The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (765 page)

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS

Think, and die.

Think, and die.

CLEOPATRA

Is Antony or we in fault for this?

Whose fault is it, Antony's or mine?

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS

Antony only, that would make his will

Only Antony's, who would make his emotions

Lord of his reason. What though you fled

Govern his reason. So what if you ran

From that great face of war, whose several ranges

From that battle, where several things

Frighted each other? why should he follow?

Made it frightening? Why should he follow?

The itch of his affection should not then

His feelings of affection should not then

Have nick'd his captainship; at such a point,

Damage his leadership; at such a point,

When half to half the world opposed, he being

When the halves of the world were fighting one another, he being

The meered question: 'twas a shame no less

The one in question: it was a shame no less

Than was his loss, to course your flying flags,

Than it was his loss, to chase after your flags

And leave his navy gazing.

And leave his navy confused.

CLEOPATRA

Prithee, peace.

Please, that's enough.

Enter MARK ANTONY with EUPHRONIUS, the Ambassador

MARK ANTONY

Is that his answer?

Is that his answer?

EUPHRONIUS

Ay, my lord.

Yes, my lord.

MARK ANTONY

The queen shall then have courtesy, so she

The queen will then have courtesy, if she

Will yield us up.

Gives me up.

EUPHRONIUS

He says so.

He says so.

MARK ANTONY

Let her know't.

Let her know it.

To the boy Caesar send this grizzled head,

To the boy Caesar send this old man's head,

And he will fill thy wishes to the brim

And he will fill your wishes to the brim

With principalities.

With lands to rule over.

CLEOPATRA

That head, my lord?

The head, sir?

MARK ANTONY

To him again: tell him he wears the rose

To him again: tell him we has the blush

Of youth upon him; from which the world should note

Of youth upon him; from which the world should notice

Something particular: his coin, ships, legions,

Something in particular: his money, ships, armies,

May be a coward's; whose ministers would prevail

May be a coward's; whose advisers would win

Under the service of a child as soon

While serving a child just as well

As i' the command of Caesar: I dare him therefore

As they would under Caesar's: I therefore dare him

To lay his gay comparisons apart,

To put aside his friends,

And answer me declined, sword against sword,

And answer my challenge, sword against sword,

Ourselves alone. I'll write it: follow me.

In single combat. I'll write it; follow me.

Exeunt MARK ANTONY and EUPHRONIUS

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS

[Aside] Yes, like enough, high-battled Caesar will

Yes, it is likely enough that victorious Caesar will

Unstate his happiness, and be staged to the show,

Put aside his happiness, and take part in the show,

Against a sworder! I see men's judgments are

Against a swordsman! I see men's judgments are

A parcel of their fortunes; and things outward

Just a part of their fortunes; and things on the outside

Do draw the inward quality after them,

Affect things on the inside as well,

To suffer all alike. That he should dream,

For all of them to suffer together. That he dreams,

Knowing all measures, the full Caesar will

Knowing all the factors, the full Caesar will

Answer his emptiness! Caesar, thou hast subdued

Respond to his emptiness! Caesar,  you have conquered

His judgment too.

Enter an Attendant

Attendant

A messenger from CAESAR.

A messenger from Caesar.

CLEOPATRA

What, no more ceremony? See, my women!

What, no more fanfare? See, my women!

Against the blown rose may they stop their nose

Against the blooming rose they may stick in their nose

That kneel'd unto the buds. Admit him, sir.

That kneeled to the buds. Let him in, sir.

Exit Attendant

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS

[Aside] Mine honesty and I begin to square.

My honesty and myself begin to battle.

The loyalty well held to fools does make

Being loyal to fools still makes

Our faith mere folly: yet he that can endure

Our loyalty into foolishness: yet he that can endure

To follow with allegiance a fall'n lord

To follow faithfully a fallen lord

Does conquer him that did his master conquer

Conquers the people his master conquered

And earns a place i' the story.

And earns a place in the story.

Enter THYREUS

CLEOPATRA

Caesar's will?

What does Caesar want?

THYREUS

Hear it apart.

Listen in private.

CLEOPATRA

None but friends: say boldly.

Everyone here is a friend: speak openly.

THYREUS

So, haply, are they friends to Antony.

So, by chance, they are friends of Antony.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS

He needs as many, sir, as Caesar has;

He needs as many, sir, as Caesar has;
Or needs not us. If Caesar please, our master

Or does not need us. If Caesar wishes, our master

Will leap to be his friend: for us, you know,

Will leap to be his friend; for we, you know,

Whose he is we are, and that is, Caesar's.

Will be friends with his friends, and that is, Caesar's.

THYREUS

So.

So.
Thus then, thou most renown'd: Caesar entreats,

In that way then, you famous and respected: Caesar requests

Not to consider in what case thou stand'st,

Not to consider yourself standing

Further than he is Caesar.

CLEOPATRA

Go on: right royal.

Go on: so far very royal.

THYREUS

He knows that you embrace not Antony

He knows that you stay with Antony

As you did love, but as you fear'd him.

Not out of love, but out of fear.

CLEOPATRA

O!

Oh!

THYREUS

The scars upon your honour, therefore, he

Therefore, the scars upon your honor, he

Does pity, as constrained blemishes,

Pities as things that were forced on you,

Not as deserved.

Not as things you deserved.

CLEOPATRA

He is a god, and knowsWhat is most right: mine honour was not yielded,

What is right: my honor was not given up,

But conquer'd merely.

But only conquered.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS

[Aside] To be sure of that,

To be sure of that,
I will ask Antony. Sir, sir, thou art so leaky,

I will ask Antony. Sir, sir, your ship is so leaky,

That we must leave thee to thy sinking, for

That we must leave you to your sinking, for

Thy dearest quit thee.

You nearest and dearest abandon you.

Exit

THYREUS

Shall I say to Caesar

Should I say to Caesar

What you require of him? for he partly begs

What you want from him? For he wishes

To be desired to give. It much would please him,

To be allowed to give. It would please him,

That of his fortunes you should make a staff

That of his wealth you would make a staff

To lean upon: but it would warm his spirits,

To lean on: but it would warm his spirits,

To hear from me you had left Antony,

To hear from me that you had left Mark Antony,
And put yourself under his shrowd,

And put yourself under his protection,
The universal landlord.

The universal landlord.

CLEOPATRA

What's your name?

What is your name?

THYREUS

My name is Thyreus.

My name is Thyreus.

CLEOPATRA

Most kind messenger,

Kindest messenger,

Say to great Caesar this: in deputation

Say this to great Caesar: in gratitude

I kiss his conquering hand: tell him, I am prompt

I kiss his conquering hand: tell him, I am ready

To lay my crown at 's feet, and there to kneel:

To lay my crown at his feet, and kneel there:

Tell him from his all-obeying breath I hear

Tell him from his law-making words I hear

The doom of Egypt.

The fate of Egypt.

THYREUS

'Tis your noblest course.

It is the best choice for you.

Wisdom and fortune combating together,

Wisdom and luck fighting together,

If that the former dare but what it can,

If wisdom dares only what it can do,

No chance may shake it. Give me grace to lay

No chance may shake it. Give me permission to lay

My duty on your hand.

My respect on your hand.

CLEOPATRA

Your Caesar's father oft,

Your Caesar's father often,

When he hath mused of taking kingdoms in,

When he had thoughts of taking kingdomes in,
Bestow'd his lips on that unworthy place,

Gifted his lips on that unworthy place,

As it rain'd kisses.

As it rained kisses.

Re-enter MARK ANTONY and DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS

MARK ANTONY

Favours, by Jove that thunders!

Favors from Cleopatra, by Jove!

What art thou, fellow?

Who are you, fellow?

THYREUS

One that but performs

One who simply performs

The bidding of the fullest man, and worthiest

The commands of the greatest man, and most worthy

To have command obey'd.

Of having himself obeyed.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS

[Aside] You will be whipp'd.

You will be whipped.

MARK ANTONY

Approach, there! Ah, you kite! Now, gods and devils!

Come, there! You hawk! Now, gods and devils!