Antonius en Cleopatra: Bedrijf 3, scène 1

Ventidius

Now, darting Parthia, art thou struck, and nowPleased Fortune does of Marcus Crassus’ deathMake me revenger. Bear the king’s son’s bodyBefore our army. Thy Pacorus, Orodes,Pays this for Marcus Crassus.

Now, Parthia, famous for shooting arrows, you have been struck yourself. Fortune smiles on me and lets me avenge Marcus Crassus’s death. Carry the king’s son’s body ahead of our army. Orodes, your Pacorus pays this price for Marcus Crassus.

Silius

Noble Ventidius,Whilst yet with Parthian blood thy sword is warm,The fugitive Parthians follow. Spur through Media,Mesopotamia, and the shelters whitherThe routed fly. So thy grand captain AntonyShall set thee on triumphant chariots, andPut garlands on thy head.

Noble Ventidius, while your sword is still warm with Parthian blood, pursue the fleeing Parthians. Ride hard through Media, Mesopotamia, and the hiding places where the defeated soldiers take refuge. Then your great commander Antony will put you in a victory chariot and crown your head with wreaths.

Ventidius

O Silius, Silius,I have done enough. A lower place, note well,May make too great an act. For learn this, Silius:Better to leave undone than by our deedAcquire too high a fame when him we serve’s away.Caesar and Antony have ever wonMore in their officer, than person. Sossius,One of my place in Syria, his lieutenant,For quick accumulation of renown,Which he achieved by th’ minute, lost his favour.Who does i’ th’ wars more than his captain canBecomes his captain’s captain; and ambition,The soldier’s virtue, rather makes choice of lossThan gain which darkens him.I could do more to do Antonius good,But ’twould offend him, and in his offenceShould my performance perish.

Oh, Silius, Silius, I have done enough. Remember, a man in a lower rank can accomplish too much. Learn this, Silius: it is better to leave something undone than to win too much fame while the man we serve is away. Caesar and Antony have always won more through their officers than in person. Sossius, Antony’s deputy in Syria, held a position like mine. He lost Antony’s favor by gathering fame too quickly, winning more of it by the minute. A man who achieves more in war than his commander can becomes his commander’s commander. And ambition, a soldier’s virtue, would rather accept a loss than a victory that overshadows him. I could do more to help Antonius, but it would offend him, and his anger would wipe out all I had achieved.

Silius

Thou hast, Ventidius, thatWithout the which a soldier and his swordGrants scarce distinction. Thou wilt write to Antony?

Ventidius, you have the judgment that makes a soldier more than just the sword he carries. Will you write to Antony?

Ventidius

I’ll humbly signify what in his name,That magical word of war, we have effected;How, with his banners, and his well-paid ranks,The ne’er-yet-beaten horse of ParthiaWe have jaded out o’ th’ field.

I will humbly report what we have accomplished in his name, that word with such magical power in war. I will tell him how, under his banners and with his well-paid troops, we wore down the never-before-defeated Parthian cavalry and drove them from the battlefield.

Silius

Where is he now?

Where is he now?

Ventidius

He purposeth to Athens, whither, with what hasteThe weight we must convey with ’s will permit,We shall appear before him.—On there, pass along!

He plans to go to Athens. We will meet him there as quickly as the heavy baggage we must take with us allows. Move on there! Keep going!