Here is the line-by-line modern paraphrase of Cleopatra’s monologue (Antony and Cleopatra, Act 5, Scene 2):

Original: Sir, I will eat no meat, I’ll not drink, sir;
Modern: I swear I will refuse to eat or drink anything —

Original: If idle talk will once be necessary,
Modern: And if it ever becomes necessary to say so plainly —

Original: I’ll not sleep neither: this mortal house I’ll ruin,
Modern: I won’t sleep either. I will destroy this body of mine —

Original: Do Caesar what he can. Know, sir, that I
Modern: No matter what Caesar tries to do to stop me. Understand this —

Original: Will not wait pinion’d at your master’s court;
Modern: I will not stand there like a caged prisoner in Caesar’s palace —

Original: Nor once be chastised with the sober eye
Modern: Nor will I endure the cold, judgmental stare —

Original: Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up
Modern: Of boring Octavia. Do they really plan to parade me —

Original: And show me to the shouting varletry
Modern: And put me on display for the screaming mob —

Original: Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt
Modern: Of judgmental Romans? I would rather have a ditch in Egypt —

Original: Be gentle grave unto me! rather on Nilus’ mud
Modern: Serve as my kind and gentle grave! I would rather lie naked —

Original: Lay me stark naked, and let the water-flies
Modern: On the muddy banks of the Nile, and let the swarming river flies —

Original: Blow me into abhorring! rather make
Modern: Feed on my rotting body until I am utterly disgusting! I would rather have —

Original: My country’s high pyramides my gibbet,
Modern: The great pyramids of my homeland serve as my gallows —

Original: And hang me up in chains!
Modern: And be hung there in chains!

In Act V, Scene ii of Antony and Cleopatra, Cleopatra has barricaded herself in her monument with her attendants Charmian and Iras after learning of Antony’s defeat and death. Caesar’s forces, led by Proculeius and later Gallus, arrive at the monument to capture the Egyptian queen alive, as Caesar wishes to parade her in his Roman triumph. Despite Proculeius’s attempts to reassure her with promises of Caesar’s mercy, Cleopatra remains suspicious and threatens to kill herself rather than be taken to Rome. The Romans manage to gain entry to the monument and disarm her before she can harm herself.

Caesar himself then arrives and attempts to convince Cleopatra that she will be treated with honor, while she kneels before him and presents an inventory of her treasures. However, when her treasurer Seleucus reveals that she has hidden away half of her wealth, Cleopatra flies into a rage and attacks him. Caesar dismisses this as unimportant and departs, instructing his men to guard her carefully. Left alone with her women, Cleopatra reveals her true intentions to Charmian and Iras - she plans to take her own life rather than be displayed as a captive in Rome. A rural fellow arrives with a basket of figs that conceals the poisonous asp, and despite the guard’s questioning, he is allowed to deliver his “gift” to the queen.

Antony and Cleopatra follows the tragic downfall of Mark Antony, one of Rome’s three ruling triumvirs, who becomes consumed by his passionate love affair with Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. The play opens with Antony already established in Alexandria, neglecting his Roman duties while reveling in the exotic pleasures of Cleopatra’s court. When news arrives that his wife Fulvia has died and that Pompey threatens Roman territories, Antony reluctantly returns to Rome, where he reconciles with Octavius Caesar and marries Caesar’s sister Octavia to strengthen their political alliance, temporarily abandoning Cleopatra.

Despite his marriage to Octavia, Antony cannot resist returning to Egypt and Cleopatra, effectively declaring war on Rome and Caesar. The political and personal tensions culminate in the naval Battle of Actium, where Cleopatra’s fleet flees mid-battle, and Antony, following her, seals both their military defeat and political doom. Back in Egypt, as Caesar’s forces close in, the lovers face their inevitable destruction with a series of miscommunications and desperate acts.

The tragedy reaches its climax when Cleopatra, fearing Antony’s rage, sends word that she has died. Devastated, Antony falls on his sword but survives long enough to be carried to Cleopatra’s monument, where he dies in her arms. Rather than face the humiliation of being paraded through Rome as Caesar’s prisoner, Cleopatra takes her own life by allowing an asp (cobra) to bite her. The play ends with Caesar’s arrival to find both lovers dead, and his recognition of their tragic grandeur, ordering them to be buried together with full honors.