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Act 4, Scene 5 — Antony’s camp near Alexandria.
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Original
Faithful Conversational Text-message
The argument Antony learns that Enobarbus has defected to Caesar and immediately sends his friend's treasure after him, with a letter of kind farewell.
Trumpets sound. Enter Antony and Eros, a Soldier meeting them.
SOLDIER SOLDIER speaks

The gods make this a happy day to Antony!

The gods make this a happy day to Antony!

The gods make this a happy day to Antony!

the gods make this a happy day to antony!

ANTONY ≋ verse ANTONY speaks

Would thou and those thy scars had once prevailed

To make me fight at land!

Would thou and those thy scars had once prevailed To make me fight at land!

Would thou and those thy scars had once prevailed To make me fight at land!

would thou and those thy scars had once prevailed to make me fight at land!

SOLDIER ≋ verse SOLDIER speaks

Hadst thou done so,

The kings that have revolted and the soldier

That has this morning left thee would have still

Followed thy heels.

Hadst thou done so, The kings that have revolted and the soldier That has this morning left thee would have still Followed thy heels.

Hadst thou done so, The kings that have revolted and the soldier That has this morning left thee would have still Followed thy heels.

hadst thou done so, the kings that have revolted and the soldier that has this morning left thee would have still followed thy heels.

ANTONY ANTONY speaks

Who’s gone this morning?

Who’s gone this morning?

Who’s gone this morning?

who’s gone this morning?

SOLDIER ≋ verse SOLDIER speaks

Who?

One ever near thee. Call for Enobarbus,

He shall not hear thee, or from Caesar’s camp

Say “I am none of thine.”

Who? One ever near thee. Call for Enobarbus, He shall not hear thee, or from Caesar’s camp Say “I am none of thine.”

Who? One ever near thee. Call for Enobarbus, He shall not hear thee, or from Caesar’s camp Say “I am none of thine.”

who? one ever near thee. call for enobarbus, he shall not hear thee, or from caesar’s camp say “i am none of thine.”

ANTONY ANTONY speaks

What sayest thou?

What sayest thou?

What sayest thou?

what sayest thou?

SOLDIER ≋ verse SOLDIER speaks

Sir,

He is with Caesar.

Sir, He is with Caesar.

Sir, He is with Caesar.

sir, he is with caesar.

EROS ≋ verse EROS speaks

Sir, his chests and treasure

He has not with him.

Sir, his chests and treasure He has not with him.

Sir, his chests and treasure He has not with him.

sir, his chests and treasure he has not with him.

ANTONY ANTONY speaks

Is he gone?

Is he gone?

Is he gone?

is he gone?

SOLDIER SOLDIER speaks

Most certain.

Most certain.

Most certain.

most certain.

ANTONY ≋ verse ANTONY speaks

Go, Eros, send his treasure after. Do it.

Detain no jot, I charge thee. Write to him—

I will subscribe—gentle adieus and greetings.

Say that I wish he never find more cause

To change a master. O, my fortunes have

Corrupted honest men! Dispatch.—Enobarbus!

Go, Eros, send his treasure after. Do it. Detain no jot, I charge thee. Write to him— I will subscribe—gentle adieus and greetings. Say that I wish he never find more cause To change a master. O, my fortunes have Corrupted honest men! Dispatch.—Enobarbus!

Go, Eros, send his treasure after. Do it. Detain no jot, I charge thee. Write to him— I will subscribe—gentle adieus and greetings. Say that I wish he never find more cause To change a master. O, my fortunes have Corrupted honest men! Dispatch.—Enobarbus!

go, eros, send his treasure after. do it. detain no jot, i charge thee. write to him— i will subscribe—gentle adieus and greetings. say that i wish he

Why it matters Antony's response to Enobarbus's defection — sending back his treasure with a kind letter rather than rage — is one of the most devastating acts of generosity in the play. It will destroy Enobarbus.
🎭 Dramatic irony Antony blames himself — 'my fortunes have corrupted honest men' — but the audience knows Enobarbus is arguably the most honest man in the play. His departure is a rational response to a lost war, not corruption. Antony's self-blame is generous and also wrong.
[_Exeunt._]

The Reckoning

A scene of devastating generosity. Antony hears that his most trusted companion — Enobarbus — has gone to the enemy. His response is not rage but self-blame: 'O, my fortunes have corrupted honest men.' He sends the treasure Enobarbus left behind and writes him a warm farewell. This will kill Enobarbus more certainly than any punishment could.

If this happened today…

A CEO finds out his most trusted executive has quietly moved to the competitor. He doesn't call the lawyers. He calls the CFO: 'Send back everything he left behind. All of it. And write him a letter — from me. Wish him well.' He sets the phone down. 'I drove good people out. My mess, not his.' The executive, receiving the boxes and the letter, will never recover from this.

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