Antony and Cleopatra

Cleopatra summons back the messenger that she earlier struck and interrogates him about Octavia. After he reports that Octavia is shorter than her with a quiet voice and a humble bearing, Cleopatra is relieved and decides that Antony will not fall in love with her. She apologizes to the messenger and promises to reward him well.

Meanwhile, Antony learns that Caesar has declared war against Pompey again, despite the treaty, and has given speeches that glorify himself while neglecting to mention Antony. In response, Antony has decided to raise an army and oppose Caesar. Octavia laments that this puts her in an impossible position since she has a duty to love both her brother and husband, and she fears that a war between Caesar and Antony would be incredibly destructive for Rome. Antony tells her to follow her heart and return to her brother if she would prefer to do so.

Enobarbus receives the news that after Lepidus helped Caesar to make war against Pompey, Caesar has imprisoned Lepidus, using letters that he previously wrote to Pompey as evidence to condemn him. Enobarbus predicts that now that Antony and Caesar have no one to stand between them, they will go to war against each other.

Later, Caesar and his servants discuss how Antony has returned to Egypt and has awarded lands that should rightfully belong to Rome as kingdoms for his illegitimate children with Cleopatra. Octavia arrives from Athens, hoping to reconcile her brother and Antony. Caesar disparages Antony for dishonoring his sister by having her arrive without fanfare or honor. He tells Octavia that Antony has deceived her, returning to Cleopatra in Egypt when she believed him to be remaining in Athens.

Cleopatra declares that she will fight in the battle alongside Antony, although Enobarbus protests and claims that the presence of women in a fight will distract the men. Antony hears that Caesar has sent a fleet of ships to attack and decides to engage them in a naval battle, even though his sailors are inferior fighters. A Roman soldier begs him to wait and only fight Caesar on land where he will have the advantage, but Antony rashly proclaims that he will fight the naval battle first and then a battle on land after if necessary.

Meanwhile, Caesar tells his commander Taurus not to attack by land at all and to fight only at sea. He knows that his fate depends upon this gambit.

Antony goes to command his forces at sea while Canidius remains to command his troops on land. During the battle, Cleopatra impulsively flees from the battle for no good reason, and Antony follows her. The soldiers lament that all is lost now because Antony sacrificed his good soldiership in favor of following his love. Canidius decides to surrender Antony’s land army to Caesar.

Antony distributes his treasure among his remaining army, telling his soldiers to flee and surrender to Caesar. He is deeply ashamed that he has lost his reputation and his honor as a commander because of his cowardly flight from the battle. Cleopatra tries to comfort him, telling him that she did not realize he would follow her if she left. He tells her that she is his conqueror and his sword is entirely at her command. They comfort themselves with wine and food.

Antony’s ambassador, a lowly schoolmaster, comes to Caesar and asks him to allow Antony to remain in Egypt or else go live as a private citizen in Athens if he surrenders. He asks that Cleopatra’s Ptolemaic heirs be allowed to rule Egypt again. Caesar refuses Antony’s request, but is willing to allow Cleopatra to remain ruler of Egypt if she banishes or kills Antony. As the ambassador leaves, Caesar commands Thidias to go to Cleopatra and flatter her, offering her the opportunity to betray Antony in exchange for gentler treatment.

Back at Antony’s camp, Antony plots to challenge Caesar to a one-on-one swordfight, hoping to goad him into accepting by mocking his youth. Thidias arrives with a private message for Cleopatra, telling her that Caesar is willing to believe that she only followed Antony out of fear for herself, rather than love. Cleopatra seems poised to agree, when Antony barges in and furiously commands Thidias to be whipped for this insolent message.

Antony decides that he will reform his army and navy and fight Caesar. Cleopatra is encouraged that Antony is acting more like himself again. They plan a final night of revelry and pleasure before the battle. Enobarbus, however, decides to betray Antony and go to Caesar’s side, believing that his lord has lost his rationality and will surely lose the war.