Antony and Cleopatra

Act 4, Scene 6

Flourish. Enter AGRIPPA, and CAESAR, with ENOBARBUS and DOLABELLA

Trumpet fanfare. AGRIPPA and CAESAR enter with ENOBARBUS and DOLABELLA.

CAESAR

Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight.

Our will is Antony be took alive.

Make it so known.

CAESAR

Agrippa, go start the battle. We want Antony taken alive. Make sure everyone knows that.

AGRIPPA

Caesar, I shall.

AGRIPPA

I will, Caesar.

Exit

He exits.

CAESAR

The time of universal peace is near.

Prove this a prosp’rous day, the three-nooked world

Shall bear the olive freely.

CAESAR

An era of universal peace is about to start. If this battle goes well for us, there will be peace in all three corners of the world.

Enter a MESSENGER

A MESSENGER enters.

MESSENGER

Antony Is come into the field.

MESSENGER

Antony has come onto the battlefield.

CAESAR

Go charge Agrippa

Plant those that have revolted in the vant,

That Antony may seem to spend his fury

Upon himself.

CAESAR

Go order Agrippa to put the men who deserted Antony’s army at the front. That way Antony will feel like he’s fighting his own men.

Exeunt all but ENOBARBUS

Everyone exits except ENOBARBUS.

ENOBARBUS

Alexas did revolt and went to Jewry on

Affairs of Antony, there did dissuade

Great Herod to incline himself to Caesar

And leave his master Antony. For this pains

Caesar hath hanged 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.

ENOBARBUS

Alexas deserted. He went to Judea as if on Antony’s business, but he persuaded Herod to support Caesar instead. Caesar hanged him for this service. Canidius and the others that left Antony are given hospitality here but no positions of trust. I’ve done a bad thing, for which I will blame myself so much that I’ll never be happy again.

Enter a SOLDIER of Caesar’s

A SOLDIER of Caesar’s enters.

SOLDIER

Enobarbus, Antony

Hath after thee sent all thy treasure, with

His bounty overplus. The messenger

Came on my guard, and at thy tent is now

Unloading of his mules.

SOLDIER

Enobarbus, Antony has sent you all your treasure, with generous gifts besides. The messenger arrived on my watch and is unloading his mules at your tent.

ENOBARBUS

I give it you.

ENOBARBUS

It’s yours.

SOLDIER

Mock not, Enobarbus.

I tell you true. Best you safed the bringer

Out of the host. I must attend mine office,

Or would have done ’t myself. Your Emperor

Continues still a Jove.

SOLDIER

Don’t joke about this, Enobarbus. I’m telling you the truth. You’d better bring the messenger safely through the lines so he can return. I’d do it myself, but I can’t leave my post. Your Emperor is still a king among gods.

Exit

He exits.

ENOBARBUS

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.

ENOBARBUS

I am the worst person alive, and I know it the best. Oh, Antony, you extravagantly generous man, how would you have rewarded me for serving you faithfully when you reward my badness with all of this gold! My heart feels like it’s about to explode. If grief doesn’t kill me, I’ll find a quicker way to kill myself—even though I think grief will do the job just as well. I, fight against you, Antony? No, I’ll go find some ditch to die in. The foulest fate would be most appropriate for me now in this latest phase of my life.

Exit

He exits.