ENOBARBUS Spoke you of Caesar? How, the nonpareil? AGRIPPA O, Antony, O, thou Arabian bird! ENOBARBUS Would you praise Caesar, say ‘Caesar’; go no further. AGRIPPA Indeed, he plied them both with excellent praises. ENOBARBUS But he loves Caesar best; yet he loves Antony— Hoo! Hearts, tongues, figures, scribes, bards, poets, cannot Think, speak, cast, […]
Continue ReadingAgrippa: what’s new? Enobarbus: Lepidus is STILL hungover (3.2.1-10) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
Enter Agrippa at one door, Enobarbus at another AGRIPPA What, are the brothers parted? ENOBARBUS They have dispatched with Pompey; he is gone. The other three are sealing. Octavia weeps To part from Rome, Caesar is sad, and Lepidus Since Pompey’s feast, as Menas says, is troubled With the green-sickness. AGRIPPA ’Tis a noble Lepidus. […]
Continue ReadingVentidius: still, at least we’ve had Antony’s name to fight with (3.1.27-37) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
SILIUS Thou hast, Ventidius, that Without the which a soldier and his sword Grants scarce distinction. Thou wilt write to Antony? VENTIDIUS I’ll humbly signify what in his name, That magical word of war, we have effected; How, with his banners and his well-paid ranks, The ne’er-yet-beaten horse of Parthia We have jaded out o’th’ […]
Continue ReadingAdvice from Ventidius: don’t try too hard, you might make the boss look bad (3.1.11-27) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
VENTIDIUS O, Silius, Silius, I have done enough. A lower place, note well, May make too great an act. For learn this, Silius: Better to leave undone than by our deed Acquire too high a fame when him we serve’s away. Caesar and Antony have ever won More in their officer than person. Sossius, One […]
Continue ReadingRoman soldiers! being imperial and triumphant! (3.1.1-11) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
Enter Ventidius, as it were in triumph [marching with Silius and other Roman soldiers]; the dead body of Pacorus borne before him VENTIDIUS Now, darting Parthia, art thou struck; and now Pleased fortune does of Marcus Crassus’ death Make me revenger. Bear the King’s son’s body Before our army. Thy Pacorus, Orodes, Pays this for Marcus […]
Continue ReadingEnobarbus: that’s that, then; Menas: come with me? (2.7.123-128) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
ENOBARBUS Take heed you fall not. MENAS I’ll not on shore. No, to my cabin. These drums, these trumpets, flutes, what! Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell To these great fellows. Sound and be hanged, sound out! Sound a flourish, with drums [flutes, and trumpets] ENOBARBUS [throwing his cap in the air] Hoo, […]
Continue ReadingCaesar: time, gentlemen! Antony, you’re coming with me (2.7.112-122) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
CAESAR Good brother, Let me request you off. Our graver business Frowns at this levity. Gentle lords, let’s part. You see we have burnt our cheeks. Strong Enobarb Is weaker than the wine, and mine own tongue Splits what it speaks. The wild disguise hath almost Anticked us all. What needs more words? Good night. […]
Continue ReadingPlumpy Bacchus, with vine-leaves in his hair (2.7.106-112) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
BOY [sings] Come, thou monarch of the vine, Plumpy Bacchus, with pink eyne! In thy vats our cares be drowned, With thy grapes our hairs be crowned! Cup us till the world go round, Cup us till the world go round! CAESAR What would you more? Pompey, good night. (2.7.106-112) On the page it looks […]
Continue ReadingEnobarbus and Antony: LET’S DANCE!! (2.7.95-105) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
ENOBARBUS [to Antony] Ha, my brave Emperor, Shall we dance now the Egyptian bacchanals, And celebrate our drink? POMPEY Let’s ha’t, good soldier. ANTONY Come, let’s all take hands Till that the conquering wine hath steeped our sense In soft and delicate Lethe. ENOBARBUS All take hands. Make battery to our ears with the loud […]
Continue ReadingAntony: drink up, Caesar! Caesar: I really don’t feel so good (2.7.87-95) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
POMPEY This is not yet an Alexandrian feast. ANTONY It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho! Here’s to Caesar! CAESAR I could well forbear’t. It’s monstrous labour when I wash my brain, An it grow fouler. ANTONY Be a child o’th’ time. CAESAR Possess it, I’ll make answer. But I had rather fast from […]
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