Antony and Cleopatra Act 3, Scene 6

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Rome, Italy. Octavius Caesar’s house.

(Octavius Caesar, Agrippa, and Mecaenas enter)

Octavius Caesar: Antony looks down on Rome. He’s done all this and more in Egypt. Here’s what it was like: He and Cleopatra sat in the market in gold chairs on a silver platform. At their feet sat my brother, Caesarion, along with all the illegitimate children their lust has produced. Antony gave Cleopatra Egypt. He made her the absolute queen of lower Syria, Cyprus, and Lydia.

Mecaenas: He did all this in public?

Octavius Caesar: Right where the people usually exercise. He called his sons the kings of kings. He gave Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia to Alexander. And he gave Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia to Ptolemy. Cleopatra was dressed up like the goddess Isis. They say she dresses up like that fairly often.

Mecaenas: Let’s tell everyone in Rome about it.

Agrippa: The people are already sick of Antony’s disrespectful actions. They won’t think anything good about him now.

Octavius Caesar: The people know about it. And now they’ve heard about the accusations he’s making.

Agrippa: Who is he accusing?

Octavius Caesar: Me. He says that I didn’t give him his share of Sicily when we took over Pompey’s territory. Then he says that he lent me some ships that I haven’t returned. Finally, he’s making a big deal about Lepidus being kicked out and me keeping all Lepidus’ money.

Agrippa: Sir, you should answer Antony’s accusations.

Octavius Caesar: I already have. The messenger’s already on his way. I told Antony in my letter that Lepidus had become too cruel to be a ruler, that he was abusing his authority and so deserved to be taken out of power. I also told him that I would give him his part of what I have conquered, but that I demand he give me my part of Armenia and the other places he has conquered.

Mecaenas: Antony’ll never do that.

Octavius Caesar: Then we won’t give in to what he wants.

(Octavia enters with her servants)

Octavia: Hail Caesar, my lord! Hail most dear Caesar!

Octavius Caesar: How could I have ever called you a traitor?

Octavia: I’ve never heard you call me a traitor and you don’t have reason to now.

Octavius Caesar: Why have you come to us so quietly? You haven’t come like Caesar’s sister should. You should have announced that you were on your way and made a big deal out of it. And Antony’s wife should have an army escorting her and horses neighing to let everyone know that she’s coming. Long before you arrived, men should have been climbing trees to get a look at you and the dust from your many troops should have floated up into the skies. But here you are, coming to Rome like an ordinary peasant woman, and preventing us from greeting you properly. 

Octavia: My good lord, no one forced me to come like this. I did it of my own free will. My lord, Mark Antony, heard that you were preparing for war against him and told me all about it. Then I begged him to let me come back here.

Octavius Caesar: And he let you come, seeing that you are nothing but an obstacle between him and his lust for Cleopatra.

Octavia: Don’t say that, my lord.

Octavius Caesar: I have people watching him and my messengers tell me what he’s doing. Where is Antony now?

Octavia: He’s in Athens, my lord.

Octavius Caesar: No, my most wronged sister. Cleopatra has sent for him to come to her. He has given his empire to a whore and they are now gathering the kings of the earth to war against me. He has Bocchus, king of Libya, Archelaus, king of Caddadocia, Philadelphos, king of Paphlagonia, Adallas, king of Thrace, Malchus, king of Arabia, Herod, king of Judea, Mithradates, king of Comagene, Polemon and Amyntas, the kings of Mede and Lycaonia, and even more than that with him.

Octavia: Oh, I am the most miserable person. My heart is torn between two men I love!

Octavius Caesar: You are welcome here. Your letters were what kept us from attacking Antony. We had to wait until we knew that you weren’t on his side and until we knew how much danger we were in. Cheer up. Don’t worry about things you can’t help. Just let destiny take care of it all. Welcome to Rome. There is nothing I love more than Rome. Antony has taken advantage of you more than you can imagine. That is why the high gods will be on our side in this fight. Take comfort. I’m glad you’ve come back to me.

Agrippa: Welcome, lady.

Mecaenas: Welcome, dear madam. Everyone in Rome loves and pities you. It is only that cheating and adulterous Antony who has rejected you and given his army to a prostitute.

Octavia: Is it really true, sir?

Octavius Caesar: Most certainly. Welcome back, sister. Please just be patient. My dearest sister!

(all exit)

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