Antony and Cleopatra Act 3, Scene 1

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A plain in Syria.

(Ventidius strides in victoriously, along with Silius and other officers and soldiers. The dead body of Pacorus is being carried in front)

Ventidius: Now I’ve hit you, Parthia. Fate has made me the avenger of Marcus Crassus’ death. Carry the prince’s body in the front of our army. Your son, Pacorus, pays for the death of Marcus Crassus, King Orodes.

Silius: Noble Ventidius, while your sword is still warm with Parthian blood, you should chase after all the Parthian soldiers who are running away. Chase them down throughout Medea and Mesopotamia and wherever else they try to hide. Then your great captain, Antony, will reward you by making you ride in a chariot and putting flowers around your head.

Ventidius: Oh, Silius, Silius, I’ve done enough. It’s better for a man of low position, like myself, to not do too many great things. It’s better to leave some things undone than to do too much and become too famous while our captain’s away. Caesar and Antony’s officers have always done more than they have themselves. But Sossius, a man who used to be Antony’s lieutenant in Syria, as I am now, became too famous too quickly and so got on Antony’s bad list. Anyone who does more in a war than his captain does eventually becomes his captain’s captain and the commanding officers know that. That’s why they get rid of anyone who shows themselves to be too good. They don’t want that person to take their position. So if a soldier is too ambitious, it just ends up harming him in the end rather than gaining him anything. I could do more for Antonius, but he wouldn’t like it. It would just make him get rid of me.

Silius: Ventidius, you are truly more than just a soldier with a sword. You will write to Antony!

Ventidius: I will humbly tell him what we have done in his name. I’ll tell him how, with his banners outstretched and with the soldiers he pays well to fight for him, we have made the undefeated army of Parthia retreat.

Silius: Where is Antony now?

Ventidius: He was supposed to be heading to Athens. Let’s go there now. If we hurry, we can make it there before him. Come on, men!

(all exit)

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