Your hostages I have, so have you mine,
And we shall talk before we fight.
Your hostages I have, so have you mine, And we shall talk before we fight.
Your hostages I have, so have you mine, And we shall talk before we fight.
your hostages i have, so have you mine, and we shall talk before we fight.
Most meet
That first we come to words, and therefore have we
Our written purposes before us sent,
Which if thou hast considered, let us know
If ’twill tie up thy discontented sword
And carry back to Sicily much tall youth
That else must perish here.
Most meet That first we come to words, and therefore have we Our written purposes before us sent, Which if thou hast considered, let us know If ’twill tie up thy discontented sword And carry back to Sicily much tall youth That else must perish here.
Most meet That first we come to words, and therefore have we Our written purposes before us sent, Which if thou hast considered, let us know If ’twill tie up thy discontented sword And carry back to Sicily much tall youth That else must perish here.
most meet that first we come to words, and therefore have we our written purposes before us sent, which if thou hast considered, let us know if ’twill
To you all three,
The senators alone of this great world,
Chief factors for the gods: I do not know
Wherefore my father should revengers want,
Having a son and friends, since Julius Caesar,
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted,
There saw you labouring for him. What was’t
That moved pale Cassius to conspire? And what
Made the all-honoured, honest Roman, Brutus,
With the armed rest, courtiers of beauteous freedom,
To drench the Capitol, but that they would
Have one man but a man? And that is it
Hath made me rig my navy, at whose burden
The angered ocean foams, with which I meant
To scourge th’ ingratitude that despiteful Rome
Cast on my noble father.
To you all three, The senators alone of this great world, Chief factors for the gods: I do not know Wherefore my father should revengers want, Having a son and friends, since Julius Caesar, Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted, There saw you labouring for him. What was’t That moved pale Cassius t...
To you all three, The senators alone of this great world, Chief factors for the gods: I do not know Wherefore my father should revengers want, Having a son and friends, since Julius Caesar, Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted, There saw you labouring for him. What was’t That moved pale Cassius t...
to you all three, the senators alone of this great world, chief factors for the gods: i do not know wherefore my father should revengers want, having
Take your time.
Take your time.
Take your time.
take your time.
Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails.
We’ll speak with thee at sea. At land thou know’st
How much we do o’ercount thee.
Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails. We’ll speak with thee at sea. At land thou know’st How much we do o’ercount thee.
Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails. We’ll speak with thee at sea. At land thou know’st How much we do o’ercount thee.
thou canst not fear us, pompey, with thy sails. we’ll speak with thee at sea. at land thou know’st how much we do o’ercount thee.
At land indeed
Thou dost o’ercount me of my father’s house;
But since the cuckoo builds not for himself,
Remain in’t as thou mayst.
At land indeed Thou dost o’ercount me of my father’s house; But since the cuckoo builds not for himself, Remain in’t as thou mayst.
At land indeed Thou dost o’ercount me of my father’s house; But since the cuckoo builds not for himself, Remain in’t as thou mayst.
at land indeed thou dost o’ercount me of my father’s house; but since the cuckoo builds not for himself, remain in’t as thou mayst.
Be pleased to tell us—
For this is from the present—how you take
The offers we have sent you.
Be pleased to tell us— For this is from the present—how you take The offers we have sent you.
Be pleased to tell us— For this is from the present—how you take The offers we have sent you.
be pleased to tell us— for this is from the present—how you take the offers we have sent you.
There’s the point.
There’s the point.
There’s the point.
there’s the point.
Which do not be entreated to, but weigh
What it is worth embraced.
Which do not be entreated to, but weigh What it is worth embraced.
Which do not be entreated to, but weigh What it is worth embraced.
which do not be entreated to, but weigh what it is worth embraced.
And what may follow
To try a larger fortune.
And what may follow To try a larger fortune.
And what may follow To try a larger fortune.
and what may follow to try a larger fortune.
You have made me offer
Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must
Rid all the sea of pirates; then to send
Measures of wheat to Rome. This ’greed upon,
To part with unhacked edges and bear back
Our targes undinted.
CAESAR, ANTONY, and LEPIDUS.
That’s our offer.
You have made me offer Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must Rid all the sea of pirates; then to send Measures of wheat to Rome. This ’greed upon, To part with unhacked edges and bear back Our targes undinted. CAESAR, ANTONY, and LEPIDUS. That’s our offer.
You have made me offer Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must Rid all the sea of pirates; then to send Measures of wheat to Rome. This ’greed upon, To part with unhacked edges and bear back Our targes undinted. CAESAR, ANTONY, and LEPIDUS. That’s our offer.
you have made me offer of sicily, sardinia; and i must rid all the sea of pirates; then to send measures of wheat to rome. this ’greed upon, to part w
Know, then,
I came before you here a man prepared
To take this offer. But Mark Antony
Put me to some impatience. Though I lose
The praise of it by telling, you must know
When Caesar and your brother were at blows,
Your mother came to Sicily and did find
Her welcome friendly.
Know, then, I came before you here a man prepared To take this offer. But Mark Antony Put me to some impatience. Though I lose The praise of it by telling, you must know When Caesar and your brother were at blows, Your mother came to Sicily and did find Her welcome friendly.
Know, then, I came before you here a man prepared To take this offer. But Mark Antony Put me to some impatience. Though I lose The praise of it by telling, you must know When Caesar and your brother were at blows, Your mother came to Sicily and did find Her welcome friendly.
know, then, i came before you here a man prepared to take this offer. but mark antony put me to some impatience. though i lose the praise of it by tel
I have heard it, Pompey,
And am well studied for a liberal thanks
Which I do owe you.
I have heard it, Pompey, And am well studied for a liberal thanks Which I do owe you.
I have heard it, Pompey, And am well studied for a liberal thanks Which I do owe you.
i have heard it, pompey, and am well studied for a liberal thanks which i do owe you.
Let me have your hand.
I did not think, sir, to have met you here.
Let me have your hand. I did not think, sir, to have met you here.
Let me have your hand. I did not think, sir, to have met you here.
let me have your hand. i did not think, sir, to have met you here.
The beds i’ th’ East are soft; and thanks to you,
That called me timelier than my purpose hither,
For I have gained by ’t.
The beds i’ th’ East are soft; and thanks to you, That called me timelier than my purpose hither, For I have gained by ’t.
The beds i’ th’ East are soft; and thanks to you, That called me timelier than my purpose hither, For I have gained by ’t.
the beds i’ th’ east are soft; and thanks to you, that called me timelier than my purpose hither, for i have gained by ’t.
Pompey's long speech invoking Brutus, Cassius, and the cause of liberty is his most sustained public argument in the play — and it doesn't quite work. His case is that he fights, like the assassins, to prevent any one man from being more than a man. But he's making this argument to the three most powerful men in the world, asking them to give him Sicily and Sardinia. The audience can feel the logic straining. Caesar's dismissal — 'Take your time' — is perfectly calibrated: it deflates the rhetoric without engaging it. Pompey is more comfortable with grievance than with strategy. His power is naval; his case is sentimental. Both are real but neither is enough.
Since I saw you last,
There is a change upon you.
Since I saw you last, There is a change upon you.
Since I saw you last, There is a change upon you.
since i saw you last, there is a change upon you.
Well, I know not
What counts harsh Fortune casts upon my face,
But in my bosom shall she never come
To make my heart her vassal.
Well, I know not What counts harsh Fortune casts upon my face, But in my bosom shall she never come To make my heart her vassal.
Well, I know not What counts harsh Fortune casts upon my face, But in my bosom shall she never come To make my heart her vassal.
well, i know not what counts harsh fortune casts upon my face, but in my bosom shall she never come to make my heart her vassal.
Well met here.
Well met here.
Well met here.
well met here.
I hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed.
I crave our composition may be written
And sealed between us.
I hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed. I crave our composition may be written And sealed between us.
I hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed. I crave our composition may be written And sealed between us.
i hope so, lepidus. thus we are agreed. i crave our composition may be written and sealed between us.
That’s the next to do.
That’s the next to do.
That’s the next to do.
that’s the next to do.
We’ll feast each other ere we part, and let’s
Draw lots who shall begin.
We’ll feast each other ere we part, and let’s Draw lots who shall begin.
We’ll feast each other ere we part, and let’s Draw lots who shall begin.
we’ll feast each other ere we part, and let’s draw lots who shall begin.
That will I, Pompey.
That will I, Pompey.
That will I, Pompey.
that will i, pompey.
No, Antony, take the lot.
But, first or last, your fine Egyptian cookery
Shall have the fame. I have heard that Julius Caesar
Grew fat with feasting there.
No, Antony, take the lot. But, first or last, your fine Egyptian cookery Shall have the fame. I have heard that Julius Caesar Grew fat with feasting there.
No, Antony, take the lot. But, first or last, your fine Egyptian cookery Shall have the fame. I have heard that Julius Caesar Grew fat with feasting there.
no, antony, take the lot. but, first or last, your fine egyptian cookery shall have the fame. i have heard that julius caesar grew fat with feasting t
You have heard much.
You have heard much.
You have heard much.
you have heard much.
I have fair meanings, sir.
I have fair meanings, sir.
I have fair meanings, sir.
i have fair meanings, sir.
And fair words to them.
And fair words to them.
And fair words to them.
and fair words to them.
Then so much have I heard.
And I have heard Apollodorus carried—
Then so much have I heard. And I have heard Apollodorus carried—
Then so much have I heard. And I have heard Apollodorus carried—
then so much have i heard. and i have heard apollodorus carried—
No more of that. He did so.
No more of that. He did so.
No more of that. He did so.
no more of that. he did so.
What, I pray you?
What, I pray you?
What, I pray you?
what, i pray you?
A certain queen to Caesar in a mattress.
A certain queen to Caesar in a mattress.
A certain queen to Caesar in a mattress.
a certain queen to caesar in a mattress.
I know thee now. How far’st thou, soldier?
I know thee now. How far’st thou, soldier?
I know thee now. How far’st thou, soldier?
i know thee now. how far’st thou, soldier?
Well;
And well am like to do, for I perceive
Four feasts are toward.
Well; And well am like to do, for I perceive Four feasts are toward.
Well; And well am like to do, for I perceive Four feasts are toward.
well; and well am like to do, for i perceive four feasts are toward.
Let me shake thy hand.
I never hated thee. I have seen thee fight
When I have envied thy behaviour.
Let me shake thy hand. I never hated thee. I have seen thee fight When I have envied thy behaviour.
Let me shake thy hand. I never hated thee. I have seen thee fight When I have envied thy behaviour.
let me shake thy hand. i never hated thee. i have seen thee fight when i have envied thy behaviour.
Of all the characters in Antony and Cleopatra, Enobarbus is the one who consistently sees clearly. He is a soldier whose intelligence runs through observation rather than loyalty, though loyalty matters to him too. In this scene, in a conversation with an enemy lieutenant, he delivers an analysis of the Antony-Caesar alliance that proves precisely accurate: the marriage will strangle the friendship. He knows this because he knows Antony. 'He will to his Egyptian dish again.' He says it without judgment, almost without emotion. This is what makes the later scenes so painful: Enobarbus sees what's coming, stays anyway, and is destroyed by the loyalty he couldn't entirely overcome.
Sir,
I never loved you much, but I ha’ praised ye
When you have well deserved ten times as much
As I have said you did.
Sir, I never loved you much, but I ha’ praised ye When you have well deserved ten times as much As I have said you did.
Sir, I never loved you much, but I ha’ praised ye When you have well deserved ten times as much As I have said you did.
sir, i never loved you much, but i ha’ praised ye when you have well deserved ten times as much as i have said you did.
Enjoy thy plainness;
It nothing ill becomes thee.
Aboard my galley I invite you all.
Will you lead, lords?
CAESAR, ANTONY, and LEPIDUS.
Show’s the way, sir.
Enjoy thy plainness; It nothing ill becomes thee. Aboard my galley I invite you all. Will you lead, lords? CAESAR, ANTONY, and LEPIDUS. Show’s the way, sir.
Enjoy thy plainness; It nothing ill becomes thee. Aboard my galley I invite you all. Will you lead, lords? CAESAR, ANTONY, and LEPIDUS. Show’s the way, sir.
enjoy thy plainness; it nothing ill becomes thee. aboard my galley i invite you all. will you lead, lords? caesar, antony, and lepidus. show’s the way
Come.
Come.
Come.
come.
You and I have known, sir.
You and I have known, sir.
You and I have known, sir.
you and i have known, sir.
At sea, I think.
At sea, I think.
At sea, I think.
at sea, i think.
We have, sir.
We have, sir.
We have, sir.
we have, sir.
You have done well by water.
You have done well by water.
You have done well by water.
you have done well by water.
And you by land.
And you by land.
And you by land.
and you by land.
I will praise any man that will praise me, though it cannot be denied
what I have done by land.
I will praise any man that will praise me, though it cannot be denied what I have done by land.
I will praise any man that will praise me, though it cannot be denied what I have done by land.
i will praise any man that will praise me, though it cannot be denied what i have done by land.
Nor what I have done by water.
Nor what I have done by water.
Nor what I have done by water.
nor what i have done by water.
Yes, something you can deny for your own safety: you have been a great
thief by sea.
Yes, something you can deny for your own safety: you have been a great thief by sea.
Yes, something you can deny for your own safety: you have been a great thief by sea.
yes, something you can deny for your own safety: you have been a great thief by sea.
And you by land.
And you by land.
And you by land.
and you by land.
There I deny my land service. But give me your hand, Menas. If our eyes
had authority, here they might take two thieves kissing.
There I deny my land service. But give me your hand, Menas. If our eyes had authority, here they might take two thieves kissing.
There I deny my land service. But give me your hand, Menas. If our eyes had authority, here they might take two thieves kissing.
there i deny my land service. but give me your hand, menas. if our eyes had authority, here they might take two thieves kissing.
All men’s faces are true, whatsome’er their hands are.
All men’s faces are true, whatsome’er their hands are.
All men’s faces are true, whatsome’er their hands are.
all men’s faces are true, whatsome’er their hands are.
But there is never a fair woman has a true face.
But there is never a fair woman has a true face.
But there is never a fair woman has a true face.
but there is never a fair woman has a true face.
No slander. They steal hearts.
No slander. They steal hearts.
No slander. They steal hearts.
no slander. they steal hearts.
Shakespeare designs this scene in two distinct halves with completely different tonal registers. The first half (001-039) is formal, ceremonial, full of careful language and public performance. Both sides speak for the record. The second half (041-073) — after the great men leave — drops into colloquial prose, direct speech, private candor. This structural technique is one of Shakespeare's most sophisticated devices: the official event, then the real conversation. The audience gets both versions of reality, and the gap between them is the play's argument. The deal is done and the alliance is sealed; also, the alliance is already over. Both things are true at once.
We came hither to fight with you.
We came hither to fight with you.
We came hither to fight with you.
we came hither to fight with you.
For my part, I am sorry it is turned to a drinking. Pompey doth this
day laugh away his fortune.
For my part, I am sorry it is turned to a drinking. Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune.
For my part, I am sorry it is turned to a drinking. Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune.
for my part, i am sorry it is turned to a drinking. pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune.
If he do, sure he cannot weep ’t back again.
If he do, sure he cannot weep ’t back again.
If he do, sure he cannot weep ’t back again.
if he do, sure he cannot weep ’t back again.
You have said, sir. We looked not for Mark Antony here. Pray you, is he
married to Cleopatra?
You have said, sir. We looked not for Mark Antony here. Pray you, is he married to Cleopatra?
You have said, sir. We looked not for Mark Antony here. Pray you, is he married to Cleopatra?
you have said, sir. we looked not for mark antony here. pray you, is he married to cleopatra?
Caesar’s sister is called Octavia.
Caesar’s sister is called Octavia.
Caesar’s sister is called Octavia.
caesar’s sister is called octavia.
True, sir. She was the wife of Caius Marcellus.
True, sir. She was the wife of Caius Marcellus.
True, sir. She was the wife of Caius Marcellus.
true, sir. she was the wife of caius marcellus.
But she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius.
But she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius.
But she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius.
but she is now the wife of marcus antonius.
Pray you, sir?
Pray you, sir?
Pray you, sir?
pray you, sir?
’Tis true.
’Tis true.
’Tis true.
’tis true.
Then is Caesar and he for ever knit together.
Then is Caesar and he for ever knit together.
Then is Caesar and he for ever knit together.
then is caesar and he for ever knit together.
If I were bound to divine of this unity, I would not prophesy so.
If I were bound to divine of this unity, I would not prophesy so.
If I were bound to divine of this unity, I would not prophesy so.
if i were bound to divine of this unity, i would not prophesy so.
I think the policy of that purpose made more in the marriage than the
love of the parties.
I think the policy of that purpose made more in the marriage than the love of the parties.
I think the policy of that purpose made more in the marriage than the love of the parties.
i think the policy of that purpose made more in the marriage than the love of the parties.
I think so too. But you shall find the band that seems to tie their
friendship together will be the very strangler of their amity. Octavia
is of a holy, cold, and still conversation.
I think so too. But you shall find the band that seems to tie their friendship together will be the very strangler of their amity. Octavia is of a holy, cold, and still conversation.
I think so too. But you shall find the band that seems to tie their friendship together will be the very strangler of their amity. Octavia is of a holy, cold, and still conversation.
i think so too. but you shall find the band that seems to tie their friendship together will be the very strangler of their amity. octavia is of a hol
Who would not have his wife so?
Who would not have his wife so?
Who would not have his wife so?
who would not have his wife so?
Not he that himself is not so; which is Mark Antony. He will to his
Egyptian dish again. Then shall the sighs of Octavia blow the fire up
in Caesar, and, as I said before, that which is the strength of their
amity shall prove the immediate author of their variance. Antony will
use his affection where it is. He married but his occasion here.
Not he that himself is not so; which is Mark Antony. He will to his Egyptian dish again. Then shall the sighs of Octavia blow the fire up in Caesar, and, as I said before, that which is the strength of their amity shall prove the immediate author of their variance. Antony will use his affection wher...
Not he that himself is not so; which is Mark Antony. He will to his Egyptian dish again. Then shall the sighs of Octavia blow the fire up in Caesar, and, as I said before, that which is the strength of their amity shall prove the immediate author of their variance. Antony will use his affection wher...
not he that himself is not so; which is mark antony. he will to his egyptian dish again. then shall the sighs of octavia blow the fire up in caesar, a
And thus it may be. Come, sir, will you aboard? I have a health for
you.
And thus it may be. Come, sir, will you aboard? I have a health for you.
And thus it may be. Come, sir, will you aboard? I have a health for you.
and thus it may be. come, sir, will you aboard? i have a health for you.
I shall take it, sir. We have used our throats in Egypt.
I shall take it, sir. We have used our throats in Egypt.
I shall take it, sir. We have used our throats in Egypt.
i shall take it, sir. we have used our throats in egypt.
Come, let’s away.
Come, let’s away.
Come, let’s away.
come, let’s away.
The Reckoning
The scene has two completely different registers. The first half is formal political theater — careful, guarded, all posturing and leverage. Pompey gets his deal but can't hide his bitterness about Antony living in his father's house. Antony gives him a graceful acknowledgment about his mother's refuge in Sicily. Then everyone boards the galley. The second half — Enobarbus and Menas talking frankly while the great men feast — is where the real analysis happens. Enobarbus destroys the peace treaty in about four sentences. He doesn't gloat. He's just right, and he knows it, and it costs him nothing because he said it only to Menas.
If this happened today…
Two companies just signed a major partnership agreement. The press conference was smooth. As the executives clear the lobby, two mid-level veterans from rival firms shake hands and light cigarettes outside. 'You think this holds?' 'Six months.' 'I'd say eight.' 'The CEO's already calling his ex.' 'Yeah. That's what I thought.' They both go inside.