The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra: Act 2, Scene 3 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 2, Scene 3 of The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Antony, Caesar; Octavia between them. ANTONY The world and my great office will sometimes Divide me from your bosom. OCTAVIA All which time Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers To them for you. 5 ANTONY, to Caesar Goodnight, sir.—My Octavia, Read not my blemishes in the world’s report. I have not kept my square, but that to come Shall all be done by th’ rule. Good night, dear lady.— 10 Good night, sir. CAESAR Goodnight. Caesar and Octavia exit.	Antony, Octavia, and Caesar are back at Caesar’s palace in Rome. Antony promises Octavia that though his work will take him away from her often, he won’t indulge in any monkey business, no matter how naughty he’s been in the past.
Enter Soothsayer. ANTONY Now, sirrah, you do wish yourself in Egypt? SOOTHSAYER Would I had never come from thence, nor you thither. 15 ANTONY If you can, your reason? SOOTHSAYER I see it in my motion, have it not in my tongue. But yet hie you to Egypt again.	After Caesar and Octavia leave, Antony meets with a soothsayer who tells him he should have never left Egypt, and should get back there ASAP.
ANTONY Say to me, whose fortunes shall rise higher, Caesar’s or mine? 20 SOOTHSAYER Caesar’s. Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side. Thy dæmon—that thy spirit which keeps thee—is Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable, Where Caesar’s is not. But near him, thy angel 25 Becomes afeard, as being o’erpowered. Therefore Make space enough between you. ANTONY Speak this no more. SOOTHSAYER To none but thee; no more but when to thee. If thou dost play with him at any game, 30 Thou art sure to lose; and of that natural luck He beats thee ’gainst the odds. Thy luster thickens When he shines by. I say again, thy spirit Is all afraid to govern thee near him; But he away, ’tis noble.	Antony asks whether he or Caesar will have better fortune, and the man replies that Caesar will. Further, Antony should stay as far away from Caesar as possible, as Antony’s fortune is muted, and his greatness lessened, whenever Caesar is around.
ANTONY Get thee gone. Say to Ventidius I would speak with him. Soothsayer exits. He shall to Parthia. Be it art or hap, He hath spoken true. The very dice obey him, And in our sports my better cunning faints 40 Under his chance. If we draw lots, he speeds; His cocks do win the battle still of mine When it is all to naught, and his quails ever Beat mine, inhooped, at odds. I will to Egypt. And though I make this marriage for my peace, 45 I’ th’ East my pleasure lies. Enter Ventidius. O, come, Ventidius. You must to Parthia; your commission’s ready. Follow me and receive ’t. They exit.	Antony totally believes the soothsayer and says that though he married Octavia to make peace, he needs to return to his girl in Egypt. He call on his soldier Ventidius to go to Parthia (modern-day Iraq) and fight on his behalf. (Parthia was one of Rome’s last surviving major enemies in the East.)