Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
|
Enter Ventidius as it were in triumph, the dead body of
Pacorus borne before him; with Silius and Soldiers. VENTIDIUS
Now, darting Parthia, art thou struck, and now
Pleased Fortune does of Marcus Crassus’ death
Make me revenger. Bear the King’s son’s body
Before our army. Thy Pacorus, Orodes,
Pays this for Marcus Crassus. 5 | Now we’re in Syria, where Ventidius (the soldier Antony sent to fight at Parthia, remember?) has returned victorious from his earlier battle. Ventidius brings with him the body of the King of Parthia's son, Pacorus. He thinks of this as revenge for Marcus Crassus (one of the three in the original Roman triumvirate with Julius Caesar and the elder Pompey), who was killed by the Parthians. |
SILIUS Noble Ventidius,
Whilst yet with Parthian blood thy sword is warm,
The fugitive Parthians follow. Spur through Media,
Mesopotamia, and the shelters whither
The routed fly. So thy grand captain, Antony, 10
Shall set thee on triumphant chariots and
Put garlands on thy head. | Silius, another Roman, urges Ventidius to quickly go to Antony and tell of all the good deeds he’s performed, as surely Antony will reward and praise him. |
VENTIDIUS O, Silius, Silius,
I have done enough. A lower place, note well,
May make too great an act. For learn this, Silius: 15
Better to leave undone than by our deed
Acquire too high a fame when him we serve ’s away.
Caesar and Antony have ever won
More in their officer than person. Sossius,
One of my place in Syria, his lieutenant, 20
For quick accumulation of renown,
Which he achieved by th’ minute, lost his favor.
Who does i’ th’ wars more than his captain can
Becomes his captain’s captain; and ambition,
The soldier’s virtue, rather makes choice of loss 25
Than gain which darkens him.
I could do more to do Antonius good,
But ’twould offend him. And in his offense
Should my performance perish. | Ventidius is a smart guy and realizes that by showing up Antony at battle, he will lose favor, not gain it. To rise too quickly under powerful men makes you a threat, not an asset. |
SILIUS Thou hast, Ventidius, that 30
Without the which a soldier and his sword
Grants scarce distinction. Thou wilt write to
Antony? VENTIDIUS
I’ll humbly signify what in his name,
That magical word of war, we have effected; 35
How, with his banners and his well-paid ranks,
The ne’er-yet-beaten horse of Parthia
We have jaded out o’ th’ field. SILIUS Where is he now? VENTIDIUS
He purposeth to Athens, whither, with what haste 40
The weight we must convey with ’s will permit,
We shall appear before him.—On there, pass along! They exit. | Ventidius agrees that instead he’ll write a letter to Antony, praising him for making their victory possible. Then they set off to meet Antony at his house in Athens. |