QUOTES FROM THE BARD

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

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