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Act 1, Scene 4
Antony and Cleopatra Translation Act 1, Scene 5
Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and MARDIAN
CLEOPATRA
Charmian!
CLEOPATRA
Charmian!
CHARMIAN
Madam?
CHARMIAN
Yes, madam?
CLEOPATRA
Ha, ha! Give me to drink mandragora.
CLEOPATRA
Ha, ha! Give me mandragora to drink.
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CHARMIAN
Why, madam?
CHARMIAN
Why, madam?
CLEOPATRA
That I might sleep out this great gap of timeMy Antony is away.
CLEOPATRA
So I can sleep through this long period while my Antony is away.
CHARMIAN
You think of him too much.
CHARMIAN
You think about him too much.
CLEOPATRA
Oh, ’tis treason!
CLEOPATRA
Oh, that's treasonous to say!
CHARMIAN
Madam, I trust, not so.
CHARMIAN
Madam, I trust that it isn't.
CLEOPATRA
Thou, eunuch Mardian!
CLEOPATRA
You, Mardian the eunuch!
MARDIAN
What’s your highness’ pleasure?
MARDIAN
What does your highness want?
CLEOPATRA
Not now to hear thee sing. I take no pleasure In aught an eunuch has. ’Tis well for thee That, being unseminared, thy freer thoughts May not fly forth of Egypt. Hast thou affections?
CLEOPATRA
I don't wish to hear you sing right now. I don't take pleasure in anything that a eunuch has. It's lucky for you, since you've been castrated, that your fantasies don't involve anything outside of Egypt. Do you have desires?
MARDIAN
Yes, gracious madam.
MARDIAN
Yes, gracious madam.
CLEOPATRA
Indeed?
CLEOPATRA
Indeed?
MARDIAN
Not in deed, madam, for I can do nothing But what indeed is honest to be done. Yet have I fierce affections, and think What Venus did with Mars.
MARDIAN
Not in deed, madam, since I can't do anything except what is honest to do. But I still have strong desires, and I think about what Venus did with Mars.
CLEOPATRA
O Charmian, Where think’st thou he is now? Stands he or sits he? Or does he walk? Or is he on his horse? O happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony! Do bravely, horse, for wott’st thou whom thou mov’st? The demi-Atlas of this earth, the arm And burgonet of men. He’s speaking now, Or murmuring “Where’s my serpent of old Nile?” For so he calls me. Now I feed myself With most delicious poison. Think on me, That am with Phoebus’ amorous pinches black And wrinkled deep in time. Broad-fronted Caesar, When thou wast here above the ground, I was A morsel for a monarch. And great Pompey Would stand and make his eyes grow in my brow. There would he anchor his aspect, and die With looking on his life.
CLEOPATRA
Oh Charmian, where do you think he is now? Is he standing or sitting? Or is he walking? Or he is on horseback? Oh what a lucky horse, to have Antony on top of him! Run with style and courage, horse, for do you know who is riding you? The demi-Atlas of this earth, the champion and guardian of humankind. Perhaps he's speaking now, or murmuring, "Where's my serpent of the old Nile?" For that's what he calls me. Now I cheer myself up with delicious thoughts of the thing that pains me most. Think about me, whose skin is dark from the sun's loving beams and wrinkled with old age. Wide-browed Caesar, when you were still alive, I was magnificent enough even for a great monarch like you. And great Pompey would stand and gaze for hours at my forehead. There he would fix his gaze, and die from looking at the woman who sustained his life.
Enter ALEXAS
ALEXAS
Sovereign of Egypt, hail!
ALEXAS
Ruler of Egypt, hail!
CLEOPATRA
How much unlike art thou Mark Antony! Yet, coming from him, that great med’cine hath With his tinct gilded thee. How goes it with my brave Mark Antony?
CLEOPATRA
How very unlike Mark Antony you are! But, since you were sent by him, some of his greatness has rubbed off on you. How is my brave Mark Antony doing?
ALEXAS
Last thing he did, dear Queen,He kissed—the last of many doubled kisses—This orient pearl.
ALEXAS
The last thing he did, dear Queen, was to kiss—the last kiss of many such kisses—this pearl from India.
He gives a pearl.
His speech sticks in my heart.
His parting words stuck in my mind.
CLEOPATRA
Mine ear must pluck it thence.
CLEOPATRA
I must hear them from you.
ALEXAS
“Good friend,” quoth he, “Say the firm Roman to great Egypt sends This treasure of an oyster, at whose foot, To mend the petty present, I will piece Her opulent throne with kingdoms. All the East, Say thou, shall call her mistress.” So he nodded, And soberly did mount an arm-gaunt steed, Who neighed so high that what I would have spoke Was beastly dumbed by him.
ALEXAS
"Good friend," he said, "Say that the stalwart Roman sends this treasure from an oyster to the great queen of Egypt, at whose feet—to improve this meager present—I will lay kingdoms, to add glory to her splendid throne. Tell her that all the East will call her their queen." So he nodded, and somberly mounted a thin, spirited warhorse, who neighed so loudly that the reply I would have made was drowned out by the beast.
CLEOPATRA
What was he, sad or merry?
CLEOPATRA
What mood was he in, sad or happy?
ALEXAS
Like to the time o’ th’ year between the extremesOf hot and cold, he was nor sad nor merry.
ALEXAS
Like the midpoint of the year between extreme heat and extreme cold, he was neither sad nor happy.
CLEOPATRA
O well-divided disposition! Note him, Note him, good Charmian, ’tis the man, but note him. He was not sad, for he would shine on those That make their looks by his. He was not merry, Which seemed to tell them his remembrance lay In Egypt with his joy, but between both. O heavenly mingle! Be’st thou sad or merry, The violence of either thee becomes, So does it no man else.—Mett’st thou my posts?
CLEOPATRA
Oh well-balanced temperament! Take notice of him, take notice, good Charmian, that's exactly how he is, but take notice of him. He wasn't sad, because he wanted to look cheerfully at those people whose moods depend on his. He was not merry, which seems to say that he was remembering Egypt and his joy, but he was between sorrow and merriment. Oh heavenly mixture! Whether you are sad or happy, the extreme of either emotion suits you as it suits no other man. Did you encounter my messengers?
ALEXAS
Ay, madam, twenty several messengers.Why do you send so thick?
ALEXAS
Yes, madam, twenty different messengers. Why did you send so many?
CLEOPATRA
Who’s born that day When I forget to send to Antony Shall die a beggar. Ink and paper, Charmian. Welcome, my good Alexas. Did I, Charmian, Ever love Caesar so?
CLEOPATRA
Whoever is born on the day that I forget to write to Antony will die a beggar. Bring me ink and paper, Charmian. Welcome, my good Alexas. Did I, Charmian, ever love Caesar this much!
CHARMIAN
Oh, that brave Caesar!
CHARMIAN
Oh, that brave Caesar!
CLEOPATRA
Be choked with such another emphasis!Say, “the brave Antony.”
CLEOPATRA
May you choke if you ever say such a thing again! Say, "the brave Antony."
CHARMIAN
The valiant Caesar!
CHARMIAN
The valiant Caesar!
CLEOPATRA
By Isis, I will give thee bloody teethIf thou with Caesar paragon againMy man of men.
CLEOPATRA
I swear by Isis, I will strike you in the mouth if you compare Caesar again with my man who surpasses all other men.
CHARMIAN
By your most gracious pardon,I sing but after you.
CHARMIAN
I beg your pardon, your highness, I'm only repeating what you said.
CLEOPATRA
My salad days, When I was green in judgment, cold in blood, To say as I said then. [To everyone] But, come, away. [To CHARMIAN] Get me ink and paper. He shall have every day a several greeting, Or I’ll unpeople Egypt.
CLEOPATRA
I was in the days of my youth, when I was inexperienced and my emotions weren't very strong, and that's the only reason I said such things then.
[To everyone] But come, away.
[To CHARMIAN] Get me ink and paper. Antony will have a new greeting every day, even if I have to get rid of all of Egypt to send them.
Exeunt
