No Fear Shakespeare: Antony and Cleopatra: Act 2 Scene 7

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Original Text	Modern Text
Music plays. Enter two or three SERVANTS with a banquet	Music plays. Two or three SERVANTS enter with a feast.
FIRST SERVANT Here theyll be, man. Some o their plants are ill-rooted already. The least wind i th world will blow them down.	FIRST SERVANT Heres where theyll end up, on the floor. Some of them are leaning already. It wont take much for them to fall over.
SECOND SERVANT Lepidus is high-colored.	SECOND SERVANT Lepidus is red in the face.
FIRST SERVANT They have made him drink alms-drink.	FIRST SERVANT They made him drink the leftover wine usually given to the poor.
SECOND SERVANT As they pinch one another by the disposition, he cries out, No more, reconciles them to his entreaty and himself to th drink.	SECOND SERVANT Their various personalities grate on one another. Lepidus cries, No more arguing! and then when they agree he resigns himself to drink.
FIRST SERVANT But it raises the greater war between him and his discretion.	FIRST SERVANT Which goes on to impede his judgment.
SECOND SERVANT Why, this it is to have a name in great mens fellowship. I had as lief have a reed that will do me no service as a partisan I could not heave.	SECOND SERVANT Thats what happens when you partner with great men but lack their power. Id rather carry a reed that obviously cant protect me than a sword I cannot lift.
FIRST SERVANT To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in t, are the holes where eyes should be, which pitifully disaster the cheeks.	FIRST SERVANT To be so unimportant in the company of important men is like having a face without any eyes.
A sennet sounded. Enter CAESAR , ANTONY , POMPEY , LEPIDUS , AGRIPPA , MAECENAS , ENOBARBUS , and MENAS , with other captains and a BOY	A trumpet call sounds. CAESAR , ANTONY , POMPEY , LEPIDUS , AGRIPPA , MAECENAS , ENOBARBUS , and MENAS enter, along with other captains and a BOY .
ANTONY Thus do they, sir: they take the flow o th Nile By certain scales i th Pyramid. They know By th height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth 20 Or foison follow. The higher Nilus swells The more it promises. As it ebbs, the seedsman Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain, And shortly comes to harvest.	ANTONY This is how they do it, sir: they measure the depth of the Nile, according to certain marks made on the walls of the Pyramid. They know by those measurements if there will be famine or plenty. The higher the Nile flows, the better the harvest. As the river ebbs, the farmer scatters his seeds on the remaining silt. The harvest comes shortly after that.
LEPIDUS Youve strange serpents there?	LEPIDUS Do you have unusual snakes there?
ANTONY 25 Ay, Lepidus.	ANTONY Yes, Lepidus.
LEPIDUS Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun. So is your crocodile.	LEPIDUS The Egyptian snake is born when the sun shines on the Nile mud, just like the crocodile.
ANTONY They are so.	ANTONY Yes, Lepidus.
POMPEY (toLEPIDUS) Sit, and some wine. A health to Lepidus!	POMPEY Lets have a seat and some wine. A toast to Lepidus!
They sit and drink	They sit and drink.
LEPIDUS I am not so well as I should be, but Ill neer out.	LEPIDUS I dont feel so well, but I wont stop.
ENOBARBUS Not till you have slept. I fear me youll be in till then.	ENOBARBUS Not until you pass out. Im afraid youll keep going until then.
LEPIDUS Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies pyramises are very goodly things. Without contradiction I have heard that.	LEPIDUS No, I certainly wont stop. Ive heard that the pyramids build by the Ptolemies are splendid. Without doubt Ive heard that.
MENAS (aside toPOMPEY) Pompey, a word.	MENAS (aside toPOMPEY) Pompey, could I have a word with you?
POMPEY (aside toMENAS) Say in mine ear. What is t?	POMPEY (aside toMENAS) Whisper it in my ear. What is it?
MENAS (aside toPOMPEY) Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, captain, And hear me speak a word.	MENAS (whispers inPOMPEYs ear) Please, captain, leave the feast and let me speak with you privately.
POMPEY (aside toMENAS) Forbear me till anon.This wine for Lepidus!	POMPEY (aside toMENAS) Leave me alone awhile. Wheres the wine for Lepidus?
LEPIDUS What manner o thing is your crocodile?	LEPIDUS What does a crocodile look like?
ANTONY It is shaped, sir, like itself, and it is as broad as it hath breadth. It is just so high as it is, and moves with its own organs. It lives by that which nourisheth it, and, the elements once out of it, it transmigrates.	ANTONY Sir, its shaped like itself and is as wide as it has width. It is only as high as it is and moves with its own legs. It lives on what nourishes it, and when the four elements fire, air, earth, and water, thought to be the building blocks of all life the four elements leave it, its soul moves into another body.
LEPIDUS What color is it of?	LEPIDUS What color is it?
ANTONY 45 Of it own color too.	ANTONY Its own color.
LEPIDUS Tis a strange serpent.	LEPIDUS Its a strange snake.
ANTONY Tis so. And the tears of it are wet.	ANTONY It is that. And its tears are wet.
CAESAR (aside toANTONY) Will this description satisfy him?	CAESAR (aside toANTONY) Will that description satisfy him?
ANTONY (aside toCAESAR) With the health that Pompey gives him, else he is a very epicure.	ANTONY (aside toCAESAR) That last toast Pompey gave him will take care of him, unless hes a raging glutton.
MENAS whispers again	MENAS whispers to POMPEY again.
POMPEY (aside toMENAS) Go hang, sir, hang! Tell me of that? Away! Do as I bid you.Wheres this cup I called for?	POMPEY (aside toMENAS) Go to hell, sir. Are you still here? Go away! Do what I tell you. Wheres the wine I ordered?
MENAS (aside toPOMPEY) If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me, Rise from thy stool.	MENAS (aside toPOMPEY) If any service Ive done you deserves a favor, get up from your stool and speak with me.
POMPEY (aside toMENAS)I think th art mad.	POMPEY (aside toMENAS) I think youre crazy!
He rises, and they walk aside	He gets up and walks aside with MENAS .
The matter?	What is it?
MENAS 55 I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.	MENAS Ive always had great respect for your destiny.
POMPEY Thou hast served me with much faith. Whats else to say? (to the others) Be jolly, lords.	POMPEY Youve served me faithfully. What else can I say? (to the others) Be happy, lords!
ANTONY These quicksands, Lepidus, Keep off them, for you sink.	ANTONY Stay away from the quicksand of drink, Lepidus: youre sinking.
MENAS (aside toPOMPEY) Wilt thou be lord of all the world?	MENAS (toPOMPEY) Would you like to be king of the entire world?
POMPEY What sayst thou?	POMPEY What are you saying?
MENAS Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? Thats twice.	MENAS Would you like to be king of the entire world? Now Ive said it twice.
POMPEY How should that be?	POMPEY How could that happen?
MENAS But entertain it, And, though thou think me poor, I am the man Will give thee all the world.	MENAS Just consider it. Though I seem poor, I am the man who will give you the world.
POMPEY Hast thou drunk well?	POMPEY Are you drunk?
MENAS 65 No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup. Thou art, if thou darst be, the earthly Jove. Whateer the ocean pales or sky inclips Is thine, if thou wilt ha t.	MENAS No, Pompey, I havent had anything to drink. You can be the most powerful man on earth if you dare use your power. Both land and sea are yours if you will take them.
POMPEY Show me which way.	POMPEY Tell me how.
MENAS These three world-sharers, these competitors, 70 Are in thy vessel. Let me cut the cable, And, when we are put off, fall to their throats. All there is thine.	MENAS The three who share the known world are aboard your boat. Let me cut the anchor cable. When we are away from land, cut their throats. Everything that belongs to them is yours.
POMPEY Ah, this thou shouldst have done And not have spoke on t! In me tis villainy, In thee t had been good service. Thou must know, 75 Tis not my profit that does lead mine honor; Mine honor, it. Repent that eer thy tongue Hath so betrayed thine act. Being done unknown, I should have found it afterwards well done, But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.	POMPEY Oh, you should have done it without telling me! For me to do such a thing would be dishonorable. For you to do it would be good service. You should know that to me, profit isnt more important than honor, but the other way around. Regret that your mouth betrayed your actions. If you had acted without my knowledge, I would have approved your action later. But now I must condemn it. Give it up and go drink.
He returns to the feast	He returns to the feast.
MENAS (aside) For this, Ill never follow thy palled fortunes more. Who seeks and will not take when once tis offered Shall never find it more.	MENAS (to himself) For this, Ill never be faithful to your declining fortunes again. A person who wants something but wont take it when it materializes wont get the opportunity again.
POMPEY This health to Lepidus!	POMPEY This toast is for Lepidus!
ANTONY (to a servant) Bear him ashore.Ill pledge it for him, Pompey.	ANTONY (to a servant) Help Lepidus ashore... Ill accept it for him, Pompey.
ENOBARBUS 85 Heres to thee, Menas!	ENOBARBUS Heres to you, Menas.
They drink	They drink.
MENAS Enobarbus, welcome.	MENAS I accept with thanks, Enobarbus.
POMPEY Fill till the cup be hid.	POMPEY Fill the cups until they run over.
ENOBARBUS Theres a strong fellow, Menas.	ENOBARBUS There goes a strong fellow, Menas.
Pointing to the servant who carries off LEPIDUS	He points to the servant carrying LEPIDUS away.
MENAS Why?	MENAS Why do you say that?
ENOBARBUS He bears The third part of the world, man. Seest not?	ENOBARBUS He carries a third of the world. Cant you see that?
MENAS The third part, then, is drunk. Would it were all, 90 That it might go on wheels!	MENAS Then a third of the world is drunk. I wish it were all drunk. Then everything would go more smoothly.
ENOBARBUS Drink thou. Increase the reels.	ENOBARBUS Drink up. Liven up the party.
MENAS Come.	MENAS All right, then.
POMPEY This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.	POMPEY This hasnt reached the level of an Egyptian feast yet.
ANTONY It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho! 95 Heres to Caesar.	ANTONY Its getting there. Clink your cups together in a toast! Heres to Caesar.
CAESAR I could well forbear t. Its monstrous labor when I wash my brain And it grows fouler.	CAESAR I could do without another toast. Its unnatural. I keep washing my brain with alcohol, and it keeps getting fouler and more muddled.
ANTONY Be a child o th time.	ANTONY Live in the moment.
CAESAR Possess it, Ill make answer. But I had rather fast from all four days 100 Than drink so much in one.	CAESAR Id prefer to seize the day. But I would rather abstain from everything for four days than drink so much in one.
ENOBARBUS (toANTONY)Ha! My brave emperor, Shall we dance now the Egyptian bacchanals And celebrate our drink?	ENOBARBUS (toANTONY) Ha! Shall we dance Egyptian bacchanals bawdy dances honoring Bacchus, Roman god of wine bacchanals, my noble emperor, and celebrate our wine?
POMPEY Lets ha t, good soldier.	POMPEY Lets have one, good soldier.
ANTONY Come, lets all take hands Till that the conquering wine hath steeped our sense In soft and delicate Lethe.	ANTONY Come, lets join our hands until the overpowering wine makes us soft and forgetful.
ENOBARBUS All take hands. Make battery to our ears with the loud music, The while Ill place you; then the boy shall sing. The holding every man shall beat as loud 110 As his strong sides can volley.	ENOBARBUS Everyone join hands. Attack our ears with loud music, and Ill position you for the dance. Then the boy will sing, and every man will sing the chorus at the top of his voice.
Music plays. ENOBARBUS places them hand in hand	Music plays. ENOBARBUS places each man in position, hand in hand.
The Song.	The Song.
BOY (Sings) Come, thou monarch of the vine, Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne! In thy vats our cares be drowned, With thy grapes our hairs be crowned.	BOY (singing) Come, you king of the vine, plump Bacchus, with your pink eyes. Our troubles are drowned in your vats. Well crown ourselves with wreathes of grapes.
ALL (Singing)Cup us till the world go round, Cup us till the world go round!	ALL (singing) Give us cups until the world spins! Give us cups until the world spins!
CAESAR What would you more?Pompey, good night. (toANTONY) Good brother, Let me request you off. Our graver business Frowns at this levity.Gentle lords, lets part. You see we have burnt our cheeks. Strong Enobarb Is weaker than the wine; and mine own tongue Splits what it speaks. The wild disguise hath almost Anticked us all. What needs more words? Good night. 120 Good Antony, your hand.	CAESAR How can you top that? Good night, Pompey. (toANTONY) Dear brother-in-law, lets leave together. This frivolity isnt appropriate to the serious purpose that brought us here. Noble lords, lets say good night. Weve all gotten red in the face. Even the strong Enobarbus isnt immune to the effects of wine, and Im tongue-tied myself. This wild party has almost turned us all into clowns. What more need I say? Good night. Good Antony, shake my hand.
POMPEY Ill try you on the shore.	POMPEY Well have a rematch at your feast on shore.
ANTONY And shall, sir. Give s your hand.	ANTONY Yes, we will. Lets shake on it.
POMPEY O Antony, You have my fathers house. But what? We are friends. Come, down into the boat.	POMPEY Oh, Antony, even if youve taken my fathers house, what is that to me? Were friends! Come, this way to the rowboat.
ENOBARBUS 125 Take heed you fall not.	ENOBARBUS Be careful not to fall in.
Exeunt all but MENAS and ENOBARBUS	Everyone exits except MENAS and ENOBARBUS .
Menas, Ill not on shore.	Menas, Im not going back on shore.
MENAS No, to my cabin. These drums, these trumpets, flutes! What! Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell To these great fellows. Sound and be hanged, sound out!	MENAS No, come to my cabin. Well have the musicians play drums, trumpets, flutes. What do you say? Well make Neptune Roman god of the sea Neptune hear us bid a loud good night to these great men. Play and be damned. Play loud!
Sound a flourish, with drums	Trumpets and drums play a fanfare.
ENOBARBUS Hoo! says a. Theres my cap.	ENOBARBUS Hooray, I say. Theres my hat!
He flings it in the air	He throws his hat in the air.
MENAS 130 Hoo! Noble captain, come.	MENAS Hooray! Come on, noble captain.
Exeunt	They exit.