Antony and Cleopatra Act Four – “All strange and terrible events are welcome, but comforts we despise.”

Antony and Cleopatra Act Four – “All strange and terrible events are welcome,
 but comforts we despise.”

In his camp outside Alexandria, Caesar, scorns Antony’s challenge when he receives it. Maecenas says that Caesar should use Antony’s anger against him:

“Caesar must think,

When one so great begins to rage, he's hunted

Even to falling. Give him no breath, but now

Make boot of his distraction: never anger

Made good guard for itself.”                                                                Caesar makes plans to crush Antony now that his army even has those who have deserted Antony.

Inside Cleopatra’s Palace, Antony receives news from Enobarbus that Caesar has refused to fight him and Enobarbus points out that on the battlefield Caesar has a twenty to one advantage. Declaring he will fight the next day anyway, Antony thanks his servants for their service and points out that tonight might be his last night. They weep and Enobarbus, chastises Antony for his pessimism. They all go off to one last feast together. But later that night in Cleopatra’s Palace some of the soldiers of Antony hear strange music and believe that it is the music of the God Hercules who is signaling that he is abandoning Antony for good. 

The next morning we see Eros preparing Antony for battle. Antony exudes overconfidence and tells Cleopatra:

“He that unbuckles this, till we do please

To daff't for our repose, shall hear a storm.”                                                 A soldier enters telling Antony that a thousand men are ready to receive Antony’s commands. Antony says goodbye to Cleopatra with a kiss as he leaves Cleopatra’s Palace to confront Caesar.

A little while later, Antony prepares for battle and regrets that he chose to make his last battle with Caesar on water instead of on land. A soldier happens to mention that had it done this he would have not had Enobarbus. Antony is shocked and it is obvious that this is the first he has heard of Enobarbus’ desertion to Caesar. Antony asks for Enobarbu’s fortune to be taken to him and he prepares himself for battle.

“Go, Eros, send his treasure after; do it;

Detain no jot, I charge thee: write to him--

I will subscribe--gentle adieus and greetings;

Say that I wish he never find more cause

To change a master. O, my fortunes have

Corrupted honest men! Dispatch. Enobarbus!”

Over at Caesar’s camp, he is confident and sends Agrippa to open the campaign, putting those soldiers who have deserted Antony on the front line. When Enobarbus is alone, he receives a messenger who says that Antony has brought Enobarbus’ treasure over, even though he is a traitor. He decides that he would rather die than take up arms against Antony:

“I am alone the villain of the earth,

And feel I am so most. O Antony,

Thou mine of bounty, how wouldst thou have paid

My better service, when my turpitude

Thou dost so crown with gold! This blows my heart:

If swift thought break it not, a swifter mean

Shall outstrike thought: but thought will do't, I feel.

I fight against thee! No: I will go seek

Some ditch wherein to die; the foul'st best fits

My latter part of life.”

On the battlefield, Caesar’s forces commanded by Agrippa are in retreat as they seriously underestimated Antony and his army. Then we hear that Antony’s men have won the battle and Alexandria has been taken back. Caesar commends the valour of his men and specifically that of Scarus.

A little later, under the walls of Alexandria, Antony glotes and vows that the next day he will totally destroy Caesar’s forces. Then Cleopatra enters and Antony says he loves her and that she is the only thing that could pierce his armour and penetrate his heart.

“To this great fairy I'll commend thy acts,

Make her thanks bless thee.

O thou day o' the world,

Chain mine arm'd neck; leap thou, attire and all,

Through proof of harness to my heart, and there

Ride on the pants triumphing!”                                                             Antony then tells Cleopatra to praise Scarus, for his bravery and Cleopatra says that Scaris will get a suit of armour made of gold which was once worn by a king himself. Antony and his troops triumphantly march into the streets of Alexandria.

Back at Caesar’s camp, the sentries discuss the coming battle as Enobarbus berates himself nearby. Unaware that he is being watched, Enobarbus rails against his life, wishing for its end and hoping that history will mark him as a traitor and a fugitive. After he collapses and dies and the sentries take his body back to Caesar.

Antony determines that Caesar means to attack him by sea and declares himself ready. He wishes his enemy were equipped to fight in fire or air, swearing he would meet him in those places if he could. This is true because next we cross to Caesar who holds his armies back, as he does indeed prepare to attack Antony at sea.

We cross to Anthony who is with Scarus about to watch the naval battle. Scarus says that  Cleopatra’s fleet as weak, and laments that the soothsayers refuse to share their knowledge regarding the battle’s outcome. Antony watches as the Egyptian fleet betrays him and defects to Caesar. Antony then tells Scarus to disband his own army and give permission for his soldiers to leave. Alone, Anthony blames Cleopatra and her mystical charms for his demise.

“All is lost;

This foul Egyptian hath betrayed me:

My fleet hath yielded to the foe; and yonder

They cast their caps up and carouse together

Like friends long lost. Triple-turn'd whore!

'tis thou

Hast sold me to this novice; and my heart

Makes only wars on thee. Bid them all fly;

For when I am revenged upon my charm,

I have done all. Bid them all fly; begone.

O sun, thy uprise shall I see no more:

Fortune and Antony part here; even here

Do we shake hands. All come to this? The hearts

That spaniel'd me at heels, to whom I gave

Their wishes, do discandy, melt their sweets

On blossoming Caesar; and this pine is bark'd,

That overtopp'd them all. Betray'd I am:

O this false soul of Egypt! this grave charm,--

Whose eye beck'd forth my wars, and call'd them home;

Whose bosom was my crownet, my chief end,--

Like a right gipsy, hath, at fast and loose,

Beguiled me to the very heart of loss.

What, Eros, Eros!”

Then Cleopatra enters and Antony is angry at her betrayal and threatens to kill her. Cleopatra leaves.

A little later, Cleopatra tells her maids of Antony’s fury and Charmian suggests that Cleopatra lock herself in her monument and that word is sent to Antony that Cleopatra killed herself due to his anger. Cleopatra agrees and word is sent to Antony.

Antony prepares to kill Cleopatra for her betrayal. Then Mardian arrives with his news that Cleopatra is dead. Antony is distraught that he would have thought Cleopatra false:

“Unarm, Eros; the long day's task is done,

And we must sleep.

That thou depart'st hence safe,

Does pay thy labour richly; go.

Off, pluck off:

The seven-fold shield of Ajax cannot keep

The battery from my heart. O, cleave, my sides!

Heart, once be stronger than thy continent,

Crack thy frail case! Apace, Eros, apace.

No more a soldier: bruised pieces, go;

You have been nobly borne. From me awhile.

I will o'ertake thee, Cleopatra, and

Weep for my pardon. So it must be, for now

All length is torture: since the torch is out,

Lie down, and stray no farther: now all labour

Mars what it does; yea, very force entangles

Itself with strength: seal then, and all is done.

Eros!--I come, my queen:--Eros!--Stay for me:

Where souls do couch on flowers, we'll hand in hand,

And with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze:

Dido and her AEneas shall want troops,

And all the haunt be ours… Since Cleopatra died,

I have lived in such dishonour, that the gods

Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword

Quarter'd the world, and o'er green Neptune's back

With ships made cities, condemn myself to lack

The courage of a woman; less noble mind

Than she which by her death our Caesar tells

'I am conqueror of myself.' Thou art sworn, Eros,

That, when the exigent should come, which now

Is come indeed, when I should see behind me

The inevitable prosecution of

Disgrace and horror, that, on my command,

Thou then wouldst kill me: do't; the time is come:

Thou strikest not me, 'tis Caesar thou defeat'st.

Put colour in thy cheek… Eros,

Wouldst thou be window'd in great Rome and see

Thy master thus with pleach'd arms, bending down

His corrigible neck, his face subdued

To penetrative shame, whilst the wheel'd seat

Of fortunate Caesar, drawn before him, branded

His baseness that ensued?”

Then Cleopatra’s servant Diomedes, arrives and tells that Clepatra is alive. But all is too late, Anthony is dying and he asks that he is taken to Cleopatra:

“Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra bides;

'Tis the last service that I shall command you…

… do not please sharp fate

To grace it with your sorrows: bid that welcome

Which comes to punish us, and we punish it

Seeming to bear it lightly. Take me up:

I have led you oft: carry me now, good friends,

And have my thanks for all.”

On top of a monument, Cleopatra says that she will never leave this monument. The dying Antony is brought below Cleopatra. Cleopatra calls down to Antony, and Antony calls up to her. Antony is heaved up to Cleopatra. They kiss. Antony asks Cleopatra to ask mercy of Caesar but Cleopatra says that she will die by her own hand. Antony reminisces about his own glory days as he dies:

“The miserable change now at my end

Lament nor sorrow at; but please your thoughts

In feeding them with those my former fortunes

Wherein I lived, the greatest prince o' the world,

The noblest; and do now not basely die,

Not cowardly put off my helmet to

My countryman,--a Roman by a Roman

Valiantly vanquish'd. Now my spirit is going;

I can no more.”

As Antony dies, Cleopatra curses the world and then faints:

“Noblest of men, woo't die?

Hast thou no care of me? shall I abide

In this dull world, which in thy absence is

No better than a sty? O, see, my women,

The crown o' the earth doth melt. My lord!

O, wither'd is the garland of the war,

The soldier's pole is fall'n: young boys and girls

Are level now with men; the odds is gone,

And there is nothing left remarkable

Beneath the visiting moon.”

When Cleopatra comes around again, she then decides that they must bury Antony in Roman fashion and then she must seek out death herself.

“No more, but e'en a woman, and commanded

By such poor passion as the maid that milks

And does the meanest chares. It were for me

To throw my sceptre at the injurious gods;

To tell them that this world did equal theirs

Till they had stol'n our jewel. All's but naught;

Patience is scottish, and impatience does

Become a dog that's mad: then is it sin

To rush into the secret house of death,

Ere death dare come to us? How do you, women?

What, what! good cheer! Why, how now, Charmian!

My noble girls! Ah, women, women, look,

Our lamp is spent, it's out! Good sirs, take heart:

We'll bury him; and then, what's brave,

what's noble,

Let's do it after the high Roman fashion,

And make death proud to take us. Come, away:

This case of that huge spirit now is cold:

Ah, women, women! come; we have no friend

But resolution, and the briefest end.”

Antony and Cleopatra Act Three – “Men’s judgments are a parcel of their fortunes…”

Antony and Cleopatra Act Three – “Men’s judgments are
 a parcel of their fortunes…”

We start Act Three of ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ on the plains of Syria where Ventidius, fighting for Antony, has defeated the Parthians and even killed the King of the Parthian’s own son. A soldier says that Ventidius should go further and do more for glory to which Ventidius calmly replies that soldiers should not try to do too much when their leaders are away as they may fall out of their commander’s favour and men should always stop while they are ahead:

“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 of my place in Syria, his lieutenant,

For quick accumulation of renown,

Which he achieved by the minute, lost his favour.

Who does i' the wars more than his captain can

Becomes his captain's captain: and ambition,

The soldier's virtue, rather makes choice of loss,

Than gain which darkens him.

I could do more to do Antonius good,

But 'twould offend him; and in his offence

Should my performance perish.”

Ventidius decides to halt his army’s advances and write to Antony (who he thinks is in on his way to Athens) to inform him of this victory in Syria.

We cross the Mediterranean to Octavius Caesar’s house in Rome where Agrippa and Enobarbus converse about the latest news both domestic and political. Pompey has left, Caesar and his sister Octavia are upset at their impending separation and Lepidus is still has “green sickness” from his night of heavy drinking at Pompey’s feast. They mock Lepidus, who seems to be eager to ‘suck up’ to both Caesar and Antony. Then Caesar, Antony, Lepidus and Octavia enter. Caesar says his farewells to his sister Octavia and Antony, urging Antony to look after Octavia.

“You take from me a great part of myself;

Use me well in 't. Sister, prove such a wife

As my thoughts make thee, and as my farthest band

Shall pass on thy approof. Most noble Antony,

Let not the piece of virtue, which is set

Betwixt us as the cement of our love,

To keep it builded, be the ram to batter

The fortress of it; for better might we

Have loved without this mean, if on both parts

This be not cherish'd.”

Antony gives his assurances and Antony and Octavia depart.

“You shall not find,

Though you be therein curious, the least cause

For what you seem to fear: so, the gods keep you,

And make the hearts of Romans serve your ends!

We will here part.”  

We move back to Alexandria in Egypt and to important matters. Cleopatra finds out from her messenger that Octavia is short, not particularly feminine, not filled with as much life as Cleopatra, about thirty, brown haired, round faced and with a low forehead. Cleopatra is pleased and thinks that Antony will soon tire of Octavia and that she will have Antony once more for herself.

Antony has indeed moved onto Athens, where he complains to Octavia that Caesar seems to have lost his appetite for war since Antony left Rome and that Caesar has also mocked Antony. Octavia tells Antony not to believe rumours and she urges him not to fight with her brother since she does not want to take sides. Antony reinforces that he must do what he can to preserve his own honour and that when the time comes she will have to choose sides:

“Gentle Octavia,

Let your best love draw to that point, which seeks

Best to preserve it: if I lose mine honour,

I lose myself: better I were not yours

Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested,

Yourself shall go between 's: the mean time, lady,

I'll raise the preparation of a war

Shall stain your brother: make your soonest haste;

So your desires are yours…

When it appears to you where this begins,

Turn your displeasure that way: for our faults

Can never be so equal, that your love

Can equally move with them. Provide your going;

Choose your own company, and command what cost

Your heart has mind to. “

Still in Athens Enobarbus talks to Antony’s friend Eros, discussing Caesar’s defeat of Pompey’s army, the death of Pompey and how after their victory, Caesar backstabbed Lepidus, accused him of treachery and threw him in jail. Enobarbus then reports that Antony is ready to sail for Italy and Caesar.

We move a little into the future and back to Caesar’s house in Rome where Caesar is angry with Antony who has gone back to Egypt to become Cleopatra’s king.

“Contemning Rome, he has done all this, and more,

In Alexandria: here's the manner of 't:

I' the market-place, on a tribunal silver'd,

Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold

Were publicly enthroned: at the feet sat

Caesarion, whom they call my father's son,

And all the unlawful issue that their lust

Since then hath made between them. Unto her

He gave the stablishment of Egypt; made her

Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia,

Absolute queen…

His sons he there proclaim'd the kings of kings:

Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia.

He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assign'd

Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia: she

In the habiliments of the goddess Isis

That day appear'd; and oft before gave audience,

As 'tis reported, so.”

Caesar further reports that Antony does not think that Caesar gave him a far proportion of the ‘war spoils’ from Pompey and Lepidus estates. He says he will give Antony more if Antony gives Caesar parts of Armenia and other lands Antony took. Maecenas says that Antony will not give in so easily. Then Octavia enters and it is revealed that hearing that Caesar had prepared for war, she had requested Antony to allow her to return to Rome. She reveals that she thinks that Antony is till in Athens. Caesar reveals the truth to her that her husband has joined with Cleopatra in Egypt and challenges Rome itself.

“No, my most wronged sister; Cleopatra

Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire

Up to a whore; who now are levying

The kings o' the earth for war; he hath assembled

Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus,

Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king

Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas;

King Malchus of Arabia; King of Pont;

Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, king

Of Comagene; Polemon and Amyntas,

The kings of Mede and Lycaonia,

With a more larger list of sceptres..”

Octavia is upset and she is comforted by Maecenas who tells her that all of Rome is behind her.

“Each heart in Rome does love and pity you:

Only the adulterous Antony, most large

In his abominations, turns you off;

And gives his potent regiment to a trull,

That noises it against us.”

Near the city of Actium in Greece which is under Roman control, Cleopatra wants to stay with Antony as they prepare for the battle. Antony and Enobarbus try to convince Cleopatra to leave but she will not stay behind: “Sink Rome, and their tongues rot

That speak against us! A charge we bear i' the war,

And, as the president of my kingdom, will

Appear there for a man. Speak not against it:

I will not stay behind.”

Antony asserts that he will meet Caesar at sea but Camidius and Enobarbus say that a land battle would be better since Caesar seems to have naval superiority and their ships are manned by peasants, “muleters” and “reapers”. Antony is supported by Cleopatra who says her sixty ships can win at sea. Antony is determined to fight at sea and as he and Cleopatra exit, Camidius laments that they are all “women’s men” under Cleopatra’s control.

We cross to Caesar on a plain near Actium who wants to not attack by land until the sea battle is decided.

“Strike not by land; keep whole: provoke not battle,

Till we have done at sea. Do not exceed

The prescript of this scroll: our fortune lies

Upon this jump.”

On the other side of the stage we hear Antony tell Enobarbus to put his army on the hillside to watch the sea battle.

“Set we our squadrons on yond side o' the hill,

In eye of Caesar's battle; from which place

We may the number of the ships behold,

And so proceed accordingly.”

Enobarbus, Scarus and Canidius tell of the sea battle where Antony’s forces were initially winning the battle until Cleopatra’s ship turned and fled and Antony followed her. Then panic and confusion set in and Caesar’s forces won. The land army were appalled by this cowardace and Camidius says he will now side with Caesar. Enobarbus, decides to stay aligned to Antony.

“I'll yet follow

The wounded chance of Antony, though my reason

Sits in the wind against me.”

Back in Alexandria in Egypt, Antony is ashamed at his cowardice and orders his servants to abandon him because he has abandoned himself: “Hark! the land bids me tread no more upon't;

It is ashamed to bear me! Friends, come hither:

I am so lated in the world, that I

Have lost my way for ever: I have a ship

Laden with gold; take that, divide it; fly,

And make your peace with Caesar…

I have fled myself; and have instructed cowards

To run and show their shoulders. Friends, be gone;

I have myself resolved upon a course

Which has no need of you; be gone:

My treasure's in the harbour, take it. O,

I follow'd that I blush to look upon:

My very hairs do mutiny; for the white

Reprove the brown for rashness, and they them

For fear and doting. Friends, be gone: you shall

Have letters from me to some friends that will

Sweep your way for you. Pray you, look not sad,

Nor make replies of loathness: take the hint

Which my despair proclaims; let that be left

Which leaves itself: to the sea-side straightway:

I will possess you of that ship and treasure.

Leave me, I pray, a little: pray you now:

Nay, do so; for, indeed, I have lost command,

Therefore I pray you: I'll see you by and by.”

Cleopatra enters and tries to sooth Antony by reminding him of his honorable past exploits. He blames Cleopatra for leaving the battle and she says that she never dreamed that he would follow her. Antony says he must now seek Caesar’s forgiveness. Antony asks Cleopatra not to cry and he kisses her:

“Fall not a tear, I say; one of them rates

All that is won and lost: give me a kiss;

Even this repays me. We sent our schoolmaster;

Is he come back? Love, I am full of lead.

Some wine, within there, and our viands! Fortune knows

We scorn her most when most she offers blows.”

Caesar has moved his forces to a camp in Egypt. Caesar is with Dolabella when an ambassador arrives from Antony asking that Antony asks to be allowed to live in Egypt or move to solitude in Athens. Caesar disregards Antony’s requests and wants Cleopatra to betray her lover and expel Antony or execute him.

“For Antony,

I have no ears to his request. The queen

Of audience nor desire shall fail, so she

From Egypt drive her all-disgraced friend,

Or take his life there: this if she perform,

She shall not sue unheard. So to them both…

From Antony win Cleopatra: promise,

And in our name, what she requires; add more,

From thine invention, offers: women are not

In their best fortunes strong; but want will perjure

The ne'er touch'd vestal: try thy cunning, Thyreus;

Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we

Will answer as a law…

Observe how Antony becomes his flaw,

And what thou think'st his very action speaks

In every power that moves.”

We cross back to Cleopatra’s palace in Alexandria where Enobarbus tells Cleopatra that a man like Antony should have known to followed reason rather than the “itch of his affection”. Mark Antony and the ambassador enter with Caesar’s reply. Antony wants challenge Caesar to man on man, sword on sword single combat. Antony exits. Enobarbus thinks about his options if such combat eventuates. Then Thidias arrives to tell Cleopatra mercy will be granted by Caesar to her if she hands over Antony. Cleopatra replies that she will concede to Caesar:

“Most kind messenger,

Say to great Caesar this: in deputation

I kiss his conquering hand: tell him, I am prompt

To lay my crown at 's feet, and there to kneel:

Tell him from his all-obeying breath I hear

The doom of Egypt.”

Antony enters and in furious that Cleopatra would betray him.

“You have been a boggler ever:

But when we in our viciousness grow hard--

O misery on't!--the wise gods seel our eyes;

In our own filth drop our clear judgments; make us

Adore our errors; laugh at's, while we strut

To our confusion…

I found you as a morsel cold upon

Dead Caesar's trencher; nay, you were a fragment

Of Cneius Pompey's; besides what hotter hours,

Unregister'd in vulgar fame, you have

Luxuriously pick'd out: for, I am sure,

Though you can guess what temperance should be,

You know not what it is…

To let a fellow that will take rewards

And say 'God quit you!' be familiar with

My playfellow, your hand; this kingly seal

And plighter of high hearts! O, that I were

Upon the hill of Basan, to outroar

The horned herd! for I have savage cause;

And to proclaim it civilly, were like

A halter'd neck which does the hangman thank

For being yare about him.”

Antony claims that he is reassembling his forces to fight Caesar once more. Cleopatra is pleased that Antony seems himself again and she declares that he is her lord and they are reconciled and exit. Enobarbus is left alone and decides the time is ripe to leave Antony:

“Now he'll outstare the lightning. To be furious,

Is to be frighted out of fear; and in that mood

The dove will peck the estridge; and I see still,

A diminution in our captain's brain

Restores his heart: when valour preys on reason,

It eats the sword it fights with. I will seek

Some way to leave him.”