn't it strange, Canidius, that from Tarentum and Brundusium he could cross the Ionian sea so quickly and capture Toryne?—You've heard about it, my love?

Celerity is never more admired Than by the negligent.

Speed is never admired more than by those who have been careless.

A good rebuke, Which might have well becomed the best of men To taunt at slackness.—Canidius, we Will fight with him by sea.

A fine rebuke, one that would have suited the best of men in mocking slackness.—Canidius, we will fight him at sea.

By sea, what else?

By sea—what else?

Why will my lord do so?

Why will my lord do that?

For that he dares us to ’t.

Because he challenges us to it.

So hath my lord dared him to single fight.

And my lord has challenged him to single combat.

Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia, Where Caesar fought with Pompey. But these offers, Which serve not for his vantage, he shakes off, And so should you.

Yes, and to fight this battle at Pharsalia, where Caesar fought with Pompey. But these offers, which don't work to his advantage, he brushes aside, and you should do the same.

Your ships are not well manned, Your mariners are muleteers, reapers, people Engrossed by swift impress. In Caesar’s fleet Are those that often have ’gainst Pompey fought. Their ships are yare, yours heavy. No disgrace Shall fall you for refusing him at sea, Being prepared for land.

Your ships are poorly crewed. Your sailors are mule drivers and harvest workers, people swept up by a hasty draft. In Caesar's fleet are men who have often fought against Pompey. Their ships are quick to handle, yours are heavy. No disgrace will come to you for refusing him at sea, since you are ready for a land fight.

By sea, by sea.

By sea, by sea.

Most worthy sir, you therein throw away The absolute soldiership you have by land; Distract your army, which doth most consist Of war-marked footmen; leave unexecuted Your own renowned knowledge; quite forgo The way which promises assurance; and Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard From firm security.

Most worthy sir, by doing that you throw away the perfect soldiership you have on land; you break up your army, which is made up mostly of battle-scarred infantry; you leave your own famous skill unused; you completely abandon the course that promises certainty; and you hand yourself over to nothing but chance and risk, when you stand on solid safety.

I’ll fight at sea.

I'll fight at sea.

I have sixty sails, Caesar none better.

I have sixty ships; Caesar has none better.

Our overplus of shipping will we burn, And with the rest full-manned, from th’ head of Actium Beat th’ approaching Caesar. But if we fail, We then can do ’t at land.

We'll burn the ships we have to spare, and with the rest fully crewed we'll beat back the advancing Caesar from the headland of Actium. But if we fail, we can still do it on land.

Thy business?

What's your business?

The news is true, my lord; he is descried. Caesar has taken Toryne.

The news is true, my lord; he has been sighted. Caesar has taken Toryne.

Can he be there in person? ’Tis impossible; Strange that his power should be. Canidius, Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land, And our twelve thousand horse. We’ll to our ship. Away, my Thetis!

Can he be there himself? That's impossible; it's strange enough that his army should be. Canidius, you will hold our nineteen legions on land, and our twelve thousand cavalry. We'll go to our ship. Come away, my Thetis!

How now, worthy soldier?

What is it, worthy soldier?

O noble emperor, do not fight by sea. Trust not to rotten planks. Do you misdoubt This sword and these my wounds? Let th’ Egyptians And the Phoenicians go a-ducking. We Have used to conquer standing on the earth And fighting foot to foot.

Oh noble emperor, don't fight at sea. Don't trust rotten planks. Do you distrust this sword and these wounds of mine? Let the Egyptians and the Phoenicians go paddling about in the water. We are used to conquering while standing on solid ground and fighting hand to hand.

Well, well, away.

All right, all right; away.

By Hercules, I think I am i’ th’ right.

By Hercules, I think I'm right.

Soldier, thou art. But his whole action grows Not in the power on ’t. So our leader’s led, And we are women’s men.

Soldier, you are. But his whole plan of action doesn't grow out of what gives it strength. So our leader is led, and we are women's followers.

You keep by land The legions and the horse whole, do you not?

You're keeping the legions and the cavalry together on land, aren't you?

Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius, Publicola, and Caelius are for sea, But we keep whole by land. This speed of Caesar’s Carries beyond belief.

Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius, Publicola and Caelius are for the sea, but we keep our force together on land. This speed of Caesar's goes beyond belief.

While he was yet in Rome, His power went out in such distractions as Beguiled all spies.

While he was still in Rome, his forces moved out in such scattered groups that they fooled every spy.

Who’s his lieutenant, hear you?

Who's his second in command, do you hear?

They say one Taurus.

They say someone called Taurus.

Well I know the man.

I know the man well.

The Emperor calls Canidius.

The Emperor is calling for Canidius.

With news the time’s with labour, and throes forth Each minute some.

The present hour is in labour with news, and every minute pushes out another one.