Antony and Cleopatra Act 4, Scene 5

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Alexandria, Egypt. Mark Antony’s camp.

(Trumpets sound. Mark Antony and Eros enter as a Soldier walks over to meet them)

Soldier: May the gods bless you today!

Mark Antony: I wish you and your battle-scars would have convinced me to fight on land before.

Soldier: If you had fought on land rather than on the sea, then the other kings, and the soldiers who deserted you this morning, would still be following you.

Mark Antony: Who deserted me this morning?

Soldier: Who? One of your closest friends. Call for Enobarbus. He won’t hear you. Or if he does hear you, he’ll hear you from Caesar’s camp and say, “I am not your soldier anymore.”

Mark Antony: What are you saying?

Soldier: Sir, Domitius Enobarbus has gone over to Caesar.

Eros: Sir, he hasn’t taken any of his things.

Mark Antony: Is he really gone?

Soldier: Most certainly.

Mark Antony: Eros, send his things to him. Do it. Send all of it. And write him a letter – I’ll sign it – with gentle greetings and goodbyes. Say that I hope he never has a reason to change his allegiance again. Oh, my bad luck has made honest men into traitors! Go. Enobarbus!

(all exit)

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