No Fear Shakespeare: Antony and Cleopatra: Act 3 Scene 7

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Original Text	Modern Text
Enter CLEOPATRA and ENOBARBUS	CLEOPATRA and ENOBARBUS enter.
CLEOPATRA I will be even with thee, doubt it not.	CLEOPATRA I’ll be straight with you. Do not doubt it.
ENOBARBUS But why, why, why?	ENOBARBUS But why, why, why?
CLEOPATRA Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars And sayst it is not fit.	CLEOPATRA You opposed my taking part in the war. You said it wasn’t proper.
ENOBARBUS Well, is it, is it?	ENOBARBUS Well, is it? Is it?
CLEOPATRA Is ’t not denounced against us? Why should not we Be there in person?	CLEOPATRA Isn’t this war against me? Why shouldn’t I be there in person?
ENOBARBUS 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.	ENOBARBUS Well, I could answer that if we went to war on male and female horses alike—the male horses would be totally distracted and useless. The mares would be ridden by their riders and the male horses.
CLEOPATRA What is ’t you say?	CLEOPATRA What do you mean?
ENOBARBUS 10 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 15 Manage this war.	ENOBARBUS Antony will necessarily be distracted by your presence. You will affect his heart and his head. You’ll take up time he can’t afford to lose. He’s already criticized for frivolous behavior. In Rome they say that your eunuch Photinus and your maids run the war.
CLEOPATRA Sink Rome! And their tongues rot That speak against us! A charge we bear i’ th’ war, And as the president of my kingdom will Appear there for a man. Speak not against it. I will not stay behind.	CLEOPATRA Let Rome fall! May the tongues of our critics rot! I have responsibilities in this war, and as the absolute ruler of my kingdom I will carry out my duties as if I were a man. Don’t argue against it. I won’t stay behind.
Enter ANTONY and CANIDIUS	ANTONY and CANIDIUS enter.
ENOBARBUS Nay, I have done. 20 Here comes the Emperor.	ENOBARBUS No, I’ve had my say. Here comes the Emperor.
ANTONY 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?	ANTONY Isn’t it strange, Canidius, that he could cross the Ionian Sea so quickly from Tarentum and Brundusium and take Toryne?—Have you heard about this, sweet?
CLEOPATRA Celerity is never more admired 25 Than by the negligent.	CLEOPATRA No one admires speed more than the lazy.
ANTONY A good rebuke, Which might have well becomed the best of men, To taunt at slackness.—Canidius, we will fight With him by sea.	ANTONY That’s a good reprimand, suitable for reminding even the best of men to guard against negligence. Canidius, we’ll fight him at sea.
CLEOPATRA By sea, what else?	CLEOPATRA Of course we’ll fight him by sea. What else?
CANIDIUS Why will My lord do so?	CANIDIUS Why do you want to do that, my lord?
ANTONY For that he dares us to ’t.	ANTONY Because he’s daring us to do it.
ENOBARBUS 30 So hath my lord dared him to single fight.	ENOBARBUS So you’ve dared him to single combat.
CANIDIUS Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia, Where Caesar fought with Pompey. But these offers, Which serve not for his vantage, he shakes off, And so should you.	CANIDIUS Yes, and you dared Caesar to fight the battle at Pharsalia, where he fought against Pompey. But Caesar ignores offers that don’t give him an advantage, and so should you.
ENOBARBUS Your ships are not well manned, 35 Your mariners are muleteers, reapers, people Engrossed 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, 40 Being prepared for land.	ENOBARBUS Your ships are not well crewed. Your sailors are mule drivers, harvesters—men who were drafted quickly and have little training. Caesar’s fleet is manned by mariners who already have experience battling Pompey. His ships are maneuverable. Yours are slow and awkward. Refusing to fight him at sea won’t disgrace you. You’ve prepared for a land war.
ANTONY By sea, by sea.	ANTONY I will fight by sea. By sea.
ENOBARBUS Most worthy sir, you therein throw away The absolute soldiership you have by land, Distract your army, which doth most consist Of war-marked footmen, leave unexecuted 45 Your own renownèd knowledge, quite forego The way which promises assurance, and Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard From firm security.	ENOBARBUS Most worthy sir, if you do that you throw away all the advantages you have on land. You will have to divide your army, which mostly consists of battle-hardened foot soldiers. You will be unable to use your legendary battle knowledge. You’ll be abandoning proven methods that promise victory, and instead you’ll put yourself at the mercy of haphazard chance.
ANTONY I’ll fight at sea.	ANTONY I’ll fight at sea.
CLEOPATRA I have sixty sails, Caesar none better.	CLEOPATRA I have sixty ships. Caesar doesn’t have any that are better.
ANTONY 50 Our overplus of shipping will we burn, And with the rest full-manned, from th’ head of Actium Beat th’ approaching Caesar. But if we fail, We then can do ’t at land.	ANTONY We’ll burn our surplus ships and fully man the rest. We’ll sail from Actium and beat Caesar as he approaches. Even if we fail at that, we can still fight him on land.
Enter a MESSENGER	A MESSENGER enters.
Thy business?	What’s your business?
MESSENGER The news is true, my lord. He is descried. 55 Caesar has taken Toryne.	MESSENGER The news is true, my lord. Caesar has been seen. He has captured Toryne.
ANTONY Can he be there in person? ’Tis impossible, Strange that his power should be. Canidius, Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land, And our twelve thousand horse. We’ll to our ship. 60 Away, my Thetis!	ANTONY Can Caesar be there in person? No, that’s impossible. It’s strange enough that his army should be there. Canidius, take our nineteen legions military division consisting of 4,500 armored infantrymen legions and twelve thousand horse soldiers. You must hold them on land. We’ll go to our ship. Come away, Cleopatra.
Exit	He exits.
Enter a SOLDIER	A SOLDIER enters.
How now, worthy soldier?	What’s the news, brave soldier?
SOLDIER O noble Emperor, do not fight by sea! Trust not to rotten planks. Do you misdoubt This sword and these my wounds? Let th’ Egyptians And the Phoenicians go a-ducking. We 65 Have used to conquer standing on the earth And fighting foot to foot.	SOLDIER Oh, don’t fight by sea, noble Emperor! Don’t trust rotten planks. Don’t you trust my sword and these wounds? Let the Egyptians and Phoenicians go swimming. We are used to winning by standing on the earth and fighting toe to toe.
ANTONY Well, well, away.	ANTONY Well, well, let’s go.
SOLDIER By Hercules, I think I am i’ th’ right.	SOLDIER By Hercules, I think I’m right.
CANIDIUS Soldier, thou art; but his whole action grows Not in the power on ’t. So our leader’s led, 70 And we are women’s men.	CANIDIUS Soldier, you are. But Antony’s decisions aren’t coming from his extensive experience. Our leader is being led. We are following a woman.
SOLDIER You keep by land The legions and the horse whole, do you not?	SOLDIER On land you keep the legions and cavalry together, don’t you?
CANIDIUS Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius, Publicola, and Caelius, are for sea; But we keep whole by land. This speed of Caesar’s 75 Carries beyond belief.	CANIDIUS Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius, Publicola, and Caelius will go by sea, but we’ll keep the bulk on land. Caesar’s speed defies belief.
SOLDIER While he was yet in Rome His power went out in such distractions as Beguiled all spies.	SOLDIER While he was still in Rome, he deployed his forces in so many different disguises that all our spies were fooled.
Exeunt ANTONY , CLEOPATRA , and ENOBARBUS	ANTONY , CLEOPATRA , and ENOBARBUS exit.
CANIDIUS Who’s his lieutenant, hear you?	CANIDIUS Who’s his lieutenant, do you know?
SOLDIER They say, one Taurus.	SOLDIER A man named Taurus, they say.
CANIDIUS Well I know the man.	CANIDIUS I know the man well.
Enter a MESSENGER	A MESSENGER enters.
MESSENGER 80 The Emperor calls Canidius.	MESSENGER The Emperor is calling for Canidius.
CANIDIUS With news the time’s with labor, and throws forth Each minute some.	CANIDIUS The present time is like a woman in labor, each minute giving birth to some piece of news.
Exeunt	They exit.

Original Text	Modern Text
Enter CLEOPATRA and ENOBARBUS	CLEOPATRA and ENOBARBUS enter.
CLEOPATRA I will be even with thee, doubt it not.	CLEOPATRA I’ll be straight with you. Do not doubt it.
ENOBARBUS But why, why, why?	ENOBARBUS But why, why, why?
CLEOPATRA Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars And sayst it is not fit.	CLEOPATRA You opposed my taking part in the war. You said it wasn’t proper.
ENOBARBUS Well, is it, is it?	ENOBARBUS Well, is it? Is it?
CLEOPATRA Is ’t not denounced against us? Why should not we Be there in person?	CLEOPATRA Isn’t this war against me? Why shouldn’t I be there in person?
ENOBARBUS 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.	ENOBARBUS Well, I could answer that if we went to war on male and female horses alike—the male horses would be totally distracted and useless. The mares would be ridden by their riders and the male horses.
CLEOPATRA What is ’t you say?	CLEOPATRA What do you mean?
ENOBARBUS 10 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 15 Manage this war.	ENOBARBUS Antony will necessarily be distracted by your presence. You will affect his heart and his head. You’ll take up time he can’t afford to lose. He’s already criticized for frivolous behavior. In Rome they say that your eunuch Photinus and your maids run the war.
CLEOPATRA Sink Rome! And their tongues rot That speak against us! A charge we bear i’ th’ war, And as the president of my kingdom will Appear there for a man. Speak not against it. I will not stay behind.	CLEOPATRA Let Rome fall! May the tongues of our critics rot! I have responsibilities in this war, and as the absolute ruler of my kingdom I will carry out my duties as if I were a man. Don’t argue against it. I won’t stay behind.
Enter ANTONY and CANIDIUS	ANTONY and CANIDIUS enter.
ENOBARBUS Nay, I have done. 20 Here comes the Emperor.	ENOBARBUS No, I’ve had my say. Here comes the Emperor.
ANTONY 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?	ANTONY Isn’t it strange, Canidius, that he could cross the Ionian Sea so quickly from Tarentum and Brundusium and take Toryne?—Have you heard about this, sweet?
CLEOPATRA Celerity is never more admired 25 Than by the negligent.	CLEOPATRA No one admires speed more than the lazy.
ANTONY A good rebuke, Which might have well becomed the best of men, To taunt at slackness.—Canidius, we will fight With him by sea.	ANTONY That’s a good reprimand, suitable for reminding even the best of men to guard against negligence. Canidius, we’ll fight him at sea.
CLEOPATRA By sea, what else?	CLEOPATRA Of course we’ll fight him by sea. What else?
CANIDIUS Why will My lord do so?	CANIDIUS Why do you want to do that, my lord?
ANTONY For that he dares us to ’t.	ANTONY Because he’s daring us to do it.
ENOBARBUS 30 So hath my lord dared him to single fight.	ENOBARBUS So you’ve dared him to single combat.
CANIDIUS Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia, Where Caesar fought with Pompey. But these offers, Which serve not for his vantage, he shakes off, And so should you.	CANIDIUS Yes, and you dared Caesar to fight the battle at Pharsalia, where he fought against Pompey. But Caesar ignores offers that don’t give him an advantage, and so should you.
ENOBARBUS Your ships are not well manned, 35 Your mariners are muleteers, reapers, people Engrossed 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, 40 Being prepared for land.	ENOBARBUS Your ships are not well crewed. Your sailors are mule drivers, harvesters—men who were drafted quickly and have little training. Caesar’s fleet is manned by mariners who already have experience battling Pompey. His ships are maneuverable. Yours are slow and awkward. Refusing to fight him at sea won’t disgrace you. You’ve prepared for a land war.
ANTONY By sea, by sea.	ANTONY I will fight by sea. By sea.
ENOBARBUS Most worthy sir, you therein throw away The absolute soldiership you have by land, Distract your army, which doth most consist Of war-marked footmen, leave unexecuted 45 Your own renownèd knowledge, quite forego The way which promises assurance, and Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard From firm security.	ENOBARBUS Most worthy sir, if you do that you throw away all the advantages you have on land. You will have to divide your army, which mostly consists of battle-hardened foot soldiers. You will be unable to use your legendary battle knowledge. You’ll be abandoning proven methods that promise victory, and instead you’ll put yourself at the mercy of haphazard chance.
ANTONY I’ll fight at sea.	ANTONY I’ll fight at sea.
CLEOPATRA I have sixty sails, Caesar none better.	CLEOPATRA I have sixty ships. Caesar doesn’t have any that are better.
ANTONY 50 Our overplus of shipping will we burn, And with the rest full-manned, from th’ head of Actium Beat th’ approaching Caesar. But if we fail, We then can do ’t at land.	ANTONY We’ll burn our surplus ships and fully man the rest. We’ll sail from Actium and beat Caesar as he approaches. Even if we fail at that, we can still fight him on land.
Enter a MESSENGER	A MESSENGER enters.
Thy business?	What’s your business?
MESSENGER The news is true, my lord. He is descried. 55 Caesar has taken Toryne.	MESSENGER The news is true, my lord. Caesar has been seen. He has captured Toryne.
ANTONY Can he be there in person? ’Tis impossible, Strange that his power should be. Canidius, Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land, And our twelve thousand horse. We’ll to our ship. 60 Away, my Thetis!	ANTONY Can Caesar be there in person? No, that’s impossible. It’s strange enough that his army should be there. Canidius, take our nineteen legions military division consisting of 4,500 armored infantrymen legions and twelve thousand horse soldiers. You must hold them on land. We’ll go to our ship. Come away, Cleopatra.
Exit	He exits.
Enter a SOLDIER	A SOLDIER enters.
How now, worthy soldier?	What’s the news, brave soldier?
SOLDIER O noble Emperor, do not fight by sea! Trust not to rotten planks. Do you misdoubt This sword and these my wounds? Let th’ Egyptians And the Phoenicians go a-ducking. We 65 Have used to conquer standing on the earth And fighting foot to foot.	SOLDIER Oh, don’t fight by sea, noble Emperor! Don’t trust rotten planks. Don’t you trust my sword and these wounds? Let the Egyptians and Phoenicians go swimming. We are used to winning by standing on the earth and fighting toe to toe.
ANTONY Well, well, away.	ANTONY Well, well, let’s go.
SOLDIER By Hercules, I think I am i’ th’ right.	SOLDIER By Hercules, I think I’m right.
CANIDIUS Soldier, thou art; but his whole action grows Not in the power on ’t. So our leader’s led, 70 And we are women’s men.	CANIDIUS Soldier, you are. But Antony’s decisions aren’t coming from his extensive experience. Our leader is being led. We are following a woman.
SOLDIER You keep by land The legions and the horse whole, do you not?	SOLDIER On land you keep the legions and cavalry together, don’t you?
CANIDIUS Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius, Publicola, and Caelius, are for sea; But we keep whole by land. This speed of Caesar’s 75 Carries beyond belief.	CANIDIUS Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius, Publicola, and Caelius will go by sea, but we’ll keep the bulk on land. Caesar’s speed defies belief.
SOLDIER While he was yet in Rome His power went out in such distractions as Beguiled all spies.	SOLDIER While he was still in Rome, he deployed his forces in so many different disguises that all our spies were fooled.
Exeunt ANTONY , CLEOPATRA , and ENOBARBUS	ANTONY , CLEOPATRA , and ENOBARBUS exit.
CANIDIUS Who’s his lieutenant, hear you?	CANIDIUS Who’s his lieutenant, do you know?
SOLDIER They say, one Taurus.	SOLDIER A man named Taurus, they say.
CANIDIUS Well I know the man.	CANIDIUS I know the man well.
Enter a MESSENGER	A MESSENGER enters.
MESSENGER 80 The Emperor calls Canidius.	MESSENGER The Emperor is calling for Canidius.
CANIDIUS With news the time’s with labor, and throws forth Each minute some.	CANIDIUS The present time is like a woman in labor, each minute giving birth to some piece of news.
Exeunt	They exit.