William Shakespeare: Antony and Cleopatra, Act IV

Updated September 23, 2019 | Infoplease Staff

Act IV

Scene I

Before Alexandria. Octavius Caesar's camp

Enter Octavius Caesar, Agrippa, and Mecaenas, with his Army; Octavius Caesar reading a letter

Octavius Caesar

He calls me boy; and chides, as he had power
To beat me out of Egypt; my messenger
He hath whipp'd with rods; dares me to personal combat,
Caesar to Antony: let the old ruffian know
I have many other ways to die; meantime
Laugh at his challenge.

Mecaenas

Caesar must think,
When one so great begins to rage, he's hunted
Even to falling. Give him no breath, but now
Make boot of his distraction: never anger
Made good guard for itself.

Octavius Caesar

Let our best heads
Know, that to-morrow the last of many battles
We mean to fight: within our files there are,
Of those that served Mark Antony but late,
Enough to fetch him in. See it done:
And feast the army; we have store to do't,
And they have earn'd the waste. Poor Antony!

Exeunt

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