Antony and Cleopatra, Act 2, Scene 5

Cleopatra

Give me some music—music, moody foodOf us that trade in love.

Give me some music—music, the food that feeds the moods of those of us who live for love.

All

The music, ho!

Music! Bring the music!

Cleopatra

Let it alone. Let’s to billiards. Come, Charmian.

Never mind. Let's play billiards. Come, Charmian.

Charmian

My arm is sore. Best play with Mardian.

My arm is sore. You'd better play with Mardian.

Cleopatra

As well a woman with an eunuch playedAs with a woman. Come, you’ll play with me, sir?

A woman might as well play with another woman as with a eunuch. Come, sir, will you play with me?

Mardian

As well as I can, madam.

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 the river. There,My music playing far off, I will betrayTawny-finned fishes. My bended hook shall pierceTheir slimy jaws, and as I draw them upI’ll think them every one an Antony,And say “Ah, ha! You’re caught.”

And when someone shows willingness, even if he falls short, he can ask to be forgiven for his performance. I won't play now. Give me my fishing rod. We'll go to the river. There, with my music playing in the distance, I'll lure in the brown-finned fish. My curved hook will pierce their slimy jaws, and as I pull them up, I'll imagine every one of them is Antony and say, “Aha! You're caught.”

Charmian

’Twas merry whenYou wagered on your angling; when your diverDid hang a salt fish on his hook, which heWith fervency drew up.

It was funny when you bet on your fishing, and your diver hung a salted fish on his hook, which he pulled up so eagerly.

Cleopatra

That time?—O times!—I laughed him out of patience; and that nightI 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, whilstI wore his sword Philippan.

That time? Oh, those times! I teased him until he lost his temper, and that night I teased him back into a good mood. The next morning, before nine, I drank with him until he had to go to bed. Then I dressed him in my headdresses and robes while I wore the sword he carried at Philippi.

Messenger

Madam, madam—

Madam, madam—

Cleopatra

Antony’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 hereMy bluest veins to kiss, a hand that kingsHave lipped, and trembled kissing.

Antony's dead! If you say that, you villain, you'll kill your mistress. But if you report that he's healthy and free, here's gold, and here is my hand, with its deep blue veins, for you to kiss—a hand that kings have kissed, trembling as they did.

Messenger

First, madam, he’s well.

First, madam, he's well.

Cleopatra

Why, there’s more gold.But sirrah, mark, we useTo say the dead are well. Bring it to that,The gold I give thee will I melt and pourDown thy ill-uttering throat.

Why, here's more gold. But listen, fellow: we sometimes say the dead are well. If that's what you mean, I'll melt the gold I give you and pour it down the throat that speaks such evil news.

Messenger

Good madam, hear me.

Please, madam, hear me out.

Cleopatra

Well, go to, I will.But there’s no goodness in thy face if AntonyBe free and healthful. So tart a favourTo trumpet such good tidings! If not well,Thou shouldst come like a Fury crowned with snakes,Not like a formal man.

All right, go on. I will. But there's nothing good in your face if Antony is free and healthy. Such a sour face to announce such good news! If he isn't well, you should come like a Fury crowned with snakes, not like an ordinary, proper man.

Messenger

Will’t please you hear me?

Will you please hear me out?

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 hailRich pearls upon thee.

I feel like hitting you before you speak. But if you say Antony lives, is well, is friends with Caesar, or isn't his prisoner, I'll shower you with gold and rain precious pearls on you.

Messenger

Madam, he’s well.

Madam, he's well.

Cleopatra

Well said.

Well said.

Messenger

And friends with Caesar.

And friends with Caesar.

Cleopatra

Th’ art an honest man.

You're an honest man.

Messenger

Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.

Caesar and he are closer friends than ever.

Cleopatra

Make thee a fortune from me.

I'll make your fortune.

Messenger

But yet, madam—

But still, madam—

Cleopatra

I do not like “But yet”, it does allayThe good precedence. Fie upon “But yet”!“But yet” is as a gaoler to bring forthSome 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.

I don't like “But still.” It spoils the good news that came before it. Curse “But still”! “But still” is like a jailer bringing out some monstrous criminal. Please, friend, pour the whole bundle of news into my ears, good and bad together. He's friends with Caesar and in good health, you say; and, you say, free.

Messenger

Free, madam? No. I made no such report.He’s bound unto Octavia.

Free, madam? No. I never said that. He's bound to Octavia.

Cleopatra

For what good turn?

For what favor?

Messenger

For the best turn i’ th’ bed.

For the best favor a woman can give in bed.

Cleopatra

I am pale, Charmian.

I've gone pale, Charmian.

Messenger

Madam, he’s married to Octavia.

Madam, he's married to Octavia.

Cleopatra

The most infectious pestilence upon thee!

May the most contagious plague strike you!

Messenger

Good madam, patience.

Please, madam, be patient.

Cleopatra

What say you?

What did you say?

Messenger

Gracious madam,I that do bring the news made not the match.

Merciful madam, I bring the news; I didn't arrange the marriage.

Cleopatra

Say ’tis not so, a province I will give thee,And make thy fortunes proud. The blow thou hadstShall make thy peace for moving me to rage,And I will boot thee with what gift besideThy modesty can beg.

Say it isn't true, and I'll give you a province and make you rich and grand. The blow you received will settle your offense of making me angry. And I'll add whatever other gift you can modestly ask for.

Messenger

He’s married, madam.

He's married, madam.

Cleopatra

Rogue, thou hast lived too long.

You scoundrel, you've lived too long.

Messenger

Nay then I’ll run.What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.

Well, then I'll run. What are you doing, madam? I've done nothing wrong.

Charmian

Good madam, keep yourself within yourself.The man is innocent.

Please, madam, control yourself. The man is innocent.

Cleopatra

Some innocents ’scape not the thunderbolt.Melt Egypt into Nile, and kindly creaturesTurn all to serpents! Call the slave again.Though I am mad, I will not bite him. Call!

Even innocent people sometimes get struck by lightning. Let Egypt melt into the Nile, and let all gentle creatures turn into snakes! Call the slave back. Though I'm mad, I won't bite him. Call him!

Charmian

He is afeard to come.

He's afraid to come.

Cleopatra

I will not hurt him.

I won't hurt him.

Messenger

I have done my duty.

I've done my duty.

Cleopatra

Is he married?I cannot hate thee worser than I doIf thou again say “Yes.”

Is he married? I can't hate you any more than I already do if you say “Yes” again.

Messenger

He’s married, madam.

He's married, madam.

Cleopatra

The gods confound thee! Dost thou hold there still!

May the gods destroy you! Are you still sticking to that?

Messenger

Should I lie, madam?

Should I lie, madam?

Cleopatra

O, I would thou didst,So half my Egypt were submerged and madeA cistern for scaled snakes! Go, get thee hence.Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to meThou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?

Oh, I wish you did, even if half my Egypt were flooded and made into a pool for scaly snakes! Go, get out. Even if you had the face of Narcissus, you'd look hideous to me. He's married?

Messenger

I crave your highness’ pardon.

I beg your Highness's pardon.

Cleopatra

He is married?

He's married?

Messenger

Take no offence that I would not offend you.To punish me for what you make me doSeems much unequal. He’s married to Octavia.

Don't take offense; I don't want to offend you. It seems very unfair to punish me for what you make me do. He's married to Octavia.

Cleopatra

O, that his fault should make a knave of theeThat art not what thou’rt sure of! Get thee hence!The merchandise which thou hast brought from RomeAre all too dear for me. Lie they upon thy hand,And be undone by ’em!

Oh, to think his wrongdoing should make you seem a villain, when you aren't the man whose guilt you're sure of! Get out! The goods you've brought from Rome are far too costly for me. May they stay unsold on your hands and ruin you!

Charmian

Good your highness, patience.

Please, your Highness, be patient.

Cleopatra

In praising Antony I have dispraised Caesar.

In praising Antony, I've spoken badly of Caesar.

Charmian

Many times, madam.

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 himReport the feature of Octavia, her years,Her inclination; let him not leave outThe colour of her hair. Bring me word quickly.

Now I'm paying for it. Lead me away. I'm fainting. Oh, Iras, Charmian! It doesn't matter. Good Alexas, go to that man and ask him to describe Octavia's appearance, her age, and her temperament. Make sure he includes the color of her hair. Bring me word quickly.