The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra: Act 4, Scene 6 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 4, Scene 6 of The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Flourish. Enter Agrippa, Caesar, with Enobarbus and Dolabella. CAESAR Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight. Our will is Antony be took alive; Make it so known. AGRIPPA Caesar, I shall. He exits. CAESAR The time of universal peace is near. 5 Prove this a prosp’rous day, the three-nooked world Shall bear the olive freely.	On Caesar’s side of the battle, we find Caesar confident that he will be victorious. He instructs his men of the following: he wants Antony taken alive, and he announces that the end of this battle (presumably his victory) will bring a time of universal peace.
Enter a Messenger. MESSENGER Antony Is come into the field. CAESAR Go charge Agrippa 10 Plant those that have revolted in the vant That Antony may seem to spend his fury Upon himself. All but Enobarbus exit.	Caesar instructs Agrippa to put the defectors from Antony’s army on the front line—he hopes Antony’s morale will be hurt by having to face his own deserting men. Then everyone but Enobarbus heads out for some more planning, leaving Enobarbus by himself.
ENOBARBUS Alexas did revolt and went to Jewry on Affairs of Antony, there did dissuade 15 Great Herod to incline himself to Caesar And leave his master Antony. For this pains, Caesar hath hanged him. Canidius and the rest That fell away have entertainment but No honorable trust. I have done ill, 20 Of which I do accuse myself so sorely That I will joy no more.	Enobarbus notes that Caesar has a strange sense of justice. Alexas, on an errand for Antony, ended up persuading King Herod to join Caesar’s side (it’s unclear what exactly went down here), but regardless, Caesar had Alexas killed for it. Other cases are clearer: all the others who have deserted Antony have gained employment with Caesar, but lost their honor in doing so.
Enter a Soldier of Caesar’s. SOLDIER Enobarbus, Antony Hath after thee sent all thy treasure, with His bounty overplus. The messenger 25 Came on my guard, and at thy tent is now Unloading of his mules. ENOBARBUS I give it you. SOLDIER Mock not, Enobarbus. I tell you true. Best you safed the bringer 30 Out of the host. I must attend mine office Or would have done ’t myself. Your emperor Continues still a Jove. He exits.	Just as Enobarbus is deciding to be really ashamed of himself for his desertion, one of Caesar’s soldier’s announces the arrival of a messenger from Antony. The man bears Antony’s good tidings to Enobarbus and the treasure Enobarbus left behind, plus a little more that Antony added on.
ENOBARBUS I am alone the villain of the Earth, And feel I am so most. O Antony, 35 Thou mine of bounty, how wouldst thou have paid My better service, when my turpitude Thou dost so crown with gold! This blows my heart. If swift thought break it not, a swifter mean 40 Shall outstrike thought, but thought will do ’t, I feel. I fight against thee? No. I will go seek Some ditch wherein to die; the foul’st best fits My latter part of life. He exits.	Enobarbus is shocked and now even more ashamed of his desertion. He’s sure his thoughts will kill him, as he certainly can't bear to fight against Antony. He hopes to die in a ditch, which he imagines is the only end fitting the miserable lowness of his recent actions.