The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra: Act 2, Scene 1 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 2, Scene 1 of The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas, in warlike manner. POMPEY If the great gods be just, they shall assist The deeds of justest men. MENAS Know, worthy Pompey, That what they do delay they not deny. POMPEY Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays 5 The thing we sue for. MENAS We, ignorant of ourselves, Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers Deny us for our good; so find we profit By losing of our prayers. 10 POMPEY I shall do well. The people love me, and the sea is mine; My powers are crescent, and my auguring hope Says it will come to th’ full. Mark Antony In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make 15 No wars without doors. Caesar gets money where He loses hearts. Lepidus flatters both, Of both is flattered; but he neither loves, Nor either cares for him.	At Pompey’s house in Messina, Pompey tells his buddies he's sure to win the upcoming battle because his army is strong at sea and the Romans love him. Plus, the Roman triumvirate is a mess. Marc Antony is in Egypt with Cleopatra. Caesar can win money, but not loyalty. And Lepidus is just a yes man. He pretends to like Caesar and Antony, and they pretend to like him, but there's really no love lost there, either way.
MENAS Caesar and Lepidus 20 Are in the field. A mighty strength they carry. POMPEY Where have you this? ’Tis false. MENAS From Silvius, sir. POMPEY He dreams. I know they are in Rome together, Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love, 25 Salt Cleopatra, soften thy wanned lip! Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both; Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts; Keep his brain fuming. Epicurean cooks Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite, 30 That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honor Even till a Lethe’d dullness— Enter Varrius. How now, Varrius?	Menas, with great timing, announces that, actually, Caesar and Lepidus have raised a strong army in the field. Pompey shrugs it off, and says they're just waiting around for Antony in Rome, while he's probably with Cleopatra.
VARRIUS This is most certain that I shall deliver: Mark Antony is every hour in Rome 35 Expected. Since he went from Egypt ’tis A space for farther travel.	Varrius arrives and adds to the bad news: Antony is on his way back to Rome.
POMPEY I could have given less matter A better ear.—Menas, I did not think This amorous surfeiter would have donned his helm 40 For such a petty war. His soldiership Is twice the other twain. But let us rear The higher our opinion, that our stirring Can from the lap of Egypt’s widow pluck The ne’er lust-wearied Antony. 45	Antony’s soldier skills are twice the other men’s. Pompey chooses to take it as a compliment to his own strength that Antony should come specifically to fight him.
MENAS I cannot hope Caesar and Antony shall well greet together. His wife that’s dead did trespasses to Caesar; His brother warred upon him, although I think Not moved by Antony. 50	Menas points out that Antony and Caesar might not get along so well together, especially since Antony has been out carousing with the Egyptian Queen.
POMPEY I know not, Menas, How lesser enmities may give way to greater. Were ’t not that we stand up against them all, ’Twere pregnant they should square between themselves, 55 For they have entertainèd cause enough To draw their swords. But how the fear of us May cement their divisions and bind up The petty difference, we yet not know. Be ’t as our gods will have ’t. It only stands 60 Our lives upon to use our strongest hands. Come, Menas. They exit.	Pompey, however, responds that the threat he (Pompey) poses to both men will surely be enough to get them fighting together against him.