QUOTES FROM THE BARD

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

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