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Act 3, Scene 9 — Another part of the Plain.
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Original
Faithful Conversational Text-message
The argument Antony positions his squadrons on a hill overlooking Caesar's forces to monitor the sea battle before acting.
Enter Antony and Enobarbus.
ANTONY ≋ verse ANTONY speaks

Set we our squadrons on yon side o’ th’ hill

In eye of Caesar’s battle, from which place

We may the number of the ships behold

And so proceed accordingly.

Set we our squadrons on yon side o’ th’ hill In eye of Caesar’s battle, from which place We may the number of the ships behold And so proceed accordingly.

Set we our squadrons on yon side o’ th’ hill In eye of Caesar’s battle, from which place We may the number of the ships behold And so proceed accordingly.

set we our squadrons on yon side o’ th’ hill in eye of caesar’s battle, from which place we may the number of the ships behold and so proceed accordin

🎭 Dramatic irony Antony says they will observe the battle and 'proceed accordingly.' What the hill will show them — immediately — is Cleopatra's fleet turning and fleeing, and then Antony's own ship following. Proceed accordingly means something he doesn't expect.
[_Exeunt._]

The Reckoning

A brief tactical positioning — Antony at least has a plan for observation before engagement. The contrast with what is about to happen makes these four lines quietly ironic: he will have a view of the battle, but the view will show him his own destruction.

If this happened today…

Two lines before the crisis begins. A general checking his screens before the operation starts. Everything still orderly.

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