Original
Modern English
He will not fight with me, Domitius.
He won’t fight me, Domitius.
No.
No.
Why should he not?
Why won’t he?
He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune, He is twenty men to one.
He thinks, being so much more fortunate, That he’s worth twenty of me.
To-morrow, soldier, By sea and land I’ll fight: or I will live, Or bathe my dying honour in the blood Shall make it live again. Woo’t thou fight well?
Tomorrow, soldier, I’ll fight him by sea and land: either I’ll live, Or die in a way that will make my honour live on In the blood that spills. Will you fight well?
I’ll strike, and cry ’Take all.’
I’ll fight, and shout, "Take everything!"
Well said; come on. Call forth my household servants: let’s to-night Be bounteous at our meal.
Well said; come on. Call my servants together: let’s make tonight A grand feast.
Give me thy hand, Thou hast been rightly honest;--so hast thou;-- Thou,--and thou,--and thou:--you have served me well, And kings have been your fellows.
Give me your hand, You have been completely honest;--so have you;-- You,--and you,--and you:--you have served me well, And kings have been your equals.
[Aside to DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS] What means this?
[Aside to DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS] What’s going on here?
[Aside to CLEOPATRA] ’Tis one of those odd tricks which sorrow shoots Out of the mind.
[Aside to CLEOPATRA] It’s one of those strange emotions that grief creates In the mind.
And thou art honest too. I wish I could be made so many men, And all of you clapp’d up together in An Antony, that I might do you service So good as you have done.
And you’re honest too. I wish I could be turned into so many men, And all of you put together inside One Antony, so I could serve you As well as you’ve served me.
The gods forbid!
The gods forbid!
Well, my good fellows, wait on me to-night: Scant not my cups; and make as much of me As when mine empire was your fellow too, And suffer’d my command.
Well, my good friends, stay with me tonight: Don’t hold back my drinks; and treat me As you did when I was your equal, And you followed my orders.
[Aside to DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS] What does he mean?
[Aside to DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS] What does he mean?
[Aside to CLEOPATRA] To make his followers weep.
[Aside to CLEOPATRA] He wants his followers to cry.
Tend me to-night; May be it is the period of your duty: Haply you shall not see me more; or if, A mangled shadow: perchance to-morrow You’ll serve another master. I look on you As one that takes his leave. Mine honest friends, I turn you not away; but, like a master Married to your good service, stay till death: Tend me to-night two hours, I ask no more, And the gods yield you for’t!
Take care of me tonight; Maybe this is the end of your duty: Maybe you won’t see me again; or if you do, I’ll be just a broken shadow: maybe tomorrow You’ll serve someone else. I see you As someone saying goodbye. My honest friends, I’m not sending you away; but, like a master Who’s married to your loyal service, stay until death: Stay with me tonight for two hours, I ask nothing more, And may the gods reward you for it!
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.
What do you mean, sir, By making them feel so bad? Look, they’re crying; And I, a fool, am tearing up: for shame, Don’t turn us into women.
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 you To burn this night with torches: know, my hearts, I hope well of to-morrow; and will lead you Where rather I’ll expect victorious life Than death and honour. Let’s to supper, come, And drown consideration.
Ho, ho, ho! Now may the devil take me if I meant it that way! Let grace grow where those tears fall! My good friends, You’re misunderstanding me; I spoke to comfort you; I wanted you To burn the night with torches: know, my hearts, I’m hopeful about tomorrow; and I’ll lead you To a place where I expect a victorious life More than death or honour. Let’s go to supper, come, And forget about all this thinking.