Antony and Cleopatra, Act 2, Scene 2

Lepidus

Good Enobarbus, ’tis a worthy deed,And shall become you well, to entreat your captainTo soft and gentle speech.

Good Enobarbus, it would be a worthy act, and reflect well on you, to ask your commander to speak calmly and gently.

Enobarbus

I shall entreat himTo answer like himself. If Caesar move him,Let Antony look over Caesar’s headAnd speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter,Were I the wearer of Antonius’ beard,I would not shave’t today.

I’ll ask him to answer in his own way. If Caesar provokes him, let Antony look over Caesar’s head and speak as loudly as Mars. By Jupiter, if I wore Antonius’ beard, I wouldn’t shave it today.

Lepidus

’Tis not a timeFor private stomaching.

This is no time for personal grudges.

Enobarbus

Every timeServes for the matter that is then born in’t.

Any time is the right time for whatever comes up then.

Lepidus

But small to greater matters must give way.

But small matters must give way to greater ones.

Enobarbus

Not if the small come first.

Not if the small ones come first.

Lepidus

Your speech is passion;But pray you stir no embers up. Here comesThe noble Antony.

You’re speaking out of anger. But please don’t stir up old conflicts. Here comes the noble Antony.

Enobarbus

And yonder Caesar.

And there’s Caesar.

Antony

If we compose well here, to Parthia.Hark, Ventidius.

If we settle things well here, we’ll head to Parthia. Listen, Ventidius.

Caesar

I do not know, Maecenas. Ask Agrippa.

I don’t know, Maecenas. Ask Agrippa.

Lepidus

Noble friends,That which combined us was most great, and let notA leaner action rend us. What’s amiss,May it be gently heard. When we debateOur trivial difference loud, we do commitMurder in healing wounds. Then, noble partners,The rather for I earnestly beseech,Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms,Nor curstness grow to th’ matter.

Noble friends, the cause that brought us together was very great. Let no lesser matter tear us apart. Whatever is wrong, let us hear it calmly. When we argue loudly over our minor differences, we kill the patient while trying to heal his wounds. So, noble partners, especially since I beg you earnestly, discuss the bitterest issues in the gentlest words, and don’t add insults to the dispute.

Antony

’Tis spoken well.Were we before our armies, and to fight,I should do thus.

Well said. Even if we stood before our armies, ready to fight, I would do this.

Caesar

Welcome to Rome.

Welcome to Rome.

Antony

Thank you.

Thank you.

Caesar

Sit.

Sit.

Antony

Sit, sir.

You sit, sir.

Caesar

Nay, then.

Well, then.

Antony

I learn you take things ill which are not so,Or being, concern you not.

I hear that you take offense at things that aren’t offensive, or, if they are, don’t concern you.

Caesar

I must be laughed atIf, or for nothing or a little, IShould say myself offended, and with youChiefly i’ th’ world; more laughed at that I shouldOnce name you derogately when to sound your nameIt not concerned me.

I would deserve to be laughed at if I claimed to be offended over nothing, or something trivial, especially by you, of all people. I would deserve even more laughter if I ever spoke badly of you when I had no business mentioning your name.

Antony

My being in Egypt, Caesar,What was’t to you?

What business was it of yours, Caesar, that I was in Egypt?

Caesar

No more than my residing here at RomeMight be to you in Egypt. Yet if you thereDid practise on my state, your being in EgyptMight be my question.

No more than my living here in Rome could concern you in Egypt. But if you plotted there against my power, your presence in Egypt might become my business.

Antony

How intend you, practised?

What do you mean, plotted?

Caesar

You may be pleased to catch at mine intentBy what did here befall me. Your wife and brotherMade wars upon me, and their contestationWas theme for you; you were the word of war.

You can understand what I mean from what happened to me here. Your wife and brother waged war against me. Their struggle was in your name; you were their battle cry.

Antony

You do mistake your business. My brother neverDid urge me in his act. I did inquire it,And have my learning from some true reportsThat drew their swords with you. Did he not ratherDiscredit my authority with yours,And make the wars alike against my stomach,Having alike your cause? Of this my lettersBefore did satisfy you. If you’ll patch a quarrel,As matter whole you have not to make it with,It must not be with this.

You misunderstand the facts. My brother never claimed to act for me. I investigated it and got reliable reports from some who fought on your side. Didn’t he challenge my authority along with yours, and wage war against my wishes as much as against yours, since I shared your cause? My earlier letters explained this to your satisfaction. If you want to piece together a quarrel because you have no solid grounds for one, you must not use this.

Caesar

You praise yourselfBy laying defects of judgment to me; butYou patched up your excuses.

You praise yourself by accusing me of poor judgment. But it was your excuses that you pieced together.

Antony

Not so, not so.I know you could not lack—I am certain on’t—Very necessity of this thought, that I,Your partner in the cause ’gainst which he fought,Could not with graceful eyes attend those warsWhich fronted mine own peace. As for my wife,I would you had her spirit in such another.The third o’ th’ world is yours, which with a snaffleYou may pace easy, but not such a wife.

No, no. I know you must have understood—I’m certain of it—that as your partner in the cause he fought against, I could not look favorably on a war that threatened my own peace. As for my wife, I wish you had another woman with her spirit. You own a third of the world, which you can guide easily with a bridle, but you couldn’t control a wife like that.

Enobarbus

Would we had all such wives, that the menMight go to wars with the women.

I wish we all had wives like that, so the men could go to war with the women.

Antony

So much uncurbable, her garboils, Caesar,Made out of her impatience—which not wantedShrewdness of policy too—I grieving grantDid you too much disquiet. For that you mustBut say I could not help it.

She was so impossible to restrain, Caesar, that I sadly admit her rebellions, driven by her restlessness—and not without clever political calculation too—caused you far too much trouble. But you must admit I couldn’t help it.

Caesar

I wrote to youWhen rioting in Alexandria; youDid pocket up my letters, and with tauntsDid gibe my missive out of audience.

I wrote to you while you were carousing in Alexandria. You pocketed my letters and drove my messenger from your presence with mocking insults.

Antony

Sir,He fell upon me ere admitted, then.Three kings I had newly feasted, and did wantOf what I was i’ th’ morning. But next dayI told him of myself, which was as muchAs to have asked him pardon. Let this fellowBe nothing of our strife; if we contend,Out of our question wipe him.

Sir, he burst in on me before he was admitted. I had just entertained three kings at a feast and wasn’t the man I had been that morning. But the next day I explained myself to him, which amounted to asking his pardon. Leave this fellow out of our quarrel. If we argue, strike him from the dispute.

Caesar

You have brokenThe article of your oath, which you shall neverHave tongue to charge me with.

You broke a condition of your sworn agreement, something you will never be able to accuse me of.

Lepidus

Soft, Caesar!

Easy, Caesar!

Antony

No, Lepidus, let him speak.The honour is sacred which he talks on now,Supposing that I lacked it. But on, Caesar:The article of my oath?

No, Lepidus, let him speak. The honor he’s talking about now is sacred, though he suggests I lack it. But go on, Caesar. Which condition of my oath?

Caesar

To lend me arms and aid when I required them,The which you both denied.

To supply me with weapons and support when I needed them. You refused both.

Antony

Neglected, rather;And then when poisoned hours had bound me upFrom mine own knowledge. As nearly as I mayI’ll play the penitent to you. But mine honestyShall not make poor my greatness, nor my powerWork without it. Truth is that Fulvia,To have me out of Egypt, made wars here,For which myself, the ignorant motive, doSo far ask pardon as befits mine honourTo stoop in such a case.

Neglected them, rather, and at a time when drinking had left me unaware of my own actions. I’ll express my regret to you as fully as I can. But my honesty must not diminish my standing, nor must my power act without honesty. The truth is that Fulvia started wars here to get me out of Egypt. I was the reason, though I knew nothing about it, and I ask forgiveness as far as my honor allows me to humble myself in such a case.

Lepidus

’Tis noble spoken.

That was nobly said.

Maecenas

If it might please you to enforce no furtherThe griefs between ye; to forget them quiteWere to remember that the present needSpeaks to atone you.

Please don’t press your grievances against each other any further. To forget them entirely would show that you remember how urgently the present situation calls for you to reconcile.

Lepidus

Worthily spoken, Maecenas.

Well said, Maecenas.

Enobarbus

Or, if you borrow one another’s love for the instant, you may, when you hear no more words of Pompey, return it again. You shall have time to wrangle in when you have nothing else to do.

Or, if you borrow each other’s affection for the moment, you can return it when you hear no more about Pompey. You’ll have time to quarrel when you have nothing else to do.

Antony

Thou art a soldier only. Speak no more.

You’re only a soldier. Say no more.

Enobarbus

That truth should be silent I had almost forgot.

I had almost forgotten that the truth should keep quiet.

Antony

You wrong this presence; therefore speak no more.

You insult this company. So say no more.

Enobarbus

Go to, then. Your considerate stone!

All right, then. I’ll be your thoughtful stone!

Caesar

I do not much dislike the matter, butThe manner of his speech; for’t cannot beWe shall remain in friendship, our conditionsSo differing in their acts. Yet if I knewWhat hoop should hold us staunch, from edge to edgeO’ th’ world I would pursue it.

I don’t object so much to what he says as to how he says it. We cannot remain friends when our temperaments lead us to act so differently. Yet if I knew what bond could hold us firmly together, I would search for it from one end of the world to the other.

Agrippa

Give me leave, Caesar.

May I speak, Caesar?

Caesar

Speak, Agrippa.

Speak, Agrippa.

Agrippa

Thou hast a sister by the mother’s side,Admired Octavia. Great Mark AntonyIs now a widower.

You have a sister on your mother’s side, the admired Octavia. Great Mark Antony is now a widower.

Caesar

Say not so, Agrippa.If Cleopatra heard you, your reproofWere well deserved of rashness.

Don’t say that, Agrippa. If Cleopatra heard you, you would deserve a scolding for your recklessness.

Antony

I am not married, Caesar. Let me hearAgrippa further speak.

I am not married, Caesar. Let me hear what else Agrippa has to say.

Agrippa

To hold you in perpetual amity,To make you brothers, and to knit your heartsWith an unslipping knot, take AntonyOctavia to his wife; whose beauty claimsNo worse a husband than the best of men;Whose virtue and whose general graces speakThat which none else can utter. By this marriageAll little jealousies, which now seem great,And all great fears, which now import their dangers,Would then be nothing. Truths would be tales,Where now half-tales be truths. Her love to bothWould each to other, and all loves to both,Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke,For ’tis a studied, not a present thought,By duty ruminated.

To keep you friends forever, make you brothers, and tie your hearts together with a knot that cannot slip, let Antony marry Octavia. Her beauty deserves no husband less than the best of men. Her goodness and all her fine qualities speak for themselves as no one else can. Through this marriage, all the little jealousies that now seem so great, and all the great fears that now threaten danger, would become nothing. Real troubles would seem like idle stories, where now half a rumor passes for truth. Her love for you both would draw you toward each other, and draw everyone's love toward you both. Forgive what I have said. This is a carefully considered proposal, not a passing thought, and my sense of duty has led me to think it through.

Antony

Will Caesar speak?

Will Caesar speak?

Caesar

Not till he hears how Antony is touchedWith what is spoke already.

Not until he hears how Antony feels about what has already been said.

Antony

What power is in Agrippa,If I would say “Agrippa, be it so,”To make this good?

What authority does Agrippa have to carry this out if I say, “Agrippa, let it be so”?

Caesar

The power of Caesar, andHis power unto Octavia.

Caesar's authority, and his influence with Octavia.

Antony

May I neverTo this good purpose, that so fairly shows,Dream of impediment! Let me have thy hand.Further this act of grace; and from this hourThe heart of brothers govern in our lovesAnd sway our great designs!

May I never dream of putting an obstacle in the way of this good plan, which promises so much! Give me your hand. Help bring about this gracious act, and from this hour let brotherly affection govern our love and guide our great undertakings!

Caesar

There’s my hand.A sister I bequeath you, whom no brotherDid ever love so dearly. Let her liveTo join our kingdoms and our hearts; and neverFly off our loves again!

Here is my hand. I give you a sister whom no brother has ever loved more dearly. May she live to unite our kingdoms and our hearts, and may our love never break apart again!

Lepidus

Happily, amen!

Gladly, amen!

Antony

I did not think to draw my sword ’gainst Pompey,For he hath laid strange courtesies and greatOf late upon me. I must thank him only,Lest my remembrance suffer ill report;At heel of that, defy him.

I had not intended to draw my sword against Pompey, because he has recently shown me extraordinary and generous kindness. I must at least thank him, so no one can accuse me of forgetting his favors, and then immediately challenge him.

Lepidus

Time calls upon ’s.Of us must Pompey presently be sought,Or else he seeks out us.

Time is pressing us. We must seek out Pompey at once, or he will come looking for us.

Antony

Where lies he?

Where is he?

Caesar

About the Mount Misena.

Near Mount Misena.

Antony

What is his strength by land?

How strong are his forces on land?

Caesar

Great and increasing; but by seaHe is an absolute master.

Strong and growing, but at sea he has complete control.

Antony

So is the fame.Would we had spoke together! Haste we for it.Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch weThe business we have talked of.

That is what people say. I wish we had already spoken with him! Let's hurry to do that. But before we take up arms, let's settle the business we have discussed.

Caesar

With most gladness,And do invite you to my sister’s view,Whither straight I’ll lead you.

With the greatest pleasure. I invite you to meet my sister, and I will take you to her right now.

Antony

Let us, Lepidus, not lack your company.

Lepidus, let us have your company too.

Lepidus

Noble Antony, not sickness should detain me.

Noble Antony, not even sickness would keep me away.

Maecenas

Welcome from Egypt, sir.

Welcome back from Egypt, sir.

Enobarbus

Half the heart of Caesar, worthy Maecenas! My honourable friend, Agrippa!

Worthy Maecenas, who holds half of Caesar's heart! My honorable friend Agrippa!

Agrippa

Good Enobarbus!

Dear Enobarbus!

Maecenas

We have cause to be glad that matters are so well digested. You stayed well by ’t in Egypt.

We have reason to be glad that matters are so well settled. You certainly made the most of your stay in Egypt.

Enobarbus

Ay, sir, we did sleep day out of countenance and made the night light with drinking.

Yes, sir, we slept until daylight was ashamed of itself, and brightened the night with drinking.

Maecenas

Eight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast, and but twelve persons there. Is this true?

Eight whole wild boars roasted for one breakfast, with only twelve people there. Is that true?

Enobarbus

This was but as a fly by an eagle. We had much more monstrous matter of feast, which worthily deserved noting.

That was only a fly beside an eagle. We had much more extravagant feasts that really deserved attention.

Maecenas

She’s a most triumphant lady, if report be square to her.

She is a truly magnificent lady, if the reports do her justice.

Enobarbus

When she first met Mark Antony, she pursed up his heart upon the river of Cydnus.

When she first met Mark Antony on the river Cydnus, she pocketed his heart.

Agrippa

There she appeared indeed, or my reporter devised well for her.

She certainly made an impression there, unless the person who told me invented a fine story for her.

Enobarbus

I will tell you.The barge she sat in, like a burnished throne,Burned on the water. The poop was beaten gold;Purple the sails, and so perfumed thatThe winds were love-sick with them; the oars were silver,Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and madeThe water which they beat to follow faster,As amorous of their strokes. For her own person,It beggared all description: she did lieIn her pavilion, cloth-of-gold of tissue,O’erpicturing that Venus where we seeThe fancy outwork nature. On each side herStood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids,With divers-coloured fans, whose wind did seemTo glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool,And what they undid did.

I will tell you. The barge she sat in shone on the water like a polished throne. Its stern was covered in beaten gold. Its sails were purple and so fragrant that the winds fell lovesick over them. The oars were silver and moved in time to flutes, making the water they struck rush after them, as if in love with their strokes. As for Cleopatra herself, no description could do her justice. She reclined beneath a canopy woven with gold, outshining those paintings of Venus in which imagination surpasses nature. On either side of her stood pretty, dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids, with fans of many colors. The breeze they made seemed to flush the delicate cheeks they cooled, warming them even as it cooled them.

Agrippa

O, rare for Antony!

Oh, what a treat for Antony!

Enobarbus

Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides,So many mermaids, tended her i’ th’ eyes,And made their bends adornings. At the helmA seeming mermaid steers. The silken tackleSwell with the touches of those flower-soft handsThat yarely frame the office. From the bargeA strange invisible perfume hits the senseOf the adjacent wharfs. The city castHer people out upon her, and Antony,Enthroned i’ th’ market-place, did sit alone,Whistling to th’ air, which, but for vacancy,Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too,And made a gap in nature.

Her ladies, like the Nereides, those sea nymphs, watched her eyes for her wishes, and made every bow a graceful ornament. At the helm stood a woman who looked like a mermaid. The silken ropes swelled under the touch of those flower-soft hands, which handled their work so skillfully. From the barge, a strange, invisible perfume reached the people on the nearby docks. The city poured out its people to see her, while Antony sat alone on his throne in the marketplace, whistling to the air. If leaving an empty space had not prevented it, even the air would have gone to gaze at Cleopatra, leaving a hole in nature.

Agrippa

Rare Egyptian!

What an extraordinary Egyptian!

Enobarbus

Upon her landing, Antony sent to her,Invited her to supper. She repliedIt should be better he became her guest,Which she entreated. Our courteous Antony,Whom ne’er the word of “No” woman heard speak,Being barbered ten times o’er, goes to the feast,And, for his ordinary, pays his heartFor what his eyes eat only.

When she landed, Antony sent her an invitation to supper. She replied that it would be better for him to be her guest, and begged him to come. Our courteous Antony, whom no woman ever heard say “No,” had himself groomed ten times over and went to the feast. For his meal, he paid with his heart for something only his eyes consumed.

Agrippa

Royal wench!She made great Caesar lay his sword to bed.He ploughed her, and she cropped.

What a royal hussy! She made great Caesar put his sword to bed. He plowed her, and she produced a child.

Enobarbus

I saw her onceHop forty paces through the public streetAnd, having lost her breath, she spoke and panted,That she did make defect perfection,And, breathless, pour breath forth.

I once saw her hop forty paces down a public street. When she ran out of breath, she spoke between gasps, making even that failing seem perfect, and giving out breath when she had none left.

Maecenas

Now Antony must leave her utterly.

Now Antony must leave her for good.

Enobarbus

Never. He will not.Age cannot wither her, nor custom staleHer infinite variety. Other women cloyThe appetites they feed, but she makes hungryWhere most she satisfies. For vilest thingsBecome themselves in her, that the holy priestsBless her when she is riggish.

Never. He will not. Age cannot wither her, and familiarity cannot make her endless variety grow dull. Other women satisfy men's appetites until they tire of them, but she makes men hungriest when she satisfies them most. Even the lowest behavior looks so right in her that holy priests bless her when she acts like a slut.

Maecenas

If beauty, wisdom, modesty can settleThe heart of Antony, Octavia isA blessed lottery to him.

If beauty, wisdom, and modesty can make Antony's heart settle down, he has won a wonderful prize in Octavia.

Agrippa

Let us go.Good Enobarbus, make yourself my guestWhilst you abide here.

Let's go. Dear Enobarbus, be my guest while you are staying here.

Enobarbus

Humbly, sir, I thank you.

I humbly thank you, sir.