Act 2, Scene 1

Original Text

*Messina. A Room in Pompey's house. Enter Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas in warlike manner.* POMPEY. If the great gods be just, they shall assist The deeds of justest men. MENECRATES. Know, worthy Pompey, That what they do delay they not deny.

Modern English

*Messina. A room in Pompey's house. Pompey enters with his officers Menecrates and Menas, armed and ready for war.* POMPEY. If the gods are just, they'll support the actions of the most righteous men. MENECRATES. Understand, worthy Pompey, that what the gods delay they don't deny.

Original Text

POMPEY. Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays The thing we sue for. MENECRATES. 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.

Modern English

POMPEY. While we petition them for help, the very thing we're asking for falls apart. MENECRATES. We don't know our own good — we often pray for what would hurt us, and the wise gods refuse those prayers for our own benefit; so we gain more by losing what we asked for.

Original Text

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 No wars without doors.

Modern English

POMPEY. I'll come out fine. The people are with me, and I control the seas; my forces are growing, and my instincts tell me things will come to a head. Mark Antony is lounging at dinner in Egypt and won't lift a finger toward any wars.

Original Text

Caesar gets money where He loses hearts. Lepidus flatters both, Of both is flattered; but he neither loves Nor either cares for him. MENAS. Caesar and Lepidus Are in the field. A mighty strength they carry.

Modern English

Caesar wins money everywhere he loses loyalty. Lepidus flatters both of them, and both flatter him back — but neither one actually cares about him. MENAS. Caesar and Lepidus are already in the field. They're fielding serious forces.

Original Text

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, Salt Cleopatra, soften thy waned lip! Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both;

Modern English

POMPEY. Where did you hear that? It's not true. MENAS. From Silvius, sir. POMPEY. He's dreaming. I know for a fact they're both in Rome looking for Antony. Well then — may all of love's spells, sharp Cleopatra, soften your irresistible lips! Let witchcraft combine with beauty, and lust with both;

Original Text

Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts; Keep his brain fuming. Epicurean cooks Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite, That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour Even till a Lethe'd dullness— *Enter Varrius.* How now, Varrius!

Modern English

keep that pleasure-seeker trapped in a banquet hall; keep his mind clouded with drink. Let his gourmet cooks whet his appetite with flavors that never cloy, so that sleep and feasting keep putting off any sense of duty — until his mind goes numb— *Varrius enters.* What news, Varrius!

Original Text

VARRIUS. This is most certain that I shall deliver: Mark Antony is every hour in Rome Expected. Since he went from Egypt 'tis A space for farther travel. POMPEY. I could have given less matter A better ear.

Modern English

VARRIUS. I have certain news to report: Mark Antony is expected in Rome any hour now. Since he left Egypt there's been time enough to make the journey. POMPEY. I wish I'd heard worse news more carefully.

Original Text

—Menas, I did not think This amorous surfeiter would have donned his helm 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.

Modern English

Menas, I never imagined this pleasure-drunk soldier would bother to put his helmet on for a fight this small. His generalship is worth twice what the other two combined bring to the table. But let's think even better of ourselves — that our uprising is what dragged the insatiably lustful Antony out of Egypt's embrace.

Original Text

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.

Modern English

MENAS. I can't see how Caesar and Antony are going to get along. Antony's dead wife did Caesar wrong; his brother made war on Caesar — though I think Antony himself didn't push for that.

Original Text

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, For they have entertained cause enough To draw their swords.

Modern English

POMPEY. I'm not sure, Menas, how smaller grudges might give way to bigger ones. If we weren't here opposing them all, they'd very likely come to blows with each other — they've both given each other more than enough reason to draw their swords.

Original Text

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 Our lives upon to use our strongest hands. Come, Menas. *[Exeunt.]*

Modern English

But whether fear of us can paper over their divisions and patch up their quarrels — that we don't yet know. Let it be as the gods will! What's clear is our lives depend on fighting with everything we have. Come, Menas. *[They exit.]*

Antony and Cleopatra

Act 2, Scene 1

Act 2, Scene 1