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Modern English
I will be even with thee, doubt it not.
I will get back at you, don’t doubt it.
But why, why, why?
But why, why, why?
Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars, And say’st it is not fit.
You’ve already spoken against my role in this war, And say it’s not appropriate.
Well, is it, is it?
Really, is it not?
If not denounced against us, why should not we Be there in person?
If no one has spoken out against us, then why shouldn’t we Be there in person?
[Aside] Well, I could reply: If we should serve with horse and mares together, The horse were merely lost; the mares would bear A soldier and his horse.
[Aside] Well, I could answer: If we fought on horseback and with mares together, The horses would just be wasted; the mares would carry A soldier and his horse.
What is’t you say?
What are you saying?
Your presence needs must puzzle Antony; Take from his heart, take from his brain, from’s time, What should not then be spared. He is already Traduced for levity; and ’tis said in Rome That Photinus an eunuch and your maids Manage this war.
Your presence will surely confuse Antony; Take from his heart, take from his mind, Take from his time, What shouldn’t have been taken. He is already Belittled for being careless; and they say in Rome That Photinus, a eunuch, and your maids Are in charge of this war.
Sink Rome, and their tongues rot That speak against us! A charge we bear i’ the war, And, as the president of my kingdom, will Appear there for a man. Speak not against it: I will not stay behind.
Let Rome sink, and let those who speak against us rot With their tongues! We have a responsibility in this war, And as the ruler of my kingdom, I will Go there as a leader. Don’t speak against it: I won’t stay behind.
Nay, I have done. Here comes the emperor.
Alright, I’m done. Here comes the emperor.
Is it not strange, Canidius, That from Tarentum and Brundusium He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea, And take in Toryne? You have heard on’t, sweet?
Isn’t it strange, Canidius, That from Tarentum and Brundusium He could cross the Ionian Sea so quickly, And take in Toryne? You’ve heard about it, right?
Celerity is never more admired Than by the negligent.
Speed is always more impressive To those who are lazy.
A good rebuke, Which might have well becomed the best of men, To taunt at slackness. Canidius, we Will fight with him by sea.
A good retort, Which would have suited the best of men, To mock laziness. Canidius, we Will fight him at sea.
By sea! what else?
At sea! What else?
Why will my lord do so?
Why will my lord do that?
For that he dares us to’t.
Because he’s challenging us to do it.
So hath my lord dared him to single fight.
And my lord has also challenged him to a one-on-one fight.
Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia. Where Caesar fought with Pompey: but these offers, Which serve not for his vantage, be shakes off; And so should you.
Yes, and to fight this battle at Pharsalia. Where Caesar fought Pompey: but these offers, Which don’t help him, he rejects; And you should do the same.
Your ships are not well mann’d; Your mariners are muleters, reapers, people Ingross’d by swift impress; in Caesar’s fleet Are those that often have ’gainst Pompey fought: Their ships are yare; yours, heavy: no disgrace Shall fall you for refusing him at sea, Being prepared for land.
Your ships aren’t well crewed; Your sailors are just mule drivers, harvesters, people Forced into service quickly; in Caesar’s fleet Are those who’ve often fought against Pompey: Their ships are quick; yours, slow: no shame Will come to you for refusing him at sea, Since you’re ready for land combat.
By sea, by sea.
By sea, by sea.
Most worthy sir, you therein throw away The absolute soldiership you have by land; Distract your army, which doth most consist Of war-mark’d footmen; leave unexecuted Your own renowned knowledge; quite forego The way which promises assurance; and Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard, From firm security.
Most honorable sir, in doing that You throw away your land-based military skill; You’ll confuse your army, which mostly consists Of experienced infantry; you’ll leave undone Your own well-known expertise; you’ll completely abandon The path that guarantees success; and Risk everything on luck and danger, When you could be secure.
I’ll fight at sea.
I’ll fight at sea.
I have sixty sails, Caesar none better.
I have sixty ships, Caesar has none better.
Our overplus of shipping will we burn; And, with the rest full-mann’d, from the head of Actium Beat the approaching Caesar. But if we fail, We then can do’t at land.
We’ll burn our extra ships; And with the remaining ones, fully crewed, from the head of Actium We’ll defeat Caesar as he approaches. But if we fail, We can still fight him on land.
Thy business?
What’s your business?
The news is true, my lord; he is descried; Caesar has taken Toryne.
The news is true, my lord; he’s been spotted; Caesar has taken Toryne.
Can he be there in person? ’tis impossible; Strange that power should be. Canidius, Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land, And our twelve thousand horse. We’ll to our ship: Away, my Thetis!
Can he be there in person? It’s impossible; It’s strange that he has that power. Canidius, You’ll command our nineteen legions on land, And our twelve thousand cavalry. We’ll go to our ship: Away, my Thetis!
How now, worthy soldier?
What’s the matter, brave soldier?
O noble emperor, do not fight by sea; Trust not to rotten planks: do you misdoubt This sword and these my wounds? Let the Egyptians And the Phoenicians go a-ducking; we Have used to conquer, standing on the earth, And fighting foot to foot.
O noble emperor, don’t fight at sea; Don’t trust those rotten ships: do you doubt This sword and these wounds of mine? Let the Egyptians And the Phoenicians go sinking; we Are used to conquering, standing on solid ground, And fighting hand to hand.
Well, well: away!
Fine, fine: go away!
By Hercules, I think I am i’ the right.
By Hercules, I think I am in the right.
Soldier, thou art: but his whole action grows Not in the power on’t: so our leader’s led, And we are women’s men.
Soldier, you are: but his whole action depends Not on its power: so our leader is being led, And we are at the mercy of women.
You keep by land The legions and the horse whole, do you not?
You keep the legions and the cavalry intact, don’t you?
Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius, Publicola, and Caelius, are for sea: But we keep whole by land. This speed of Caesar’s Carries beyond belief.
Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius, Publicola, and Caelius, are in charge of the sea: But we keep things intact on land. This speed of Caesar’s Is beyond belief.
While he was yet in Rome, His power went out in such distractions as Beguiled all spies.
While he was still in Rome, His power was weakened by so many distractions That it fooled all the spies.
Who’s his lieutenant, hear you?
Who’s his lieutenant, do you know?
They say, one Taurus.
They say it’s someone named Taurus.
Well I know the man.
Well, I know the man.
The emperor calls Canidius.
The emperor calls for Canidius.
With news the time’s with labour, and throes forth, Each minute, some.
With news that the time is in labor, and every minute Brings something new.