Antonius en Cleopatra: Bedrijf 3, scène 6

Caesar

Contemning Rome, he has done all this, and moreIn Alexandria. Here’s the manner of ’t:I’ th’ market-place, on a tribunal silvered,Cleopatra and himself in chairs of goldWere publicly enthroned. At the feet satCaesarion, whom they call my father’s son,And all the unlawful issue that their lustSince then hath made between them. Unto herHe gave the stablishment of Egypt; made herOf lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia,Absolute queen.

In contempt of Rome, he has done all this and more in Alexandria. Here is how it happened. In the marketplace, on a silver-covered platform, Cleopatra and he sat publicly enthroned in golden chairs. At their feet sat Caesarion, whom they call my father's son, and all the illegitimate children their lust has produced since then. He confirmed her rule over Egypt and made her absolute queen of lower Syria, Cyprus, and Lydia.

Maecenas

This in the public eye?

All this in public?

Caesar

I’ th’ common showplace where they exercise.His sons he there proclaimed the kings of kings:Great Media, Parthia, and ArmeniaHe gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assignedSyria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia. SheIn th’ habiliments of the goddess IsisThat day appeared, and oft before gave audience,As ’tis reported, so.

In the public arena where they hold athletic contests. There he proclaimed his sons kings of kings. He gave Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia to Alexander, and assigned Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia to Ptolemy. That day she appeared dressed as the goddess Isis, and reportedly she has often received visitors dressed that way before.

Maecenas

Let Rome be thus informed.

Let Rome be told all this.

Agrippa

Who, queasy with his insolence already,Will their good thoughts call from him.

The Romans are already sick of his arrogance. This will turn them against him.

Caesar

The people knows it and have now receivedHis accusations.

The people know it, and they have now received his accusations.

Agrippa

Who does he accuse?

Who does he accuse?

Caesar

Caesar, and that, having in SicilySextus Pompeius spoiled, we had not rated himHis part o’ th’ isle. Then does he say he lent meSome shipping, unrestored. Lastly, he fretsThat Lepidus of the triumvirateShould be deposed and, being, that we detainAll his revenue.

Caesar. He says that after defeating Sextus Pompeius in Sicily, we failed to give him his share of the island. Then he says he lent me some ships that haven't been returned. Finally, he complains that Lepidus has been removed from the three-man government and that we are keeping all his revenue now that he is deposed.

Agrippa

Sir, this should be answered.

Sir, you should answer this.

Caesar

’Tis done already, and messenger gone.I have told him Lepidus was grown too cruel,That he his high authority abused,And did deserve his change. For what I have conqueredI grant him part; but then in his ArmeniaAnd other of his conquered kingdoms, IDemand the like.

It's already done, and the messenger has left. I've told him that Lepidus had grown too cruel, abused his high office, and deserved to lose it. I will give him a share of what I have conquered, but I demand the same share of his Armenia and the other kingdoms he has conquered.

Maecenas

He’ll never yield to that.

He'll never agree to that.

Caesar

Nor must not then be yielded to in this.

Then we must not give in to his demands either.

Octavia

Hail, Caesar, and my lord! Hail, most dear Caesar!

Greetings, Caesar, my lord! Greetings, dearest Caesar!

Caesar

That ever I should call thee castaway!

To think I should ever have to call you an abandoned woman!

Octavia

You have not called me so, nor have you cause.

You haven't called me that, and you have no reason to.

Caesar

Why have you stolen upon us thus? You come notLike Caesar’s sister. The wife of AntonyShould have an army for an usher, andThe neighs of horse to tell of her approachLong ere she did appear. The trees by th’ wayShould have borne men, and expectation fainted,Longing for what it had not. Nay, the dustShould have ascended to the roof of heaven,Raised by your populous troops. But you are comeA market-maid to Rome, and have preventedThe ostentation of our love, which, left unshown,Is often left unloved. We should have met youBy sea and land, supplying every stageWith an augmented greeting.

Why have you slipped in on us like this? You haven't come as Caesar's sister should. Antony's wife should have an army to lead her in, with horses neighing to announce her arrival long before she appears. The trees along the road should have been full of spectators, nearly fainting with anticipation as they waited for you. The dust raised by your vast escort should have reached the very roof of heaven. Instead, you've come to Rome like a girl going to market, preventing us from displaying our love. When love isn't shown, it often goes unreturned. We should have met you by sea and land, with a greater welcome at every stage of your journey.

Octavia

Good my lord,To come thus was I not constrained, but did itOn my free will. My lord, Mark Antony,Hearing that you prepared for war, acquaintedMy grieved ear withal, whereon I beggedHis pardon for return.

My good lord, I wasn't forced to come this way. I chose it freely. My lord, Mark Antony, told me, to my sorrow, that you were preparing for war. Then I begged his permission to return.

Caesar

Which soon he granted,Being an abstract ’tween his lust and him.

Which he quickly granted, since you stood between him and his lust.

Octavia

Do not say so, my lord.

Don't say that, my lord.

Caesar

I have eyes upon him,And his affairs come to me on the wind.Where is he now?

I have people watching him, and reports of his affairs reach me on the wind. Where is he now?

Octavia

My lord, in Athens.

In Athens, my lord.

Caesar

No, my most wronged sister. CleopatraHath nodded him to her. He hath given his empireUp to a whore, who now are levyingThe kings o’ th’ earth for war. He hath assembledBocchus, the king of Libya; ArchelausOf Cappadocia; Philadelphos, kingOf Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas;King Manchus of Arabia; King of Pont;Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, kingOf Comagene; Polemon and Amyntas,The kings of Mede and Lycaonia,With a more larger list of sceptres.

No, my terribly wronged sister. Cleopatra has beckoned him back to her. He has surrendered his empire to a whore, and now they are gathering the kings of the earth for war. He has assembled Bocchus, king of Libya; Archelaus of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas; King Manchus of Arabia; the King of Pont; Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, king of Comagene; Polemon and Amyntas, the kings of Mede and Lycaonia; and a much longer list of rulers.

Octavia

Ay me, most wretched,That have my heart parted betwixt two friendsThat does afflict each other!

Oh, how miserable I am! My heart is divided between two people I love who are hurting each other!

Caesar

Welcome hither.Your letters did withhold our breaking forthTill we perceived both how you were wrong ledAnd we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart.Be you not troubled with the time, which drivesO’er your content these strong necessities,But let determined things to destinyHold unbewailed their way. Welcome to Rome,Nothing more dear to me. You are abusedBeyond the mark of thought, and the high gods,To do you justice, make their ministersOf us and those that love you. Best of comfort,And ever welcome to us.

Welcome here. Your letters kept us from going to war until we realized both how you were being misled and how our inaction was putting us in danger. Take heart. Don't let these times trouble you, though their harsh demands overrule your happiness. Let events that destiny has settled follow their course without mourning them. Welcome to Rome. Nothing is dearer to me than you. You have been mistreated beyond imagining, and the great gods are using us and those who love you to bring you justice. Take all the comfort you can, and know that you are always welcome with us.

Agrippa

Welcome, lady.

Welcome, my lady.

Maecenas

Welcome, dear madam.Each heart in Rome does love and pity you.Only th’ adulterous Antony, most largeIn his abominations, turns you offAnd gives his potent regiment to a trullThat noises it against us.

Welcome, dear madam. Everyone in Rome loves and pities you. Only the unfaithful Antony, with his endless shameful behavior, casts you aside and gives his powerful command to a whore who makes a great show of using it against us.

Octavia

Is it so, sir?

Is that true, sir?

Caesar

Most certain. Sister, welcome. Pray youBe ever known to patience. My dear’st sister!

Absolutely true. Sister, welcome. Please, always remain patient. My dearest sister!