Antony and Cleopatra

Or rather, Lynn and Timothy

I have ever seen the folly of reading Shakespeare ... except as a concomitant of seeing his plays acted. - J. R. R. Tolkien

Everybody knows that William Shakespeare wrote comedies, tragedies, and historical plays. Comedies are the ones like Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer's Night Dream, and The Comedy of Errors. For tragedies you have Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth. The historical plays include Richard III, Henry V, and Henry VIII.

But if you can't decide which type you prefer, you can go and see Antony and Cleopatra. It's got a bit for everyone. For instance, early in the play everyone's having a good time at a party. At one point, Alexas, one of Cleopatra's attendants, calls in a soothsayer to read their fortunes. Charmian, Cleopatra's first lady in waiting, asks him to predict her future. The soothsayer obliges:

Soothsayer:

You shall outlive the lady whom you serve.

Charmian thinks that's fine.

Charmian:

O excellent! I love long life better than figs!

But Enobarbus, Antony's right hand man, doesn't need a soothsayer.

Enobarbus:

Mine, and most of our fortunes tonight, shall be "drunk to bed".

Such banter back and forth is pretty common in the play. In a later act we see Cleopatra at her saucy best when she asks Charmian to join her in a game of billiards. Charmian suggests Cleopatra play a game with Mardian, another attendant who also happens to be a eunuch.

Cleopatra:	Let's to billiards. Come, Charmian.1
Charmian:	My arm is sore. Best play with Mardian.
Cleopatra:	As well a woman with an eunuch play'd As with a woman.

Cleopatra then asks if Mardian will join her in a round and keeps up the doubles entendres.

Cleopatra:	Come, you'll play with me, sir?
Mardian:	As well as I can, madam.
Cleopatra:	And when good will is show'd, though't come too short, The actor may plead pardon.

Antony and Cleopatra was the play Will wrote right after Macbeth. Both were written around 1606 and the two plays could hardly be more different. In the play Macbeth's conscience bothers him all the time and later this affliction is transferred to his wife. There's also not much humor in the play about the Indecisive Scot.

But in Antony and Cleopatra only one character's conscience bothers him and that's toward the end of the play. And there's enough Shakespearean style jokes to give comic relief.

But best of all, in Antony and Cleopatra the action moves along. Some scenes are literally only a few lines. At one point Octavius Caesar comes on stage with his soldiers. He then says:

Caesar:2

But  being charged, we will be still by land, Which as I take't we shall. For his best force Is forth to man his galleys. To the vales And hold our best advantage.

And everyone walks off. That's it.

And yet some of the speeches are as good as anything Will wrote. When Enobarbus describes Antony's first meeting with Cleopatra, he waxes most eloquent.

The barge she sat in, like a burnish'd throne,

Burn'd on the water. The poop was beaten gold,

Purple the sails, and so perfumèd that

The winds were love-sick with them. The oars were silver

Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke and made

The water which they beat to follow faster

As amorous of their strokes.

The action moves along even when people aren't doing much. At the beginning of the play Antony is promising Cleopatra that they'll stay out late that night. But then a messenger comes in (there's lots of messengers in the play).

Messenger:

News, my good lord, from Rome!

But business before pleasure gets on Antony's nerves and he just wants a quick summary.

Antony:

Grates me. The sum.

But Cleopatra doesn't want to listen to any business whatsoever. Besides, she can guess what the news is. Maybe Antony's wife, Fulvia, is ticked off at him (as she has reason to be) or that the twenty-something Caesar (ergo, Octavian) has sent him trivial orders that he has to obey.

Cleopatra:

Nay, hear them, Antony. Fulvia perchance is angry, or who knows If the scarce-bearded Caesar have not sent His powerful mandate to you. "Do this, or this. Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that."

She keeps razzing Antony until he gives in.

Antony:

No messenger but thine, and all alone Tonight we'll wander through the streets and note The qualities of people. Come, my queen, Last night you did desire it.

Then he turns to the messenger.

Antony:

Speak not to us!

And he and Cleopatra head out.

But before they go out on the town, Antony has second thoughts. So he tells Cleopatra that he has to go back and listen to the news.

And the news is a whopper. It turns out that Fulvia and Antony's brother, Lucius, raised an army against Caesar, and the Parthians - who were Romes enemies in Persia - are attacking the Romans. And everyone's pointing out that while this is going on, Antony is sitting on his royal red in Egypt and whooping it up with Cleopatra.

But just then yet another messenger shows up (we said there's a lot of messengers). He has some really big news.

Messenger:

Fulvia thy wife is dead.

Well, it looks like Antony's going to have to go to Rome and straighten things out. He calls Enobarbus who promptly shows up. Antony gives him the news.

Antony:	Fulvia is dead.
Enobarbus:	Sir?
Antony:	Fulvia is dead.
Enobarbus:	Fulvia?
Antony:	Dead!

Enobarbus wonders what's the big deal.

Enobarbus:

Why, sir, give the gods a thankful sacrifice. When it pleaseth their deities to take the wife of a man from him, it shows to man the tailors of the earth.

Antony tells Enobarbus to cut the comedy and get everyone ready to go back to Rome.

Antony:	No more light answers. Let our officers Have notice what we purpose. I shall break The cause of our expedience to the queen And get her leave to part.
Enobarbus:	I shall do't.

He then goes to Cleopatra to get her permission to leave. She doesn't take his request too well.

Cleopatra:

O, never was there queen So mightily betray'd! Yet at the first I saw the treasons planted.

But then Antony tells her Fulvia is dead, and so she has nothing to worry about.

Antony:

My more particular And that which most with you should safe my going Is Fulvia's death.

After some skepticism, Cleopatra finally accepts that Antony will return as soon as the business with Caesar is done.

Cleopatra:

Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly. And all the gods go with you. Upon your sword Sit laurel victory, and smooth success Be strew'd before your feet.

So Antony returns to Rome to meet with Caesar and another general, Lepidus, to form what's called the Second Triumvirate (more on the First Triumvirate later). Lepidus tries to keep everyone calm.

Lepidus:

Noble friends, That which combined us was most great, and let not A leaner action rend us. What's amiss May it be gently heard. When we debate Our trivial difference loud, we do commit Murder in healing wounds.

Seemingly agreeable, Caesar and Antony try to be polite.

Caesar:	Welcome to Rome.
Antony:	Thank you.
Caesar:	Sit.
Antony:	Sit, sir.
Caesar:	Nay, then.

But immediately Caesar says that Antony has been spending too much time in Egypt. Antony thinks that's none of his business.

Antony:

My being in Egypt, Caesar What was't to you?

Caesar implies Antony's idling with Cleopatra is really a ruse.

Caesar:

No more than my residing here at Rome Might be to you in Egypt. Yet if you there Did practice on my state, your being in Egypt Might be my question.

Antony is offended.

Antony:

How intend you "practiced"?

Caesar certainly doesn't mince words. He points out that Fulvia and Lucius had been raising armies against him - and on Antony's orders.

Caesar:

Your wife and brother Made wars upon me, and their contestation Was theme for you. You were the word of war.

Antony huffily denies it.

Antony:

Not so! Not so!

Well, at the least Caesar says Antony was partying all the time and ignored his messages and requests for aid.

Caesar:

When rioting in Alexandria you Did pocket up my letters and with taunts Did gibe my missive out of audience.

Antony said he just had a hangover.

Antony:

Sir, He fell upon me ere admitted. Then Three kings I had newly feasted and did want Of what I was i' the morning. But next day I told him of myself which was as much As to have ask'd him pardon.

Soon Enobarbus, the most genial and likeable³ character in the play, says they need to quit arguing - at least until they defeat Sextus Pompeius, the son of Pompey the Great, who had been fighting them both.

Enobarbus:

Or if you borrow one another's love for the instant, you may when you hear no more words of Pompey, return it again. You shall have time to wrangle in when you have nothing else to do.

But Antony is thinking that Enobarbus is being a wise acre.

Antony:

Thou art a soldier only. Speak no more.

But Enobarbus thinks what he said is good advice.

Enobarbus:

That truth should be silent I had almost forgot.

But Antony doesn't appreciate a lowly soldier telling him what to do.

Antony:

You wrong this presence. Therefore speak no more.

Finally Enobarbus says OK. He'll be quiet as a rock but it won't stop him from thinking.

Enobarbus:

Go to, then. Your considerate stone.

Finally Agrippa, Caesar's #1 General, has a suggestion. He remembered that Octavian's uncle, Julius Caesar, had made a deal with his erstwhile enemy who was Pompey the Great. Julius had arranged for Pompey to marry his daughter Julia. It turned out to be such a happy marriage that it stopped Pompey and Julius from fighting. Caesar doesn't have a daughter, but he does have a sister, Octavia, and since Fulvia has died, Mark Antony is now an eligible bacheolor.

Caesar can't resist a sarcastic sneer.

Caesar:

Say not so, Agrippa. If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof Were well deserved of rashness.

Naturally Antony doesn't take to the jibe.

Antony:

I am not married, Caesar. Let me hear Agrippa further speak..

So Agrippa gives his suggestion.

Agrippa:

To hold you in perpetual amity, To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts With an unslipping knot, take Antony Octavia to his wife, whose beauty claims No worse a husband than the best of men.

Antony's interested.

Antony:

What power is in Agrippa If I would say "Agrippa, be it so!" To make this good?

Caesar says he can guarantee it.

Caesar:

The power of Caesar And his power unto Octavia.

So the scene ends with everyone (on the surface) friends. Then Antony and Caesar go to Octavia who knows that in the Roman world the women pretty much have to do what the men tell them to do. Besides Antony seems like a nice guy even though he'll have a lot of business trips.

Antony:	The world and my great office will Sometimes divide me from your bosom.
Octavia:	All which time before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers to them for you.

Antony doesn't deny he's been whooping it up but he tells Octavia from now on he'll be a good boy.

Antony:

Read not my blemishes in the worlds report. I have not kept my square, but that to come Shall all be done by the rule.

And then when everybody leaves and Antony's by himself, he shows he really doesn't mean it.

Antony:

And though I make this marriage for my peace I' th' East my pleasure lies.

But for the immediate problem, Antony and Caesar send a message to Pompey that they want see about a truce. After exchanging hostages they meet on Pompey's boat. Pompey summarizes their terms.

Pompey:	You have made me offer Of Sicily, Sardinia, and I must Rid all the sea of pirates, then to send Measures of wheat to Rome. This greed upon To part with unhacked edges and bear back Our targets undinted.
Antony and Caesar:	That's our offer.

Pompey decides not to argue.

Pompey:

Know then I came before you here A man prepared to take this offer.

But after they leave, one of Pompey's soldiers, Menas, mutters to himself.

Menas:

Thy father Pompey would ne'er have made this treaty.

But everyone then repairs to Pompey's boat for yet another party. The wine flows freely, and Lepidus gets quite bibulous.

Antony:

These quick-sands, Lepidus, Keep off them, for you sink!

But beneath the levity there's trouble. When the others are talking about the wonders of Egypt, the grumpy Menas sidles up to Pompey.

Menas:	Wilt thou be lord of all the world?
Pompey:	What say'st thou?
Menas:	Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That's twice.

Menas then tells Pompey of his plan.

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.

Although not objecting in principle, Pompey, finds some fault with the plan.

Pompey:

Ah, this thou should'st have done, And not have spoke on't! In me 'tis villany, In thee't had been good service.   Being done unknown, I should have found it afterwards well done But must condemn it now. Desist and drink!

Menas then decides he's wasting his time with a loser, and as Pompey saunters off Menas says to himself.

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.

OK. But remember the play's name is

Antony

and

Cleopatra

And back in Egypt, Cleopatra's not doing much. She calls to Charmian.

Cleopatra:	Charmian.
Charmian:	Madam?
Cleopatra:	Ha, ha, give me to drink mandragora.
Charmian:	Why madam?
Charmian:	That I might sleep out this great gap of time My Antony is away.

But then yet one more messenger arrives from Rome. Naturally Cleopatra wants the news.

Cleopatra:

Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears That long time have been barren.

The messenger, though, seems hesitant.

Messenger:

Madam, madam.

Cleopatra fears the worst.

Cleopatra:

Antony's dead! If thou say so, villain, thou kill'st thy mistress, But well and free if thou so yield him There is gold and here My bluest veins to kiss, a hand that kings Have lipped and trembled kissing.

The messenger then gives her the news.

Messenger:

First, madam, he's well.

That's what Cleopatra wants to hear.

Cleopatra:

Why there's more gold.

But something still seems off.

Cleopatra:

But, sirrah, mark we used To say the dead are well. Bring it to that The gold I give thee, will I melt and pour Down thy ill-uttering throat.

Naturally the messenger is a little nervous.

Messenger:

Good madam, hear me.

And Cleopatra gives him reason to be but also offers him the carrot.

Cleopatra:

I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak'st. Yet if thou say Anthony lives, 'tis well Or friends with Caesar or not captive to him, I'll set thee in a shower of gold and hail Rich pearls upon thee.

So the Messengers goes on.

Messenger:	Madam, he's well.
Cleopatra:	Well said!
Messenger:	And friends with Caesar.
Cleopatra:	Thou art an honest man!
Messenger:	Caesar and he are greater friends then ever.
Cleopatra:	Make thee a fortune from me!
Messenger:	But yet, madam...

Well, that throws a damper on things.

Cleopatra:

I do not like "but yet". It does allay The good precedence. Fie upon "but yet".

Naturally she wants to make sure she understands him.

Cleopatra:

Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear, The good and bad together. He's friends with Caesar, In state of health, thou says, and thou sayst free.

Uh. Not quite.

Messenger:	Free, madam, no. I made no such report. He's bound unto Octavia.

NOT what Cleopatra wanted to hear.

Cleopatra:

I am pale Charmian.

And now the Messenger makes everything perfectly clear.

Messenger:

Madam, he's married to Octavia.

At this point Cleopatra loses it.

Cleopatra:

What say you?      Strikes him. Hence, horrible villain, or I'll spurn thine eyes Like balls before me! I'll unhair thy head! She hales him up and down. Thou shalt be whipped with wire, and stewed in brine Smarting in lingering pickle.

But the Messenger reminds her he's just reporting the truth.

Messenger:

Gracious madam! I that do bring the news made not the match.

Cleopatra finally decides she will kill the messenger.

Cleopatra:

Rogue, thou hast lived too long!      Draws a knife.

The messenger then decides that departure is the better part of valor.

Messenger:

Nay, then I'll run! What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.

And he exits.

Charmian then steps in and reminds Cleopatra that the messenger has nothing to do with the bad news.

Charmian:

Good madam, keep yourself within yourself. The man is innocent.

But Cleopatra says, well, that's just tough tiddy.

Cleopatra:

Some innocents scape not the thunderbolt.

Eventually Cleopatra agrees to call the messenger back and guarantees his safety.

Cleopatra:	Though it be honest, it is never good To bring bad news. Give to a gracious message An host of tongues, but let ill tiding tell Themselves when they be felt.
Messenger:	I have done my duty.
Cleopatra:	Is he married? I cannot hate thee worser then I do If thou again say yes.
Messenger:	He's married, madam.

But of course, Antony returns to Egypt and rehooks with Cleopatra. When Caesar hears about this, he goes to Octavia. Does she know where her husband is?

Octavia:

My lord, in Athens.

Nope. Caesar has been keeping tabs on Mark and breaks the bad news.

Caesar:

No, my most wrongèd sister. Cleopatra Hath nodded him to her.

But things have become even more complicated. Eros, Antony's personal attendant, tells Enobarbus that Caesar and Leipidus ignored their treaty with Pompey.

Eros:	There's strange news come, sir.
Enobarbus:	What, man?
Eros:	Caesar and Lepidus have made wars upon Pompey.

But that's old hat. Enobarbus wants to know what's up now.

Enobarbus:

This is old. What is the success?

Well, Eros says that even though Lepidus helped Caesar defeat Pompey, Caesar then gave his partner the boot and made him prisoner.

Eros:

Caesar, having made use of him in the wars 'gainst Pompey, presently denied him rivality, would not let him partake in the glory of the action and not resting here accuses him of letters he had formerly wrote to Pompey, upon his own appeal seizes him. So the poor third is up till death enlarge his confine.

Enobarbus then realizes that the situation is exactly what happened in the First Triumvirate. But exactly what was the First Triumvirate?

The First Triumvirate was a trio made up of Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great, and Marcus Licnius Crassus. They agreed to work together to get everyone what they wanted. Pompey and Caesar were elected consuls, Pompey married Caesar's daughter, Julia, and Crassus was appointed governor of Syria complete with an army that he could lead to fight the Parthians. But when Crassus was killed in battle and Julia died, the remnants of the Triumvirate were now two mutually antagonistic adversaries. So any hope of peace vanished.

And this is where the Second Triumvirate is.

Enobarbus:

Then, world, thou hast a pair of chaps, no more. And throw between them all the food thou hast. They'll grind the one, the other.

So things are now back to square one. Antony's in Egypt, and Caesar is preparing for war against him.

But there's one difference now. Cleopatra wants to follow Antony into battle.

Enobarbus - one of the smartest characters in the play - argues against it. When Cleopatra asks him what's the beef, he gives one of Shakespeare's famous asides, which as Shakespeare scholar (and humorist) Richard Armour said, is an Elizabethan device that allows people to talk behind someone's back in front of them. It's also a whisper that can be heard in the last row of the balcony.

Enobarbus [aside]:

Well, I could reply. If we should serve with Horse and mares together, the horse were merely lost. The mares would bear a soldier and his horse.

Cleopatra doesn't like people muttering behind her back.

Cleopatra:

What is't you say?

Enobarbus then gives one of the most straightforward answers in Shakespeare.

Enobarbus:

Your presence needs must puzzle Antony, Take from his heart, take from his brain, from's time, What should not then be spared.

Enobarbus is right on. Antony decided to fight Caesar on the sea (against the advice of Enobarbus), and Cleopatra sails her own ships with him although she just watches the action from a distance.

But then when things look bad, she decides to sail away. And Antony - in the middle of the fight - turns tail and follows her.

Naturally this didn't sit so good with his soldiers. One of Antony's lieutenants, Scarus, tells Enobarbus what he saw.

Scarus:

She once being loofed The noble ruin of her magic, Anthony, claps on his sea-wing and (like a doting mallard) Leaving the fight in height, flies after her. I never saw an action of such shame.

Soon more and more of Antony's commanders and his allies decide to throw their lot with Caesar. As one of them, Canidius, says:

Canidius:

To Caesar will I render My legions and my horse. Six kings already Show me the way of yielding.

Enobarbus decides to stick with Antony - although with trepidations.

Enobarbus:

I'll yet follow The wounded chance of Antony, though my reason Sits in the wind against me.

When Cleopatra shows up, she asks Enobarbus who is to be blamed.

Cleopatra:	Is Antony or we in fault for this?
Enobarbus:	Antony only, that would make his will Lord of his reason. What though you fled From that great face of war whose several ranges Frighted each other, why should he follow?

When Antony finally arrives and knows he has really ....

Well, he made a mistake.

Antony:

O! Fie! Fie! Fie!

Well, there's nothing to do but cut yet another deal with Caesar. So they send Euphronius who was Antony's teacher when he was a kid. When he arrives in Caesar's camp, Dolabella, one of Caesar's more thoughtful soldiers, announces there's a messenger from Antony.

Caesar:	Let him appear that's come from Antony. Know you him?
Dolabella:	Caesar, 'tis his schoolmaster.

Euphronius feels he has to butter Caesar up before making his pitch.

Euphronius:

Lord of his fortunes he salutes thee and Requires to live in Egypt, which not granted He lessens his requests and to thee sues To let him breathe between the heavens and earth A private man in Athens. This for him. Next, Cleopatra does confess thy greatness, Submits her to thy might, and of thee craves The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs Now hazarded to thy grace.

Caesar, of course, has all the cards. And he plays them.

Caesar:

For Antony, I have no ears to his request. The queen Of audience nor desire shall fail, so she From Egypt drive her all disgracèd friend Or take his life there. This if she perform, She shall not sue unheard. So to them both.

Euphronius bows himself out to take the answer back to Antony and Cleopatra.

Then Caesar calls another of his aides, Thyreus, to go to Cleopatra and promise anything she wants.

Caesar:

From Antony win Cleopatra. Promise And in our name what she requires. Add more From thine invention offers. Make thine own edict for thy pains which we Will answer as a law.

Thyreus then heads out. When he gets to Egypt he makes the offer. Cleopatra seems interested.

Cleopatra:

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.

That's fine until Antony comes in. He thinks Cleopatra's working behind his back!

Antony:

Favours, by Jove that thunders! What art thou, fellow?

Here Thyreus comes off as a wise acre.

Thyreus:

One that but performs The bidding of the fullest man and worthiest To have command obey'd.

Enobarbus knows that Antony doesn't like smartalecks.

Enobarbus [Aside]:

You will be whipp'd.

And sure enough that's what happens.

Antony:

Take hence this jack and whip him. Tug him away! Being whipp'd, Bring him again!

After expressing considerable displeasure at Cleopatra's apparent perfidy (which she denies), Thyreus is dragged back to Antony.

Antony:	Is he whipp'd?
First Attendant:	Soundly, my lord.
Antony:	Cried he and begg'd pardon?
First Attendant:	He did ask favor.

Antony tells Thyreus to tell Caesar to shove it.

Antony:

Get thee back to Caesar. Tell him thy entertainment. Look thou say He makes me angry with him.

Naturally when Caesar learns of what happened he's determined to make Antony pay.

Caesar:

He calls me boy and chides as he had power To beat me out of Egypt. My messenger He hath whipped with rods, dares me to personal combat. Let the old Russian know, I have many other ways to die. Meantime Laugh at his challenge.

Evidently Caesar was so mad that he forgot that Antony was a Roman.

Cleopatra finally convinces Antony she's not going to Caesar's side but simply trying to make Caesar thinks she is. So Antony says before they go back to fight Caesar, who's now in Alexandria, they'll whoop it up.

Antony:

Come, Let's have one other gaudy night. Call to me All my sad captains. Fill our bowls once more. Let's mock the midnight bell.

So as they all head out to party, Enobarbus remains behind. He knows all is lost.

Enobarbus:

When valor preys on reason, It eats the sword it fights with. I will seek Some way to leave him.

Antony only learns about Enobarbus skinning out when he's getting ready to go into battle. Then a soldier tells him that his allies have deserted him - as well as one important individual.

Antony:	Who's gone this morning?
Soldier:	Who? One ever near thee. Call for Enobarbus. He shall not hear thee or from Caesar's camp Say "I am none of thine."

Antony is flabbergasted. But he tells Eros to send Enobarbus anything he left behind and says he understands Enobarbus's actions.

Antony:

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.

Antony now realizes he has messed up.

Antony:

O, my fortunes have Corrupted honest men!

Now one problem with changing sides is that the side you change to never really trusts you. Just ask Benedict Arnold.

Caesar drives this point home. When he attacks Antony, he makes sure that the front ranks in Agrippa's army will be those who defected.

Caesar:

Go charge Agrippa Plant those that have revolted in the van That Antony may seem to spend his fury Upon himself.

As the others leave, Enobarbus remains behind. He's now regrets his decision since he sees what has happened to others who left Antony to join Caesar.

Enobarbus:

Alexas did revolt and went to Jewry4 on Affairs of Antony, there did persuade Great Herod to incline himself to Caesar And leave his master Antony. For his pains Caesar hath hang'd him. Canidius and the rest That fell away have entertainment but No honorable trust. I have done ill, Of which I do accuse myself so sorely That I will joy no more.

So Enobarbus decides to end it all.

Enobarbus:

I will go seek Some ditch wherein to die. The foul'st best fits My latter part of life.

That's what happens. Three soldiers see Enobarbus wandering around bemoaning his folly.

Enobarbus:

O Antony, Nobler than my revolt is infamous, Forgive me in thine own particular, But let the world rank me in register A master-leaver and a fugitive. O Antony! O Antony!

Then he lays down on the ground. The soldiers go over to get him up, but find it's too late.

Soldier:

The hand of death hath raught him.

Eventually the two armies begin a battle. Even though at first Antony's forces had the advantage, they wind up losing because many of his armies desert. Antony believes the only way this could happen was if Cleopatra herself has joined Caesar.

Antony:

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.

When she shows up he drives her away.

Antony:	Ah, thou spell! Avaunt!
Cleopatra:	Why is my lord enraged against his love?
Antony:	Vanish or I shall give thee thy deserving And blemish Caesar's triumph.

Knowing that Antony doesn't seem willing to listen, she makes a quick exit. She decides that she'll have to pull a fast one to convince Antony she is still faithful. So she calls in Mardian.

Cleopatra:

Mardian, go tell him I have slain myself. Say that the last I spoke was "Antony!" And bring me how he takes my death.

Well, Antony doesn't take it too well - particularly after Mardian convinces Antony Cleopatra had never betrayed him. So at this point Antony calls Eros.

Antony:

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 would'st kill me. Do't. The time is come.

Eros is aghast.

Eros:

The gods withhold me! Shall I do that which all the Parthian darts, Though enemy, lost aim and could not?

But Antony insists.

Antony:

When I did make thee free sworest thou not then To do this when I bade thee? Do it at once, Or thy precedent services are all But accidents unpurposed. Draw and come.

Eros relents but he doesn't want to have to look Antony in the face.

Antony:

Turn from me, then, that noble countenance Wherein the worship of the whole world lies.

Eros then draws his sword.

Eros:

Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now?

Antony says to go ahead.

Eros:

Well, there, then!

And Eros stabs himself.

Eros:

Thus I do escape the sorrow Of Antony's death.

Antony sees that Eros was braver than he is.

Antony:

Thrice-nobler than myself! Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what I should, and thou couldst not.

So Antony gives one last speech.

Antony:

Come, then, and Eros, Thy master dies thy scholar to do thus.

And he falls on his sword.

By now you've probably figured that Antony can't do much right. Even now he botches the job.

Antony:

How? Not dead? Not dead?

So now he has to call for help.

Antony:

The guard, ho! O, dispatch me!

The guards rush in.

Antony:

I have done my work ill, friends. O, make an end Of what I have begun.

But none of them want to do it using what are probably Shakespeare's easiest lines to memorize.

Guard:	Not I
Second Guard:	Nor I
Third Guard:	Nor any one.

And they all leave.

Then another of Cleopatra's servant, Diomedes, shows up. He says that Cleopatra had second thoughts and is afraid when Antony learned of her death he would do exactly what he had tried to do.

Diomedes:

She had disposed with Caesar, and that your rage Would not be purged, she sent you word she was dead. But fearing since how it might work hath sent Me to proclaim the truth. And I am come, I dread, too late.

So Antony calls the guards to take him to Cleopatra.

Antony:

Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra bides. 'Tis the last service that I shall command you.

So they take Antony to Cleopatra. Before he dies he gives her one last word of advice.

Antony:

Gentle, hear me. None about Caesar trust but Proculeius.

And after another rather lengthy speech he - finally - dies.

Soon the news gets to Caesar. Then everyone spends quite a bit of time saying what a great guy Antony was. Then one of Cleopatra's messengers shows up to say she wants to know what Caesar wishes her to do. Naturally Caesar says he'll be generous.

Caesar:

Bid her have good heart. She soon shall know of us by some of ours How honorable and how kindly we Determine for her, for Caesar cannot live To be ungentle.

After the messenger leaves, Caesar tells Proculeius to butter up Cleopatra or she might commit suicide like Antony and so deprive the Romans of the pleasure of leading her in chains through the streets of Rome as a prisoner.

It turns out, though, that Proculeius isn't to be trusted. He tells Cleopatra that Caesar will let her live and continue to rule Egypt. Although skeptical, Cleopatra at least pretends to believe him.

But then Dolabella shows up, and Proculeius tells him to guard Cleopatra. When they're alone, Cleopatra wants to know what's really going on.

Cleopatra:	Know you what Caesar means to do with me?
Dolabella:	I am loath to tell you what I would you knew.

Cleopatra fears the worst.

Cleopatra:	He'll lead me, then, in triumph?
Dolabella:	Madam, he will. I know't.

At this point, she tells another of her attendants, Iras, what will happen.

Cleopatra:	Now, Iras, what think'st thou? Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown In Rome as well as I, mechanic slaves With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers shall Uplift us to the view in their thick breaths, Rank of gross diet, shall be enclouded And forced to drink their vapor.
Iras:	The gods forbid!
Iras:	Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras. saucy lictors Will catch at us like strumpets and scald rhymers Ballad us out o' tune. The quick comedians Extemporally will stage us and present Our Alexandrian revels. Antony Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see Some squeaking Cleopatra boy5 my greatness.

Although the matter has been decided, but not yet has the manner. Then a guard announces that a "clown" has shown up.

Guard:	Here is a rural fellow That will not be denied your highness presence. He brings you figs.
Cleopatra:	Let him come in.

In his basket is not only figs.

Cleopatra:	Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there That kills and pains not?
Clown:	Truly, I have him, but I would not be the party that should desire you to touch him for his biting is immortal. Those that do die of it do seldom or never recover.

That tells us that back in ancient times people were really tough. If they died at least some recovered.

Well, we know the story. Cleopatra takes the snake - the "worm of Nilus" - and lets it bite her. So she dies.

Then the guards then burst in.

Guard:	Where is the queen?
Charmian:	Speak softly. Wake her not.
Guard:	Caesar hath sent...
Charmian:	Too slow a messenger.

Then Charmian lets the snake bite her and she dies, too. So the soothsayers prophecy was true - if only by a few minutes.

By now everyone's knows what they say about the best laid plans of mice and Caesars.

Guard:

Approach, ho! All's not well! Caesar's beguiled!

Everyone comes running in and wonders what the heck happened. The guard tells Caesar what he saw.

Guard:

O Caesar, This Charmian lived but now. She stood and spake. I found her trimming up the diadem On her dead mistress. Tremblingly she stood And on the sudden dropp'd.

Then Dolabella points out:

Dolabella:

Here, on her breast, There is a vent of blood and something blown The like is on her arm.

Then the guard notices something else.

Guard:

This is an aspic's trail and these fig-leaves Have slime6 upon them such as the aspic leaves Upon the caves of Nile.

Well, Caesar's no dummy.

Caesar

Most probable That so she died.

Naturally he has to have the last word and make it look like he's a good chap after all.

Caesar

She shall be buried by her Antony No grave upon the earth shall clip in it A pair so famous. High events as these Strike those that make them, and their story is No less in pity than his glory which Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall In solemn show attend this funeral.

And that's pretty much that.

References and Further Reading

The Tragedie of Anthonie, and Cleopatra, William Shakespeare (Author), Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard (Publishers), 1623.

Antony and Cleopatra, Folio I, 1623Internet Shakespeare Editions Randall Martin (Editor).

The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien, J. R. R. Tolkien, Houghton Mifflin, 1981.

"Reading Shakespeare’s Language: Antony and Cleopatra", Barbara Mowat and Paul Werstine, Folger Shakespeare Library.

"Antony and Cleopatra", enotes.

"Dates and Sources", Royal Shakespeare Company.

"Denarius (Coin) Portraying Mark Antony - 42 BCE, Issued by C. Vibius Varus, Minted in Rome", Art Institute of Chicago.

"The Appearance of Women on the English Stage", Theater Data Base, Reprint: Dictionary of the Drama, W. Davenport Adams, Lippincott (Publisher), 1904.