Antony and Cleopatra, Act 2, Scene 1

Pompey

If the great gods be just, they shall assistThe deeds of justest men.

If the great gods are just, they will support the actions of the most just men.

Menecrates

Know, worthy Pompey,That what they do delay they not deny.

Remember, worthy Pompey, that when they delay something, they aren’t refusing it.

Pompey

Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decaysThe thing we sue for.

While we plead before their throne, the thing we ask for wastes away.

Menecrates

We, ignorant of ourselves,Beg often our own harms, which the wise powersDeny us for our good; so find we profitBy losing of our prayers.

We don’t understand ourselves and often beg for things that would harm us. The wise gods refuse them for our own good. So we benefit when our prayers go unanswered.

Pompey

I shall do well.The people love me, and the sea is mine;My powers are crescent, and my auguring hopeSays it will come to th’ full. Mark AntonyIn Egypt sits at dinner, and will makeNo wars without doors. Caesar gets money whereHe loses hearts. Lepidus flatters both,Of both is flattered; but he neither lovesNor either cares for him.

I’ll succeed. The people love me, and the sea is mine. My strength is growing like the moon, and my hopeful predictions say it will reach its full size. Mark Antony sits feasting in Egypt and won’t go outside to wage war. Caesar raises money at the cost of people’s affection. Lepidus flatters them both, and both flatter him. But he loves neither of them, and neither cares about him.

Menas

Caesar and LepidusAre in the field. A mighty strength they carry.

Caesar and Lepidus are on campaign. They have a powerful army with them.

Pompey

Where have you this? ’Tis false.

Where did you hear that? It’s false.

Menas

From Silvius, sir.

From Silvius, sir.

Pompey

He dreams. I know they are in Rome together,Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love,Salt Cleopatra, soften thy waned lip!Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both;Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts;Keep his brain fuming. Epicurean cooksSharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite,That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honourEven till a Lethe’d dullness—

He’s dreaming. I know they’re together in Rome, waiting for Antony. But may all the charms of love soften your aging lips, lustful Cleopatra! Let witchcraft join with beauty, and lust join both. Keep that womanizer tied down among endless feasts. Keep his brain clouded with wine. May cooks devoted to pleasure sharpen his appetite with sauces he never tires of, so that sleep and eating put off his pursuit of honor until he sinks into a stupor of complete forgetfulness—

Varrius

This is most certain that I shall deliver:Mark Antony is every hour in RomeExpected. Since he went from Egypt ’tisA space for farther travel.

What I’m about to tell you is absolutely certain: Mark Antony is expected in Rome at any moment. Enough time has passed since he left Egypt for him to have traveled even farther.

Pompey

I could have given less matterA better ear.—Menas, I did not thinkThis amorous surfeiter would have donned his helmFor such a petty war. His soldiershipIs twice the other twain. But let us rearThe higher our opinion, that our stirringCan from the lap of Egypt’s widow pluckThe ne’er lust-wearied Antony.

I would have been happier to hear less important news. Menas, I didn’t think this overstuffed lover would put on his helmet for such a minor war. His military skill is twice that of the other two combined. But let’s think all the more highly of ourselves, since our uprising can pull Antony, who never tires of lust, from the lap of Egypt’s widow.

Menas

I cannot hopeCaesar and Antony shall well greet together.His wife that’s dead did trespasses to Caesar;His brother warred upon him, although I think,Not moved by Antony.

I can’t expect Caesar and Antony to greet each other warmly. Antony’s dead wife wronged Caesar, and his brother fought against him, though I don’t think Antony put him up to it.

Pompey

I know not, Menas,How lesser enmities may give way to greater.Were’t not that we stand up against them all,’Twere pregnant they should square between themselves,For they have entertained cause enoughTo draw their swords. But how the fear of usMay cement their divisions, and bind upThe petty difference, we yet not know.Be’t as our gods will have’t! It only standsOur lives upon to use our strongest hands.Come, Menas.

I don’t know, Menas, how far smaller hostilities may give way to greater ones. If we weren’t standing against them all, they would clearly fight among themselves. They’ve given each other enough reasons to draw their swords. But we don’t yet know how fear of us may bring their divided sides together and heal their lesser quarrels. Let it happen as our gods wish! Our lives depend on using all our strength. Come, Menas.