QUOTES FROM THE BARD

PLAY: Antony and Cleopatra
ACT/SCENE: 2.7
SPEAKER: Pompey
CONTEXT:
MENAS
These three world-sharers, these competitors,
Are in thy vessel. Let me cut the cable,
And, when we are put off, fall to their throats.
All there is thine.
POMPEY
Ah, this thou shouldst have done
And not have spoke on ’t! In me ’tis villainy,
In thee ’t had been good service. Thou must know,
’Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour;
Mine honour, it. Repent that e’er thy tongue
Hath so betrayed thine act. Being done unknown,
I should have found it afterwards well done,
But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.
MENAS
For this,
I’ll never follow thy palled fortunes more.
Who seeks and will not take when once ’tis offered
Shall never find it more.

DUTCH:
Let wel,
De baatzucht mag mijn eer den weg niet wijzen,
Mijn eer zij haar ten gids.

MORE:
Proverb: He that will not when he may, when he would he shall have nay (shall not when he will)

In me=If I were to do it
Good service=The action of a good servant
Lead=Guide
Mine honour, it=My honour takes precedence over it
Betrayed=Disclosed
Act=Intention
Pall=Diminish
More=Again
Compleat:
Service=Dienstbaarheid
To lead=Leyden
To betray=Verraaden, beklappen
Act=Daad, bedryf
To pall=Verslaan, verschaalen

Topics: proverbs and idioms, honour, deception