QUOTES FROM THE BARD

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 5.2
SPEAKER: Cleopatra
CONTEXT:
IRAS
The gods forbid!
CLEOPATRA
Nay, ’tis most certain, Iras. Saucy lictors
Will catch at us like strumpets, and scald rhymers
Ballad us out o’ tune. The quick comedians
Extemporally will stage us and present
Our Alexandrian revels. Antony
Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see
Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness
I’ th’ posture of a whore.
IRAS
Oh, the good gods!
CLEOPATRA
Nay, that’s certain.
IRAS
I’ll never see ’t! For I am sure mine nails
Are stronger than mine eyes.
CLEOPATRA
Why, that’s the way
To fool their preparation and to conquer
Their most absurd intents.

DUTCH:
Zie, dit zij de stemming!
Zoo wordt hun wensch verijdeld, en onzinnig
Blijkt heel hun plan.

MORE:
Saucy=Insolent
Lictors=Beadles in magistrates’ courts
Scald=Disreputable
Quick=Quick-witted
Extemporally=Impromptu, off-the-cuff
Stage=Impersonate
Present=Represent
Boy=Verb, Represent (my greatness) in the figure of a boy
Fool=Frustrate
Compleat:
Saucy=Stout, onbeschaamd, baldaadig
Extemporal=Voor de vuyst, opstaandevoet
To represent=Voorhouden, vertoonen, verbeelden, de plaats bekleeden
To fool=Voor de gek houden, foppen

Topics: plans/intentions, appearance