QUOTES FROM THE BARD

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