The Shakespeare Book

279

soldiers tries to persuade his master

to murder his guests. Pompey

ignores this advice, and spends the

evening drinking with his former

enemies. Enobarbus says that

Antony’s allegiance to Cleopatra

will remain strong, despite his

political reunion with Caesar.

Antony returns to Egypt without

his new bride. Caesar is angered

by Antony’s neglect of Octavia

and declares war. Antony’s soldiers

argue that they should fight

Caesar on land, but Cleopatra

persuades him to fight at sea.

She flees the battle, and is

followed closely by Antony,

bringing dishonor to his soldiers

and his own reputation.

Antony’s soldiers begin to lose

faith in their general, and his loyal

companion Enobarbus defects to

Caesar’s side. Antony is defeated

for a second time and blames

Cleopatra for the loss. Fearing for

her safety, she sends Antony news

that she has died, not anticipating

that Antony will respond by

seeking to commit suicide himself.

He fails to kill himself, and his

soldier Eros takes his own life

rather than aid his master’s death.

THE KING’S MAN

Act 3 Act 4

News arrives that Cleopatra had

feigned her death and is sheltering

in a monument. Antony asks to

be taken to her and warns her

against Caesar before he dies.

Cleopatra discovers Caesar’s

plan to parade her through Rome.

She determines to take her own life,

and calls for a poisonous snake to

be brought to her. She dresses in

her majestic robes before placing

the snake to her breast, and dies

in the company of one of her maids.

Caesar arrives to find Cleopatra

dead, and orders that she and

Antony be buried together. ❯❯

2.6

3.3 3.10 4 .15

3.6 3.13 4 .16

A peace treaty between
Rome and Sextus Pompey
is celebrated with a
banquet aboard
Pompey’s boat.

Cleopatra is pleased

with news that

Antony’s new bride is

shorter than her, but

angered by reports

that she is younger.

Antony takes Cleopatra’s

advice, against his better

judgment, and fights

Caesar at sea. He loses.

Defeated in battle,

Antony scorns

Cleopatra, who

sends word that

she has taken her

own life.

Octavia returns to

Rome unaccompanied,

provoking Caesar to

declare war upon

Antony.

A messenger from

Caesar tries to

persuade Cleopatra

to leave Antony.

Antony has the

messenger whipped.

Antony dies in Cleopatra’s

arms, having stabbed himself

believing that she is dead.

5.2

Cleopatra commits

suicide with the aid of

an asp’s poisonous

bite. Caesar arrives to

find the queen and her

maids all dead.

Act 5