Mark Antony, who had become one of the three rulers of the Roman Empire after the death of Julius Caesar, commands the eastern Mediterranean. He has become infatuated with Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, but on hearing of the death of his wife, Fulvia, and the rebellion of Sextus Pompey against his fellow triumvir Octavius Caesar, Antony is forced to leave for Rome with his friend Enobarbus.

In Rome Antony patches up his differences with Octavius and their friendship is cemented with a political marriage to Octavia, Caesar's sister. Enobarbus refuses to believe Antony will desert Cleopatra and tells his Roman friends about the Egyptian court, while the triumvirs, including Lepidus, make peace with Pompey who entertains them on his ship in the harbour. During the feast Pompey refuses to allow his men to murder the triumvirate.

Cleopatra receives the news of Antony's marriage but after a fit of rage and jealousy she realises Octavia offers no sexual challenge. Antony and Octavia reach Athens before he learns that Caesar has attacked Pompey after all and Octavia is sent to try to renew peace, while Antony goes on to Egypt.

Reunited with Cleopatra, Antony restores her power and Caesar, disgusted by Antony's treatment of Octavia, declares war on Antony and Cleopatra. Antony decides, despite Enobarbus's advice, to fight at sea at Actium. Enobarbus, rejected by Antony, deserts him and dies quietly, alone. In the battle Cleopatra's ships flee from the Roman fleet and Antony is defeated.

Cleopatra fears Antony's anger at her cowardice and takes refuge in her monument sending false word that she is dead. Antony is devastated by the news and resolves to die. When his servant, Eros, commits suicide rather than kill his master Antony falls on his own sword and is mortally wounded. He is taken up into the monument by Cleopatra and her waiting women, Charmian and Iras, and he dies in Cleopatra's arms.

Cleopatra cannot bear the thought of being a prisoner of the Romans and when Caesar believes she is safely his, she has a countryman bring her poisonous snakes in a basket. Charmian and Iras dress their Queen in her state robes before she lays an asp on her body and dies, along with her women. Caesar, finding them, orders that Antony and Cleopatra should be buried together before he returns to Rome as Emperor.

The story of Antony and Cleopatra was taken from Sir Thomas North's translation of Plutarch published in 1579. The play was written about 1606 and was first published in 1623.

Marian J. Pringle
Special Collections Librarian