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Near Actium, Greece. Mark Antony’s camp.
(Cleopatra and Domitius Enobarbus enter)
Cleopatra: Make no mistake, I’ll get even with you.
Domitius Enobarbus: But why, why, why?
Cleopatra: Because you keep saying it’s not right for me to be here and taking part in this war.
Domitius Enobarbus: Well, is it? Is it?
Cleopatra: This war is because I’ve been insulted. Why shouldn’t I be here?
Domitius Enobarbus: (to himself) For the same reason we don’t let our soldiers ride a mix of male and female horses. The male horses would be constantly distracted. The female horses would have to walk with a man and a horse on her back.
Cleopatra: What did you say?
Domitius Enobarbus: I said your presence here is distracting Antony. He doesn’t have time to be thinking about you when he should be thinking about the war. People are already saying he spends too much time having fun. People in Rome are saying that the eunuch, Photinus, and your servant women are in charge.
Cleopatra: I hope Rome sinks into the earth and let everyone’s tongues rot out of their mouths who say such things! We have a responsibility in the war and, as the head of my kingdom, I will represent her here just as any man would. Don’t say I can’t because I will not stay behind.
Domitius Enobarbus: I won’t say anything. I give up. Here comes the emperor.
(Mark Antony and Canidius enter)
Mark Antony: Isn’t it strange, Canidius, that Caesar could cross the Ionian sea from Tarentum and Brundusium and take Toryne so quickly? (to Cleopatra) Have you heard about that,my sweet?
Cleopatra: People who aren’t careful are the ones who like to go to the fastest.
Mark Antony: That’s a good insult. Even the best of men can get in too much of a hurry sometimes. Canidius, we will fight Caesar by sea.
Cleopatra: By sea? What’s next?
Canidius: Why do you want to fight him at sea?
Mark Antony: Because he dares us to.
Domitius Enobarbus: And you’ve dared him to fight you one on one.
Canidius: And you’ve dared him to battle at Pharsalia, the same place Caesar fought with Pompey. But he’s refused to take you up on these dares because he knows he won’t have any advantage in those situations. You should refuse his challenge now.
Domitius Enobarbus: Your sailors aren’t very good. In fact, they’re not real sailors at all. They’re farmers and shepherds. They were impressed by you and want to serve you, but they’re not seamen yet. Caesar has men who have fought against Pompey’s navy. Their ships are fast and yours are slow. It would be nothing against your honor if you refused to fight him by sea. That’s not where your strong point is. You’re strong on land.
Mark Antony: No, we’ll fight him by sea, by sea.
Domitius Enobarbus: Then, most worthy sir, you are throwing away your superior fighting force on land, your own famous knowledge of land battles, your best chance of winning against him, and you’re leaving everything up to luck.
Mark Antony: I’ll fight at sea.
Cleopatra: I have sixty ships. They’re as good as anything Caesar has.
Mark Antony: We’ll burn our extra ships and put as many men as we can on the rest. Then we’ll beat Caesar as he sails around to Actium. If we fail to beat him at sea, then we’ll beat him on land. (a Messenger enters) What is it?
Messenger: The news is true, my lord. Caesar has conquered Toryne. We’ve seen him.
Mark Antony: Is he there in person? He can’t be. Canidius, you’re in charge of our land troops. We’re going to the ships. Let’s go, Cleopatra, my Thetis, my goddess of the sea. (a Soldier enters) How are things, worthy soldier?
Soldier: Oh, noble emperor, do not fight by sea. Don’t trust water-logged and rotten wood. Do you doubt the strength of my sword and my bravery? Look at these wounds. I didn’t get them by running away from battle. Let the Egyptians and the Phoenicians play like they’re ducks in the water. We’re used to conquering, standing on the ground, and fighting man to man.
Mark Antony: (ignoring him) That’s all very good, soldier. Let’s go!
(Mark Antony, Cleopatra, and Domitius Enobarbus exit)
Soldier: By Hercules, I think I’m in the right on this one.
Canidius: You are, soldier. But Antony’s not in control of his actions. Our leader’s being led and we are all following a woman.
Soldier: You’re in charge of the whole land force, aren’t you?
Canidius: Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius, Publicola, and Caelius are the commanders at sea. But yes, I am in charge by land. I can’t believe how fast Caesar is moving.
Soldier: While he was in Rome, he sent his troops out in so many different directions that our spies didn’t know what to think.
Canidius: Do you know who Caesar’s second-in-command is?
Soldier: They say his name’s Taurus.
Canidius: I know him well.
(a Messenger enters)
Messenger: Emperor Antony is calling for you, Canidius.
Canidius: Everytime there’s something new to report, everyone treats it like it’s as important as a woman giving birth. But we get news every minute.
(all exit)
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