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Act 2, Scene 4
Antony and Cleopatra Translation Act 2, Scene 5
Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS
CLEOPATRA
Give me some music. Music, moody foodOf us that trade in love.
CLEOPATRA
Play me some music. Music is the best emotional sustenance for those of us who are in love.
ALL
The music, ho!
ALL
Play the music!
Enter MARDIAN the eunuch
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CLEOPATRA
Let it alone. Let’s to billiards. Come, Charmian.
CLEOPATRA
Forget the music. Let's play billiards. Come, Charmian.
CHARMIAN
My arm is sore. Best play with Mardian.
CHARMIAN
My arm is sore. You had better play with Mardian.
CLEOPATRA
As well a woman with an eunuch playedAs with a woman.—Come, you’ll play with me, sir?
CLEOPATRA
It's the same to play with a woman as it is with a eunuch.
[To MADRIAN] Come, you'll play with me, sir?
MARDIAN
As well as I can, madam.
MARDIAN
As well as I can, madam.
CLEOPATRA
And when good will is showed, though ’t come too short, The actor may plead pardon. I’ll none now. Give me mine angle. We’ll to th’ river. There, My music playing far off, I will betray Tawny-finned fishes. My bended hook shall pierce Their slimy jaws, and as I draw them up I’ll think them every one an Antony And say, “Aha! You’re caught.”
CLEOPATRA
And if an actor tries his best, even if his performance isn't very good, he can still ask for pardon. I don't want to play anymore. Give me my fishing rod. We'll go to the river. There, with my music playing from a distance, I'll catch the golden-finned fishes. My curved hook will pierce their slimy jaws, and as I pull them up, I'll imagine that every one of them is Antony and say, "Aha! I've caught you!"
CHARMIAN
’Twas merry when You wagered on your angling, when your diver Did hang a salt fish on his hook, which he With fervency drew up.
CHARMIAN
It was a good joke when you bet on your fishing, and you had your diver go down and put a dried fish on his hook, which he pulled out enthusiastically.
CLEOPATRA
That time—Oh, times!— I laughed him out of patience, and that night I laughed him into patience. And next morn, Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed, Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst I wore his sword Philippan.
CLEOPATRA
That time—oh, the times we had!—that I laughed at him until he lost patience, and that night, I satisfied him again. And the next morning, before nine o'clock, I got him drunk and sent him to bed, and then put my clothes and headdresses on him, while I put on his sword.
Enter a MESSENGER
Oh, from Italy!Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,That long time have been barren.
Oh, a message from Italy! Tell me your good news quickly, since I haven't had any news in so long.
MESSENGER
Madam, madam—
MESSENGER
Madam, madam—
CLEOPATRA
Antonio’s dead! If thou say so, villain, Thou kill’st thy mistress. But well and free, If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here My bluest veins to kiss —a hand that kings Have lipped, and trembled kissing.
CLEOPATRA
Antony's dead! If you tell me that, villain, you kill me. But if you tell me that he is well and has not been captured—if you report that about him—then I will give you gold [Gives him gold] and here, my blue-blooded hand to kiss [She holds out her hand]—a hand that kings have kissed, and trembled while they kissed it.
MESSENGER
First, madam, he is well.
MESSENGER
First, madam, he is well.
CLEOPATRA
Why, there’s more gold. But, sirrah, mark, we use To say the dead are well. Bring it to that, The gold I give thee will I melt and pour Down thy ill-uttering throat.
CLEOPATRA
Why, there's more gold. But, sir, pay attention, we use to use the word "well" to describe the dead. If that's what you mean, I will melt the gold I've given you and pour it down that throat of yours that tells me such terrible news.
MESSENGER
Good madam, hear me.
MESSENGER
Good madam, listen to me.
CLEOPATRA
Well, go to, I will. But there’s no goodness in thy face—if Antony Be free and healthful, so tart a favor To trumpet such good tidings! If not well, Thou shouldst come like a Fury crowned with snakes, Not like a formal man.
CLEOPATRA
Well, fine, I will. But there's no goodness in your face—if Antony is free and well, it's odd that he would send such a sour face to bring such good news! But if he isn't well, you should have appeared like a Fury with a crown of snakes, not so calm and well-dressed.
MESSENGER
Will ’t please you hear me?
MESSENGER
Will you please listen to me?
CLEOPATRA
I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak’st. Yet if thou say Antony lives, is well, Or friends with Caesar, or not captive to him, I’ll set thee in a shower of gold and hail Rich pearls upon thee.
CLEOPATRA
I have half a mind to strike you before you speak. But if you tell me that Antony lives, that he's well, that he's friends with Caesar or that he's not Caesar's prisoner, then I'll shower you with gold and greet you with rich pearls.
MESSENGER
Madam, he’s well.
MESSENGER
Madam, he's well.
CLEOPATRA
Well said.
CLEOPATRA
Well said.
MESSENGER
And friends with Caesar.
MESSENGER
And friends with Caesar.
CLEOPATRA
Th’ art an honest man.
CLEOPATRA
You are a good man.
MESSENGER
Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.
MESSENGER
Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.
CLEOPATRA
Make thee a fortune from me.
CLEOPATRA
I will give you a fortune.
MESSENGER
But yet, madam—
MESSENGER
But yet, madam—
CLEOPATRA
I do not like “But yet.” It does allay The good precedence. Fie upon “But yet.” “But yet” is as a jailer to bring forth Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend, Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear, The good and bad together. He’s friends with Caesar, In state of health, thou say’st, and, thou say’st, free.
CLEOPATRA
I do not like the sound of "But yet." It casts a shadow on the previous good news. Down with "But yet." "But yet" are the words you'll use to introduce some terrible news. Please, friend, tell me all your news at once, both the good and the bad. He's friends with Caesar, he's well, you say, and you say that he's free.
MESSENGER
Free, madam, no. I made no such report.He’s bound unto Octavia.
MESSENGER
Free, madam, no. I did not say that. He's bound to Octavia.
CLEOPATRA
For what good turn?
CLEOPATRA
For what good turn?
MESSENGER
For the best turn i’ th’ bed.
MESSENGER
For the best turn, in bed.
CLEOPATRA
I am pale, Charmian.
CLEOPATRA
I am pale, Charmian.
MESSENGER
Madam, he’s married to Octavia.
MESSENGER
Madam, he's married to Octavia.
CLEOPATRA
The most infectious pestilence upon thee!
CLEOPATRA
May the most infectious disease come upon you!
Strikes him down
MESSENGER
Good madam, patience.
MESSENGER
Good madam, patience.
CLEOPATRA
What say you?
CLEOPATRA
What did you say?
Strikes him
Hence, horrible villain, or I’ll spurn thine eyesLike balls before me! I’ll unhair thy head!
Get out of here, horrible villain, or I'll kick your eyes in front of me like balls! I'll tear all the hair from your head!
She hales him up and down
Thou shalt be whipped with wire and stewed in brine,Smarting in ling’ring pickle!
You'll be whipped with wire and soaked in brine like a pickle, prolonging your pain!
MESSENGER
Gracious madam,I that do bring the news made not the match.
MESSENGER
Gracious madam, I brought the news, but I did not arrange the marriage.
CLEOPATRA
Say ’tis not so, a province I will give thee And make thy fortunes proud. The blow thou hadst Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage, And I will boot thee with what gift beside Thy modesty can beg.
CLEOPATRA
Say that it isn't so, and I will give you a territory and build up your fortunes. The blow that I gave you will make up for you making me angry, and I'll enrich you with whatever other gift your lowly self can ask for.
MESSENGER
He’s married, madam.
MESSENGER
He's married, madam.
CLEOPATRA
Rogue, thou hast lived too long.
CLEOPATRA
Scoundrel, you have lived too long.
Draws a knife
MESSENGER
Nay then, I’ll run.What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.
MESSENGER
No, I'll run. What are you doing, madam? I have done nothing wrong.
Exit
CHARMIAN
Good madam, keep yourself within yourself.The man is innocent.
CHARMIAN
Good madam, pull yourself together. That man is innocent.
CLEOPATRA
Some innocents ’scape not the thunderbolt. Melt Egypt into Nile, and kindly creatures Turn all to serpents. Call the slave again. Though I am mad, I will not bite him. Call!
CLEOPATRA
Some innocent people don't escape punishment. Let Egypt melt into the Nile and let all sweet creatures turn into serpents. Call that lowborn messenger again. Even though I am angry, I will not hurt him. Call!
CHARMIAN
He is afeard to come.
CHARMIAN
He's afraid to come.
CLEOPATRA
I will not hurt him. These hands do lack nobility that they strike A meaner than myself, since I myself Have given myself the cause.
CLEOPATRA
I will not hurt him. It would be dishonorable for my hands to strike someone of lower rank than myself, since I am the cause of my anger, by caring about Antony so much.
Enter the MESSENGER again
Come hither, sir. Though it be honest, it is never good To bring bad news. Give to a gracious message An host of tongues, but let ill tidings tell Themselves when they be felt.
Come here, sir. Even though it is honest, it is never good to bring bad news. Send many people to bring good news, but let bad news announce itself when it becomes apparent.
MESSENGER
I have done my duty.
MESSENGER
I have done my duty.
CLEOPATRA
Is he married?I cannot hate thee worser than I doIf thou again say “yes.”
CLEOPATRA
Is he married? I cannot hate you worse than I already do if you say "yes" again.
MESSENGER
He’s married, madam.
MESSENGER
He's married, madam.
CLEOPATRA
The gods confound thee! Dost thou hold there still?
CLEOPATRA
May the gods destroy you! Do you still stand by that statement?
MESSENGER
Should I lie, madam?
MESSENGER
Should I lie, madam?
CLEOPATRA
Oh, I would thou didst, So half my Egypt were submerged and made A cistern for scaled snakes! Go, get thee hence. Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?
CLEOPATRA
Oh, I wish you were lying, even if meant half of Egypt had to be submerged in water and turned into a pool for scaly snakes! Go, get out of here. Even if you were as handsome as Narcissus, you would seem entirely ugly to me. He is married?
MESSENGER
I crave your highness’ pardon.
MESSENGER
I beg your highness's pardon.
CLEOPATRA
He is married?
CLEOPATRA
He is married?
MESSENGER
Take no offense that I would not offend you.To punish me for what you make me doSeems much unequal. He’s married to Octavia.
MESSENGER
Do not take offense, since I do not wish to offend you. It seems very unfair to punish me for doing what you order me to. He's married to Octavia.
CLEOPATRA
Oh, that his fault should make a knave of thee, That art not what th’ art sure of! Get thee hence. The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome Are all too dear for me. Lie they upon thy hand And be undone by ’em!
CLEOPATRA
Oh, what a pity that his fault should turn you into a scoundrel, since you aren't a bad man even though you bring bad news! Get going. The merchandise you brought with you from Rome is too expensive for me. Leave with your goods on your hands and be ruined by them!
Exit MESSENGER
CHARMIAN
Good your highness, patience.
CHARMIAN
My good queen, have patience.
CLEOPATRA
In praising Antony, I have dispraised Caesar.
CLEOPATRA
Whenever I praised Antony, I also insulted Caesar.
CHARMIAN
Many times, madam.
CHARMIAN
Many times, madam.
CLEOPATRA
I am paid for ’t now. Lead me from hence. I faint. O Iras, Charmian! ’Tis no matter.— Go to the fellow, good Alexas. Bid him Report the feature of Octavia: her years, Her inclination. Let him not leave out The color of her hair. Bring me word quickly.
CLEOPATRA
I'm punished for it now. Lead me away from here. I faint. Oh Iras, Charmian! It doesn't matter—Go to the messenger, good Alexas. Tell him to describe Octavia's features: her age, her temperament. Don't let him leave out any detail, not even the color of her hair. Report back to me quickly.
Exit Alexas
Let him for ever go:—let him not—Charmian, Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon, The other way's a Mars. Bid you Alexas To MARDIAN Bring me word how tall she is. Pity me, Charmian, But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.
I'll forget about him forever—no I won't—Charmian, even though in some ways he seems like a monster, in other ways he's a god.
[To MARDIAN] Tell Alexas to let me know how tall she is. Take pity on me, Charmian, but don't speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.
Exeunt
