Antony and Cleopatra (Annotated Shakespeare) - Softcover

Shakespeare, William

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0300124732 ISBN 13: 9780300124736

Publisher: Yale University Press, 2007

Synopsis

The Annotated Shakespeare series enables readers to fully understand and enjoy the plays of the world’s greatest dramatist
 
In no other play has Shakespeare created two such equally titanic personages as Rome’s great soldier and statesman Mark Antony and the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. The story of their irresistible attraction, their jealous quarrels and betrayals, and the effects on friends and subjects of their ruinous choices is a tale leading irretrievably to despair and defeat. Their suicides, however, strike us as a kind of triumph. Shakespeare stood at the height of his powers when he penned this great tragedy, one of the last he produced.
 
This fully annotated edition makes Antony and Cleopatra completely accessible to readers in the twenty-first century. Eminent linguist and translator Burton Raffel offers generous help with vocabulary, pronunciation, and prosody and provides alternative readings of phrases and lines. His on-page annotations give readers all the tools they need to comprehend the play and begin to explore its many possible interpretations.

About this title

About the Author

Burton Raffel (1928–2015) was Distinguished Professor of Arts and Humanities emeritus and professor of English emeritus at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Among his many edited and translated publications are Poems and Prose from the Old English, Cligès, Lancelot, Perceval, Erec and Enide, and Yvain. Harold Bloom (1930–2019) was Sterling Professor of Humanities at Yale University and Berg Professor of English at New York University. His many books include The Western Canon, Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human, and Genius: A Mosaic of One Hundred Exemplary Creative Minds.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Antony and Cleopatra

By William Shakespeare

Yale University Press

Copyright © 2007 Burton Raffel
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-300-12473-6

Contents

About This Book................................................ixIntroduction...................................................xviiSome Essentials of the Shakespearean Stage.....................xxxvAntony and Cleopatra...........................................1An Essay by Harold Bloom.......................................201Further Reading................................................207Finding List...................................................213

Chapter One

Act I

SCENE 1

Alexandria, a room in Cleopatra's palace

ENTER DEMETRIUS AND PHILO

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 5 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.

FLOURISH

ENTER ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, WITH HER ATTENDANTS AND WITH EUNUCHS FANNING HER

10 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.

Cleopatra If it be love indeed, tell me how much.

15 Antony There's beggary in the love that can be reckoned.

Cleopatra I'll set a bourn how far to be beloved.

Antony Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth.

ENTER ATTENDANT

Attendant News, my good lord, from Rome.

Antony Grates me. The sum.

Cleopatra Nay, hear them, Antony: Fulvia perchance is angry. Or who knows 20 If the scarce-bearded Caesar have not sent His powerful mandate to you, "Do this, or this, Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that, Perform 't, or else we damn thee." Antony How, my love?

Cleopatra Perchance? Nay, and most like. 25 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 30 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 rangd empire fall! Here is my space. 35 Kingdoms are clay. Our dungy earth alike Feeds beast as man. The nobleness of life Is to do thus. (embraces her) 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.

40 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. 45 There's not a minute of our lives should stretch Without some pleasure now. What sport tonight?

Cleopatra Hear the ambassadors.

Antony Fie, wrangling queen! Whom everything becomes, to chide, to laugh, To weep, whose every passion fully strives 50 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. (to Messengers) Speak not to us. 55

EXEUNT ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA AND ATTENDANTS

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.

60 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!

EXEUNT

SCENE 2

Alexandria, Cleopatra's palace, another room

ENTER CHARMIAN, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS, IRAS, ALEXAS, AND SOOTHSAYER

Charmian Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most anything Alexas, almost most absolute Alexas, where's the soothsayer that you praised so to the Queen? O that I knew this husband, which, you say, must charge his horns with garlands!

Alexas Soothsayer. 5

Soothsayer Your will?

Charmian Is this the man? Is't you, sir, that know things?

Soothsayer In nature's infinite book of secrecy A little I can read.

Alexas Show him your hand.

Enobarbus Bring in the banquet quickly; wine enough 10 Cleopatra's health to drink.

Charmian Good sir, give me good fortune.

Soothsayer I make not, but foresee.

Charmian Pray then, foresee me one.

Soothsayer You shall be yet far fairer than you are.

Charmian He means in flesh.

Iras No, you shall paint when you are old.

Charmian Wrinkles forbid!

Alexas Vex not his prescience, be attentive.

20 Charmian Hush!

Soothsayer You shall be more beloving than beloved.

Charmian I had rather heat my liver with drinking.

Alexas Nay, hear him.

Charmian Good now, some excellent fortune! Let me be 25 married to three kings in a forenoon, and widow them all. Let me have a child at fifty, to whom Herod of Jewry may do homage. Find me to marry me with Octavius Caesar, and companion me with my mistress.

Soothsayer You shall outlive the lady whom you serve.

30 Charmian O excellent! I love long life better than figs.

Soothsayer You have seen and proved a fairer former fortune Than that which is to approach.

Charmian Then belike my children shall have no names. Prithee, how many boys and wenches must I have?

35 Soothsayer If every of your wishes had a womb, And fertile every wish, a million.

Charmian Out fool! I forgive thee for a witch.

Alexas You think none but your sheets are privy to your wishes.

Charmian Nay, come, tell Iras hers. 40

Alexas We'll know all our fortunes.

Enobarbus Mine, and most of our fortunes tonight, shall be - drunk to bed.

Iras There's a palm presages chastity, if nothing else. 45

Charmian E'en as the o'erflowing Nilus presageth famine.

Iras (to Charmian) Go, you wild bedfellow, you cannot soothsay.

Charmian Nay, if an oily palm be not a fruitful prognostication, I cannot scratch mine ear. Prithee, tell her but a worky-day fortune. 50

Soothsayer Your fortunes are alike.

Iras But how, but how? Give me particulars.

Soothsayer I have said.

Iras Am I not an inch of fortune better than she?

Charmian Well, if you were but an inch of fortune better than I, 55 where would you choose it?

Iras Not in my husband's nose.

Charmian Our worser thoughts heavens mend! Alexas - 60 come, his fortune, his fortune! O, let him marry a woman that cannot go, sweet Isis, I beseech thee! And let her die too, and give him a worse! And let worst follow worse, till the worst of all follow him laughing to his grave, fifty-fold a cuckold! Good Isis, hear me this prayer, though thou deny me a matter of more weight. Good Isis, I beseech thee!

65 Iras Amen, dear goddess, hear that prayer of the people! For as it is a heartbreaking to see a handsome man loose-wived, so it is a deadly sorrow to behold a foul knave uncuckolded. Therefore dear Isis, keep decorum, and fortune him accordingly!

70 Charmian Amen.

Alexas Lo now, if it lay in their hands to make me a cuckold, they would make themselves whores, but they'd do't!

Enobarbus Hush, here comes Antony.

Charmian Not he, the Queen.

ENTER CLEOPATRA

Cleopatra Saw you my lord?

Enobarbus No, lady.

75 Cleopatra Was he not here?

Charmian No, madam.

Cleopatra He was disposed to mirth, but on the sudden A Roman thought hath struck him. Enobarbus!

Enobarbus Madam.

Cleopatra Seek him, and bring him hither. Where's Alexas? 80

Alexas Here at your service. My lord approaches.

Cleopatra We will not look upon him. Go with us.

EXEUNT

ENTER MARK ANTONY WITH A MESSENGER AND ATTENDANTS

Antony Against my brother Lucius?

Messenger Ay. But soon that war had end, and the time's state 85 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?

Messenger The nature of bad news infects the teller. 90

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.

Messenger Labienus - 95 This is stiff news - hath, with his Parthian force, Extended Asia from Euphrates. His conquering banner shook from Syria To Lydia and to Ionia, whilst - (he pauses)

Antony Antony, thou wouldst say.

Messenger O my lord.

100 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 license as both truth and malice Have power to utter. O then we bring forth weeds, 105 When our quick winds lie still, and our ills told us Is as our earing. Fare thee well awhile.

Messenger At your noble pleasure.

EXIT MESSENGER

Antony From Sicion how the news? Speak there.

Attendant 1 (calling) The man from Sicion. Is there such an one?

Attendant 2 He stays upon your will.

Antony Let him appear. 110 These strong Egyptian fetters I must break, Or lose myself in dotage.

ENTER MESSENGER 2

What are you?

Messenger 2 Fulvia thy wife is dead.

Antony Where died she?

Messenger 2 In Sicion. Her length of sickness, with what else more serious 115 Importeth thee to know, this (gives a letter) bears.

Antony Forbear me.

EXIT MESSENGERS

There's a great spirit gone! Thus did I desire it. What our contempt doth often hurl from us, We wish it ours again. The present pleasure, By revolution low'ring, 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,

125 My idleness doth hatch. How now, Enobarbus!

ENTER ENOBARBUS

Enobarbus What's your pleasure, sir?

Antony I must with haste from hence.

Enobarbus Why then we kill all our women. We see how mortal an unkindness is to them. If they suffer our departure, death's the word.

Antony I must be gone.

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. 135 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 140 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.

Antony Would I had never seen her. 145

Enobarbus O sir, you had then left unseen a wonderful piece of work, which not to have been blest withal would have discredited your travel. Antony Fulvia is dead.

Enobarbus Sir? 150

Antony Fulvia is dead.

Enobarbus Fulvia?

Antony Dead.

Enobarbus Why sir, give the gods a thankful sacrifice. When it pleaseth their deities to take the wife of a man from him, it 155 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 160 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.

165 Enobarbus And the business you have broached here cannot be without you, specially 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 170 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 175 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 180 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'the world may danger. Much is breeding Which, like the courser's hair, hath yet but life, 185 And not a serpent's poison. Say our pleasure, To such whose place is under us, requires Our quick remove from hence.

Enobarbus I shall do't.

EXEUNT

SCENE 3

Cleopatra's palace, another room

ENTER CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, AND ALEXAS

Cleopatra Where is he?

Charmian I did not see him since.

Cleopatra (to Alexas) See where he is, who's with him, what he does. I did not send you. If you find him sad, 5 Say I am dancing. If in mirth, report That I am sudden sick. Quick, and return.

EXIT ALEXAS

Charmian Madam, methinks if you did love him dearly, You do not hold the method to enforce The like from him.

Cleopatra What should I do, I do not?

10 Charmian In each thing give him way, cross him nothing.

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. But here comes Antony.

ENTER MARK ANTONY

Cleopatra I am sick and sullen.

Antony I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose- 15

Cleopatra Help me away, dear Charmian, I shall fall, It cannot be thus long,the sides of nature Will not sustain it.

Antony Now, my dearest queen -

Cleopatra Pray you, stand further from me.

Antony What's the matter?

Cleopatra I know, by that same eye, there's some good news. 20 What, says the married woman you may go? Would she had never given you leave to come! Let her not say 'tis I that keep you here, I have no power upon you. Hers you are.

Antony The gods best know -

Cleopatra O never was there queen 25 So mightily betrayed! Yet at the first I saw the treasons planted.

Antony Cleopatra -

(Continues...)

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Edition details

• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0300124732
• ISBN 13: 9780300124736
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240