A side-by-side translation of Act 4, Scene 3 of The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra from the original Shakespeare into modern English.
Original Text |
Translated Text |
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| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library | |
Enter a company of Soldiers. FIRST SOLDIER SECOND SOLDIER FIRST SOLDIER Nothing. What news? SECOND SOLDIER FIRST SOLDIER Well, sir, goodnight. They meet other Soldiers who are entering. SECOND SOLDIER Soldiers, have careful watch. THIRD SOLDIER And you. Goodnight, goodnight. They place themselves in every corner of the stage. SECOND SOLDIER Here we; and if tomorrow FIRST SOLDIER ’Tis a brave army, and full of purpose. Music of the hautboys is under the stage. | That night, as Antony’s soldiers stand watch and chat about the coming battle, strange oboe music begins to play. It seems to come from the air and the earth simultaneously. |
SECOND SOLDIER Peace. What noise? FIRST SOLDIER List, list! SECOND SOLDIER Hark! 15 FIRST SOLDIER Music i’ th’ air. THIRD SOLDIER Under the earth. FOURTH SOLDIER It signs well, does it not? THIRD SOLDIER No. FIRST SOLDIER Peace, I say. What should this mean? 20 SECOND SOLDIER FIRST SOLDIER Walk. Let’s see if other watchmen SECOND SOLDIER How now, masters? Speak together. 25 ALL How now? How now? Do you hear this? FIRST SOLDIER Ay. Is ’t not strange? THIRD SOLDIER Do you hear, masters? Do you hear? FIRST SOLDIER ALL Content. ’Tis strange. They exit. | The men guess it is the sound of Hercules (the god Antony modeled himself after and claimed as his ancestor) leaving Antony, which is not so good of a sign for the upcoming battle. |