Antony and Cleopatra, Act 4, Scene 2

Antony

He will not fight with me, Domitius?

He won’t fight me, Domitius?

Enobarbus

No.

No.

Antony

Why should he not?

Why won’t he?

Enobarbus

He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune,He is twenty men to one.

He thinks that because his luck is twenty times better, he counts as twenty men against one.

Antony

Tomorrow, soldier,By sea and land I’ll fight. Or I will live,Or bathe my dying honour in the bloodShall make it live again. Woo’t thou fight well?

Tomorrow, soldier, I’ll fight on sea and land. Either I will live, or I will bathe my dying honor in blood that will bring it back to life. Will you fight well?

Enobarbus

I’ll strike, and cry “Take all.”

I’ll strike and shout, “All or nothing!”

Antony

Well said. Come on.Call forth my household servants. Let’s tonightBe bounteous at our meal.—

Well said. Come on. Call my household servants here. Let’s be generous with our supper tonight.—

Cleopatra (aside to Enobarbus)

What means this?

[Quietly to Enobarbus.] What does this mean?

Enobarbus (aside to Cleopatra)

’Tis one of those odd tricks which sorrow shootsOut of the mind.

[Quietly to Cleopatra.] It’s one of those strange impulses that grief drives out of the mind.

Antony

And thou art honest too.I wish I could be made so many men,And all of you clapped up together inAn Antony, that I might do you serviceSo good as you have done.

And you are loyal too. I wish I could become as many men as you are, and all of you could be combined into one Antony, so I could serve you as well as you have served me.

All the Servants

The gods forbid!

May the gods forbid it!

Antony

Well, my good fellows, wait on me tonight.Scant not my cups, and make as much of meAs when mine empire was your fellow tooAnd suffered my command.

Well, my good friends, serve me tonight. Don’t skimp on my wine, and treat me as well as you did when my empire, like you, served me and obeyed my orders.

Cleopatra (aside to Enobarbus)

What does he mean?

[Quietly to Enobarbus.] What does he mean?

Enobarbus (aside to Cleopatra)

To make his followers weep.

[Quietly to Cleopatra.] He means to make his followers cry.

Antony

Tend me tonight;May be it is the period of your duty.Haply you shall not see me more, or if,A mangled shadow. Perchance tomorrowYou’ll serve another master. I look on youAs one that takes his leave. Mine honest friends,I turn you not away, but, like a masterMarried to your good service, stay till death.Tend me tonight two hours, I ask no more,And the gods yield you for’t!

Serve me tonight. Perhaps this will be the end of your duties. You may never see me again, or if you do, only as a mutilated shadow of myself. Perhaps tomorrow you’ll serve another master. I look at you as someone saying goodbye. My loyal friends, I am not dismissing you. Like a master bound in marriage to your faithful service, I will stay with you until death. Serve me for two hours tonight. I ask no more, and may the gods reward you for it!

Enobarbus

What mean you, sir,To give them this discomfort? Look, they weep,And I, an ass, am onion-eyed. For shame,Transform us not to women.

Why are you upsetting them like this, sir? Look, they’re crying, and I, fool that I am, have tears in my eyes as if I’d been cutting onions. For shame, don’t turn us into women.

Antony

Ho, ho, ho!Now the witch take me if I meant it thus!Grace grow where those drops fall! My hearty friends,You take me in too dolorous a sense,For I spake to you for your comfort, did desire youTo burn this night with torches. Know, my hearts,I hope well of tomorrow, and will lead youWhere rather I’ll expect victorious lifeThan death and honour. Let’s to supper, come,And drown consideration.

Ho, ho, ho! Let the witch take me if that was what I meant! May blessings grow wherever those tears fall! My dear friends, you take my words too sadly. I spoke to cheer you up and wanted you to light up this night with torches. Know this, my dear friends: I have high hopes for tomorrow, and I will lead you into battle expecting a victorious life rather than an honorable death. Come, let’s go to supper and drown our worries.