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Modern English
Here they’ll be, man. Some o’ their plants are ill-rooted already: the least wind i’ the world will blow them down.
They’ll be here soon. Some of their plans are already poorly thought out: the slightest trouble will make them fall apart.
Lepidus is high-coloured.
Lepidus looks very flushed.
They have made him drink alms-drink.
They’ve made him drink like he’s begging for charity.
As they pinch one another by the disposition, he cries out ’No more;’ reconciles them to his entreaty, and himself to the drink.
As they tease each other, he cries out ’No more’; then makes up with them by begging, and drinks more himself.
But it raises the greater war between him and his discretion.
But it only makes the conflict worse between him and his judgment.
Why, this is to have a name in great men’s fellowship: I had as lief have a reed that will do me no service as a partisan I could not heave.
Well, that’s what it’s like trying to be part of the big shots: I’d rather have a useless reed than a weapon I can’t lift.
To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in’t, are the holes where eyes should be, which pitifully disaster the cheeks.
Being invited into a grand situation, but not being seen to act, is like having empty eye sockets, which pitifully ruins your appearance.
[To OCTAVIUS CAESAR] Thus do they, sir: they take the flow o’ the Nile By certain scales i’ the pyramid; they know, By the height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth Or foison follow: the higher Nilus swells, The more it promises: as it ebbs, the seedsman Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain, And shortly comes to harvest.
[To OCTAVIUS CAESAR] This is what they do, sir: they take the flow of the Nile using certain measurements from the pyramid; they can tell, by the level, whether there’s famine or plenty ahead: the higher the Nile rises, the more it promises: as it recedes, the farmer scatters his seed on the mud, and soon comes harvest.
You’ve strange serpents there.
You have some strange snakes there.
Ay, Lepidus.
Yes, Lepidus.
Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun: so is your crocodile.
Your Egyptian snake is now born from your mud by the power of your sun: so is your crocodile.
They are so.
They are indeed.
Sit,--and some wine! A health to Lepidus!
Sit down, and let’s have some wine! A toast to Lepidus!
I am not so well as I should be, but I’ll ne’er out.
I’m not feeling great, but I’ll never leave.
Not till you have slept; I fear me you’ll be in till then.
Not until you’ve slept; I think you’ll be in bed until then.
Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies’ pyramises are very goodly things; without contradiction, I have heard that.
No, really, I’ve heard that the Ptolemies’ pyramids are very impressive; no doubt about it, I’ve heard that.
[Aside to POMPEY] Pompey, a word.
[Aside to POMPEY] Pompey, a word.
[Aside to MENAS] Say in mine ear: what is’t?
[Aside to MENAS] Say it in my ear: What is it?
[Aside to POMPEY] Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, captain, And hear me speak a word.
[Aside to POMPEY] Please leave your seat, captain, And listen to me for a moment.
[Aside to MENAS] Forbear me till anon. This wine for Lepidus!
[Aside to MENAS] Wait for me until later. This wine is for Lepidus!
What manner o’ thing is your crocodile?
What kind of creature is your crocodile?
It is shaped, sir, like itself; and it is as broad as it hath breadth: it is just so high as it is, and moves with its own organs: it lives by that which nourisheth it; and the elements once out of it, it transmigrates.
It’s shaped like itself, sir; and it’s as wide as it is wide: it’s as tall as it is, and moves using its own parts: it lives on what feeds it; and once the elements leave it, it transforms.
What colour is it of?
What color is it?
Of it own colour too.
Its color is the same as its own.
’Tis a strange serpent.
It’s a strange snake.
’Tis so. And the tears of it are wet.
It is. And its tears are wet.
Will this description satisfy him?
Will this description satisfy him?
With the health that Pompey gives him, else he is a very epicure.
With the health that Pompey gives him, otherwise he’s a true glutton.
[Aside to MENAS] Go hang, sir, hang! Tell me of that? away! Do as I bid you. Where’s this cup I call’d for?
[Aside to MENAS] Go away, sir, go away! What are you talking about? Do what I told you. Where’s the cup I asked for?
[Aside to POMPEY] If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me, Rise from thy stool.
[Aside to POMPEY] If you’ll listen to me for the sake of duty, Stand up from your stool.
[Aside to MENAS] I think thou’rt mad. The matter?
[Aside to MENAS] I think you’re crazy. The matter?
I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.
I’ve always respected your good luck.
Thou hast served me with much faith. What’s else to say? Be jolly, lords.
You’ve served me faithfully. What else is there to say? Be happy, lords.
These quick-sands, Lepidus, Keep off them, for you sink.
These quicksands, Lepidus, Stay away from them, or you’ll sink.
Wilt thou be lord of all the world?
Do you want to be the ruler of the whole world?
What say’st thou?
What are you saying?
Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That’s twice.
Do you want to be the ruler of the whole world? That’s the question again.
How should that be?
How would that work?
But entertain it, And, though thou think me poor, I am the man Will give thee all the world.
Just consider it, And even though you think I’m poor, I’m the one Who will give you the whole world.
Hast thou drunk well?
Have you been drinking?
Now, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup. Thou art, if thou darest be, the earthly Jove: Whate’er the ocean pales, or sky inclips, Is thine, if thou wilt ha’t.
No, Pompey, I’ve kept myself away from the cup. You are, if you dare, like the god Jupiter on Earth: Whatever the ocean touches or the sky covers, Is yours, if you want it.
Show me which way.
Show me the way.
These three world-sharers, these competitors, Are in thy vessel: let me cut the cable; And, when we are put off, fall to their throats: All there is thine.
These three men who share the world, these rivals, Are on your ship: let me cut the rope; And when we’re free, we can attack them: Everything they have will be yours.
Ah, this thou shouldst have done, And not have spoke on’t! In me ’tis villany; In thee’t had been good service. Thou must know, ’Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour; Mine honour, it. Repent that e’er thy tongue Hath so betray’d thine act: being done unknown, I should have found it afterwards well done; But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.
Ah, you should have done this, And not talked about it! For me, it would have been dishonorable; But for you, it would have been a good deed. You must understand, It’s not my gain that drives my honor; It’s my honor that drives me. You should regret ever mentioning Your plan: if it had been done quietly, I would have found it well done later; But now I must condemn it. Stop, and drink.
[Aside] For this, I’ll never follow thy pall’d fortunes more. Who seeks, and will not take when once ’tis offer’d, Shall never find it more.
[Aside] Because of this, I’ll never follow your fallen fortunes again. Whoever seeks and doesn’t take when it’s offered, Will never find it again.
This health to Lepidus!
Here’s to Lepidus!
Bear him ashore. I’ll pledge it for him, Pompey.
Bring him ashore. I’ll drink to it for him, Pompey.
Here’s to thee, Menas!
Here’s to you, Menas!
Enobarbus, welcome!
Enobarbus, welcome!
Fill till the cup be hid.
Fill it up until the cup is hidden.
There’s a strong fellow, Menas.
There’s a strong man, Menas.
Why?
Why?
A’ bears the third part of the world, man; see’st not?
He’s in charge of a third of the world, man; don’t you see it?
The third part, then, is drunk: would it were all, That it might go on wheels!
Then a third of it is drunk: I wish it were all, so it could roll along!
Drink thou; increase the reels.
Drink up; let the party get bigger.
Come.
Come on.
This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.
This isn’t quite an Alexandrian feast yet.
It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho? Here is to Caesar!
It’s getting there. Strike the drums, hey? Here’s to Caesar!
I could well forbear’t. It’s monstrous labour, when I wash my brain, And it grows fouler.
I could easily do without it. It’s such a huge effort, when I try to clear my mind, And it just gets worse.
Be a child o’ the time.
Act like a child of your time.
Possess it, I’ll make answer: But I had rather fast from all four days Than drink so much in one.
I’ll accept it, I’ll respond: But I’d rather go without food for four days Than drink so much in one sitting.
Ha, my brave emperor!
Ha, my brave emperor!
Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals, And celebrate our drink?
Should we now dance the Egyptian Bacchanals, And celebrate our drinking?
Let’s ha’t, good soldier.
Let’s do it, good soldier.
Come, let’s all take hands, Till that the conquering wine hath steep’d our sense In soft and delicate Lethe.
Come, let’s all take hands, Until the conquering wine has dulled our senses In soft, forgetful pleasure.
All take hands. Make battery to our ears with the loud music: The while I’ll place you: then the boy shall sing; The holding every man shall bear as loud As his strong sides can volley.
Everyone take hands. Let’s bombard our ears with loud music: While I arrange you: then the boy shall sing; And everyone shall shout as loudly As their strong bodies can handle.
THE SONG. Come, thou monarch of the vine, Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne! In thy fats our cares be drown’d, With thy grapes our hairs be crown’d: Cup us, till the world go round, Cup us, till the world go round!
THE SONG. Come, you king of the vine, Plump Bacchus with rosy eyes! In your vats let our worries drown, With your grapes let our heads be crowned: Fill us, till the world keeps spinning, Fill us, till the world keeps spinning!
What would you more? Pompey, good night. Good brother, Let me request you off: our graver business Frowns at this levity. Gentle lords, let’s part; You see we have burnt our cheeks: strong Enobarb Is weaker than the wine; and mine own tongue Splits what it speaks: the wild disguise hath almost Antick’d us all. What needs more words? Good night. Good Antony, your hand.
What more do you want? Pompey, good night. Good brother, Let me ask you to leave: our more serious matters Frown on this foolishness. Gentle lords, let’s part; You see we’ve flushed our faces: strong Enobarbus Is weaker than the wine; and my own tongue Stumbles over what it says: the wild revelry has almost Made fools of us all. What more needs to be said? Good night. Good Antony, your hand.
I’ll try you on the shore.
I’ll test you on the shore.
And shall, sir; give’s your hand.
And you shall, sir; give me your hand.
O Antony, You have my father’s house,--But, what? we are friends. Come, down into the boat.
Oh Antony, You’ve been to my father’s house,--But, never mind, we are friends. Come, let’s get in the boat.
Take heed you fall not.
Be careful you don’t fall.
Menas, I’ll not on shore.
Menas, I’m not going ashore.
No, to my cabin. These drums! these trumpets, flutes! what! Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell To these great fellows: sound and be hang’d, sound out!
No, to my cabin. These drums! these trumpets, flutes! What’s going on? Let Neptune hear us say a loud goodbye To these great men: play on and be damned, keep playing!
Ho! says a’ There’s my cap.
Hey! Did you hear that? There’s my hat.
Ho! Noble captain, come.
Hey! Noble captain, come on.