Antony and Cleopatra, Act 3, Scene 7

Cleopatra

I will be even with thee, doubt it not.

I'll get even with you, don't doubt it.

Enobarbus

But why, why, why?

But why, why, why?

Cleopatra

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

You've spoken against my taking part in these wars and said it isn't appropriate.

Enobarbus

Well, is it, is it?

Well, is it? Is it?

Cleopatra

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

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

Enobarbus

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

Well, I could answer this way: if we sent stallions and mares into battle together, the stallions would be completely useless. The mares would have both a soldier and his horse on top of them.

Cleopatra

What is’t you say?

What are you saying?

Enobarbus

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 alreadyTraduced for levity, and ’tis said in RomeThat Photinus, an eunuch, and your maidsManage this war.

Your presence is bound to distract Antony and take away attention, thought, and time that he can't afford to spare. He's already criticized for being frivolous, and people in Rome say that Photinus, a eunuch, and your serving women are running this war.

Cleopatra

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

Let Rome sink, and let the tongues of those who speak against us rot! We bear a share of the burden of this war, and as the ruler of my kingdom, I will take my place there like a man. Don't argue against it. I won't stay behind.

Enobarbus

Nay, I have done.Here comes the Emperor.

All right, I've finished. Here comes the Emperor.

Antony

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

Isn't it strange, Canidius, that he could cross the Ionian Sea from Tarentum and Brundusium so quickly and capture Toryne? Have you heard about it, sweetheart?

Cleopatra

Celerity is never more admiredThan by the negligent.

No one admires speed more than those who have been careless.

Antony

A good rebuke,Which might have well becomed the best of menTo taunt at slackness.—Canidius, weWill fight with him by sea.

A fair rebuke. Even the best of men could have used it to criticize laziness. Canidius, we'll fight him at sea.

Cleopatra

By sea, what else?

At sea. Where else?

Canidius

Why will my lord do so?

Why would you do that, my lord?

Antony

For that he dares us to ’t.

Because he challenges us to it.

Enobarbus

So hath my lord dared him to single fight.

And you, my lord, have challenged him to single combat.

Canidius

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 Pompey. But he rejects these offers because they don't give him an advantage. You should do the same.

Enobarbus

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

Your ships don't have good crews. Your sailors are mule drivers, harvest workers, and people hastily forced into service. Caesar's fleet has men who have often fought against Pompey. Their ships are quick and easy to handle; yours are heavy. There's no disgrace in refusing to fight him at sea when you're prepared to fight on land.

Antony

By sea, by sea.

At sea, at sea.

Enobarbus

Most worthy sir, you therein throw awayThe absolute soldiership you have by land;Distract your army, which doth most consistOf war-marked footmen; leave unexecutedYour own renowned knowledge; quite forgoThe way which promises assurance; andGive up yourself merely to chance and hazardFrom firm security.

Most honored sir, by doing that you throw away your complete military superiority on land. You divide your army, which consists mostly of battle-scarred foot soldiers. You leave your own famous skill unused, abandon the course that promises certain success, and give up a secure position to leave yourself entirely at the mercy of chance and danger.

Antony

I’ll fight at sea.

I'll fight at sea.

Cleopatra

I have sixty sails, Caesar none better.

I have sixty ships, and Caesar has none better.

Antony

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

We'll burn our extra ships, give the rest full crews, and sail from the headland of Actium to defeat Caesar as he approaches. But if we fail, we can then fight him on land.

Messenger

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

The news is true, my lord. He has been spotted. Caesar has captured Toryne.

Antony

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 in person? That's impossible. It's strange enough that his forces should be there. Canidius, you'll command our nineteen legions and our twelve thousand cavalry on land. We'll go to our ship. Come, my Thetis!

Soldier

O noble emperor, do not fight by sea.Trust not to rotten planks. Do you misdoubtThis sword and these my wounds? Let th’ EgyptiansAnd the Phoenicians go a-ducking. WeHave used to conquer standing on the earthAnd fighting foot to foot.

Noble emperor, don't fight at sea. Don't trust rotten planks. Do you doubt this sword and these wounds of mine? Let the Egyptians and Phoenicians go splashing in the water. We've always won by standing on solid ground and fighting toe to toe.

Antony

Well, well, away.

All right, all right. Let's go.

Soldier

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

By Hercules, I think I'm right.

Canidius

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

Soldier, you are. But he isn't basing his whole campaign on where his strength lies. So our leader is being led, and we are men ruled by women.

Soldier

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

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

Canidius

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

Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius, Publicola, and Caelius are going to sea, but we're keeping our whole force on land. Caesar's speed is beyond belief.

Soldier

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

While he was still in Rome, his forces moved out in so many separate groups that they fooled all the spies.

Canidius

Who’s his lieutenant, hear you?

Have you heard who his second-in-command is?

Soldier

They say one Taurus.

They say a man named Taurus.

Canidius

Well I know the man.

I know the man well.

Messenger

The Emperor calls Canidius.

The Emperor is calling for Canidius.

Canidius

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

These times are pregnant with news, and every minute they labor to give birth to more.