Antonius en Cleopatra: Bedrijf 3, scène 3

Cleopatra

Where is the fellow?

Where is the fellow?

Alexas

Half afeared to come.

He's rather afraid to come.

Cleopatra

Go to, go to.

Come on, come on.

Alexas

Good majesty,Herod of Jewry dare not look upon youBut when you are well pleased.

Your gracious Majesty, even Herod of Judea would not dare look at you unless you were in a good mood.

Cleopatra

That Herod’s headI’ll have! But how, when Antony is gone,Through whom I might command it?—Come thou near.

I'll have that Herod's head! But how, now that Antony is gone? Through him I could have ordered it.—Come closer.

Messenger

Most gracious majesty!

Your most gracious Majesty!

Cleopatra

Didst thou behold Octavia?

Did you see Octavia?

Messenger

Ay, dread queen.

Yes, mighty queen.

Cleopatra

Where?

Where?

Messenger

Madam, in RomeI looked her in the face, and saw her ledBetween her brother and Mark Antony.

Madam, in Rome. I looked her in the face and saw her being led between her brother and Mark Antony.

Cleopatra

Is she as tall as me?

Is she as tall as I am?

Messenger

She is not, madam.

She is not, madam.

Cleopatra

Didst hear her speak? Is she shrill-tongued or low?

Did you hear her speak? Is her voice shrill or low?

Messenger

Madam, I heard her speak. She is low-voiced.

Madam, I heard her speak. Her voice is low.

Cleopatra

That’s not so good. He cannot like her long.

That's not so good. He can't like her for long.

Charmian

Like her? O Isis! ’Tis impossible.

Like her? Oh, Isis! That's impossible.

Cleopatra

I think so, Charmian: dull of tongue and dwarfish!What majesty is in her gait? Remember,If e’er thou look’dst on majesty.

I think so, Charmian: dull in speech and so short! How much dignity is there in her walk? Remember what you've seen, if you've ever seen real majesty.

Messenger

She creeps.Her motion and her station are as one.She shows a body rather than a life,A statue than a breather.

She creeps along. Moving or standing still, she looks the same. She seems more like a lifeless body than a living person, more like a statue than someone who breathes.

Cleopatra

Is this certain?

Are you sure of this?

Messenger

Or I have no observance.

Yes, unless I have no powers of observation.

Charmian

Three in EgyptCannot make better note.

You couldn't find three people in Egypt who could observe things better.

Cleopatra

He’s very knowing;I do perceive’t. There’s nothing in her yet.The fellow has good judgment.

He's very perceptive; I can see that. So far there's nothing special about her. The fellow has good judgment.

Charmian

Excellent.

Excellent judgment.

Cleopatra

Guess at her years, I prithee.

Please, guess her age.

Messenger

Madam,She was a widow.

Madam, she was a widow.

Cleopatra

Widow! Charmian, hark!

A widow! Listen to that, Charmian!

Messenger

And I do think she’s thirty.

And I think she's thirty.

Cleopatra

Bear’st thou her face in mind? Is’t long or round?

Do you remember her face? Is it long or round?

Messenger

Round even to faultiness.

Round enough to spoil her looks.

Cleopatra

For the most part, too, they are foolish that are so.Her hair, what colour?

And people with faces like that are usually foolish. What color is her hair?

Messenger

Brown, madam, and her foreheadAs low as she would wish it.

Brown, madam, and her forehead is as low as she could wish.

Cleopatra

There’s gold for thee.Thou must not take my former sharpness ill.I will employ thee back again; I find theeMost fit for business. Go make thee ready;Our letters are prepared.

Here's gold for you. Don't hold my earlier harshness against me. I'll send you back again; I find you very well suited to this work. Go get ready. Our letters are prepared.

Charmian

A proper man.

A fine man.

Cleopatra

Indeed, he is so. I repent me muchThat so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him,This creature’s no such thing.

Indeed he is. I'm very sorry I treated him so badly. Well, judging by what he says, this creature isn't anything special.

Charmian

Nothing, madam.

Nothing at all, madam.

Cleopatra

The man hath seen some majesty, and should know.

The man has seen some majesty, so he should know.

Charmian

Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend,And serving you so long!

Has he seen majesty? After serving you so long? May Isis protect us if he hasn't!

Cleopatra

I have one thing more to ask him yet, good Charmian.But ’tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to meWhere I will write. All may be well enough.

I have one more thing to ask him, dear Charmian. But it doesn't matter now. Bring him to the place where I'll be writing. Everything may turn out well enough.

Charmian

I warrant you, madam.

I'm sure of it, madam.