“Anthony and Cleopatra” by Shakespeare in brief
In Alexandria, the triumvir Marc Anthony is entangled in the silk nets of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra and gives himself up to love and revelry. Supporters of Antony grumble: “One of the main three pillars of the universe / On the position of the woman’s buffoon”. Yet Anthony decides to leave Egypt after learning that his wife Fulvia, who rebelled against the second triumvir, Octavius Caesar, died and that Sextus Pompey, son of Pompey the Great, threw Caesar a challenge. Upon learning of this decision, the queen sheds Antonia with reproaches and ridicule, but he is unshakable. Then Cleopatra humble: “You are being called off honor. / Please be deaf to my quirks.” Antony is softened and gently says goodbye to his beloved.
In Rome there are two triumvirs. Caesar and Lepidus, discuss the behavior of Antony. Lepidus tries to recall the merits of the absent co-ruler, but the calculating and cold Caesar finds no excuses for him. He is preoccupied
The abandoned Cleopatra finds no place in the palace. She scolds maidservants, not enough, in her opinion, admiring Antony, recalls the affectionate nicknames he gave her. Every day she sends messengers to her beloved and rejoices at every news from him.
Pompey, surrounded by his comrades-in-arms, expresses the hope that Antony, charmed by Cleopatra, will never come to the aid of his allies. However, he is informed that Antony is about to enter Rome. Pompey is distressed: Antony “as a soldier is twice as large as two of his friends.”
In the house of Lepidus, Caesar accuses Antonia of insulting his messengers and of the fact that he was driving Fulvia to war with him. Lepidus and the proxies of both triumvirs vainly try to reconcile them, while Agrippa, Caesar’s military leader, does not come with a happy thought: to marry the widowed Antony on Caesar’s sister Octavius: “Relation will give you confidence in each other.” Anthony agrees: “I’m
The Egyptian soothsayer persuades Antony to leave Rome. He feels: the demon-guardian of his master is “lucky and great, / But only far from Cesarev’s spirit…”. Antony himself understands this: “To Egypt, I marry for silence, / But happiness for me only in the East.”
In Alexandria, Cleopatra gives joyful memories of life with Antony. The messenger comes in. Cleopatra, learning that Antony is healthy, is ready to shower him with pearls, but when he hears about the marriage of Antony, he almost kills the messenger.
Young Pompey agrees to come to terms with the triumvirs on their terms out of respect for Antony. The world decided to celebrate the feasts. The first one is on the Pompey galley. When the leaders leave, the approached Pompey Menas tells Enobarba: “Today Pompey will make his own happiness.” Enobarb agrees with him. They both believe that the marriage of Antony will not lead to a long peace with Caesar and will not be durable: everyone would be happy with such a wife as Octavia, with a holy, quiet and calm nature, just not Antony. “He again wants an Egyptian dish.” And then the one that brings Antony and Caesar closer will be the culprit of their quarrel.
At the feast, when everyone was already drunk and fun in full swing, Menas suggests Pompey to quietly go out into the sea and cut the throats of his three enemies. So Pompey will become the master of the universe. “You’d better do it yourself without asking,” says Pompey. He could approve of the diligence of the approximate, but he will not go to baseness himself. Negative teetotaler Caesar wants to stop the feast. At parting, Antony and Enobarb make everyone dance. The last bowl of Pompey and Antony agree to have a drink on the beach.
In Rome, Caesar cordially bids farewell to his sister and Antony, who are leaving for Athens. The commanders of both triumvirs mockingly comment on the scene of the wires.
In Alexandria, Cleopatra asks the messenger about the appearance of his wife Anthony. Learned bitter experience messenger in every way belittles the virtues of Octavia – and is awarded praise.
Anthony escorts his wife to Rome. He lists the wrongs caused to him by Caesar, and asks Octavia to mediate in reconciliation. Enobarb and squire Anthony, Eros, discuss the news: Pompey killed, Lepidus, whom Caesar took advantage of against Pompey, was accused by Caesar of treason and arrested. “Now the whole world is like two dog maws. / Than just feed them, it’s all the same / One will eat another.” Antony is furious. The war with Caesar is a decided matter.
In Rome, Caesar and his commanders are pondering the defiant actions of Antony and his retaliatory measures. Appeared Octavia tries to justify her husband, but the brother tells her that Antony left her for Cleopatra and enlists supporters for the war.
Caesar lightly moves troops to Greece. Antony, contrary to the advice of Enobarb, the commander of the land forces of Canidius and even a simple legionnaire, with whom he talks in a friendly manner, decides to fight at sea. Cleopatra also participates in the campaign, which is why Canidius notices: “Our leader / On someone else’s hands lead. / We are all here female servants.” In the midst of sea battle, the ships of Cleopatra turned back and raced off, and “Antony threw an unresolved fight / And rushed like a drake behind a duck.” Canidius with the army is forced to surrender.
Anthony in Alexandria. He is depressed and advises his entourage to go to Caesar and wants to give them a generous farewell. He reproaches Cleopatra for his humiliation. The queen, sobbing, asks forgiveness – and forgiven. “At the sight of your tears ceases / To disturb the rest.” To Caesar, who is already in Egypt, Anthony sends the teacher of his children – there is no one else. His requests are modest – to allow him to live in Egypt or even “pass his age in Athens.” Cleopatra asks to leave the Egyptian crown for her offspring. Caesar refuses the request to Antony, and Cleopatra reports that he will meet her if she drives out Antonia or executes him. He sends Tirey to lure the queen to his side with any promises. “There are no persistent women even in days of success, / And in a mountain and a vestal is unreliable.”
Anthony, learning about the answer of Caesar, again sends him a teacher, this time with a challenge to the duel. Hearing this, Enobarb says: “O Caesar, you not only defeated / Antony’s troops, but also the mind,” enters Tirey. Cleopatra willingly listens to his promises and even gives a hand for a kiss. Anthony sees this and tells the envoy to be whipped in fury. He maliciously reproaches Cleopatra for debauchery. How could she give a hand, “sacred as an imperial oath,” a crook! But Cleopatra swears in love, and Antony believes. He is ready to join Caesar and win it, but for now he wants to have a feast to cheer up those who are dejected. Enobarb watches sadly as close people and mind leave his boss. He, too, is ready to leave him.
Antony is in friendly conversation with the servants, thanks to their loyalty. Sentries in front of the palace hear the sounds of oboes from the ground. This is a bad sign – the patron of Anthony, the god Hercules leaves him. Before the battle, Antony learns about the betrayal of Enobarb. He orders to send him the abandoned property and a letter with the wish of success. Enobarb is broken by his own meanness and magnanimity of Antony. He refuses to participate in the battle and by the end of the day he dies with the name of the leader on their lips betrayed by him. The battle is progressing successfully for Antony, but on the second day of the battle the treason of the Egyptian fleet tears the victory out of his hands. Antony is sure that Cleopatra sold it to her rival. Seeing the queen, he attacks her with furious accusations and is so frightened that, on the advice of the servant, Cleopatra locks herself in the tomb and tells Antonia that she committed suicide. Now Antony does not need to live. He asks Eros to stab him. But the faithful squire is killed himself. Then Antony rushes to his sword. Sent from the queen is late. Mortally wounded Anthony orders the bodyguards to take themselves to Cleopatra. He comforts the grief-stricken soldiers. Dying, Antony tells Cleopatra of his love and advises him to seek protection from Caesar. The queen is inconsolable and gathers, after burying her lover, to follow his example.
Caesar in his camp will learn of the death of Antony. His first motivation was to pay tribute to the former comrade in sincere and sorrowful words. But with the usual rationality, he immediately turns to business. Caesar’s associate, Proculey, was sent to Cleopatra with generous assurances and an order to by all means keep the queen from suicide. But another Caesar’s approximate, Dolabella, reveals the true plans of Proculea grieving for the beloved queen. She will have to take part in the triumph of the winner. Enter Caesar. Cleopatra kneels before him and shows her treasure list. Her treasurer reveals the former lady in a lie: the list is far from complete. Caesar pretenses to console the queen and promises to leave her all the property. Upon his departure, Cleopatra orders the maidens to dress her magnificently. She remembers the first meeting with Antony. Now she again hurries to him. On the order of the queen, a certain villager is brought into the chambers. He brought a basket with figs, and in a basket – two poisonous snakes. Cleopatra kisses faithful maids and puts a snake to her breast with the words: “Well, my robber, / Cut your sharp teeth / tight knot of life.” She puts the other snake to her hand. “Anthony, that delay me…” Both ministers end up with them in the same way. Returned Caesar orders to bury the queen next to Antony, “… fate of the victims / In the offspring awaken the same respect / As the winners.” / Cut with your sharp teeth / tight knot of the knot. “She puts the other snake to her hand.” Anthony! To delay me… “Both ministers end up with them in the same way.” Returned Caesar orders to bury the queen next to Antony, “… the fate of the victims / In the offspring awaken the same respect / As the winners.” / Cut with your sharp teeth / tight knot of the knot. “She puts the other snake to her hand.” Anthony! To delay me… “Both ministers end up with them in the same way.” Returned Caesar orders to bury the queen next to Antony, “… the fate of the victims / In the offspring awaken the same respect / As the winners.”
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