A side-by-side translation of Act 3, 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 Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas. CLEOPATRA ALEXAS Half afeard to come. CLEOPATRA Enter the Messenger as before. ALEXAS Good Majesty, CLEOPATRA That Herod’s head MESSENGER CLEOPATRA Did’st thou behold Octavia? MESSENGER CLEOPATRA Where? | Cleopatra and her servants meet the messenger she had previously whipped. He’s bearing news on just how Octavia matches up with Cleopatra in the competition for Antony’s affection. |
MESSENGER Madam, in Rome. 15 CLEOPATRA MESSENGER She is not, madam. CLEOPATRA MESSENGER CLEOPATRA CHARMIAN CLEOPATRA MESSENGER She creeps. CLEOPATRA Is this certain? MESSENGER CHARMIAN Three in Egypt CLEOPATRA He’s very knowing. CHARMIAN Excellent. CLEOPATRA, to Messenger Guess at her years, I 40 MESSENGER Madam, she was a widow. CLEOPATRA Widow? Charmian, hark. MESSENGER And I do think she’s thirty. CLEOPATRA MESSENGER Round even to faultiness. CLEOPATRA MESSENGER Brown, madam, and her forehead | The news turns out to be good. He watched Octavia in Rome as she walked between Antony and Caesar. The woman, he reports, isn't beautiful. She’s short, brown-haired and round-faced, with a low forehead, walks with a creep instead of a saunter, and she’s at least thirty. |
CLEOPATRA, giving money There’s gold for thee. CHARMIAN A proper man. CLEOPATRA CHARMIAN Nothing, madam. 60 CLEOPATRA CHARMIAN CLEOPATRA CHARMIAN I warrant you, madam. They exit. | Cleopatra is overjoyed. She promises the messenger plenty of gold, and asks forgiveness for that one time when she tried to knife him. Thanks to his report, she's certain that she can win Antony’s affections back. |