CJTranslations - Antony and Cleopatra

QUOTES BY TOPIC

A man who is th’ abstract of all faults that all men follow

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 1.4
SPEAKER: Caesar
CONTEXT:
CAESAR
You may see, Lepidus, and henceforth know,
It is not Caesar’s natural vice to hate
Our great competitor. From Alexandria
This is the news: he fishes, drinks, and wastes
The lamps of night in revel; is not more manlike
Than Cleopatra, nor the queen of Ptolemy
More womanly than he; hardly gave audience, or
Vouchsafed to think he had partners. You shall find there
A man who is th’ abstract of all faults
That all men follow.
LEPIDUS
I must not think there are
Evils enough to darken all his goodness.
His faults in him seem as the spots of heaven,
More fiery by night’s blackness, hereditary
Rather than purchased, what he cannot change
Than what he chooses.

DUTCH:
CAESAR
(…) Hij is het kort begrip van ied’re boosheid,
Die eenig man ooit had.
LEPIDUS.
En toch verduistert
Het booze in hem niet alles wat hij goeds heeft;
Zijn feilen komen uit in hem, zooals
‘t Gesternte vuur’ger glanst door ‘t zwart der nacht,
Zijn eer hem aangeboren dan verkregen,
Veeleer geduld, dan met zijn wil hem eigen.

MORE:
Shelley’s Case (1579-81) had made the public familiar with the term “purchase” (acquisition by a title other than descent). The ‘Rule in Shelley’s Case’, which applied until 1925, concerned the distinction between estates acquired by inheritance or descent and those acquired by purchase. Hence Shakespeare’s use of the word ‘purchase’ to distinguish property or qualities not acquired by inheritance, such as here where Lepidus refers to faults that are ‘hereditary rather than purchased”.

Gave audience=Listened
Vouchsafe=Deign
Abstract=Summary, inventory
Spots of heaven=Stars
Compleat:
To give audience=Gehoor geeven, verleenen of vergunnen
To vouchsafe=Gewaardigen, vergunnen
Abstract=Uyttreksel, aftreksel, verkortsel

Topics: good and bad, integrity, excess, law/legal, flaw/fault, leadership

Age cannot wither her

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.2
SPEAKER: Enobarbus
CONTEXT:
MAECENAS
Now Antony must leave her utterly.
ENOBARBUS
Never. He will not.
Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety. Other women cloy
The appetites they feed, but she makes hungry
Where most she satisfies, for vilest things
Become themselves in her, that the holy priests
Bless her when she is riggish.
MAECENAS
If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle
The heart of Antony, Octavia is
A blessèd lottery to him.

DUTCH:
Dit doet hij nimmer! — Haar kan ouderdom
Niet doen verwelken, noch gewoonte’s sleur
Haar ‘t eeuwig nieuw ontrooven.

MORE:
Proverb: As stale as custom

Cloy=Satiate, glut
Custom=Habit, regular use or practice
Stale=Render common or worthless
Riggish=Wanton
Lottery=Prize
Compleat:
To cloy=Verkroppen, overlaaden
To cloy with words=Met woorden overlaaden
Custom=Gewoonte, neering
To grow stale=Oud worden
Rig=Vermaak, spel, pret, vrolykheid
Lottery=Lotery

Topics: love, age/experience, loyalty, proverbs and idioms

All strange and terrible events are welcome, but comforts we despise

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 4.15
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
CLEOPATRA
O Charmian, I will never go from hence.
CHARMIAN
Be comforted, dear madam.
CLEOPATRA
No, I will not.
All strange and terrible events are welcome,
But comforts we despise. Our size of sorrow,
Proportioned to our cause, must be as great
As that which makes it.
How now? Is he dead?
DIOMEDES
His death’s upon him, but not dead.
Look out o’ th’ other side your monument.
His guard have brought him thither.

DUTCH:
Neen, ‘k wil niet.
Wat schrikk’lijk is en ongehoord, is welkom,
Doch troost versmaad ik; onze kommer moet
Zoo groot en vrees’lijk zijn als de oorzaak is,
Die ons hem wekt.

MORE:
Hence=This place
Comforts=Consolation
Despise=Treat with contempt
Upon him=Imminent
Compleat:
Hence=Van hier, hier uit
Comfort=Vertroosting, troost, verquikking, vermaak, verneugte
To despise=Verachten, versmaaden

Topics: death, sorrow

And when good will is showed, though ’t come too short, the actor may plead pardon

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.5
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
CLEOPATRA
And when good will is showed, though ’t come too short,
The actor may plead pardon. I’ll none now.
Give me mine angle. We’ll to th’ river. There,
My music playing far off, I will betray
Tawny-finned fishes. My bended hook shall pierce
Their slimy jaws, and as I draw them up
I’ll think them every one an Antony
And say, “Aha! You’re caught.”
CHARMIAN
’Twas merry when
You wagered on your angling, when your diver
Did hang a salt fish on his hook, which he
With fervency drew up.
CLEOPATRA
That time—Oh, times!—
I laughed him out of patience, and that night
I laughed him into patience. And next morn,
Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed,
Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst
I wore his sword Philippan.

DUTCH:
Waar goede wil is, neemt men dien voor lief;
Al schiet hij ook te kort.

MORE:
Proverb: To take the will for the deed

Come too short=Not be up to the mark
Plead pardon=Seek forgiveness
Angle=Fishing rod
Betray=Deceive
With fervency=Enthusiastically
Tires=Clothes
Philippan=The sword used by Antony to defeat Brutus and Cassius at Philippi (see “Julius Caesar”)
Compleat:
To fall short=Te kort schieten
Pardon=Vergiffenis
Angling-rod=Een hengel-roded; hengel-ried
To betray=Verraaden, beklappen
Fervency=Vuurigheyd; yver
To tire=Optooijen, de kap zetten

Topics: proverbs and idioms, deceit

Be it known that we, the greatest, are misthought for things that others do

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 5.2
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
CLEOPATRA
Be it known that we, the greatest, are misthought
For things that others do, and when we fall
We answer others’ merits in our name,
Are therefore to be pitied.
CAESAR
Cleopatra,
Not what you have reserved nor what acknowledged
Put we i’ th’ roll of conquest. Still be ’t yours.
Bestow it at your pleasure, and believe
Caesar’s no merchant, to make prize with you
Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheered.
Make not your thoughts your prison. No, dear Queen,
For we intend so to dispose you as
Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed and sleep.
Our care and pity is so much upon you
That we remain your friend. And so, adieu.
CLEOPATRA
My master, and my lord!
CAESAR
Not so. Adieu.

DUTCH:
Bedenk, wij grooten worden vaak verdacht
Om a^Id’rer doen; wij boeten, als wij vallen,
Voor schuld, op onzen naam begaan door and’ren;
Beklagenswaardig lot!

MORE:
Misthought=Misjudged
Answer=Are responsible for
Merits=Deserts (good or bad)
Make prize=Negotiate, haggle
Dispose=Treat
Compleat:
Misjudge=Quaalyk oordeelen
To answer for=Verantwoorden, voor iets staan, borg blyven
Merits=Verdiensten
To dispose=Beschikken, schikken, bestellen

Burgersdijk notes:
Een knaap. Men bedenke, dat op Sh.’s tooneel de vrouwenrollen door knapen en aankomende jongelingen gespeeld werden.

Topics: judgment, reputation, merit, money, respect

Be pleased to tell us— for this is from the present—how you take the offers we have sent you

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.6
SPEAKER: Lepidus
CONTEXT:
LEPIDUS
Be pleased to tell us—
For this is from the present—how you take
The offers we have sent you.
CAESAR
There’s the point.
ANTONY
Which do not be entreated to, but weigh
What it is worth embraced.
CAESAR
And what may follow,
To try a larger fortune.

DUTCH:
Ik bid u, zeg ons, —
Want dit dient niets ter zake, — wat gij denkt
Van onzen voorslag.

MORE:
Be pleased to=Please
From the present=Beside the point
Weigh=Consider
Embraced=If accepted
Compleat:
When you please=Als ‘t u belieft
The present state of things=De tegenwoordige toestand der zaaken
To weigh=Weegen, overweegen
Embrace=(to receive or embrace an opinion): Een gevoelen omhelzen

Topics: reply, value

Celerity is never more admired than by the negligent

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 3.7
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
CLEOPATRA
Celerity is never more admired
Than by the negligent.
ANTONY
A good rebuke,
Which might have well becomed the best of men,
To taunt at slackness.—Canidius, we will fight
With him by sea.

DUTCH:
Niemand prijst ooit spoed zoo zeer
Als wie nalatig is.

MORE:
Celerity=Swiftness, alacrity
Admired=Wondered at
Become=Is fitting, suitable, appropriate
Compleat:
Celerity=Snelheid, spoed, haast
Become=Betaamen

Topics: negligence, proverbs and idioms, still in use

Com’st thou smiling from the world’s great snare uncaught?

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 4.8
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
ANTONY
We have beat him to his camp. Run one before
And let the Queen know of our gests. Tomorrow,
Before the sun shall see ’s, we’ll spill the blood
That has today escaped. I thank you all,
For doughty-handed are you, and have fought
Not as you served the cause, but as ’t had been
Each man’s like mine. You have shown all Hectors.
Enter the city. Clip your wives, your friends.
Tell them your feats, whilst they with joyful tears
Wash the congealment from your wounds and kiss
The honoured gashes whole.
CLEOPATRA
Lord of lords!
O infinite virtue, com’st thou smiling from
The world’s great snare uncaught?

DUTCH:
Gij held der helden!
O weêrgalooze moed ! Keert gij, zoo lachend
En vrij, van ‘t net des doods?

MORE:
Gests=Deeds
Beat him=Beat him back
Shown all Hectors=Behaved like Hector (known for his valour, Trojan leader in Homer’s Iliad)
Clip=Embrace
Snare=Noose
Compleat:
Gests=Daaden, verrichtingen

Topics: leadership, achievement, virtue

Equality of two domestic powers breed scrupulous faction

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 1.3
SPEAKER: Antony
CONTEXT:
ANTONY
Hear me, Queen:
The strong necessity of time commands
Our services awhile, but my full heart
Remains in use with you. Our Italy
Shines o’er with civil swords. Sextus Pompeius
Makes his approaches to the port of Rome.
Equality of two domestic powers
Breed scrupulous faction. The hated, grown to strength,
Are newly grown to love. The condemned Pompey,
Rich in his father’s honour, creeps apace
Into the hearts of such as have not thrived
Upon the present state, whose numbers threaten;
And quietness, grown sick of rest, would purge
By any desperate change. My more particular,
And that which most with you should safe my going,
Is Fulvia’s death.

DUTCH:
De gelijkheid
Van twee partijen in den staat verwekt
Een gisting, die gevaar dreigt. Die gehaat was ,
Werd sterk en wint in liefde;

MORE:
Cited in Shakespeare’s Legal Maxims (William Lowes Rushton)
Rushton’s reference to this as a legal maxim (Rushton has in mind ‘necessitas est lex temporis’) is challenged by Dunbar Plunkett Barton.

Strong necessity of time=Another pressing engagement
In use=In trust
Scrupulous=Full of doubt and perplexity
Faction=Dissension, opposition
Condemned=Banished
Creeps=Sneaks unseen
State=Government
Quietness=Inactivity
Particular=Personal reason
Compleat:
Necessity=Nood, noodzaaklykheyd, noodwendigheyd
Scrupulous=Schroomagtig, naaw gezet
Faction=Samenrotting, saamenspanning, oproerige party, rot, aanhang, partyschap, verdeeldheid
To banish=Bannen, uytbannen
To creep=Kruypen, sluypen
Quietness=Gerustheyd, stilte
Particular=Byzonder, zonderling, byzonderheid

Topics: love, equality, loyalty, order/society

Every time serves for the matter that is then born in’t

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.2
SPEAKER: Enobarbus
CONTEXT:
ENOBARBUS
I shall entreat him
To answer like himself. If Caesar move him,
Let Antony look over Caesar’s head
And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter,
Were I the wearer of Antonio’s beard,
I would not shave ’t today.
LEPIDUS
Tis not a time for private stomaching.
ENOBARBUS
Every time serves for the matter that is then born in ’t.
LEPIDUS
But small to greater matters must give way.
ENOBARBUS
Not if the small come first.
LEPIDUS
Your speech is passion. But pray you stir
No embers up. Here comes the noble Antony.

DUTCH:
Ied’re tijd
Past wel voor alles, wat er in ontstaat.

MORE:
Move=Angers
Stomaching=Quarrels
Serves=Is appropriate for
Born=Arises
Compleat:
To move=Verroeren, gaande maaken; voorstellen
Stomach=Gramsteurigheyd
To serve=Dienen, bedienen, dienstig zyn

Burgersdijk notes:
‘k Liet dien vandaag niet scheren. Om Octavius Caesar toch vooral geen bijzondere beleefdheid te betoonen.

Topics: time, purpose

Fear nothing. Make your full reference freely to my lord.

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 5.2
SPEAKER: Proculeius
CONTEXT:
CLEOPATRA
Antony
Did tell me of you, bade me trust you, but
I do not greatly care to be deceived,
That have no use for trusting. If your master
Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him,
That majesty, to keep decorum, must
No less beg than a kingdom. If he please
To give me conquered Egypt for my son,
He gives me so much of mine own as I
Will kneel to him with thanks.
PROCULEIUS
Be of good cheer.
You’re fall’n into a princely hand. Fear nothing.
Make your full reference freely to my lord,
Who is so full of grace that it flows over
On all that need. Let me report to him
Your sweet dependency, and you shall find
A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness
Where he for grace is kneeled to.

DUTCH:
Laat mij hem berichten,
Dat gij u willig buigt, en hij blijkt u
Een overwinnaar, die uw vriend zich toont,
Waar om genade werd geknield.

MORE:
Pray in aid (Black’s Law Dictionary):
In old English practice. To call upon for assistance. In real actions, the tenant might pray in aid or call for assistance of another, to help him to plead, because of the feebleness or imbecility of his own estate.
Some claim that this is an indication of Shakespeare’s legal experience, although Dunbar Plunket Barton notes that the phrase was in literary use in or before Shakespeare’s time.

Bade=Invited, suggested
Of mine own=What is rightfully mine
Reference=Appeal
Dependency=Submission
Compleat:
Bad=Gebooden, bevoolen (from to bid)
To refer=Wyzen, gedraagen, overwyzen
Dependency=Afhangendheyd, afhanglykheyd, vertrouwen, steunsel, steun

Topics: law/legal, trust, legacy

Go put on thy defences

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 4.4
SPEAKER: Antony
CONTEXT:
ANTONY
Well, well,
We shall thrive now.—Seest thou, my good fellow?
Go put on thy defences.
EROS
Briefly, sir.
CLEOPATRA
Is not this buckled well?
ANTONY
Rarely, rarely.
He that unbuckles this, till we do please
To doff ’t for our repose, shall hear a storm.—
Thou fumblest, Eros, and my Queen’s a squire
More tight at this than thou. Dispatch. —O love,
That thou couldst see my wars today, and knew’st
The royal occupation! Thou shouldst see
A workman in ’t.
Good morrow to thee. Welcome.
Thou look’st like him that knows a warlike charge.

DUTCH:
Goed, goed;
Nu is de zege ons zeker. — Ziet gij, knaap?
Ga, wapen thans uzelven.

MORE:
Proverb: What we do willingly is easy

Defences=Armour
Briefly=Soon
Doff=Take off
Tight=Adept
Workman=Expert
Compleat:
Armour=Wapenrusting, wapentuyg, rusting, geweer
To doff=Afligen, afdoen
Tight=Net, geschikt, ordentlyk, styf, dicht

Topics: life, satisfaction

Harping on what I am, not what he knew I was

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 3.13
SPEAKER: Antony
CONTEXT:
SERVANT
He did ask favour.
ANTONY
If that thy father live, let him repent
Thou wast not made his daughter, and be thou sorry
To follow Caesar in his triumph, since
Thou hast been whipped for following him. Henceforth
The white hand of a lady fever thee;
Shake thou to look on ’t. Get thee back to Caesar.
Tell him thy entertainment. Look thou say
He makes me angry with him, for he seems
Proud and disdainful, harping on what I am,
Not what he knew I was. He makes me angry,
And at this time most easy ’tis to do ’t,
When my good stars, that were my former guides,
Have empty left their orbs and shot their fires
Into th’ abysm of hell. If he mislike
My speech and what is done, tell him he has
Hipparchus, my enfranchèd bondman, whom
He may at pleasure whip, or hang, or torture,
As he shall like, to quit me. Urge it thou.
Hence with thy stripes, begone!

DUTCH:
Ga weer tot Caesar,
Zeg, hoe gij werdt onthaald; en zeg hem, — hoort gij? —
Dat hij mij toornig maakt, omdat hij trotsch,
Minachtend steeds herhaalt, wat ik nu ben,
Niet wat ik vroeger was. Hij maakt mij toornig;
En dit is licht te doen in dezen tijd,
Nu ied’re goede ster, die eens mij leidde,
Haar hemelbaan verliet en al haar gloed
In de’ afgrond schoot der hel.

MORE:
Proverb: To harp upon one (the same) string

Fever thee=Make you feverish (break into a sweat); Frighten
Entertainment=Reception, treatment
Harp on=Dwell on, repeat incessantly
Orbs=Spheres
Enfranchised=Released, liberated
Bondman=Slave
Quit=Repay, have revenge on
Stripes=Wounds from whip lashing
Compleat:
To entertain=Onthaalen, huysvesten, plaats vergunnen
Entertainment=Onthaal
To enfranchise=Tot eenen burger of vry man maaken, vryheyd vergunnen
Bond-man, Bond-slave=Een Slaaf
To quit=Verschoonen, ontslaan
Stripe=Een slag, streep. Worthy of stripes=Slaagen waardig

Topics: proverbs and idioms, regret, merit, revenge

He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not be noble to myself

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 5.2
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
CAESAR
Cleopatra,
Not what you have reserved nor what acknowledged
Put we i’ th’ roll of conquest. Still be ’t yours.
Bestow it at your pleasure, and believe
Caesar’s no merchant, to make prize with you
Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheered.
Make not your thoughts your prison. No, dear Queen,
For we intend so to dispose you as
Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed and sleep.
Our care and pity is so much upon you
That we remain your friend. And so, adieu.
CLEOPATRA
My master, and my lord!
CAESAR
Not so. Adieu.
CLEOPATRA
He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not
Be noble to myself. But, hark thee, Charmian.

DUTCH:
t Zijn woorden, meisjes, woorden, opdat ik
Niet edel voor mijzelf zij. Luister, Charmian!

MORE:
Make prize=Negotiate, haggle
Dispose=Treat
He words me=Pacifies me with meaningless words
Compleat:
To dispose=Beschikken, schikken, bestellen

Burgersdijk notes:
Een knaap. Men bedenke, dat op Sh.’s tooneel de vrouwenrollen door knapen en aankomende jongelingen gespeeld werden.

Topics: language, persuasion

I could have given less matter a better ear

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.1
SPEAKER: Pompey
CONTEXT:
POMPEY
I could have given less matter
A better ear.—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.
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.
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. 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.

DUTCH:
Iets min belangrijks
Waar’ beter welkom. — Menas, ik dacht nooit
Dat zulk een nietige oorlog den wellust’ling
De wapens zou doen grijpen; zijne krijgskunst
Is dubbel die der and’re twee.

MORE:
Proverb: The greater grief (sorrow) drives out the less

Surfeiter=Reveller
Rear=Raise
Did trespasses to=Offended against
Moved=Prompted
Pregnant=Probable, clear, evident
Square=Fight
Entertained=Maintained
Cement=Join
Compleat:
To surfeit=Ergens zat van worden; zich overlaaden
Trespass=Overtreeden, zondigen
Moved=Bewoogen, verroerd, ontroerd
Pregnant=Krachtig, dringend, naadrukkelyk
Entertain=Onthaalen, huysvesten, plaats vergunnen
To cement=Dicht t’zamenvoegen, vastgroeijen

Topics: proverbs and idioms, conflict, rivalry

I crave our composition may be written and sealed between us

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.6
SPEAKER: Pompey
CONTEXT:
CAESAR
Since I saw you last
There’s a change upon you.
POMPEY
Well, I know not
What counts harsh Fortune casts upon my face,
But in my bosom shall she never come
To make my heart her vassal.
LEPIDUS
Well met here.
POMPEY
I hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed.
I crave our composition may be written
And sealed between us.
CAESAR
That’s the next to do.
POMPEY
We’ll feast each other ere we part, and let’s
Draw lots who shall begin.
ANTONY
That will I, Pompey.
POMPEY
No, Antony, take the lot. But, first or last,
Your fine Egyptian cookery shall have
The fame. I have heard that Julius Caesar
Grew fat with feasting there.

DUTCH:
Dit hoop ik, Lepidus. — Wij zijn verzoend.
Doch thans zij ons verdrag op schrift gebracht
En onderteekend.

MORE:
CITED IN US LAW: Re. the definition of “composition”: In re. Adler, 103 F. 444 (W.D. Tenn. 1900)

Counts=Accounts, shows
Harsh=Cruel
Vassal=Servant
Composition=Agreement
Take the lot=Draw the straw
Compleat:
Count=Rekenen, achten
Harsh=Schor, ruuw, wrang, streng
Vassal=Leenman, onderdaan
Composition=Bylegging; t’Zamenstelling, toestelling, afmaaking, t’zamenmengsel, vermenging
To draw lots=Loten trekken, looten

Topics: cited in law, contract, understanding, fate/destiny

I do not greatly care to be deceived, that have no use for trusting

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 5.2
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
CLEOPATRA
Antony
Did tell me of you, bade me trust you, but
I do not greatly care to be deceived,
That have no use for trusting. If your master
Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him,
That majesty, to keep decorum, must
No less beg than a kingdom. If he please
To give me conquered Egypt for my son,
He gives me so much of mine own as I
Will kneel to him with thanks.
PROCULEIUS
Be of good cheer.
You’re fall’n into a princely hand. Fear nothing.
Make your full reference freely to my lord,
Who is so full of grace that it flows over
On all that need. Let me report to him
Your sweet dependency, and you shall find
A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness
Where he for grace is kneeled to.

DUTCH:
Reeds Antonius
Gaf mij den raad u te vertrouwen; doch
Of ik bedrogen word, het deert mij weinig,
Zoo ‘k geen vertrouwen schenk.

Topics: law/legal, trust, legacy

I do not like “But yet.” It does allay the good precedence

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.5
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
MESSENGER
Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.
CLEOPATRA
Make thee a fortune from me.
MESSENGER
But yet, madam—
CLEOPATRA
I do not like “But yet.” It does allay
The good precedence. Fie upon “But yet.”
“But yet” is as a jailer to bring forth
Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend,
Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,
The good and bad together. He’s friends with Caesar,
In state of health, thou say’st, and, thou say’st,
free.

DUTCH:
Wat is nu dit, „Maar toch”? Den goeden aanloop
Maakt dit te schande; weg met dit „Maar toch”!
„Maar toch” is als een kerkerknecht, die dieven
En moord’naars tot den beul voert.

MORE:
Allay=Dilute, cast a shadow over
Good precedence=The previous good news
Compleat:
To allay=Verligten, verzachten, maatigen, sussen, temperen
Precedence=Voorgang

Topics: news, communication, good and bad

I do not much dislike the matter, but the manner of his speech

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.2
SPEAKER: Caesar
CONTEXT:
ANTONY
Thou art a soldier only. Speak no more.
ENOBARBUS
That truth should be silent, I had almost forgot.
ANTONY
You wrong this presence. Therefore speak no more.
ENOBARBUS
Go to, then. Your considerate stone.
CAESAR
I do not much dislike the matter, but
The manner of his speech, for ’t cannot be
We shall remain in friendship, our conditions
So diff’ring in their acts. Yet if I knew
What hoop should hold us stanch, from edge to edge
O’ th’ world I would pursue it.

DUTCH:
Ik acht, in wat hij zegt heeft hij geen onrecht,
Slechts in de wijze hoe. Het is onmoog’lijk,
Dat wij, in aard en doen zoozeer verscheiden,
Steeds vrienden blijven. Doch, indien ik wist,
Wat band ons stevig saam kon houden, ‘k zou
De wereld door hem zoeken.

MORE:
Proverb: The truth should be silent

Presence=Company
Considerate stone=Still, silent and capable of thought
Conditions=Dispositions
Staunch=Strong, watertight
Compleat:
Presence=Tegenwoordigheyd, byzyn, byweezen
Considerate=Omzigtig, bedachtzaam
Condition=Aardt, gesteltenis

Topics: proverbs and idioms, truth, perception, friendship

I have not kept my square, but that to come shall all be done by th’ rule

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.3
SPEAKER: Antony
CONTEXT:
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.
ANTONY
Good night, 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.
Good night, sir.

DUTCH:
Goede nacht, vriend! — Mijn Octavia,
Acht mij zoo zwart niet, als ‘t gerucht mij maalt;
‘t Is waar, ‘k heb veel gedwaald; doch in de toekomst
Houd ik het rechte pad. Vaarwel, geliefde! —
Vaarwel, vriend!

MORE:
My blemishes=(moral) Stains
Kept my square=Shown restraint
That=That which is
By th’ rule=Within the rules
Compleat:
To blemish=Besmetten, bevlekken, schenden
To act upon the square=Voor de vuist handelen; zonder bedrog
Upon the square=Oprechtelyk

Topics: flaw/fault, guilt, reputation

I learn, you take things ill which are not so, or being, concern you not

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.2
SPEAKER: Caesar
CONTEXT:
ANTONY
I learn, you take things ill which are not so,
Or being, concern you not.
CAESAR
I must be laughed at
If or for nothing or a little, I
Should say myself offended, and with you
Chiefly i’ th’ world; more laughed at, that I should
Once name you derogately, when to sound your name
It not concerned me.

DUTCH:
Ik hoor, gij duidt mij euvel, wat niets kwaads is,
Of, is ‘t zoo, u niet deert.

MORE:
Ill=Offensive
Are not so=Are not so intended
Derogately=Disparagingly, in a derogative manner
Compleat:
Ill=Quaad, ondeugend, onpasselijk, slegt
Derogatory=Verkortende, benaadeelende

Topics: offence, perception

I repent me much that so I harried him

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 3.3
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
CLEOPATRA
Bear’st thou her face in mind? Is ’t long or round?
MESSENGER
Round, even to faultiness.
CLEOPATRA
For the most part, too, they are foolish that are so.
Her hair, what colour?
MESSENGER
Brown, madam, and her forehead
As low as she would wish it.
CLEOPATRA
There’s gold for thee.
Thou must not take my former sharpness ill.
I will employ thee back again; I find thee
Most fit for business. Go make thee ready;
Our letters are prepared.
CHARMIAN
A proper man.
CLEOPATRA
Indeed, he is so. I repent me much
That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him,
This creature’s no such thing.

DUTCH:
Dat is hij, ja; het spijt mij zelfs, dat ik
Hem vroeger hard viel. Spreekt hij waar, dan heeft
Dat wezen niets aantrekk’lijks.

MORE:
To faultiness=To a fault
As low as she would wish it=High foreheads were considered attractive in Shakespeare’s time
Employ thee back=Send you again as a messenger
Sharpness=Severity
Proper=Admirable
By him=Judging by his report
No such thing=Nothing out of the ordinary
Compleat:
Fault=Fout, feyl, misslag, schld, misdryf
Sharpness (acrimony) of humours=Scherpheid der vochten
Sharpness (Keenness or point)=Scherpheid, puntigheid
Proper=Bequaam, van een bequaame lengte

Topics: memory, appearance

I see men’s judgments are a parcel of their fortunes

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 3.13
SPEAKER: Enobarbus
CONTEXT:
ENOBARBUS
(aside) Yes, like enough, high-battled Caesar will
Unstate his happiness and be staged to th’ show
Against a sworder! I see men’s judgments are
A parcel of their fortunes, and things outward
Do draw the inward quality after them
To suffer all alike. That he should dream,
Knowing all measures, the full Caesar will
Answer his emptiness! Caesar, thou hast subdued
His judgment too.

DUTCH:
k Zie, des menschen oordeel
Is één met zijn geluk; wat buiten ons is
Sleept in zijn val ons innigst wezen mee
En alles stort te zaam.

MORE:
High-battled=Commanding many armies
Unstate=Deprive, divest
Staged=Displayed
To the show=To the public
Sworder=Fencer
Parcel=Piece, part
Things outward=External factors
Inward=Internal
All measures=Good and bad fortune
Answer=Respond to
Compleat:
To parcel=In hoopen verdeelen, in partyen deelen
Outward=Uytwendig, uyterlyk
Inward=Inwendig, innerlyk
Answer=Beantwoorden; antwoord geven

Topics: judgment, status, order/society, fate/destiny

I will praise any man that will praise me

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.6
SPEAKER: Enobarbus
CONTEXT:
ENOBARBUS
You have done well by water.
MENAS
And you by land.
ENOBARBUS
I will praise any man that will praise me, though it
cannot be denied what I have done by land.
MENAS
Nor what I have done by water.
ENOBARBUS
Yes, something you can deny for your own safety: you
have been a great thief by sea.
MENAS
And you by land.
ENOBARBUS
There I deny my land service. But give me your hand,
Menas. If our eyes had authority, here they might take two
thieves kissing.

DUTCH:
Ik wil iedereen prijzen, die mij prijst; trouwens, het is
niet te loochenen, wat ik te land al verricht heb.

MORE:
By water=At sea
By land=On land
Authority=Authority to arrest
Two thieves kissing=Two hands shaking

Topics: flattery, accomplishment

I’ll play the penitent to you, but mine honesty shall not make poor my greatness nor my power

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.2
SPEAKER: Antony
CONTEXT:
ANTONY
No, Lepidus, let him speak.
The honour is sacred which he talks on now,
Supposing that I lacked it. —But, on, Caesar.
The article of my oath?
CAESAR
To lend me arms and aid when I required them,
The which you both denied.
ANTONY
Neglected, rather,
And then when poisoned hours had bound me up
From mine own knowledge. As nearly as I may
I’ll play the penitent to you, but mine honesty
Shall not make poor my greatness nor my power
Work without it. Truth is that Fulvia,
To have me out of Egypt, made wars here,
For which myself, the ignorant motive, do
So far ask pardon as befits mine honour
To stoop in such a case.

DUTCH:
Zeg: verzuimd;
En wel, toen een vergiftend leven mij
Mijn denkkracht had geroofd. Zooveel ik kan,
Wil ik een boet’ling zijn, doch mijn oprechtheid
Mag nooit mijn aanzien deren, noch mijn macht
Bij de uiting aanzien derven.

MORE:
Proverb: Know thyself

Article=Terms
Bound me up=Prevented me
Poisoned hours=Period of illness
Make poor=Diminish
Ignorant=Unknowing
Motive=Cause, reason
Compleat:
Article=Een lid, artykel, verdeelpunt
To surrender upon articles=Zich by verdrag overgeeven
Bound=Gebonden, verbonden, verpligt, dienstbaar
Poisoned=Vergeeven, vergiftigd
Poison=Vergift, gift, fenyn
Ignorant=Onweetend, onkundig, onbewust
Motive=Beweegreden, beweegoorzaak

Topics: honesty, leadership, authority, integrity

I’ll yet follow the wounded chance of Antony, though my reason sits in the wind against me

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 3.1
SPEAKER: Enobarbus
CONTEXT:
CANIDIUS
Our fortune on the sea is out of breath
And sinks most lamentably. Had our general
Been what he knew himself, it had gone well.
Oh, he has given example for our flight
Most grossly by his own!
ENOBARBUS
Ay, are you thereabouts? Why then, good night indeed.
CANIDIUS
Toward Peloponnesus are they fled.
SCARUS
’Tis easy to ’t, and there I will attend
What further comes.
CANIDIUS
To Caesar will I render
My legions and my horse. Six kings already
Show me the way of yielding.
ENOBARBUS
I’ll yet follow
The wounded chance of Antony, though my reason
Sits in the wind against me.

DUTCH:

Ik volg de kreup’le kans nog van Antonius,
Schoon in den wind van mijn verstand

MORE:
Fortune=Advantage
Out of breath=Lost, exhausted
Are you thereabouts=Is that your thinking?
To ‘t=To get to
Wounded=Damaged
Chance=Fortunes
Reason=Judgement
Sits in the wind against me=Opposes (e.g. against my better judgement)
Compleat:
Fortune=’t Geval, geluk, Fortuyn
Out of breath=Buyten adem
To run himself out of breath=Uyt zyn adem loopen
Thereabouts=Daar omtrent
Wounded=Gewond, verwond, gequetst
Chance=Geval, voorval, kans
Reason=Reden, overweeging
To sail against the wind=In de wind op zeylen

Topics: risk, loyalty, wisdom

If I lose mine honour, I lose myself

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 3.4
SPEAKER: Antony
CONTEXT:
ANTONY
Gentle Octavia,
Let your best love draw to that point which seeks
Best to preserve it. If I lose mine honour,
I lose myself; better I were not yours
Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested,
Yourself shall go between ’s. The meantime, lady,
I’ll raise the preparation of a war
Shall stain your brother. Make your soonest haste;
So your desires are yours.
OCTAVIA
Thanks to my lord.
The Jove of power make me most weak, most weak,
Your reconciler! Wars ’twixt you twain would be
As if the world should cleave, and that slain men
Should solder up the rift.

DUTCH:
Mijn lieve Octavia,
Schenk uwe beste liefde aan hem, die ‘t best
Haar tracht te hoeden. Met mijn eer ben ik
Ook zelf verloren.

MORE:
Branchless=Bare, denuded (lost reputation)
Go between=Intermediate
Shall stain=Such as will besmirch (your brother’s reputation)
Twain=Both
Cleave=Split asunder
Solder=Close
Compleat:
Branch=Tak, telg, rank
Stain=Bevlekken, besmetten, bezwalken
Twain=In tween
To cleave=Klooven, klieven, splyten
To solder=Soudeeren

Topics: reputation, honour, identity

If you find him sad, say I am dancing. If in mirth, report that I am sudden sick.

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 1.3
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
CLEOPATRA
Where is he?
CHARMIAN
I did not see him since.
See where he is, who’s with him, what he does.
I did not send you. If you find him sad,
Say I am dancing. If in mirth, report
That I am sudden sick. Quick, and return.
CHARMIAN
Madam, methinks, if you did love him dearly,
You do not hold the method to enforce
The like from him.

DUTCH:
Zie, waar hij is, met wien, en wat hij doet; —
Maar niet, dat ik u zend. — Vindt gij hem somber,
Zoo zeg, ik dans; vindt gij hem vroolijk, meld dan:
‘k Werd plots’ling ziek. — Nu voort en fluks terug.

MORE:
Proverb: When the husband is sad (merry) the wife will be merry (sad)

Since=Recently
I did not send you=Do not say that I sent you
Sad=Serious
The like=The same, reciprocation
Method=Means
Compleat:
Since=Sederd, geleden
Sad=Droevig
Method=Wyze, maniere, leerwyze, leerweg, orde, beleyding

Topics: love, manipulation, deceit, justification

If you’ll patch a quarrel, as matter whole you have to make it with, it must not be with this

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.2
SPEAKER: Caesar
CONTEXT:
CAESAR
You may be pleased to catch at mine intent
By what did here befall me. Your wife and brother
Made wars upon me, and their contestation
Was theme for you. You were the word of war.
ANTONY
You do mistake your business. My brother never
Did urge me in his act. I did inquire it,
And have my learning from some true reports
That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather
Discredit my authority with yours,
And make the wars alike against my stomach,
Having alike your cause? Of this my letters
Before did satisfy you. If you’ll patch a quarrel,
As matter whole you have to make it with,
It must not be with this.

DUTCH:
Zoekt gij voor een twistvuur
Te sprokk’len, daar u grooter hout ontbreekt,
Raap dit dan toch niet op.

MORE:
Catch at=Infer, grasp at
Contestation=Contention
Theme=Performed for, intended on behalf of
Word of war=Cause of the conflict
Urge=Press
True=Reliable
Stomach=Wish, inclination
Alike=Shared (cause)
Patch=Start, renew
Compleat:
Catch=Vatten, vangen, opvangen, grypen, betrappen
Contestation=Verschil, twist, krakkeel
Contention=Twist, krakkeel, geharrewar
Theme=Het onderwerp eener redeneering
To urge=Dringen, pressen, aandringen, aanstaan
True=Trouw, oprecht
Stomach=Gramsteurigheyd
Stomach=Trek (appetite); hart (spirit)
Alike=Eveneens, gelyk
Patch=Lappen, flikken

Topics: dispute, perception, authority, business, loyalty

In time we hate that which we often fear

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 1.3
SPEAKER: Charmian
CONTEXT:
CLEOPATRA
Thou teachest like a fool the way to lose him.
CHARMIAN
Tempt him not so too far. I wish, forbear.
In time we hate that which we often fear.
CLEOPATRA
I am sick and sullen.
ANTONY
I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose—
CLEOPATRA
Help me away, dear Charmian! I shall fall.
It cannot be thus long. The sides of nature
Will not sustain it.

DUTCH:
Beproef hem niet te zeer; ik zeg, houd maat!
Wat telkens vrees ons wekt, wordt dra gehaat.
Op de duur haten we waar we altijd bang voor waren./
Na verloop van tijd haten we waar we steeds angst voor hebben

MORE:
Tempt=Try, test
Sullen=Depressed
Breathing=Words
Sides of nature=Body, frame
Compleat:
To tempt=Aanvechten, verzoeken, bekooren, bestryden
Sullen=Kribbig, korzel, nors

Topics: patience, caution, proverbs and idioms, still in use

It hath been taught us from the primal state that he which is was wished until he were

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 1.4
SPEAKER: Caesar
CONTEXT:
FIRST MESSENGER
Thy biddings have been done, and every hour,
Most noble Caesar, shalt thou have report
How ’tis abroad. Pompey is strong at sea,
And it appears he is beloved of those
That only have feared Caesar. To the ports
The discontents repair, and men’s reports
Give him much wronged.
CAESAR
I should have known no less.
It hath been taught us from the primal state
That he which is was wished until he were,
And the ebbed man, ne’er loved till ne’er worth love,
Comes deared by being lacked. This common body,
Like to a vagabond flag upon the stream,
Goes to and back, lackeying the varying tide
To rot itself with motion.

DUTCH:
O, dit kon ik wachten.
Van de’ oudsten tijd af weten wij ‘t: wie klimt,
Hem hangt, zoolang hij klimt, de wereld aan;
Wie valt en, eer hij niets was, nooit geliefd werd,
Hem schat men om ‘t gemis.

MORE:
Proverb: He will be missed when he is gone

Biddings=Orders
Discontents=Malcontents
Give him=Say he is
State=Government
Deared=Valued
Common body=Common people, plebeians
Vagabond flag=Drifting leaf, iris
Compleat:
Bidding=Gebieding, noodiging
To bid=Gebieden, beveelen, belasten, heeten, noodigen, bieden
A discontent=Een misnoegde
The common people=’t Gemeene Volk
Vagabond=Een landlooper, schooijer, zwerver

Topics: proverbs and idioms, value, leadership

Let’s not confound the time with conference harsh

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 1.1
SPEAKER: Antony
CONTEXT:
CLEOPATRA
Excellent falsehood!
Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?
I’ll seem the fool I am not. Antony
Will be himself
ANTONY
But stirred by Cleopatra.
Now, for the love of Love and her soft hours,
Let’s not confound the time with conference harsh.
There’s not a minute of our lives should stretch
Without some pleasure now. What sport tonight?
CLEOPATRA
Hear the ambassadors.

DUTCH:
Laat af, geen tijd met boozen strijd verspild!
Dat van ons leven geen minuut verstrijk’,
Dan in een nieuw genot. Wat brengt deze avond?

MORE:
Confound=To waste, to wear away
Conference=Conversation
Sport=Entertainment
Compleat:
Confound=Verwarren, verstooren, te schande maaken, verbysteren
Conference=Onderhandeling, t’zamenspraak, mondgemeenschap
Sport=Spel, kortswyl

Burgersdijk notes:
Zoo schijn ik dwaas, al ben ik ‘t niet.
Er staat eigenlijk: „zoo zal ik de dwaas schijnen, die ik niet ben”; zij voor zich namelijk meent op Antonius’ blijvende liefde te mogen rekenen. — Het zeggen wordt echter ook anders opgevat, bv, „ik ben niet dwaas, niet onbedacht, want ik weet zeer wel, dat hij zich gelijk zal blijven en ook mij trouwloos worden”.

Topics: time, purpose

Like to the time o’ the year between the extremes of hot and cold, he was nor sad nor merry

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 1.5
SPEAKER: Alexas
CONTEXT:
CLEOPATRA
What was he, sad or merry?
ALEXAS
Like to the time o’ th’ year between the extremes
Of hot and cold, he was nor sad nor merry.
CLEOPATRA
O well-divided disposition! Note him,
Note him, good Charmian, ’tis the man, but note him.
He was not sad, for he would shine on those
That make their looks by his. He was not merry,
Which seemed to tell them his remembrance lay
In Egypt with his joy, but between both.
O heavenly mingle! Be’st thou sad or merry,
The violence of either thee becomes,
So does it no man else.—Met’st thou my posts?

DUTCH:
Zooals het jaargetijde in ‘t juiste midden
Van hitte en koude; vroolijk niet, noch somber.

MORE:
Well-divided=Well-balanced
Disposition=Temperament
Mingle=Mixture
Met’st=Did you encounter
Post=Messenger
Compleat:
Divided=Gedeeld, verdeeld
Disposition of mind=Gesteltenis van gemoed
The greatness of his disposition=Zyn grootmoedige, zyn uitmuntende gesteltenis
To mingle=Mengen, vermengen
Post=Bode

Topics: emotion and mood

Look you, the worm is not to be trusted but in the keeping of wise people

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 5.2
SPEAKER: Countryman
CONTEXT:
COUNTRYMAN
You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind.
CLEOPATRA
Ay, ay. Farewell.
COUNTRYMAN
Look you, the worm is not to be trusted but in the keeping of wise people, for indeed there is no goodness in the worm.
CLEOPATRA
Take thou no care. It shall be heeded.
COUNTRYMAN
Very good. Give it nothing, I pray you, for it is not
worth the feeding.
CLEOPATRA
Will it eat me?
COUNTRYMAN
You must not think I am so simple but I know the devil
himself will not eat a woman. I know that a woman is a
dish for the gods, if the devil dress her not. But,
truly, these same whoreson devils do the gods great harm
in their women, for in every ten that they make, the
devils mar five.

DUTCH:
Ziet gij, de worm is niet te vertrouwen dan bij voorzichtige
lieden; want wezenlijk, er steekt niets goeds in
den worm.

MORE:
Worm=Snake
Do his kind=Obey his nature
But in the keeping of=Unless kept by
Take no care=Don’t worry
Whoreson=Accursed
Compleat:
Worm=Wurm
To worm someone=Iemand de voet ligten
Kind=Soort, slach
Keeping=Bewaaring, houding
Take no care=Bekommer u daar niet over

Topics: trust, caution

Make not your thoughts your prison

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 5.2
SPEAKER: Caesar
CONTEXT:
CLEOPATRA
Be it known that we, the greatest, are misthought
For things that others do, and when we fall
We answer others’ merits in our name,
Are therefore to be pitied.
CAESAR
Cleopatra,
Not what you have reserved nor what acknowledged
Put we i’ th’ roll of conquest. Still be ’t yours.
Bestow it at your pleasure, and believe
Caesar’s no merchant, to make prize with you
Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheered.
Make not your thoughts your prison. No, dear Queen,
For we intend so to dispose you as
Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed and sleep.
Our care and pity is so much upon you
That we remain your friend. And so, adieu.

DUTCH:
Schep uit gedachten geen gevang’nis

Burgersdijk notes:
Een knaap. Men bedenke, dat op Sh.’s tooneel de vrouwenrollen door knapen en aankomende jongelingen gespeeld werden.

Topics: advice, emotion and mood, wellbeing

May I never to this good purpose, that so fairly shows, dream of impediment

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.2
SPEAKER: Antony
CONTEXT:
CAESAR
The power of Caesar, and
His power unto Octavia.
ANTONY
May I never
To this good purpose, that so fairly shows,
Dream of impediment. Let me have thy hand.
Further this act of grace; and from this hour
The heart of brothers govern in our loves
And sway our great designs.

DUTCH:
Nimmer wil ik
Bij dezen voorslag, die zooveel belooft,
Van hindernissen droomen!

MORE:
Fairly=Attractive
Show=Appear
Purpose=Plan
Further=Promote, move forward with
Sway=Govern, direct, manage, influence
Design=Plan
Compleat:
Fairly=Fraai; oprechtelyk
Show=Vertooning
Purpose (design, resolution, project)=Voorneemen, besluit, ontwerp
To further=Bevorderen, voortzetten
Sway=(power, rule, command) Macht, gezach, heerschappy
To bear sway=Heerschappy voeren
To sway=(govern) Regeeren. To sway the scepter=Den schepter zwaaijen
Design=Opzet, voorneemen, oogmerk, aanslag, toeleg, ontwerp

Topics: adversity, achievement, purpose, plans/intentions

Mine honesty and I begin to square

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 3.13
SPEAKER: Enobarbus
CONTEXT:
ENOBARBUS
Mine honesty and I begin to square.
The loyalty well held to fools does make
Our faith mere folly. Yet he that can endure
To follow with allegiance a fall’n lord
Does conquer him that did his master conquer
And earns a place i’ th’ story.
CLEOPATRA
Caesar’s will?
THIDIAS
Hear it apart.
CLEOPATRA
None but friends. Say boldly.
THIDIAS
So haply are they friends to Antony.
ENOBARBUS
He needs as many, sir, as Caesar has,
Or needs not us. If Caesar please, our master
Will leap to be his friend. For us, you know
Whose he is we are, and that is Caesar’s.

DUTCH:
Thans strijden saam mijn plichtgevoel en ik.
Wie dwazen eerlijk trouw blijft, maakt de trouwe
Tot dwaasheid; ja, maar wie zijn lust betoomt
En zijn gevallen heer trouwhartig dient
Die overwint zijns meesters overwinnaar,
Oogst eeuw’gen lof.

MORE:
Honesty=Honour, integrity
Square=Conflict
Endure=Persevere
Mere=Utter
Haply=Perhaps
Compleat:
Honesty=Eerbaarheid, vroomheid
To endure=Verdraagen, harden, duuren
Haply=Misschien

Topics: loyalty, truth, honour, judgment, friendship, honesty

My salad days, when I was green in judgment, cold in blood

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 1.5
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
CHARMIAN
By your most gracious pardon,
I sing but after you.
CLEOPATRA
My salad days,
When I was green in judgment, cold in blood,
To say as I said then.
But, come, away.
Get me ink and paper.
He shall have every day a several greeting,
Or I’ll unpeople Egypt.

DUTCH:
Uit groene jeugd,
Toen ‘t oordeel nog een kind was; — foei! koelbloedig
Mij dit thans na te zeggen! — Doch kom mede;
Breng mij papier en inkt;
Mijn groet zal hem geworden dag op dag,
Al moest ik gansch Egypte er voor ontvolken!

MORE:
Salad=Raw, cold (fig. unreflective)
Green=Immature
Blood=Feeling
Compleat:
Salad=Salaade, sla
Green=Versch
Blood=Disposition, temper

Topics: wisdom, age/experience, understanding

Nature wants stuff to vie strange forms with fancy

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 5.2
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
CLEOPATRA
Think you there was or might be such a man
As this I dreamt of?
DOLABELLA
Gentle madam, no.
CLEOPATRA
You lie up to the hearing of the gods.
But if there be nor ever were one such,
It’s past the size of dreaming. Nature wants stuff
To vie strange forms with fancy, yet t’ imagine
An Antony were nature’s piece ’gainst fancy,
Condemning shadows quite.
DOLABELLA
Hear me, good madam.
Your loss is as yourself, great, and you bear it
As answering to the weight. Would I might never
O’ertake pursued success, but I do feel,
By the rebound of yours, a grief that smites
My very heart at root.

DUTCH:
Gij liegt, uw leugen schreit ten hemel. Maar
Leeft of leefde ooit een man als deze, droomen
Kan hem niet denken. Moog’ natuur vaak stof
Tot overvleug’ling der verbeelding missen,
Dacht ze een Antonius, fantasie moet wijken;
Niets zijn haar schimmen.

MORE:
Up to the hearing of the gods=Blatantly, that even the gods hear
Size of=Capacity of (dreams)
Wants=Lacks
Vie=Compete
Fancy=Fantasy
Overtake pursued success=Achieve desired success
Rebound=Reflection
Compleat:
Want=Gebrek
To vie=Om stryd speelen, yveren
Fancy=Inbeelding, verbeelding, neyging

Topics: imagination, achievement, nature

Never anger made good guard for itself

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 4.1
SPEAKER: Maecenas
CONTEXT:
CAESAR
He calls me “boy” and chides as he had power
To beat me out of Egypt. My messenger
He hath whipped with rods, dares me to personal combat,
Caesar to Antony. Let the old ruffian know
I have many other ways to die, meantime
Laugh at his challenge.
MAECENAS
Caesar must think
When one so great begins to rage, he’s hunted
Even to falling. Give him no breath, but now
Make boot of his distraction. Never anger
Made good guard for itself.
CAESAR
Let our best heads
Know that tomorrow the last of many battles
We mean to fight. Within our files there are,
Of those that served Mark Antony but late,
Enough to fetch him in. See it done
And feast the army. We have store to do ’t,
And they have earned the waste. Poor Antony!

DUTCH:
Geef thans hem geen veraad’ming;
Trek nut uit dezen waanzin. Nooit verweert
Zich woede goed.

MORE:
Proverb: Nothing is well said or done in a passion

Boy=An insult to a soldier
As he had=As if he had
Laugh at=Mock
Give him no breath=Don’t let him catch breath
Make boot of=Take advantage of
Distraction=Despair, perplexity
Heads=Commanders
Files=Ranks
Fetch him in=Surround him
Waste=Expense
Compleat:
To waste=Verwoesten, verquisten, verteeren, vernielen, doorbrengen
To take breath=Adem scheppen, lucht scheppen
Boot=Toegift, winst
Distraction=Gescheurdheyd, verwydering; krankzinnigheyd
A file of soldiers=Een gelid of ry soldaaten
To waste=Verwoesten, verquisten, verteeren, vernielen, doorbrengen

Topics: emotion and mood, proverbs and idioms

No more light answers. Let our officers have notice what we purpose.

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 1.2
SPEAKER: Antony
CONTEXT:
ANTONY
The business she hath broached in the state
Cannot endure my absence.
ENOBARBUS
And the business you have broached here cannot be
without you, especially that of Cleopatra’s, which
wholly depends on your abode.
ANTONY
No more light answers. Let our officers
Have notice what we purpose. I shall break
The cause of our expedience to the Queen
And get her leave to part. For not alone
The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches,
Do strongly speak to us, but the letters too
Of many our contriving friends in Rome
Petition us at home. Sextus Pompeius
Hath given the dare to Caesar and commands
The empire of the sea. Our slippery people,
Whose love is never linked to the deserver
Till his deserts are past, begin to throw
Pompey the Great and all his dignities
Upon his son, who—high in name and power,
Higher than both in blood and life—stands up
For the main soldier, whose quality, going on,
The sides o’ th’ world may danger. Much is breeding
Which, like the courser’s hair, hath yet but life,
And not a serpent’s poison. Say our pleasure,
To such whose place is under us, requires
Our quick remove from hence.

DUTCH:
Genoeg gebeuzeld! Geef onze’ oversten
Bericht van ons besluit.

MORE:
Broach=Start, open up
Abode=Presence (remaining)
Expedience=Haste
Touches=Concerns
Contriving=Scheming
Throw=Confer (titles)
Slippery=Unstable, fickle
Place=Rank
Compleat:
To broach=Aan ‘t spit steeken, speeten; voortbrengen
Abode=Verblyf, woonplaats
Expedient=Vorderlyk, nuttelyk, dienstig, noodig
To touch=Aanraaken, aanroeren, tasten
To contrive=Bedenken, verzinnen, toestellen
Slippery=Slibberig, glipperig, glad
Place=Plaats
Method=Wyze, maniere, leerwyze, leerweg, orde, beleyding

Burgersdijk notes:
Veel is in wording, krielt, en heeft reeds leven. In ‘t Engelsch : Much is breeding, which, like the courser’s hair, hath yet but life. Hier wordt gezinspeeld op het volksgeloof, dat paardehaar, in mistwater gelegd, in wormen zou veranderen. — Waarschijnlijk gegrond op het zien van den draadworm, Gordius aquaticus, die inderdaad op een levend haar gelijkt.

Topics: reason, plans/intentions, authority

Oh, my fortunes have corrupted honest men!

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 4.5
SPEAKER: Antony
CONTEXT:
EROS
Sir, his chests and treasure
He has not with him.
ANTONY
Is he gone?
SOLDIER
Most certain.
ANTONY
Go, Eros, send his treasure after. Do it.
Detain no jot, I charge thee. Write to him—
I will subscribe—gentle adieus and greetings.
Say that I wish he never find more cause
To change a master. Oh, my fortunes have
Corrupted honest men! Dispatch.—Enobarbus!

DUTCH:
Ga, Eros, zend zijn schat hem na; ja, doe het;
Houd niets terug; verstaan? En schrijf hem ook, —
Ik onderteeken ‘t, — mijn vaarwel en groeten;
Meld hem mijn wensch, dat niets hem ooit meer noop’
Van meester te veranderen. — O, mijn rampen
Doen braven schurk zijn. — Spoed u! — Enobarbus!

MORE:
Detain=Hold back
Jot=Smallest quantity
Charge=Order
Subscribe=Sign
Compleat:
Jot=Zier
Charge=Belasten
Subscribe=Onderschryven

Topics: fate/destiny, honesty, loyalty

Or I shall show the cinders of my spirit through th’ ashes of my chance

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 5.2
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
CLEOPATRA
O Caesar, what a wounding shame is this,
That thou, vouchsafing here to visit me,
Doing the honour of thy lordliness
To one so meek, that mine own servant should
Parcel the sum of my disgraces by
Addition of his envy! Say, good Caesar,
That I some lady trifles have reserved,
Immoment toys, things of such dignity
As we greet modern friends withal, and say
Some nobler token I have kept apart
For Livia and Octavia, to induce
Their mediation, must I be unfolded
With one that I have bred? The gods! It smites me
Beneath the fall I have. Prithee, go hence,
Or I shall show the cinders of my spirit
Through th’ ashes of my chance. Wert thou a man,
Thou wouldst have mercy on me.

DUTCH:
k Bid u, weg;
Of de oude gloed mijns geestes vlamt nog eens
Uit de asch mijns onheils op! waart gij een man,
Gij hadt erbarmen met mij.

MORE:
Vouchsafe=Deign, condescend
Parcel=Enumerate, specify; add to
Envy=Malice
Lady=Feminine
Immoment=Worthless, insignificant
Modern=Ordinary
Nobler=More valuable
Unfolded with=Exposed by
Cinders=Burning coals
Compleat:
To vouchsafe=Gewaardigen, vergunnen
To parcel=In hoopen verdeelen, in partyen deelen
Envy=Nyd, afgunst
Moment=gewicht, belang. Of great moment=Van groot gewicht.
Modern=Hedendaags
Noble=Edel, adelyk
Unfold=Ontvouwen, open leggen
Cinders=Uytgebrande smitskoolen, koolassche

Topics: fate/destiny, independence, mercy

Our dungy earth alike feeds beast as man

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 1.1
SPEAKER: Antony
CONTEXT:
CLEOPATRA
Perchance? Nay, and most like.
You must not stay here longer. Your dismission
Is come from Caesar. Therefore hear it, Antony.
Where’s Fulvia’s process? Caesar’s, I would say—both?
Call in the messengers. As I am Egypt’s queen,
Thou blushest, Antony, and that blood of thine
Is Caesar’s homager. Else so thy cheek pays shame
When shrill-tongued Fulvia scolds. The messengers!
ANTONY
Let Rome in Tiber melt and the wide arch
Of the ranged empire fall. Here is my space.
Kingdoms are clay. Our dungy earth alike
Feeds beast as man. The nobleness of life
Is to do thus, when such a mutual pair
And such a twain can do ’t, in which I bind,
On pain of punishment, the world to weet
We stand up peerless.

DUTCH:
Een troon is stof; het modd’rig aardrijk voedt
Zoo beest als mensch

MORE:
Perchance=Possibly
Dismission=Dismissal, discharge
Process=Summons
Homager=Vassal
Pays shame=Offers, shows
Arch=Span
Ranged=Ordered
Mutual=Matched
Weet=Know
Peerless=Unequalled
Compleat:
Perchance=By geval
To discharge=Onstlaan, lossen, quytschelden
Process=Rechtsgeding, proces
Homager=Een die manschap aan iemand gedaan heeft
To arch=Gewelfd, verwulfd maaken
To range=In orde schikken, vlyen
Mutual=Onderling, wederzyds
Weet=Weten
Peerless=Zonder weerga, gaadeloos

Topics: news, authority, loyalty

Our fortune lies upon this jump

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 3.8
SPEAKER: Caesar
CONTEXT:
CAESAR
Taurus!
TAURUS
My lord?
CAESAR
Strike not by land; keep whole. Provoke not battle
Till we have done at sea. Do not exceed
The prescript of this scroll. Our fortune lies
Upon this jump.

DUTCH:
Geen veldslag, voor de strijd ter zee beslist is!
Volg dezen lastbrief stipt’lijk op; wij doen
Den worp, die over ons beslist.

MORE:
Keep whole=Stay together
Exceed=Go beyond
Prescript=Directions
Jump=Hazard
Compleat:
To exceed=Overtreffen, te boven gaan
Prescript=Een voorschrift, order

Topics: unity/collaboration, authority, conflict, plans/intentions

Our graver business frowns at this levity

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.7
SPEAKER: Caesar
CONTEXT:
CAESAR
What would you more? —Pompey, good night.
Good brother,
Let me request you off. Our graver business
Frowns at this levity. —Gentle lords, let’s part.
You see we have burnt our cheeks. Strong Enobarb
Is weaker than the wine; and mine own tongue
Splits what it speaks. The wild disguise hath almost
Anticked us all. What needs more words? Good night.
Good Antony, your hand.

DUTCH:
Wat wilt gij meer? Vaarwel, Pompeius! Zwager,
Ga, bid ik, mee; ons ernstig ambt veroordeelt
Zulke uitgelatenheid

MORE:
Could you more=More could you do
Request you off=Ask you to come ashore
Wild=Drunken
Disguise=Transformation
Anticked=Made fools of
Compleat:
Wild=Buitenspoorig, onbetaamelyk
To disguise=Vermommen, vervormen, verstellen, verbloemen

Topics: business, respect, excess

Pray you now, nay, do so, for indeed I have lost command. Therefore I pray you.

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 3.11
SPEAKER: Antony
CONTEXT:
ANTONY
I have fled myself, and have instructed cowards
To run and show their shoulders. Friends, begone.
I have myself resolved upon a course
Which has no need of you. Begone.
My treasure’s in the harbour. Take it. Oh,
I followed that I blush to look upon!
My very hairs do mutiny, for the white
Reprove the brown for rashness, and they them
For fear and doting. Friends, begone. You shall
Have letters from me to some friends that will
Sweep your way for you. Pray you, look not sad,
Nor make replies of loathness. Take the hint
Which my despair proclaims. Let that be left
Which leaves itself. To the seaside straightway!
I will possess you of that ship and treasure.
Leave me, I pray, a little. Pray you now,
Nay, do so, for indeed I have lost command.
Therefore I pray you. I’ll see you by and by.

DUTCH:
Maar ‘k bid u, laat me een wijl alleen; ik bid u; —
Ach gaat! voorwaar, ik kan niet meer bevelen,
En daarom smeek ik. — Daad’lijk kom ik tot u.

MORE:
Show their shoulders=Turn their backs (run away)
Resolved upon=Decided on
Sweep=Clear
Loathness=Reluctance
Hint=Cue
Leaves=Ceases to be
Command=Authority to command
Compleat:
Resolve (deliberation, decision)=Beraad, beslissing, uitsluitsel
Sweep=Veegen
To loath=Walgen, tegenstaan, verfoeijen
Hint=Een leus, waarschouwing, indachtigmaaking, stille gewagmaaking
Command=Bevel, gebied

Topics: courage, age/experience, leadership

Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears, that long time have been barren

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.5
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
CLEOPATRA
That time—Oh, times!—
I laughed him out of patience, and that night
I laughed him into patience. And next morn,
Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed,
Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst
I wore his sword Philippan.
Oh, from Italy!
Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
That long time have been barren.
MESSENGER
Madam, madam—
CLEOPATRA
Antonio’s dead! If thou say so, villain,
Thou kill’st thy mistress. But well and free,
If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here
My bluest veins to kiss —a hand that kings
Have lipped, and trembled kissing.
MESSENGER
First, madam, he is well.
CLEOPATRA
Why, there’s more gold. But, sirrah, mark, we use
To say the dead are well. Bring it to that,
The gold I give thee will I melt and pour
Down thy ill-uttering throat.

DUTCH:
Stort gij uw vruchtb’re tijding in mijn ooren,
Sinds lange dorstig, dor !

MORE:
Tires=Clothes
Philippan=The sword used by Antony to defeat Brutus and Cassius at Philippi (see “Julius Caesar”)
Yield=Grant
Villain=Of low social status, here also trouble-maker
Compleat:
To tire=Optooijen, de kap zetten
Yield=Overgeeven, toegeeven, geeven
Villain=Een staafachtige dienaar; Fielt, schelm, snoode boef

Topics: news, communication, perception, understanding

Riotous madness, to be entangled with those mouth-made vows which break themselves in swearing!

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 1.3
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
CLEOPATRA
Why should I think you can be mine, and true—
Though you in swearing shake the thronèd gods—
Who have been false to Fulvia? Riotous madness,
To be entangled with those mouth-made vows
Which break themselves in swearing!
ANTONY
Most sweet Queen—
CLEOPATRA
Nay, pray you, seek no colour for your going,
But bid farewell and go. When you sued staying,
Then was the time for words. No going then!
Eternity was in our lips and eyes,
Bliss in our brows’ bent, none our parts so poor
But was a race of heaven. They are so still,
Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world,
Art turned the greatest liar.

DUTCH:
Hoe kon ik u ooit trouw , den mijnen, denken,
Wiens meineed jegens Fulvia de eeuw’ge Goden
Deed rillen op hun tronen? Welk een waanzin,
Verstrikt te zijn door lippeneeden, die
Bij ‘t zweren breken.

MORE:
Mouth-made=Not from the heart, insincere
Swearing=Taking oaths
Colour=Pretext
Sued=Begged to
Parts=Attributes
Compleat:
To swear=Zweeren, beëedigen
Colour=Koleur, schyn, dekmantel
Under colour of=Onder den schyn van
To sue=Voor ‘t recht roepen, in recht vervolgen; iemand om iets aanloopen
Parts=Deelen, hoedaanigheden, begaafdheden

Topics: promise, honour, integrity

Some innocents ’scape not the thunderbolt

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.5
SPEAKER: Charmian
CONTEXT:
CHARMIAN
Good madam, keep yourself within yourself.
The man is innocent.
CLEOPATRA
Some innocents ’scape not the thunderbolt.
Melt Egypt into Nile, and kindly creatures
Turn all to serpents. Call the slave again.
Though I am mad, I will not bite him. Call!
CHARMIAN
He is afeard to come.
CLEOPATRA
I will not hurt him.
These hands do lack nobility that they strike
A meaner than myself, since I myself
Have given myself the cause.
Come hither, sir.
Though it be honest, it is never good
To bring bad news. Give to a gracious message
An host of tongues, but let ill tidings tell
Themselves when they be felt

DUTCH:
De bliksem treft wel vaak een schuld’loos kind!

MORE:
Keep yourself within yourself=Restrain yourself
Kindly=Good-natured
Meaner=Of lower rank
Compleat:
Kindly=Op een vrindlyke wyze; vrindelyk
The meaner sort of people=Het gemeene slach van volk

Topics: innocence

Some o’ their plants are ill-rooted already. The least wind i’ th’ world will blow them down.

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.7
SPEAKER: First Servant
CONTEXT:
FIRST SERVANT
Here they’ll be, man. Some o’ their plants are
ill-rooted already. The least wind i’ th’ world will
blow them down.
SECOND SERVANT
Lepidus is high-coloured.
FIRST SERVANT
They have made him drink alms-drink.
SECOND SERVANT
As they pinch one another by the disposition, he cries
out, “No more,” reconciles them to his entreaty and
himself to th’ drink.
FIRST SERVANT
But it raises the greater war between him and his
discretion.

DUTCH:
Zij komen hierheen, kameraad. Sommigen van hen
staan niet meer al te vast op de beenen, het minste
windjen kan hen omblazen.

MORE:
Plants=Feet (punning)
Alms-drink=A drink taken for charity or friendship
Pinch=Irritate
By the disposition=Tailored to their nature
Compleat:
To plant=Beplanten
Alms=Aalmoes
Alms-house=Een almoesseniers-huys
To pinch=Nypen, knypen, knellen, praamen
Disposition=Gesteltenis, ordening, gesteldheyd, neyging

Topics: uncertainty, excess, judgment

Speak to me home. Mince not the general tongue.

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 1.2
SPEAKER: Antony
CONTEXT:
FIRST MESSENGER
O my lord!
ANTONY
Speak to me home. Mince not the general tongue.
Name Cleopatra as she is called in Rome.
Rail thou in Fulvia’s phrase, and taunt my faults
With such full licence as both truth and malice
Have power to utter. Oh, then we bring forth weeds
When our quick minds lie still, and our ills told us
Is as our earing.
Fare thee well awhile.

DUTCH:
Spreek vrij; verbloem niet wat het volk zegt; noem
Cleopatra zooals haar Rome noemt.

MORE:
Proverb: To mince the matter
Proverb: Weeds come forth on the fattest soil if it is untilled

Speak home=Speak plainly
Mince=To extenuate, make light of (tone down)
Tongue=Manner of speaking
Rail=Reproach, scold
Licence=Freedom
Quick=Alert, live
Ills=Faults
Earing=Ploughing
Compleat:
Home-reason, home-argument=Een overtuigende drang-reden
Home expression=Een klemmend uitdruksel, een zeggen ‘t welk raakt, een boeren slag
Mince=Kleyn kappen
To rail=Schelden
Licence=Verlof, oorlof, vergunning, toelaating, vrygeeving, goedkeuring; vryheid
Quick=Levendig
Ill=Quaad, ondeugend, onpasselijk, slegt
To ear=Land bouwen

Topics: communication, language, error, proverbs and idioms

That truth should be silent, I had almost forgot

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.2
SPEAKER: Enobarbus
CONTEXT:
ANTONY
Thou art a soldier only. Speak no more.
ENOBARBUS
That truth should be silent, I had almost forgot.
ANTONY
You wrong this presence. Therefore speak no more.
ENOBARBUS
Go to, then. Your considerate stone.
CAESAR
I do not much dislike the matter, but
The manner of his speech, for ’t cannot be
We shall remain in friendship, our conditions
So diff’ring in their acts. Yet if I knew
What hoop should hold us stanch, from edge to edge
O’ th’ world I would pursue it.

DUTCH:
Dat de waarheid zwijgen moet, had ik bijna vergeten./
Ik had haast vergeten, dat de waarheid moet zwijgen.

MORE:
Proverb: The truth should be silent

Topics: truth, status, honesty, proverbs and idioms

That were excusable, that and thousands more of semblable import

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 3.4
SPEAKER: Antony
CONTEXT:
ANTONY
Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that—
That were excusable, that and thousands more
Of semblable import —but he hath waged
New wars ’gainst Pompey; made his will, and read it
To public ear;
Spoke scantly of me; when perforce he could not
But pay me terms of honour, cold and sickly
He vented them, most narrow measure lent me.
When the best hint was given him, he not took ’t,
Or did it from his teeth.
OCTAVIA
O my good lord,
Believe not all, or, if you must believe,
Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady,
If this division chance, ne’er stood between,
Praying for both parts.
The good gods will mock me presently,
When I shall pray “O bless my lord and husband!”
Undo that prayer by crying out as loud
“O bless my brother!” Husband win, win brother
Prays and destroys the prayer; no midway
’Twixt these extremes at all.

DUTCH:
Neen, neen, Octavia; ‘t is niet enkel dit, —
Dit waar’ verschoonlijk, dit, en duizend dingen
Van soortgelijk gewicht, — maar met Pompeius
Voert hij op nieuw weer krijg, en leest aan ‘t volk
Zijn testament voor, pas door hem gemaakt…

MORE:
Proverb: Run not from one extreme to another

Semblable=Similar
Import=Significance
To public ear=Announced in public
Scantly=Meanly, badly
Perforce=Compelled
Vented=Expressed
Cold and sickly=Relucantly
From his teeth=Not from the heart, not meant
Stomach=Resent
Chance=Happens, comes to pass
Presently=Immediately
Compleat:
Semblable=Gelijk. Semblably=Desgelyks
Of dear import=Van betekenis
Scant=Bekrompen, schaars
Perforce=Met geweld
Vent=Lugt, togt, gerucht
To stomach=Vergramd zyn, kroppen
To chance=Voorvallen, gebeuren
Presently=Terstond, opstaandevoet

Topics: proverbs and idioms, offence, dispute, resolution

That which combined us was most great, and let not a leaner action rend us

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.2
SPEAKER: Lepidus
CONTEXT:
LEPIDUS
Noble friends,
That which combined us was most great, and let not
A leaner action rend us. What’s amiss,
May it be gently heard. When we debate
Our trivial difference loud, we do commit
Murder in healing wounds. Then, noble partners,
The rather for I earnestly beseech,
Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms,
Nor curstness grow to th’ matter.
ANTONY
’Tis spoken well.
Were we before our armies, and to fight,
I should do thus.

DUTCH:
Mijn eed’le vrienden,
Wat ons vereende, was iets groots; laat thans
Niet kleine twist ons scheiden. Wat verkeerd was,
Zij vriend’lijk aangehoord.

MORE:

Curstness=Quarrelsomeness, ill humour
Gently=softly, mildly, calmly
Sour=Bitter, distasteful in any manner, hateful
Leaner action=More insignificant, lesser action/lawsuit
Compleat:
Curst=Vervloekt
He hath born gently with me hitherto=Hy heeft my tot nog toe zachtelyk bejegend
Sour=Zuur. A sour look=Een zuur gezigt, stuursch gelaat
Lean=Mager, schraal

Topics: dispute, opportunity, reason

That would make his will Lord of his reason

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 3.13
SPEAKER: Enobarbus
CONTEXT:
CLEOPATRA
Is Antony or we in fault for this?
ENOBARBUS
Antony only, that would make his will
Lord of his reason. What though you fled
From that great face of war, whose several ranges
Frighted each other? Why should he follow?
The itch of his affection should not then
Have nicked his captainship at such a point
When half to half the world opposed, he being
The merèd question. ’Twas a shame no less
Than was his loss, to course your flying flags
And leave his navy gazing.

DUTCH:
Slechts aan Antonius; hij toch liet zijn lusten
Zijn oordeel overheerschen

MORE:
In fault=To blame
Ranges=Battle lines
Frighted=Threatened
Merèd=Entire
Nicked=Cut; cheated; caught
Course=Chase
Compleat:
He is in the fault=De fout ligt aan hem
Affrighted=Verwaard, verschrikt, bang
To nick=Inkerven
To course=Jaagen

Topics: blame, guilt, free will, reason, intellect

That’s the way to fool their preparation and to conquer their most absurd intents

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 5.2
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
IRAS
The gods forbid!
CLEOPATRA
Nay, ’tis most certain, Iras. Saucy lictors
Will catch at us like strumpets, and scald rhymers
Ballad us out o’ tune. The quick comedians
Extemporally will stage us and present
Our Alexandrian revels. Antony
Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see
Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness
I’ th’ posture of a whore.
IRAS
Oh, the good gods!
CLEOPATRA
Nay, that’s certain.
IRAS
I’ll never see ’t! For I am sure mine nails
Are stronger than mine eyes.
CLEOPATRA
Why, that’s the way
To fool their preparation and to conquer
Their most absurd intents.

DUTCH:
Zie, dit zij de stemming!
Zoo wordt hun wensch verijdeld, en onzinnig
Blijkt heel hun plan.

MORE:
Saucy=Insolent
Lictors=Beadles in magistrates’ courts
Scald=Disreputable
Quick=Quick-witted
Extemporally=Impromptu, off-the-cuff
Stage=Impersonate
Present=Represent
Boy=Verb, Represent (my greatness) in the figure of a boy
Fool=Frustrate
Compleat:
Saucy=Stout, onbeschaamd, baldaadig
Extemporal=Voor de vuyst, opstaandevoet
To represent=Voorhouden, vertoonen, verbeelden, de plaats bekleeden
To fool=Voor de gek houden, foppen

Topics: plans/intentions, appearance

The band that seems to tie their friendship together will be the very strangler of their amity

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.6
SPEAKER: Enobarbus
CONTEXT:
MENAS
I think the policy of that purpose made more in the marriage than the love of the parties.
ENOBARBUS
I think so too. But you shall find the band that seems to tie their friendship together will be the very strangler of their amity. Octavia is of a holy, cold, and still conversation.
MENAS
Who would not have his wife so?
ENOBARBUS
Not he that himself is not so, which is Mark Antony. He will to his Egyptian dish again. Then shall the sighs of Octavia blow the fire up in Caesar, and, as I said before, that which is the strength of their amity shall prove the immediate author of their variance. Antony will use his affection where it is. He married but his occasion here.

DUTCH:
Dit geloof ik ook; maar gij zult zien, dat de band,
die hunne vriendschap schijnt saam te knoopen, veeleer
de strik zal worden om hunne verbroedering te worgen.
Octavia is zedig, koel en stilzwijgend in den omgang.

MORE:
Policy=Politics
Made more=Was more significant
Strangler of their amity=Kill their friendship
Conversation=Disposition
Author=Reason
Variance=Separation
Occasion=Self-interest, political necessity
Compleat:
Policy (conduct, address, cunning way)=Staatkunde, beleid, behendigheid
Amity=Vrindschap, vreede, eendracht
Conversation=Verkeering, ommegang
Author=Een stichter, aanvanger, vinder, veroorzaaker, aanrechter, aanlegger
Variance=Verschil, krakkeel, oneenigheyd
Occasion=Gelegenheyd, voorval, oorzaak, nood

Topics: friendship, identity

The breaking of so great a thing should make a greater crack

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 5.1
SPEAKER: Caesar
CONTEXT:
DERCETUS
I say, O Caesar, Antony is dead.
CAESAR
The breaking of so great a thing should make
A greater crack. The round world
Should have shook lions into civil streets
And citizens to their dens. The death of Antony
Is not a single doom. In the name lay
A moiety of the world.
DERCETUS
He is dead, Caesar,
Not by a public minister of justice,
Nor by a hirèd knife, but that self hand
Which writ his honour in the acts it did
Hath, with the courage which the heart did lend it,
Splitted the heart. This is his sword.
I robbed his wound of it. Behold it stained
With his most noble blood.

DUTCH:
Wat? Volgt geen grooter slag en schok op ‘t vallen
Van zoo iets groots?

MORE:
A greater crack=More disruption
Civil=City
Moeity=Half share
Self=Same
Compleat:
Civil=Burgerlyk; Heusch, beleefd
Moeity=De helft

Topics: consequence, death, legacy

The honour is sacred which he talks on now, supposing that I lacked it

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.2
SPEAKER: Caesar
CONTEXT:
ANTONY
Sir,
He fell upon me ere admitted, then.
Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want
Of what I was i’ th’ morning. But next day
I told him of myself, which was as much
As to have asked him pardon. Let this fellow
Be nothing of our strife. If we contend,
Out of our question wipe him.
CAESAR
You have broken
The article of your oath, which you shall never
Have tongue to charge me with.
LEPIDUS
Soft, Caesar.
ANTONY
No, Lepidus, let him speak.
The honour is sacred which he talks on now,
Supposing that I lacked it. —But, on, Caesar.
The article of my oath?

DUTCH:
Neen, Lepidus, hij spreke;
Want de eer is ongeschonden, die hij aanvalt,
Al denkt hij haar door mij gedeerd. Ga voort;
Dat hoofdpunt, Caesar, , van mijn eed

MORE:
Fell upon=Burst in on
Newly=Recently
Feasted=Entertained with dinner
Strife=Quarrel, dispute
Article=Terms
Compleat:
To fall upon=Op vallen, op aan vallen
Newly=Nieuwlyks, onlangs
To feast=Gastmaal houden, vergasten, onthaalen
Strife=Twist, tweedragt, krakkeel, pooging
Article=Een lid, artykel, verdeelpunt
To surrender upon articles=Zich by verdrag overgeeven

Topics: news, understanding, dispute, promise, honour

The nature of bad news infects the teller

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 1.2
SPEAKER: First Messenger
CONTEXT:
FIRST MESSENGER
Ay.
But soon that war had end, and the time’s state
Made friends of them, joining their force ’gainst Caesar,
Whose better issue in the war from Italy
Upon the first encounter drove them.
ANTONY
Well, what worst?
FIRST MESSENGER
The nature of bad news infects the teller.
ANTONY
When it concerns the fool or coward. On.
Things that are past are done, with me. ’Tis thus:
Who tells me true, though in his tale lie death,
I hear him as he flattered.

DUTCH:
Heer, booze tijding steekt den brenger aan.

MORE:
The time’s state=Prevailing circumstances
Issue=Outcome, success
Infects the teller=Makes the messenger unpopular with the recipient
Concerns=Is heard by
As=As though
Compleat:
Issue=Uytkomst, uytslag
To infect=Besmetten, vergiftigen, in de eigentlyke en figuurlyke zin
To concern=Aangaan, betreffen, raaken

Topics: conflict, unity/collaboration, news

The scars upon your honour therefore he does pity as constrainèd blemishes, not as deserved

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 3.13
SPEAKER: Thidias
CONTEXT:
THIDIAS
He knows that you embraced not Antony
As you did love, but as you feared him.
CLEOPATRA
Oh!
THIDIAS
The scars upon your honour therefore he
Does pity as constrainèd blemishes,
Not as deserved.
CLEOPATRA
He is a god and knows
What is most right. Mine honour was not yielded,
But conquered merely.
ENOBARBUS
To be sure of that,
I will ask Antony. Sir, sir, thou art so leaky
That we must leave thee to thy sinking, for
Thy dearest quit thee.

DUTCH:
De schrammen op uw eer beklaagt hij dus
Als krenking, die u opgedrongen werd,
Maar buiten uwe schuld.

MORE:
Constrained=Forced, endured
Blemishes=Stain (moral sense); dishonour
Leaky=Stricken, destitute
Quit=Are deserting
Compleat:
Constrained=Bedwongen, gedrongen, gepraamd
To blemish=Besmetten, bevlekken, schenden
Leaky=lek, ondicht
To quit (leave)=Verlaaten

Topics: friendship, loyalty, pity, merit

The strong necessity of time commands our services awhile

DUTCH:
De nooddwang van den tijd eischt onze diensten
Voor korte poos; doch heel mijn hart blijft hier
Bij u, tot uwen dienst.

Topics: time, law/legal

The tears live in an onion that should water this sorrow

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 1.2
SPEAKER: Enobarbus
CONTEXT:
ENOBARBUS
Why, sir, give the gods a thankful sacrifice. When it
pleaseth their deities to take the wife of a man from
him, it shows to man the tailors of the earth,
comforting therein, that when old robes are worn out,
there are members to make new. If there were no more
women but Fulvia, then had you indeed a cut, and the
case to be lamented. This grief is crowned with
consolation. Your old smock brings forth a new
petticoat, and indeed the tears live in an onion that
should water this sorrow.
ANTONY
The business she hath broached in the state
Cannot endure my absence.

DUTCH:
Waren er geen vrouwen meer
dan Fulvia, dan waart gij er inderdaad erg aan toe en
wegens uw lot te beklagen; maar dit leed wordt met
troost gekroond; uw oud vrouwenhemd levert een nieuwen
onderrok; en, waarachtig, in een ui schuilen de
tranen, die dezen kommer moeten besproeien.

MORE:
Proverb: The tailor makes the man
Proverb: Nine (three) tailors make a man

Tailors=Tailors were proverbially the makers of men
Members=Limbs
Cut=Slash
Tears live in an onion=Not real tears
Broached=Started, opened
Compleat:
Tailor=Snyder, kleermaker
Member=Lid, Lidmaat. Member of the body=Een lid des lichaams
To broach=Aan ‘t spit steeken, speeten; voortbrengen

Topics: proverbs and idioms, grief, sorrow

The triple pillar of the world transformed into a strumpet’s fool

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 1.1
SPEAKER: Philo
CONTEXT:
PHILO
Nay, but this dotage of our general’s
O’erflows the measure. Those his goodly eyes,
That o’er the files and musters of the war
Have glowed like plated Mars, now bend, now turn
The office and devotion of their view
Upon a tawny front. His captain’s heart,
Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst
The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper
And is become the bellows and the fan
To cool a gypsy’s lust.
Look where they come.
Take but good note, and you shall see in him
The triple pillar of the world transformed
Into a strumpet’s fool. Behold and see.

DUTCH:
Zie slechts goed toe; gij vindt in hem het derde
Des pijlers, die de wereld draagt, vervormd
Tot nar van een boelin. Aanschouw en zie!

MORE:
Dotage=Foolish affection
Measure=Vessel of standard capacity
Files and musters=Troops lined up for inspection
Plated=Armoured
Office=Service
Tawny=Dark
Renege=Renounce
Temper=Self-control
Triple pillar=Triumvirate (Antony, Octavius Caesar, Lepidus)
Fool=Dupe
Compleat:
Dotage=Suffery, dweepery
Measure=Maat
To pass muster=De monstering passeerend
Office=Een Ampt, dienst
Tawny=(complexion) Een taanige verbrande kleur
To temper=(moderate) Maatigen
A man of an instable temper=Een man van een ongestadig humeur, van eenen wispelteurigen aart.
Pillar=Pylaar, pyler, zuil
Fool=Zot, dwaas, gek

Burgersdijk notes:
Dier Egyptische. In ‘t Engelsch a gipsy, dubbelzinnig, daar gipsy zoowel eene ,,Egyptische”, als een „heidinnetjen “, bohémienne, Zigeunerin, kan beteekenen.
Het derde des pijlers. Antonius maakte met Cesar Octavianus en Lepidus het tweede driemanschap uit.

Topics: betrayal, love

The very dice obey him, and in our sports my better cunning faints under his chance

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.3
SPEAKER: Antony
CONTEXT:
SOOTHSAYER
To none but thee, no more but when to thee.
If thou dost play with him at any game,
Thou art sure to lose, and of that natural luck
He beats thee ’gainst the odds. Thy lustre thickens
When he shines by. I say again, thy spirit
Is all afraid to govern thee near him,
But, he away, ’tis noble.
ANTONY
Get thee gone.
Say to Ventidius I would speak with him.
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
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,
I’ th’ East my pleasure lies.

DUTCH:
Het is zoo; zelfs de dobbelsteenen dwingt hij;
In ieder spel schiet mijne kunst te kort
Bij zijn geluk; bij loting treft hij ‘t steeds.

MORE:
Lustre=Brightness
Thickens=Becomes dull, dim
Art=Skill
Hap=Luck
Better=Superior
Cunning=Skill
Faints under=Surrenders to
Speed=Succeed
Cocks=Fighting cocks
All to naught=Against the odds
Inhooped=Confined in hoops
Compleat:
Luster=Luyster, glans
Art (cunning or industry)=Behendigheid, Schranderheid, Naarstigheid
Hap=Het luk, geval, toeval
Betters=Meerderen
Cunning=Behendigheid, Schranderheid, Naarstigheid; Listigheid
Faint=Bezwyken
To speed=Voortspoeden, voorspoedig zyn, wel gelukken
Cock=Haan. Cock-fighting=Haanekamp
Nought=Niets, niet met al
Hooped=Met hoepels beleyd

Topics: fate/destiny, corruption, achievement, failure

They are his shards, and he their beetle

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 3.2
SPEAKER: Enobarbus
CONTEXT:
ENOBARBUS
But he loves Caesar best; yet he loves Antony.
Hoo! Hearts, tongues, figures, scribes, bards, poets, cannot
Think, speak, cast, write, sing, number—hoo!—
His love to Antony. But as for Caesar,
Kneel down, kneel down, and wonder.
AGRIPPA
Both he loves.
ENOBARBUS
They are his shards, and he their beetle.

DUTCH:
Zij zijn hem vleugelschilden, hij hun tor.

MORE:
Cast=Calculate
Number=Versify
Shard=Wing or wing-case of a beetle
Compleat:
To cast account=Rekenen, cyferen
Beetle=Tor, brems

Topics: love, respect, leadership

Things that are past are done, with me

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 1.2
SPEAKER: Antony
CONTEXT:
FIRST MESSENGER
Ay.
But soon that war had end, and the time’s state
Made friends of them, joining their force ’gainst Caesar,
Whose better issue in the war from Italy
Upon the first encounter drave them.
ANTONY
Well, what worst?
FIRST MESSENGER
The nature of bad news infects the teller.
ANTONY
When it concerns the fool or coward. On.
Things that are past are done, with me. ’Tis thus:
Who tells me true, though in his tale lie death,
I hear him as he flattered.

DUTCH:
Zoo hij ze een nar of lafaard brengt. — Ga voort;
‘t Gebeurde is mij iets afgedaans. ‘t Is zoo:
Zoo een mij waarheid meldt, al waar’ zij doodlijk,
Ik hoor ‘t, als sprak hij vleitaal.

Topics: conflict, unity/collaboration, news

This cannot be cunning in her. If it be, she makes a shower of rain as well as Jove.

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 1.2
SPEAKER: Enobarbus
CONTEXT:
ENOBARBUS
Under a compelling occasion, let women die. It were
pity to cast them away for nothing, though between them
and a great cause they should be esteemed nothing.
Cleopatra, catching but the least noise of this, dies
instantly. I have seen her die twenty times upon far
poorer moment. I do think there is mettle in death,
which commits some loving act upon her, she hath such a
celerity in dying.
ANTONY
She is cunning past man’s thought.
ENOBARBUS
Alack, sir, no, her passions are made of nothing but
the finest part of pure love. We cannot call her winds
and waters sighs and tears. They are greater storms and
tempests than almanacs can report. This cannot be
cunning in her. If it be, she makes a shower of rain as
well as Jove.

DUTCH:
Dit kan geen listigheid van haar
zijn; en is het zoo, dan kan zij even goed regenvlagen
maken als Jupiter.

MORE:

Compelling occasion=Being forced by circumstances
Noise=Rumour
Poorer=More trivial
Moment=Reason
Mettle=Spirit
Celerity=Swiftness, alacrity
Cunnning=Skilful, artful
Jove=King of the Roman gods who commanded thunder, lightning and rain
Compleat:
To compel=Dwingen, aandryven, dringen
Noise=Geraas, getier, gerucht
Poor=(mean, pitiful) Arm, elendig
Moment=gewicht, belang. Of great moment=Van groot gewicht.
Of no moment=Van geen belang
Full of mettle=Vol vuurs, moedig
Celerity=Snelheid, spoed, haast
Cunning=Behendig
Jove=Jovus, Jupiter

Topics: nature, honesty

Thou shalt be whipped with wire and stewed in brine, smarting in ling’ring pickle!

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.5
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
CLEOPATRA
What say you?
Hence, horrible villain, or I’ll spurn thine eyes
Like balls before me! I’ll unhair thy head!
Thou shalt be whipped with wire and stewed in brine,
Smarting in ling’ring pickle!
MESSENGER
Gracious madam,
I that do bring the news made not the match.
CLEOPATRA
Say ’tis not so, a province I will give thee
And make thy fortunes proud. The blow thou hadst
Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage,
And I will boot thee with what gift beside
Thy modesty can beg.

DUTCH:
Voort,
Afschuw’lijk monster, voort! of met uw oogen
Speel ik als ballen; ‘k ruk het hoofd u kaal;
Met ijz’ren roê laat ik u gees’len, langzaam
U stoven in een zilte loog!

MORE:
Proverb: Messengers should neither be headed nor hanged

Pickle=Brine
Boot=Recompense
What gift beside=Whatever other gift
Compleat:
Pickle=Pekel
Boot=Toegift, winst
Gift=Gaave, gift, begaafdheyd; geschenk
Beside=Behalven, daarenboven, daarbeneven, behalven dat, beneven, bezyde

Soaking in brine was a punishment.
Whipping was a cruel punishment. In the days of Henry VIII an Act decreed that vagrants were to be carried to some market town, or other place, and there tied to the end of a cart, naked, and beaten with whips throughout such market-town, or other place, till the body should be bloody by reason of such whipping. The punishment was mitigated in Elizabeth’s reign, to the extent that vagrants need only to be “stripped naked from the middle upwards and whipped till the body should be bloody”.

Topics: punishment

Though age from folly could not give me freedom, it does from childishness

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 1.3
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
CLEOPATRA
Though age from folly could not give me freedom,
It does from childishness. Can Fulvia die?
ANTONY
She’s dead, my Queen.
Look here, and at thy sovereign leisure read
The garboils she awaked, at the last, best,
See when and where she died.
CLEOPATRA
O most false love!
Where be the sacred vials thou shouldst fill
With sorrowful water? Now I see, I see,
In Fulvia’s death how mine received shall be.

DUTCH:
Voor dwaasheid moog’ mijn leeftijd mij niet hoeden,
Voor kindschheid doet hij ‘t wel. /
Hoewel mijn leeftijd mij niet vrijwaarde van dwaasheid, deed zij dat wel van kinderachtigheid.

MORE:

Leisure=When you have time
Vials=Bottles filled with tears
Received=Treated
Compleat:
Leisure=Ledigen tyd
Vial=Een fles, schaal, fiool
Receive=Ontvangen

Topics: wisdom, age/experience, understanding

Though it be honest, it is never good to bring bad news

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.5
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
CHARMIAN
Good madam, keep yourself within yourself.
The man is innocent.
CLEOPATRA
Some innocents ’scape not the thunderbolt.
Melt Egypt into Nile, and kindly creatures
Turn all to serpents. Call the slave again.
Though I am mad, I will not bite him. Call!
CHARMIAN
He is afeard to come.
CLEOPATRA
I will not hurt him.
These hands do lack nobility that they strike
A meaner than myself, since I myself
Have given myself the cause.
Come hither, sir.
Though it be honest, it is never good
To bring bad news. Give to a gracious message
An host of tongues, but let ill tidings tell
Themselves when they be felt

DUTCH:
Treed nader , vriend ;
Rechtschapen moog’ het zijn, goed is het nimmer,
Onheil te melden; geef een goede tijding
Een heer van tongen; slechte tijding melde
Zichzelf aan, als zij wordt gevoeld.

Topics: communication, understanding, language

Though you can guess what temperance should be, you know not what it is

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 3.13
SPEAKER: Antony
CONTEXT:
ANTONY
You have been a boggler ever.
But when we in our viciousness grow hard—
Oh, misery on ’t!— the wise gods seel our eyes,
In our own filth drop our clear judgments, make us
Adore our errors, laugh at ’s while we strut
To our confusion.
CLEOPATRA
Oh, is ’t come to this?
ANTONY
I found you as a morsel cold upon
Dead Caesar’s trencher. Nay, you were a fragment
Of Gneius Pompey’s, besides what hotter hours,
Unregistered in vulgar fame, you have
Luxuriously picked out. For I am sure,
Though you can guess what temperance should be,
You know not what it is.

DUTCH:
Ik vond u als een koud geworden bete
Op Caesar’s bord; gij waart een kliekjen van
Cneus Pompeius’ tafel, om van uren
Van hartstocht nu te zwijgen, die ge in stilte
Wellustig hebt besteed; want, dit is zeker,
Hoewel gij gissen moogt, wat kuischheid is,
Gekend hebt gij ze nooit.

MORE:
Proverb: When God will punish he will first take away the understanding

Boggler=Equivocator, swerver, waverer
Seel=Close, blind
Confusion=Ruin
Trencher=Wooden plate
Fragment=Remnant, scrap
Vulgar fame=Common gossip
Luxuriously=Lustfully
Temperance=Modesty, chastity
Compleat:
To boggle=Haperen, stameren
He did not boggle at all at it=Hij stond ‘er niet verzet voor
To seel a hawk=Eenen valk een kap voor de oogen doen
Trencher=Tafelbord, houten tafelbord
Fragment=Een brok, stuk, afbreeksel
Vulgar=(common) Gemeen
Luxuriously=Weeldriglyk; overdaadiglyk
Temperance=Maatigheyd

Topics: proverbs and idioms, excess, reputation, judgment, ruin

Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.1
SPEAKER: Pompey
CONTEXT:
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.
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 dulness—

DUTCH:
Sluit, schoonheid! een verbond met toovermacht,
En, wellust! met die twee! Maakt hem een feestzaal
Een veld van eer; houdt hem het brein beneveld.

MORE:
Salt=Lascivious
Waned=Faded
Field of feasts=Rich pasture
Prorogue=Suspend, to draw out, linger out, keep in a languishing state
Fuming=A delusion, fantasm, hindering the function of the brain
Epicurean=Hedonistic (After the philosopher Epicure, who believed that the gods had no interest in men’s actions and that hedonism was the ony aim in life)
Lethe’d=The water of the river Lethe caused amnesia
Compleat:
Salt=(sault) Hitsig, ritsig, heet
To prorogue=Uytstellen, opgeschort, verschooven
To prorogue the Parliament=het Parlement voor eenigen tyd uyststellen
Fuming=Waasseming; waassemende

Topics: excess, temptation

Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour; mine honour, it

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.7
SPEAKER: Pompey
CONTEXT:
MENAS
These three world-sharers, these competitors,
Are in thy vessel. Let me cut the cable,
And, when we are put off, fall to their throats.
All there is thine.
POMPEY
Ah, this thou shouldst have done
And not have spoke on ’t! In me ’tis villainy,
In thee ’t had been good service. Thou must know,
’Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour;
Mine honour, it. Repent that e’er thy tongue
Hath so betrayed thine act. Being done unknown,
I should have found it afterwards well done,
But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.
MENAS
For this,
I’ll never follow thy palled fortunes more.
Who seeks and will not take when once ’tis offered
Shall never find it more.

DUTCH:
Let wel,
De baatzucht mag mijn eer den weg niet wijzen,
Mijn eer zij haar ten gids.

MORE:
Proverb: He that will not when he may, when he would he shall have nay (shall not when he will)

In me=If I were to do it
Good service=The action of a good servant
Lead=Guide
Mine honour, it=My honour takes precedence over it
Betrayed=Disclosed
Act=Intention
Pall=Diminish
More=Again
Compleat:
Service=Dienstbaarheid
To lead=Leyden
To betray=Verraaden, beklappen
Act=Daad, bedryf
To pall=Verslaan, verschaalen

Topics: proverbs and idioms, honour, deception

To business that we love we rise betimes and go to ’t with delight

DUTCH:
Zoo, goeden morgen; welkom;
‘t Is wel te zien, u is de krijg niet vreemd.
Men staat vroeg op voor de arbeid, dien men lief heeft,
En gaat met lust er aan.

MORE:
Proverb: What we do willingly is easy

Defences=Armour
Briefly=Soon
Doff=Take off
Tight=Adept
Workman=Expert
Compleat:
Armour=Wapenrusting, wapentuyg, rusting, geweer
To doff=Afligen, afdoen
Tight=Net, geschikt, ordentlyk, styf, dicht

Topics: life, satisfaction

Tonight we’ll wander through the streets and note the qualities of people

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 1.2
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
ANTONY
Fie, wrangling Queen!
Whom every thing becomes—to chide, to laugh,
To weep, whose every passion fully strives
To make itself, in thee, fair and admired!
No messenger but thine, and all alone
Tonight we’ll wander through the streets and note
The qualities of people. Come, my Queen,
Last night you did desire it.—
Speak not to us.
DEMETRIUS
Is Caesar with Antonius prized so slight?
PHILO
Sir, sometimes when he is not Antony
He comes too short of that great property
Which still should go with Antony.
DEMETRIUS
I am full sorry
That he approves the common liar, who
Thus speaks of him at Rome, but I will hope
Of better deeds tomorrow. Rest you happy!

DUTCH:
Geen bode, neen! Slechts de uwe, alleen met u,
Doorkruisen wij de stad van avond, slaan
Het volk eens gade.

MORE:
Wrangling=Quarrelling
Becomes=Suits
No messenger but thine=I will only hear your messages
Prized=Valued
Property=Characteristic
Approves=Proves
Compleat:
Wrangling=Krakeeling, kyving
To become=Betaamen
To prize=Waarderen, achten, schatten, op prys stellen
Property=Eigenschap, natuurlyke hoedaanigheid

Burgersdijk notes:
Doorkruisen wij de stad van avond.
Volgens Plutarchus deden Ant. en Cleop. dit verkleed meermalen.

Topics: skill/talent, order/society

Truths would be tales, where now half-tales be truths

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.2
SPEAKER: Agrippa
CONTEXT:
CAESAR
Say not so, Agrippa.
If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof
Were well deserved of rashness.
ANTONY
I am not married, Caesar. Let me hear
Agrippa further speak.
AGRIPPA
To hold you in perpetual amity,
To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts
With an unslipping knot, take Antony
Octavia to his wife, whose beauty claims
No worse a husband than the best of men,
Whose virtue and whose general graces speak
That which none else can utter. By this marriage,
All little jealousies, which now seem great,
And all great fears, which now import their dangers,
Would then be nothing. Truths would be tales,
Where now half-tales be truths. Her love to both
Would each to other and all loves to both
Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke,
For ’tis a studied, not a present thought,
By duty ruminated.

DUTCH:
Wordt nietige ijverzucht, die ‘t kleine groot maakt,
En groote vrees, die met gevaar thans dreigt,
Tot niets; wat nu een waarheid is, wordt sprookjen,
Terwijl thans halve sprookjes waarheid zijn.

MORE:
Rashness=Haste
Well-deserved=Befitting
Jealousies=Suspicions
Import=Bring with them
Tales=Hearsay
Half-tales=Unsubstantiated rumours
Present=Immediate, unconsidered
By duty=As a duty
Ruminated=Considered
Compleat:
Rashness=Voorbaarigheyd, haastigheyd, onbedachtheyd
Deserved=Verdiend
Deservedly=Naar verdienste; naar behoore
Jealousy (Jealoesie)(or suspicion)=Agterdogtig
Full of jealousies=Zeer agterdenkend
To import=Medebrengen, betekenen; invoeren
His words seemed to import thus much=Zyne woorden, zo ‘t scheen, bragten zoveel mee
To tell tales=Verklikken
Hearsay=Hooren zeggen
Present=Tegenwoordig
Duty=Eerbiedenis
To ruminate upon (to consider of) a thing=Eene zaak overweegen

Topics: truth, communication, friendship, unity/collaboration, resolution

Upon your sword sit laurel victory, and smooth success be strewed before your feet

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 1.3
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
ANTONY
But that your royalty
Holds idleness your subject, I should take you
For idleness itself.
CLEOPATRA
’Tis sweating labour
To bear such idleness so near the heart
As Cleopatra this. But, sir, forgive me,
Since my becomings kill me when they do not
Eye well to you. Your honour calls you hence.
Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly,
And all the gods go with you! Upon your sword
Sit laurel victory, and smooth success
Be strewed before your feet.
ANTONY
Let us go. Come.
Our separation so abides and flies
That thou, residing here, goes yet with me,
And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee.
Away!

DUTCH:
Der Goden gunst geleide u en met lauw’ren
Bekrans’ de zege uw zwaard, en krijgsgeluk
Bestrooie en eff ne uw ‘weg!

MORE:
Idleness=Flippancy
My becomings=Transformations
Eye well to=Seem pleasing to
Laurel victory=Romans who were victorious in battle received a crown made out of laurel leaves
Abides and flies=Staying and going
Compleat:
Idleness=Luyheyd, traagheyd, leediggang, ledigheyd
Becoming=Wordende
To eye=Beoogen
Crowned with laurel=Met laurier bekranst; gelaurierd

Topics: achievement, plans/intentions, courage

We bring forth weeds when our quick minds lie still

DUTCH:
Ja, dan brengen we onkruid voort,
Als frissche wind ons spaart; en wie ons gispt,
Doet ons den dienst van ploeg. — Vaarwel, tot later!

MORE:
Proverb: To mince the matter
Proverb: Weeds come forth on the fattest soil if it is untilled

Speak home=Speak plainly, be straightforward
Mince=To extenuate, make light of (tone down)
Tongue=Manner of speaking
Rail=Reproach, scold
Licence=Freedom
Quick=Alert, live
Ills=Faults
Earing=Ploughing
Compleat:
Home-reason, home-argument=Een overtuigende drang-reden
Home expression=Een klemmend uitdruksel, een zeggen ‘t welk raakt, een boeren slag
Mince=Kleyn kappen
To rail=Schelden
Licence=Verlof, oorlof, vergunning, toelaating, vrygeeving, goedkeuring; vryheid
Quick=Levendig
Ill=Kwaad; slegt
To ear=Land bouwen

Topics: communication, language, error, proverbs and idioms

We have cause to be glad that matters are so well digested

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.2
SPEAKER: Maecenas
CONTEXT:
MAECENAS
We have cause to be glad that matters are so well digested.
You stayed well by ’t in Egypt.
ENOBARBUS
Ay, sir, we did sleep day out of countenance and made
the night light with drinking.
MAECENAS
Eight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast—and but
twelve persons there! Is this true?
ENOBARBUS
This was but as a fly by an eagle. We had much more
monstrous matter of feast, which worthily deserved
noting.

DUTCH:
Wij hebben alle reden tot blijdschap, dat alles zoo
goed is afgeloopen. — Gij hebt in Egypte genoten?

MORE:
Digested=Settled, disposed of
Stayed well by=Stood up to it well
Slept day out of countenance=Slept through the day
Light=Merry
Monstrous=Shocking
Compleat:
To digest=Verteeren, verdouwen, verkroppen; in orde schikken
Light=Ligt, luchtig; ligtvaardig
Monstrous=Wanschapen, gedrochtig

Burgersdijk notes:
Acht wilde zwijnen in hun (zoo leze men voor „haar”) geheel gebraden voor een ontbijt. De bijzonderheid is aan Plutarchus ontleend. De kok had, toen er een twaalftal gasten bij Antonius waren, acht wilde zwijnen aan ‘t spit, om, daar hij den tijd niet wist, waarop hij zou moeten opdisschen, er steeds een naar behooren gereed te hebben. — Ook voor het verhaal van Cleopatra’s verschijning op den Cydnus was Plutarchus de bron; evenzoo voor het gesprek met den waarzegger; ook op vele andere plaatsen van dit stuk.

Topics: excess, achievement

We will extenuate rather than enforce

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 5.2
SPEAKER: Caesar
CONTEXT:
CLEOPATRA
Sole sir o’ th’ world,
I cannot project mine own cause so well
To make it clear, but do confess I have
Been laden with like frailties which before
Have often shamed our sex.
CAESAR
Cleopatra, know
We will extenuate rather than enforce.
If you apply yourself to our intents,
Which towards you are most gentle, you shall find
A benefit in this change, but if you seek
To lay on me a cruelty by taking
Antony’s course, you shall bereave yourself
Of my good purposes and put your children
To that destruction which I’ll guard them from
If thereon you rely. I’ll take my leave.
CLEOPATRA
And may, through all the world! ’Tis yours, and we,
Your scutcheons and your signs of conquest, shall
Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord.

DUTCH:
Weet, Cleopatra,
Te zacht zijn wij veel liever dan te streng;
Wanneer ge u voegen wilt naar onze plannen,
Die jegens u welwillend zijn, dan zult gij
Bij dezen omkeer winnen, maar indien gij
Den weg kiest van Antonius en den schijn
Van wreedheid op ons laadt, dan werpt gij ‘t goede,
Dat ik u toedenk, weg, en geeft uw kind’ren
Aan ‘t onheil prijs, waar ik hen voor bescherm,
Als ge op mij bouwt. — ik ga nu.

MORE:
Project=Shape, form, explain
Clear=Blameless, innocent
Like=Similar
Extenuate=Excuse
Enforce=Emphasise
Apply yourself=Conform
Lay on me a cruelty=Accuse me of tyranny
Bereave=Deprive
Good purposes=Generosity
Guard=Protect
Scutcheon=Shield, trophy
Compleat:
Project=Voorslag, ontwerp, voorneemen
Clear=Klaar, helder, zuiver
Extenuate=Verkleinen
Inforce=Dwinge, opdringen, overhaalen
Bereave=Berooven
Scutcheon=Schild, wapenschild

Topics: leadership, offence, justification, authority, free will

We, ignorant of ourselves, beg often our own harms

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.1
SPEAKER: Menas
CONTEXT:
POMPEY
If the great gods be just, they shall assist
The deeds of justest men.
MENAS
Know, worthy Pompey,
That what they do delay, they not deny.
POMPEY
Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays
The thing we sue for.
MENAS
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.
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. Caesar gets money where
He loses hearts. Lepidus flatters both,
Of both is flattered, but he neither loves,
Nor either cares for him.

DUTCH:
Wij dwazen bidden
Vaak om ons eigen leed, wat wijze machten
Tot ons geluk ons weig’ren; ‘t vrucht’loos smeeken
Is dan een zegen.

MORE:
Whiles we are suitors=While we are praying
Decays=Loses value
Auguring=Prophesying
Without doors=Outside
Compleat:
While=Een wyl, poos; terwijl
Between whiles=Bij tusschenpoozen, van tyd tot tyd
Decay=Voorval, afneeming, verwelking, veroudering, vermindering, ondergang
An augur=Een vogel-waarzegger
To augurate=Voorzeggen, voorspellen
Without=Van buyten, buyten

Topics: identity, fate/destiny, plans and intentions, nature

What our contempts doth often hurl from us we wish it ours again

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 1.2
SPEAKER: Antony
CONTEXT:
ANTONY
Forbear me.
There’s a great spirit gone! Thus did I desire it.
What our contempts doth often hurl from us
We wish it ours again. The present pleasure,
By revolution lowering, does become
The opposite of itself. She’s good, being gone.
The hand could pluck her back that shoved her on.
I must from this enchanting Queen break off
Ten thousand harms, more than the ills I know
My idleness doth hatch. —How now, Enobarbus!

DUTCH:
Daar scheidde een groote geest! Dit was mijn wensch;
Doch wat wij vaak verachtend van ons stieten,
Wij wenschen ‘t weer terug; wat thans ons streelt,
Wordt door der tijden ommezwaai verkeerd
In ‘t tegendeel;

MORE:
Proverb: The worth of a thing is best known by the want

Forbear=Avoid, leave alone
Lowering=Reduction
By revolution=With every turn of the wheel (fig.)
Idleness=Lack of occupation, responsibility
Compleat:
Forbear=Zich van onthouden
Revolution=Loop, omwenteling
Idleness=Luyheyd, traagheyd, leediggang, ledigheyd

Topics: proverbs and idioms, regret, value

What poor an instrument may do a noble deed!

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 5.2
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
GUARDSMAN
Here is a rural fellow
That will not be denied your Highness’ presence.
He brings you figs.
CLEOPATRA
Let him come in. What poor an instrument
May do a noble deed! He brings me liberty.
My resolution’s placed, and I have nothing
Of woman in me. Now from head to foot
I am marble-constant. Now the fleeting moon
No planet is of mine.

DUTCH:
Welk armzalig werktuig
Doet grootsche daden! Mij brengt hij de vrijheid.
Mijn plan staat vast en ik gevoel in mij
Niets vrouw’lijks meer; de wisselzieke maan
Is mijn gesternte niet.

MORE:
Rural fellow=Country peasant
Poor=Humble
Marble-constant=As firm as marble (stone, rock)
Fleeting=Changeable
Compleat:
Peasant=Landman, boer
Poor=(mean, pitiful) Arm, elendig
Fleeting=Vlietende, voorbygaande

Burgersdijk notes:
Daar is een boerenknaap. De boerenknaap, rural fellow, wordt in het vervolg met de benaming clown aangeduid.

Topics: status, order/society, free will, independence

What they do delay, they not deny

DUTCH:
Geduld, Pompeius!
Wat zij verdagen, is niet afgeslagen.

Topics: fate/destiny, honesty, value, wisdom

When such a spacious mirror’s set before him, he needs must see himself

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 5.1
SPEAKER: Maecenas
CONTEXT:
AGRIPPA
A rarer spirit never
Did steer humanity, but you gods will give us
Some faults to make us men. Caesar is touched.
MAECENAS
When such a spacious mirror’s set before him,
He needs must see himself.
CAESAR
O Antony,
I have followed thee to this, but we do launch
Diseases in our bodies. I must perforce
Have shown to thee such a declining day,
Or look on thine. We could not stall together
In the whole world. But yet let me lament
With tears as sovereign as the blood of hearts
That thou, my brother, my competitor
In top of all design, my mate in empire,
Friend and companion in the front of war,
The arm of mine own body, and the heart
Where mine his thoughts did kindle —that our stars,
Unreconcilable, should divide
Our equalness to this. Hear me, good friends—
But I will tell you at some meeter season.
The business of this man looks out of him.
We’ll hear him what he says.
Whence are you?

DUTCH:
In zulk een grootschen spiege
Moet hij zichzelf aanschouwen.

MORE:
Humanity=A human being
Touched=Upset
Spacious=Wide, extensive
Needs must=Cannot but
Followed=Pursued
Launch=Pierce, cut
Shown=Exhibited
Stall=Live in peace
Sovereign=Efficacious
In top of=In worthiest
Unreconcilable=Unending conflict
Meeter season=More appropriate time
Compleat:
To touch (affect, move)=Aandoen, beweegen
Spacious=Ruym, wyd
It must needs be so=Het moet noodzaakelyk zo zyn
To follow (wait upon)=Volgen, vergezellen, van ‘t gevolg zyn
A show=Vertooning
Sovereign=Uitmuntend, onfeilbaar, voortreffelyk
Reconcilable=Verzoenbaar, ‘t gene overeengebragt kan worden, overeenbrengbaar
Meet=Dienstig

Topics: understnding, identity

When valour preys on reason, it eats the sword it fights with

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 3.13
SPEAKER: Enobarbus
CONTEXT:
ANTONY
Do so. We’ll speak to them, and tonight I’ll force
The wine peep through their scars. —Come on, my Queen,
There’s sap in ’t yet. The next time I do fight
I’ll make Death love me, for I will contend
Even with his pestilent scythe.
ENOBARBUS
Now he’ll outstare the lightning. To be furious
Is to be frighted out of fear, and in that mood
The dove will peck the estridge; and I see still
A diminution in our captain’s brain
Restores his heart. When valour preys on reason,
It eats the sword it fights with. I will seek
Some way to leave him.

DUTCH:
Doch aast de moed op ‘t oordeel,
Dan eet hij ‘t zwaard, waarmee hij vecht.

MORE:
Proverb: There is life in it

Peep=Leak out
Sap=Life, hope
Outstare=Face down
Estridge=Ostrich
Brain=Reason, understanding
Preys on=Consumes
Compleat:
To peep=Door een scheur of gaatje kyken
Brain=De brein, hersenen
To prey upon=Op roof uytgaan, op den roof van iets leeven, op teeren

Topics: emotion and mood, conflict

Who does i’ th’ wars more than his captain can becomes his captain’s captain

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 3.1
SPEAKER: Ventidius
CONTEXT:
VENTIDIUS
O Silius, Silius,
I have done enough. A lower place, note well,
May make too great an act. For learn this, Silius:
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,
For quick accumulation of renown,
Which he achieved by th’ minute, lost his favour.
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
Than gain which darkens him.
I could do more to do Antonius good,
But ’twould offend him, and in his offence
Should my performance perish.

DUTCH:
Wie meer
In de’ oorlog uitricht, dan zijn veldheer kan,
Wordt veldheer van zijn veldheer; en de deugd
Des krijgsmans, eerzucht, kiest veeleer verlies,
Dan winst, die hèm verduistert.

MORE:
Lower place=Subordinate status
Place=Rank
By the minute=Minute by minute
Darkens=Causes to fall out of favour
Perish=Come to nothing, be destroyed
Compleat:
Place=Plaats
Darken=Verduysteren, verdonkeren, donker maaken
To perish=Vergaan, sneuvelen, verlooren gaan

Topics: work, ambition, authority

Who seeks and will not take when once ’tis offered shall never find it more

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.7
SPEAKER: Menas
CONTEXT:
MENAS
These three world-sharers, these competitors,
Are in thy vessel. Let me cut the cable,
And, when we are put off, fall to their throats.
All there is thine.
POMPEY
Ah, this thou shouldst have done
And not have spoke on ’t! In me ’tis villainy,
In thee ’t had been good service. Thou must know,
’Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour;
Mine honour, it. Repent that e’er thy tongue
Hath so betrayed thine act. Being done unknown,
I should have found it afterwards well done,
But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.
MENAS
For this,
I’ll never follow thy palled fortunes more.
Who seeks and will not take when once ’tis offered
Shall never find it more.

DUTCH:
Wanneer het zoo staat, volg ik
Niet langer uw geluksster, zij verbleekt.
Wie zoekt, maar wat hij vindt niet grijpen durft,
Vindt nooit meer iets.

MORE:
Proverb: He that will not when he may, when he would he shall have nay (shall not when he will)

In me=If I were to do it
Good service=The action of a good servant
Lead=Guide
Mine honour, it=My honour takes precedence over it
Betrayed=Disclosed
Act=Intention
Pall=Diminish
More=Again
Compleat:
Service=Dienstbaarheid
To lead=Leyden
To betray=Verraaden, beklappen
Act=Daad, bedryf
To pall=Verslaan, verschaalen

Topics: plans/intentions, honesty, advantage/benefit, dignity, integrity, opportunity

Who, queasy with his insolence already, will their good thoughts call from him

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 3.6
SPEAKER: Caesar
CONTEXT:
MAECENAS
Let Rome be thus informed.
AGRIPPA
Who, queasy with his insolence already,
Will their good thoughts call from him.
CAESAR
The people knows it, and have now received
His accusations.
AGRIPPA
Who does he accuse?
CAESAR
Caesar, and that, having in Sicily
Sextus Pompeius spoiled, we had not rated him
His part o’ th’ isle. Then does he say he lent me
Some shipping, unrestored. Lastly, he frets
That Lepidus of the triumvirate
Should be deposed, and, being, that we detain
All his revenue.

DUTCH:
t Volk, zijn overmoed reeds moe,
Komt van zijn goede meening dan terug.

MORE:
Thus=Accordingly
Queasy=Disgusted
Spoiled=Plundered, stripped
Rated=Allocated
Detain=Withhold
Compleat:
Thus=Dus, aldus, zo
Queasy=Braakachtig
To spoil=Bederven, vernielen, berooven

Topics: blame, justification, equality, debt/obligation

Wilt thou be lord of the whole world?

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.7
SPEAKER: Menas
CONTEXT:
MENAS
Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That’s twice.
POMPEY
How should that be?
MENAS
But entertain it,
And, though thou think me poor, I am the man
Will give thee all the world.
POMPEY
Hast thou drunk well?
MENAS
No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup.
Thou art, if thou dar’st be, the earthly Jove.
Whate’er the ocean pales or sky inclips
Is thine, if thou wilt ha ’t.
POMPEY
Show me which way.
MENAS
These three world-sharers, these competitors,
Are in thy vessel. Let me cut the cable,
And, when we are put off, fall to their throats.
All there is thine.
POMPEY
Ah, this thou shouldst have done
And not have spoke on ’t! In me ’tis villainy,
In thee ’t had been good service. Thou must know,
’Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour;
Mine honour, it. Repent that e’er thy tongue
Hath so betrayed thine act. Being done unknown,
I should have found it afterwards well done,
But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.

DUTCH:
Nog eens dan, wilt gij heer der wereld zijn?

MORE:
Entertain=Consider
Pales=Encloses
Inclips=Encompasses
Competitors=Partners
Mine honour, it=My honour takes precedence over it
Betrayed=Disclosed
Act=Intention
Compleat:
Entertain=Onthaalen, huysvesten, plaats vergunnen
To pale in=Met paalen afperken, afpaalen. Paled in=Rondom met paalen bezet, afgepaald
To inclose=Insluyten, besluyten, omheynen, rondom afschieten, binnen een schutting betrekken
Competitor=Mededinger, mede-eyscher, medestreever, medevryer, nastander
To betray=Verraaden, beklappen
Act=Daad, bedryf

Topics: plans/intentions, honesty, advantage/benefit, dignity, integrity

Wishers were ever fools

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 4.15
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
ANTONY
I am dying, Egypt, dying. Only
I here importune death awhile, until
Of many thousand kisses the poor last
I lay upon thy lips.
CLEOPATRA
I dare not, dear,
Dear my lord, pardon, I dare not,
Lest I be taken. Not th’ imperious show
Of the full-fortuned Caesar ever shall
Be brooched with me. If knife, drugs, serpents, have
Edge, sting, or operation, I am safe.
Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes
And still conclusion, shall acquire no honour
Demuring upon me. But come, come, Antony—
Help me, my women—We must draw thee up.
Assist, good friends.
ANTONY
Oh, quick, or I am gone.
CLEOPATRA
Here’s sport indeed! How heavy weighs my lord!
Our strength is all gone into heaviness,
That makes the weight. Had I great Juno’s power,
The strong-winged Mercury should fetch thee up
And set thee by Jove’s side. Yet come a little.
Wishers were ever fools. Oh, come, come, come!

DUTCH:
Wie wenscht, was immer dwaas!

MORE:
Importune=Urge, impel
Imperious=Imperial
Brooch=Pin a brooch/badge on
Still=Silent
Conclusion=Judgment
Demuring=Looking demurely
Heavy=(1) Large material weight or (2) sadness
Mercury=Winged messenger god
Compleat:
Importune=Lastig vallen, zeer dringen, gestadig aanhouden, overdringen, aandringen
Imperious=Heerschzuchtig
Still=Stil
Conclusion=Het besluit
Demure=Stemmig, staatig, bedaard, ernstig, deftig
Heavy=(sad) Droevig, verdrietig

Topics: proverbs and idioms, still in use, death, hope/optimism

You did pocket up my letters and with taunts did gibe my missive out of audience

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.2
SPEAKER: Caesar
CONTEXT:
CAESAR
I wrote to you
When rioting in Alexandria. You
Did pocket up my letters and with taunts
Did gibe my missive out of audience.
ANTONY
Sir,
He fell upon me ere admitted, then.
Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want
Of what I was i’ th’ morning. But next day
I told him of myself, which was as much
As to have asked him pardon. Let this fellow
Be nothing of our strife. If we contend,
Out of our question wipe him.
CAESAR
You have broken
The article of your oath, which you shall never
Have tongue to charge me with.

DUTCH:
Terwijl Alexandrië
U brassen zag , zond ik u brieven; gij
Staakt ze ongelezen bij u, hebt mijn bode
Met hoon gehoor geweigerd.

MORE:
Proverb: To pocket up an injury (a wrong)

Gibe=Mock
Missive=Messsenger
Pocket up=To put away out of sight, conceal or leave unheeded; (metaphor) Disregard
Fell upon=Burst in on
Newly=Recently
Feasted=Entertained with dinner
Strife=Quarrel, dispute
Article=Terms
Compleat:
To gibe=Boerten, gekscheeren
To pocket=Zakken, in de zak steeken
To fall upon=Op vallen, op aan vallen
Newly=Nieuwlyks, onlangs
To feast=Gastmaal houden, vergasten, onthaalen
Strife=Twist, tweedragt, krakkeel, pooging
Article=Een lid, artykel, verdeelpunt
To surrender upon articles=Zich by verdrag overgeeven

Topics: proverbs and idioms, news, understanding, dispute

You have been a boggler ever

DUTCH:
Steeds waart ge een weerhaan; —
Maar, ach! verstokken wij ons in de boosheid,
Dan blinden ons de wijze goden de oogen,
Zij domp’len ‘t klaar verstand in onze onreinheid,
En lachen, als wij, onzen waan aanbiddend,
Trotsch in ‘t verderf ons storten.

MORE:
Proverb: When God will punish he will first take away the understanding

Boggler=Equivocator, swerver, waverer
Seel=Close, blind
Trencher=Wooden plate
Fragment=Remnant, scrap
Vulgar fame=Common gossip
Luxuriously=Lustfully
Temperance=Modesty, chastity
Compleat:
To boggle=Haperen, stameren
He did not boggle at all at it=Hij stond ‘er niet verzet voor
To seel a hawk=Eenen valk een kap voor de oogen doen
Trencher=Tafelbord, houten tafelbord
Fragment=Een brok, stuk, afbreeksel
Vulgar=(common) Gemeen
Luxuriously=Weeldriglyk; overdaadiglyk
Temperance=Maatigheyd

Topics: proverbs and idioms, excess, reputation, judgment, ruin

You have broken the article of your oath, which you shall never have tongue to charge me with

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.2
SPEAKER: Caesar
CONTEXT:
CAESAR
You have broken
The article of your oath, which you shall never
Have tongue to charge me with.
LEPIDUS
Soft, Caesar.
ANTONY
No, Lepidus, let him speak.
The honour is sacred which he talks on now,
Supposing that I lacked it.—But, on, Caesar.
The article of my oath?
CAESAR
To lend me arms and aid when I required them,
The which you both denied.
ANTONY
Neglected, rather,
And then when poisoned hours had bound me up
From mine own knowledge. As nearly as I may
I’ll play the penitent to you, but mine honesty
Shall not make poor my greatness nor my power
Work without it. Truth is that Fulvia,
To have me out of Egypt, made wars here,
For which myself, the ignorant motive, do
So far ask pardon as befits mine honour
To stoop in such a case.

DUTCH:
Gij hebt een hoofdpunt
Gebroken van uw eed; en nimmer vindt gij
Grond tot gelijk verwijt aan mij.

MORE:
Proverb: Know thyself

Topics: contract, promise, betrayal, honour, authority

You praise yourself by laying defects of judgment to me, but you patched up your excuses

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.2
SPEAKER: Caesar
CONTEXT:
ANTONY
You do mistake your business. My brother never
Did urge me in his act. I did inquire it,
And have my learning from some true reports
That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather
Discredit my authority with yours,
And make the wars alike against my stomach,
Having alike your cause? Of this my letters
Before did satisfy you. If you’ll patch a quarrel,
As matter whole you have to make it with,
It must not be with this.
CAESAR
You praise yourself
By laying defects of judgment to me, but
You patched up your excuses.

DUTCH:
Uzelf verheft gij
Door dwaasheid mij te last te leggen; maar
‘t Is opgeraapte ontschuldiging.

MORE:
Urge=Press
True=Reliable
Against my stomach=Against my inclination, disposition
Having alike=Having shared
Patch a quarrel=Put together a quarrel
Laying defects to me=Attributing defects to me
Compleat:
Catch=Vatten, vangen, opvangen, grypen, betrappen
Contestation=Verschil, twist, krakkeel
Contention=Twist, krakkeel, geharrewar
Theme=Het onderwerp eener redeneering
To urge=Dringen, pressen, aandringen, aanstaan
True=Trouw, oprecht
Stomach=Gramsteurigheyd
Stomach=Trek (appetite); hart (spirit)
Alike=Eveneens, gelyk
Patch=Lappen, flikken

Topics: justification, conflict, authority, reason

You take me in too dolorous a sense, for I spake to you for your comfort

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 4.2
SPEAKER: Antony
CONTEXT:
ENOBARBUS
What mean you, sir,
To give them this discomfort? Look, they weep,
And I, an ass, am onion-eyed. For shame,
Transform us not to women.
ANTONY
Ho, ho, ho!
Now the witch take me if I meant it thus!
Grace grow where those drops fall! My hearty friends,
You take me in too dolorous a sense,
For I spake to you for your comfort, did desire you
To burn this night with torches. Know, my hearts,
I hope well of tomorrow, and will lead you
Where rather I’ll expect victorious life
Than death and honour. Let’s to supper, come,
And drown consideration.

DUTCH:
De Booze haal’ mij, als ik ‘t zoo bedoelde!
Heil spruite uit deze droppels! Liefste vrienden,
Gij neemt het veel te droevig op; ik wilde
U troost inspreken, u door fakkelglans
De nacht verdelgen doen.

MORE:
Onion-eyed=Tearful
Drops=Tears
Grace=Herb-of-grace (the plant Ruta Graveolens)
Hearty=Warmhearted
Dolorous=Sad
Consideration=Serious thought
Compleat:
Dolorous=Pynlyk, droevig
Drops=Druppelen
Hearty=Hartig, openhartig
Dolorous=Pynlyk, droevig
Consideration=Overweeging, overdenking, aanmerking, naadenking, inzigt

Topics: remedy, hope/optimism

Your letters did withhold our breaking forth

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 3.6
SPEAKER: Caesar
CONTEXT:
OCTAVIA
Ay me, most wretched,
That have my heart parted betwixt two friends
That does afflict each other!
CAESAR
Welcome hither.
Your letters did withhold our breaking forth
Till we perceived both how you were wrong led
And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart.
Be you not troubled with the time, which drives
O’er your content these strong necessities,
But let determined things to destiny
Hold unbewailed their way. Welcome to Rome,
Nothing more dear to me. You are abused
Beyond the mark of thought, and the high gods,
To do you justice, makes his ministers
Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort,
And ever welcome to us.

DUTCH:
Uw schrijven slechts weerhield mij op te breken,
Totdat ons bleek, hoe u bedrog omgaf
En dralen ons gevaar bracht. Wees getroost!

MORE:
Parted=Divided, torn
Betwixt=Between
Afflict=Grieve, distress
Withhold=Restrain
Breaking forth=Outbreak (waging war)
Wrong led=Misled, deceived
Negligent danger=At risk because of negligence
Time=The current state of affairs
Determined=Pre-determined
Destiny=Foregone conclusion
Hold their way=Take their course
Mark of thought=Comprehension
Compleat:
Parted=Gedeelt, gescheyden, geschift
Betwixt=Tusschen, tusschenbeide
To afflict=Quellen, lastig vallen, verdrukken, verdriet aandoen
To withhold=Onttrekken, onthouden
To break forth=Uytbarsten, opborlen
Determined=Bepaald, gesloten
Destiny=’t Noodlot, beschooren deel

Topics: fate/destiny, communication, abuse, deceit, negligence

Your speech is passion. But pray you stir no embers up.

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.2
SPEAKER: Lepidus
CONTEXT:
ENOBARBUS
I shall entreat him
To answer like himself. If Caesar move him,
Let Antony look over Caesar’s head
And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter,
Were I the wearer of Antonio’s beard,
I would not shave ’t today.
LEPIDUS
Tis not a time for private stomaching.
ENOBARBUS
Every time serves for the matter that is then born in ’t.
LEPIDUS
But small to greater matters must give way.
ENOBARBUS
Not if the small come first.
LEPIDUS
Your speech is passion. But pray you stir
No embers up. Here comes the noble Antony.

DUTCH:
Gij spreekt hartstocht’lijk;
Ik bid u, rakel de asch niet op. Daar komt
De wakk’re Antonius op.

Burgersdijk notes:
‘k Liet dien vandaag niet scheren. Om Octavius Caesar toch vooral geen bijzondere beleefdheid te betoonen.

Topics: dispute, opportunity, reason