QUOTES FROM THE BARD

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

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

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

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: advice, emotion and mood, wellbeing

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

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

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