The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (750 page)

I could have given a shorter message

A better ear. Menas, I did not think

A more thorough listen. Menas, I did not think

This amorous surfeiter would have donn'd his helm

This lover-boy would have put on his helmet

For such a petty war: his soldiership

For such a little, unimportant war: his soldier's skills

Is twice the other twain: but let us rear

Are twice the other two: but let us raise

The higher our opinion, that our stirring

Our opinion of ourselves even higher, that our causing trouble

Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck

Can separate from Egypt's queen

The ne'er-lust-wearied Antony.

Antony, who never tires of lust.

MENAS

I cannot hope

I don't dare hope

Caesar and Antony shall well greet together:

That Caesar and Antony will get along well:

His wife that's dead did trespasses to Caesar;

His dead wife did cause trouble to Caesar;

His brother warr'd upon him; although, I think,

His brother fought him; although, I think,

Not moved by Antony.

Not encouraged by Antony.

POMPEY

I know not, Menas,

I don't know, Menas,

How lesser enmities may give way to greater.

How smaller hatreds may be pushed aside for larger.

Were't not that we stand up against them all,

If we weren't standing up against all of them,

'Twere pregnant they should square betweenthemselves;

It is likely they would attack each other;

For they have entertained cause enough

Because they have given enough reasons

To draw their swords: but how the fear of us

To pull out their swords: but how the fear of us

May cement their divisions and bind up

May bring them together and close up

The petty difference, we yet not know.

The small differences, we don't know yet.

Be't as our gods will have't! It only stands

May it be according to the gods! It only makes sense

Our lives upon to use our strongest hands.

To do the best we can in our lives.

Come, Menas.

Come along, Menas.

Exeunt

Enter DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS and LEPIDUS

LEPIDUS

Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed,

My dear Enobarbus, it is a worthwhile action,

And shall become you well, to entreat your captain

And will reflect well on you, to convince your captain

To soft and gentle speech.

To speak softly and gently.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS

I shall entreat him

I will convince him

To answer like himself: if Caesar move him,

To answer like himself: if Caesar motivates him,

Let Antony look over Caesar's head

Let Mark Antony look over Caesar's head
And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter,

And speak as loudly as the god of war. By Jupiter,

Were I the wearer of Antonius' beard,

If I had Antonius' beard,

I would not shave't to-day.

I would not shave it today.

LEPIDUS

Tis not a time

This is not the time

For private stomaching.

For private feelings.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS

Every time

Every time
Serves for the matter that is then born in't.

Is suitable for what goes on during it.

LEPIDUS

But small to greater matters must give way.

But small issues must be put aside for big deals.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS

Not if the small come first.

Not if the small ones come first.

LEPIDUS

Your speech is passion:

Your speech is overly emotional:

But, pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes

But please, don't stir up things even more. Here comes
The noble Antony.

The noble Mark Antony.

Enter MARK ANTONY and VENTIDIUS

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS

And yonder, Caesar.

And over there, Caesar.

Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, MECAENAS, and AGRIPPA

MARK ANTONY

If we compose well here, to Parthia:

If we do well here, we should go to Parthia:

Hark, Ventidius.

Look, it's Venius.

OCTAVIUS CAESAR

I do not know,

I don't know;
Mecaenas; ask Agrippa.

Macaenas, ask Agrippa.

LEPIDUS

Noble friends,

My noble friends,
That which combined us was most great, and let not

What has brought us together is very important, and let's not

A leaner action rend us. What's amiss,

Respond inadequately. What is wrong,

May it be gently heard: when we debate

May we speak calmly about it: when we debate

Our trivial difference loud, we do commit

Our unimportant differences loudly, we end up

Murder in healing wounds: then, noble partners,

Worsening our healing wounds: then, noble partners,

The rather, for I earnestly beseech,

Instead, please,

Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms,

I advice you to be diplomatic,

Nor curstness grow to the matter.

And not add to things with rudeness.

MARK ANTONY

'Tis spoken well.

Well said.

Were we before our armies, and to fight.

If we were in front of our armies, and about to fight.

I should do thus.

I should act like this.

Flourish

OCTAVIUS CAESAR

Welcome to Rome.

Welcome to Rome.

MARK ANTONY

Thank you.

Thank you.

OCTAVIUS CAESAR

Sit.

Sit down.

MARK ANTONY

Sit, sir.

You sit down, sir.

OCTAVIUS CAESAR

Nay, then.

No, then.

MARK ANTONY

I learn, you take things ill which are not so,

I learn that you are offended by things which aren't offensive,

Or being, concern you not.

Or are not your business.

OCTAVIUS CAESAR

I must be laugh'd at,

I must be laughed at,

If, or for nothing or a little, I

If, for nothing or for a little, I

Should say myself offended, and with you

Would say I was offended, and since you

Chiefly i' the world; more laugh'd at, that I should

Are much more laughed at by others, that I ended up

Once name you derogately, when to sound your name

Once insulting you, when speaking your name

It not concern'd me.

Does not concern me.

MARK ANTONY

My being in Egypt, Caesar,

My time in Egypt, Caesar,

What was't to you?

What did it matter to you?

OCTAVIUS CAESAR

No more than my residing here at Rome

No more than my living here at Rome

Might be to you in Egypt: yet, if you there

Might matter to you in Egypt: yet, if you there

Did practise on my state, your being in Egypt

Were on my state business, your being in Egypt

Might be my question.

Might be my problem.

MARK ANTONY

How intend you, practised?

What do you mean by that?

OCTAVIUS CAESAR

You may be pleased to catch at mine intent

You might figure out what I meant

By what did here befal me. Your wife and brother

By what happened to me here. Your wife and brother

Made wars upon me; and their contestation

Fought against me; and their grab for power

Was theme for you, you were the word of war.

Was about you as well, you were the motivation for war.

MARK ANTONY

You do mistake your business; my brother never

You misunderstand; my brother never

Did urge me in his act: I did inquire it;

Encouraged me in his actions: I did ask about it;

And have my learning from some true reports,

And have learned from some true reports,

That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather

That there was fighting against you. Didn't he, instead,

Discredit my authority with yours;

Ignore my authority along with yours;

And make the wars alike against my stomach,

And fought no matter how I felt about it,

Having alike your cause? Of this my letters

Treating us the same? You agreed with me in my letters

Before did satisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel,

Before this. If you end an argument,

As matter whole you have not to make it with,

And consider it ended, you cannot open it

It must not be with this.

All over again.

OCTAVIUS CAESAR

You praise yourself

You make yourself look good

By laying defects of judgment to me; but

By putting all the bad judgment on me; but

You patch'd up your excuses.

You are nothing but excuses.

MARK ANTONY

Not so, not so;

That's not true;

I know you could not lack, I am certain on't,

I know you could not be without, I am certain of it,

Very necessity of this thought, that I,

A very necessary thought, that I,

Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,

Your partner in the cause he fought against,

Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars

Would not be able to calmly watch those wars

Which fronted mine own peace. As for my wife,

That harmed my own peace. As for my wife,

I would you had her spirit in such another:

I wish you had her spirit in someone like her:

The third o' the world is yours; which with a snaffle