Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Alexas, and Iras. CLEOPATRA
Where is he? CHARMIAN I did not see him since. CLEOPATRA, to Alexas
See where he is, who’s with him, what he does.
I did not send you. If you find him sad,
Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report 5
That I am sudden sick. Quick, and return. Alexas exits. | Meanwhile Cleopatra sends Alexas, her servant, to see what Antony is doing and tells her if she finds him upset, she should tell him Cleopatra is super happy; if he's happy, she should tell him Cleopatra is sad. But most importantly, she can't let Antony know that Cleopatra sent her. Cleo believes the best way to keep a man’s interest is to seem as disinterested in him as possible. |
CHARMIAN
Madam, methinks, if you did love him dearly,
You do not hold the method to enforce
The like from him. CLEOPATRA What should I do I do not? 10 CHARMIAN
In each thing give him way; cross him in nothing. CLEOPATRA
Thou teachest like a fool: the way to lose him. CHARMIAN
Tempt him not so too far. I wish, forbear.
In time we hate that which we often fear. Enter Antony. But here comes Antony. 15 | Charmian tries to advise Cleopatra against playing these games with Antony, but Cleopatra tells her she doesn't know what she's talking about. Cleo knows how to keep a man around—Charmian only knows how to lose one. |
CLEOPATRA I am sick and sullen. ANTONY
I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose— CLEOPATRA
Help me away, dear Charmian! I shall fall.
It cannot be thus long; the sides of nature
Will not sustain it. 20 ANTONY Now, my dearest queen— CLEOPATRA
Pray you stand farther from me. ANTONY What’s the matter? CLEOPATRA
I know by that same eye there’s some good news.
What, says the married woman you may go? 25
Would she had never given you leave to come.
Let her not say ’tis I that keep you here.
I have no power upon you. Hers you are. ANTONY
The gods best know— CLEOPATRA O, never was there queen 30
So mightily betrayed! Yet at the first
I saw the treasons planted. ANTONY Cleopatra— CLEOPATRA
Why should I think you can be mine, and true—
Though you in swearing shake the thronèd gods— 35
Who have been false to Fulvia? Riotous madness,
To be entangled with those mouth-made vows
Which break themselves in swearing! ANTONY Most sweet
queen— 40 CLEOPATRA
Nay, pray you seek no color for your going,
But bid farewell and go. When you sued staying,
Then was the time for words. No going then!
Eternity was in our lips and eyes,
Bliss in our brows’ bent; none our parts so poor 45
But was a race of heaven. They are so still,
Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world,
Art turned the greatest liar. ANTONY How now, lady? CLEOPATRA
I would I had thy inches. Thou shouldst know 50
There were a heart in Egypt. | Just then, Antony shows up to confirm the news that he’s leaving for Rome. Cleopatra swoons this way and that, wishing she’d never met him. |
ANTONY Hear me, queen:
The strong necessity of time commands
Our services awhile, but my full heart
Remains in use with you. Our Italy 55
Shines o’er with civil swords; Sextus Pompeius
Makes his approaches to the port of Rome;
Equality of two domestic powers
Breed scrupulous faction; the hated grown to
strength 60
Are newly grown to love; the condemned Pompey,
Rich in his father’s honor, creeps apace
Into the hearts of such as have not thrived
Upon the present state, whose numbers threaten;
And quietness, grown sick of rest, would purge 65
By any desperate change. My more particular,
And that which most with you should safe my going,
Is Fulvia’s death. | He finally explains that he needs to take care of the war brewing with Sextus Pompeius. Further, Cleopatra should feel okay about him going because Fulvia is dead. |
CLEOPATRA
Though age from folly could not give me freedom,
It does from childishness. Can Fulvia die? 70 ANTONY She’s dead, my queen. He shows her papers.
Look here, and at thy sovereign leisure read
The garboils she awaked; at the last, best,
See when and where she died. CLEOPATRA O, most false love! 75
Where be the sacred vials thou shouldst fill
With sorrowful water? Now I see, I see,
In Fulvia’s death, how mine received shall be. | Cleopatra has a moment of seriousness. She is shocked by Fulvia’s death, but also at Antony’s calmness over the death. Cleopatra worries that Antony would be equally unaffected by her death. |
ANTONY
Quarrel no more, but be prepared to know
The purposes I bear, which are or cease 80
As you shall give th’ advice. By the fire
That quickens Nilus’ slime, I go from hence
Thy soldier, servant, making peace or war
As thou affects. CLEOPATRA Cut my lace, Charmian, come! 85
But let it be; I am quickly ill and well;
So Antony loves. ANTONY My precious queen, forbear,
And give true evidence to his love, which stands
An honorable trial. 90 CLEOPATRA So Fulvia told me.
I prithee turn aside and weep for her,
Then bid adieu to me, and say the tears
Belong to Egypt. Good now, play one scene
Of excellent dissembling, and let it look 95
Like perfect honor. ANTONY You’ll heat my blood. No more! CLEOPATRA
You can do better yet, but this is meetly. ANTONY
Now by my sword— CLEOPATRA And target. Still he mends. 100
But this is not the best. Look, prithee, Charmian,
How this Herculean Roman does become
The carriage of his chafe. ANTONY I’ll leave you, lady. CLEOPATRA Courteous lord, one word. 105
Sir, you and I must part, but that’s not it;
Sir, you and I have loved, but there’s not it;
That you know well. Something it is I would—
O, my oblivion is a very Antony,
And I am all forgotten. 110 ANTONY But that your Royalty
Holds idleness your subject, I should take you
For idleness itself. | They argue a bit over how much Antony loves Cleopatra, and whether Antony will forget Cleopatra as quickly as he forgot Fulvia. |
CLEOPATRA ’Tis sweating labor
To bear such idleness so near the heart 115
As Cleopatra this. But, sir, forgive me,
Since my becomings kill me when they do not
Eye well to you. Your honor calls you hence;
Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly,
And all the gods go with you. Upon your sword 120
Sit laurel victory, and smooth success
Be strewed before your feet. ANTONY Let us go. Come.
Our separation so abides and flies
That thou, residing here, goes yet with me, 125
And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee.
Away! They exit. | Finally Cleopatra concedes he should go to Rome and take care of his affairs. She wishes him well, and they both promise they’ll be with each other in spirit while they’re apart physically. |