Original
Modern English
You may see, Lepidus, and henceforth know, It is not Caesar’s natural vice to hate Our great competitor: from Alexandria This is the news: he fishes, drinks, and wastes The lamps of night in revel; is not more man-like Than Cleopatra; nor the queen of Ptolemy More womanly than he; hardly gave audience, or Vouchsafed to think he had partners: you shall find there A man who is the abstract of all faults That all men follow.
You can see, Lepidus, and from now on know, It’s not Caesar’s nature to hate Our great rival: this is the news from Alexandria: He drinks, parties, and wastes The whole night in celebration; he’s no more manly Than Cleopatra; and the queen of Egypt Is no more feminine than he is; he hardly listens, Or even considers that he has companions: you’ll find there A man who embodies every fault That everyone else follows.
I must not think there are Evils enow to darken all his goodness: His faults in him seem as the spots of heaven, More fiery by night’s blackness; hereditary, Rather than purchased; what he cannot change, Than what he chooses.
I shouldn’t believe there are Enough faults to overshadow all his goodness: His faults seem like spots in the sky, More noticeable in the darkness of night; inherited, Rather than earned; what he can’t change, More than what he chooses.
You are too indulgent. Let us grant, it is not Amiss to tumble on the bed of Ptolemy; To give a kingdom for a mirth; to sit And keep the turn of tippling with a slave; To reel the streets at noon, and stand the buffet With knaves that smell of sweat: say this becomes him,-- As his composure must be rare indeed Whom these things cannot blemish,--yet must Antony No way excuse his soils, when we do bear So great weight in his lightness. If he fill’d His vacancy with his voluptuousness, Full surfeits, and the dryness of his bones, Call on him for’t: but to confound such time, That drums him from his sport, and speaks as loud As his own state and ours,--’tis to be chid As we rate boys, who, being mature in knowledge, Pawn their experience to their present pleasure, And so rebel to judgment.
You’re being too lenient. Let’s admit, it’s not A crime to lie with Cleopatra; To give up a kingdom for fun; to sit And drink with a servant; To stagger in the streets at noon, and take hits From scoundrels who smell like sweat: say this suits him,-- As his self-control must be very special If these things don’t ruin him,--yet Antony Can’t excuse his faults, when we bear Such a heavy burden from his carelessness. If he fills His empty moments with indulgence, Overindulgence, and the weakness of his body, Let him pay for it: but to waste such time, That pulls him away from his pleasures, and shouts as loudly As his own condition and ours,--that’s something to scold Like we scold boys, who, when they’re wise, Waste their wisdom on fleeting pleasures, And rebel against good judgment.
Here’s more news.
Here’s more news.
Thy biddings have been done; and every hour, Most noble Caesar, shalt thou have report How ’tis abroad. Pompey is strong at sea; And it appears he is beloved of those That only have fear’d Caesar: to the ports The discontents repair, and men’s reports Give him much wrong’d.
Your orders have been carried out; and every hour, Most noble Caesar, you’ll hear reports Of how things are going. Pompey is strong at sea; And it seems he’s loved by those Who’ve only feared Caesar: the discontented are going to the ports, And people’s gossip is doing him much harm.
I should have known no less. It hath been taught us from the primal state, That he which is was wish’d until he were; And the ebb’d man, ne’er loved till ne’er worth love, Comes dear’d by being lack’d. This common body, Like to a vagabond flag upon the stream, Goes to and back, lackeying the varying tide, To rot itself with motion.
I should have known that. We’ve been taught from the beginning, That a man is desired until he exists; And the man who has lost his value, never loved until he’s no longer worthy of love, Becomes precious when he’s missed. This body, Like a drifting flag on the water, Moves back and forth, following the changing tide, And rots with all its movement.
Caesar, I bring thee word, Menecrates and Menas, famous pirates, Make the sea serve them, which they ear and wound With keels of every kind: many hot inroads They make in Italy; the borders maritime Lack blood to think on’t, and flush youth revolt: No vessel can peep forth, but ’tis as soon Taken as seen; for Pompey’s name strikes more Than could his war resisted.
Caesar, I bring you news, Menecrates and Menas, famous pirates, Command the sea, which they damage and harm With all kinds of ships: they make many bold attacks On Italy; the coastal regions Are too weak to respond, and young people are rising up: No ship can appear, but it’s immediately Captured as soon as it’s seen; for Pompey’s name has more impact Than his army could ever resist.
Antony, Leave thy lascivious wassails. When thou once Wast beaten from Modena, where thou slew’st Hirtius and Pansa, consuls, at thy heel Did famine follow; whom thou fought’st against, Though daintily brought up, with patience more Than savages could suffer: thou didst drink The stale of horses, and the gilded puddle Which beasts would cough at: thy palate then did deign The roughest berry on the rudest hedge; Yea, like the stag, when snow the pasture sheets, The barks of trees thou browsed’st; on the Alps It is reported thou didst eat strange flesh, Which some did die to look on: and all this-- It wounds thine honour that I speak it now-- Was borne so like a soldier, that thy cheek So much as lank’d not.
Antony, Stop your indulgent partying. When you were driven out of Modena, where you killed Hirtius and Pansa, consuls, after you, famine followed; Those you fought against, though raised in luxury, showed more patience Than savages could bear: you drank Horse urine and filthy water That even animals would spit out: your taste then accepted The roughest berries from the wildest bushes; Yes, like a stag in snow-covered pastures, You chewed on tree bark; on the Alps It’s said you ate strange meat, That some people died just from seeing it: and all of this— It hurts your honor for me to mention it now— Was borne so like a soldier, that your face Never even showed the slightest sign of weakness.
’Tis pity of him.
It’s a shame.
Let his shames quickly Drive him to Rome: ’tis time we twain Did show ourselves i’ the field; and to that end Assemble we immediate council: Pompey Thrives in our idleness.
Let his disgrace quickly Drive him to Rome: it’s time we two Show ourselves in the field; and to that end We should quickly call a council: Pompey Is growing stronger while we waste time.
To-morrow, Caesar, I shall be furnish’d to inform you rightly Both what by sea and land I can be able To front this present time.
Tomorrow, Caesar, I’ll be ready to report to you accurately On both what I can do by sea and land To deal with this current situation.
Till which encounter, It is my business too. Farewell.
Until that meeting, It’s my responsibility too. Goodbye.
Farewell, my lord: what you shall know meantime Of stirs abroad, I shall beseech you, sir, To let me be partaker.
Goodbye, my lord: anything you learn in the meantime About disturbances abroad, I’ll ask you, sir, To let me know.
Doubt not, sir; I knew it for my bond.
Don’t worry, sir; I’ll make sure you’re informed.