Antony and Cleopatra (38 page)
Read Antony and Cleopatra Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
28
speak
encounter, fight
29
o’er-count
outnumber
31
o’er-count … house
alludes to the confiscation of his father’s estate, which Antony bought but failed to pay for
o’er-count
cheat
32
cuckoo … himself
the cuckoo does not build its own nest but lays its eggs in another bird’s
33
as thou mayst
as long as you can
35
from the present
irrelevant
take
respond to
38
entreated to
cajoled into accepting
weigh
consider seriously
39
embraced
if accepted
40
what … fortune
the future advantages to be gained/the dangerous consequences of fighting a battle
46
part
depart
unhacked edges
undamaged sword blades (i.e. without fighting)
47
targes
shields
undinted
without dents, unmarked by blows
53
praise of
credit for
must
should, ought to
58
studied
prepared
63
timelier
sooner
my purpose
I intended
67
counts
marks (literally, tally marks from adding up accounts)
68
in … vassal
I shall never become a slave to bad luck
72
composition
agreement, truce
73
sealed between us
following signature, affixed with seals by each party
78
take the lot
draw lots like the rest of us
first Or last
whether your turn comes first or last
80
have the fame
gain the glory
81
Grew … there
another image of sex as eating; “grew fat” may have erectile connotations
83
fair
sincere/courteous/decent
84
And … them
Antony’s tone may be placatory or sarcastic here
86
Apollodorus
a Sicilian friend of Cleopatra; Plutarch tells the tale of his rolling her up in a
mattress
in order that she might be conducted to Julius Caesar in secret
90
far’st
are (from “fare,” pronounced “fairst”)
93
toward
forthcoming
96
behaviour
conduct in battle
101
plainness
bluntness, plain speaking
103
galley
Greek or Roman warship with banks of oars on each side
108
known
met before
121
take
arrest
thieves
i.e. hands (or possibly the men embrace after the handshake)
122
true
honest
124
true
genuine, i.e. without cosmetics
130
said
spoken the truth
looked not for
did not expect to see
135
Pray ye, sir
? Is that right?
138
divine
predict the outcome
140
policy … in
politics of that alliance had more to do with
142
band
wedding ring/bond, pledge
144
cold and still
calm, reserved, meek/sexually unresponsive
145
conversation
demeanor (plays on the sense of “sexual intercourse”)
148
Egyptian dish
i.e. the delicious Cleopatra (
dish
plays on the sense of “vagina”)
149
blow … up
inflame, enrage (as a pair of bellows fans a fire)
151
author
creator, instigator
variance
dispute, contention
152
use … is
satisfy his sexual appetite where it is already lodged (with Cleopatra in Egypt)
occasion
opportunity
155
health
toast, drink
banquet
dessert course of sweetmeats, fruit, and wine (though possibly the main part of the feast)
1
plants
seedlings/soles of the feet (i.e. the agreement between them is not well founded/they’re unsteady on their feet due to alcohol)
4
high-coloured
red in the face
5
alms-drink
normally the remains of liquor given to the poor in charity, but here most likely Lepidus is drinking as a charitable act to further the reconciliation process
6
pinch … disposition
snipe at and irritate each other in accordance with their differing personalities
10
discretion
sound judgment
11
have … fellowship
be one of a group of powerful men
12
as lief
rather
13
partisan
long-handled spear
heave
lift
14
To … cheeks
to occupy an exalted position but be seen to be incapable of filling it is as pitiful as empty eye sockets which ruin the face
sphere
refers to the belief that planets orbited within transparent concentric spheres that ringed the earth
16
pitifully
puns on the sense of “with pits”
sennet
trumpet call signaling a procession
17
take
measure
18
scales
marks
i’th’pyramid
on the obelisk (rather than the conventional Egyptian pyramids)
19
mean
middle
dearth
famine
20
foison
plenty, abundance
22
ooze
mud
26
Your … crocodile
a widespread belief that the influence of the sun on vegetable matter could create certain forms of life; the repetition of the colloquial “your” suggests Lepidus is fairly drunk
31
ne’er out
never back out
33
in
in your cups, drunk/indoors
34
the Ptolemies
the Ptolemaic dynasty, rulers of Egypt
pyramises
pyramids; Lepidus is slurring drunkenly
39
Forsake
leave
41
Forbear … anon
wait until a little later
45
the … transmigrates
once it dies, its soul passes into another body; Antony refers to a Pythagorean theory
48
it
its
50
tears
crocodiles supposedly cried before eating their victims
53
else
or else
epicure
glutton, since nothing can satisfy him/unbeliever, a follower of Epicurus, who rejected the theory of life after death
56
merit
my past services to you/my worth
58
The matter
? What’s this all about?
59
held … off
deferred respectfully
60
faith
loyalty
62
quicksands
the drunken Lepidus is unsteady on his feet
68
entertain
consider
74
pales
encompasses
inclips
clasps, embraces
77
competitors
partners/rivals
78
cable
rope or chain attached to the anchor
79
put off
adrift/away from the shore
82
on’t
of it
84
’Tis … it
I always put my honor before my personal profit
86
betrayed
revealed
88
Desist
leave off
89
palled
weakened
91
more
again
93
pledge
i.e. drink the toast
96
hid
i.e. brimful
99
A
he
101
on wheels
i.e. fast/dizzily (the “world goes on wheels” was a proverbial phrase)
102
reels
revels/staggering motions
105
Strike the vessels
clink or fill the cups/pierce the wine casks (precise meaning unclear)
107
forbear’t
abstain from it (drink)
108
monstrous
huge/unnatural
109
fouler
more dirty (despite washing)
110
Be … o’th’time
live for the moment
111
‘Possess … answer
my answer is “control it” (rather than be its subject)
112
fast from all
abstain from all food (for)
114
brave
splendid
115
Bacchanals
dances in honor of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine
116
celebrate
consecrate with religious ceremony
120
Lethe
the river of forgetfulness in Hades
122
battery to
an assault on
123
The while
in the meanwhile
124
holding
refrain
125
volley
produce repeated noise (perhaps “like firearms or artillery”)
127
Plumpy
plump
Bacchus
the Roman god of wine
pink
half-closed/reddened from drink
eyne
eyes
129
fats
vats
130
Cup us
fill our cups
132
brother
brother-in-law (i.e. Antony)
133
off
to come ashore
135
burnt our cheeks
i.e. they’re flushed from drinking
137
disguise
dance/transformative powers of drink
138
Anticked
made grotesque clowns
140
try you
test your capacity for drink
143
what
so what
147
What!
i.e. strike up, let’s hear them
148
Neptune
Roman god of the sea
150
a
he
triumph
the ceremonial procession undertaken by victorious generals, in which captives and the bodies of high-ranking enemies were displayed; a Roman practice
1
darting Parthia
the Parthians were famed for their mounted archers whose tactics included shooting arrows behind them
2
Marcus Crassus
member of the first triumvirate with Pompey and Julius Caesar; he was defeated by the Parthians and his head taken to their king,
Orodes
, who filled its mouth with molten gold as a punishment for greed
