feat_summary_path: finished_summaries/shmoop/The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra/section_13_part_0.txt
feat_book_id: The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra.act iii.scene ii
feat_summary_id: act iii, scene ii
feat_summary: {"name": "Act III, Scene ii", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20210116191009/https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/antony-cleopatra/summary/act-iii-scene-ii", "summary": "Back at Caesar's house in Rome, Enobarbus and Agrippa talk while the rest of the group work out the details of the truce and its aftermath: Pompey has already left, Antony will take Octavia and go back to Athens, Caesar is sad to see them go, and Lepidus is pitifully hung over. Enobarbus and Agrippa go back and forth, gently mocking Lepidus about whether he loves Antony or Caesar better. They decide he's the beetle in the center, and the other two men his wings on either side. Clearly, Lepidus is a joke. Just then, Lepidus, Antony, Caesar, and Octavia enter the scene. They're about to say their big goodbyes before they part ways, and Caesar bids Antony to take care of his sister, whose love will seal the bond between the two men. Octavia bids her brother a teary goodbye, and asks to speak to him in his ear. Hearing her words, Enobarbus and Agrippa worry Caesar will cry, as he wept at Philippi over Brutus. Instead, Caesar responds to Octavia's secret plea that he'll think of her and be in touch often. Caesar gives the couple a final blessing, and all exit.", "analysis": ""}
text: SCENE II.
  
  Rome. CAESAR'S house
  
          Enter AGRIPPA at one door, ENOBARBUS at another
  
    AGRIPPA. What, are the brothers parted?
    ENOBARBUS. They have dispatch'd with Pompey; he is gone;
      The other three are sealing. Octavia weeps
      To part from Rome; Caesar is sad; and Lepidus,
      Since Pompey's feast, as Menas says, is troubled
      With the green sickness.
    AGRIPPA. 'Tis a noble Lepidus.
    ENOBARBUS. A very fine one. O, how he loves Caesar!
    AGRIPPA. Nay, but how dearly he adores Mark Antony!
    ENOBARBUS. Caesar? Why he's the Jupiter of men.
    AGRIPPA. What's Antony? The god of Jupiter.
    ENOBARBUS. Spake you of Caesar? How! the nonpareil!
    AGRIPPA. O, Antony! O thou Arabian bird!
    ENOBARBUS. Would you praise Caesar, say 'Caesar'- go no
  further.
    AGRIPPA. Indeed, he plied them both with excellent praises.
    ENOBARBUS. But he loves Caesar best. Yet he loves Antony.
      Hoo! hearts, tongues, figures, scribes, bards, poets, cannot
  
      Think, speak, cast, write, sing, number- hoo!-
      His love to Antony. But as for Caesar,
      Kneel down, kneel down, and wonder.
    AGRIPPA. Both he loves.
    ENOBARBUS. They are his shards, and he their beetle. [Trumpets
        within] So-
      This is to horse. Adieu, noble Agrippa.
    AGRIPPA. Good fortune, worthy soldier, and farewell.
  
             Enter CAESAR, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, and OCTAVIA
  
    ANTONY. No further, sir.
    CAESAR. You take from me a great part of myself;
      Use me well in't. Sister, prove such a wife
      As my thoughts make thee, and as my farthest band
      Shall pass on thy approof. Most noble Antony,
      Let not the piece of virtue which is set
      Betwixt us as the cement of our love
      To keep it builded be the ram to batter
      The fortress of it; for better might we
      Have lov'd without this mean, if on both parts
      This be not cherish'd.
    ANTONY. Make me not offended
      In your distrust.
    CAESAR. I have said.
    ANTONY. You shall not find,
      Though you be therein curious, the least cause
      For what you seem to fear. So the gods keep you,
      And make the hearts of Romans serve your ends!
      We will here part.
    CAESAR. Farewell, my dearest sister, fare thee well.
      The elements be kind to thee and make
      Thy spirits all of comfort! Fare thee well.
    OCTAVIA. My noble brother!
    ANTONY. The April's in her eyes. It is love's spring,
      And these the showers to bring it on. Be cheerful.
    OCTAVIA. Sir, look well to my husband's house; and-
    CAESAR. What, Octavia?
    OCTAVIA. I'll tell you in your ear.
    ANTONY. Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can
      Her heart inform her tongue- the swan's down feather,
      That stands upon the swell at the full of tide,
      And neither way inclines.
    ENOBARBUS. [Aside to AGRIPPA] Will Caesar weep?
    AGRIPPA. [Aside to ENOBARBUS] He has a cloud in's face.
    ENOBARBUS. [Aside to AGRIPPA] He were the worse for that, were
  he a
        horse;
      So is he, being a man.
    AGRIPPA. [Aside to ENOBARBUS] Why, Enobarbus,
      When Antony found Julius Caesar dead,
      He cried almost to roaring; and he wept
      When at Philippi he found Brutus slain.
    ENOBARBUS. [Aside to AGRIPPA] That year, indeed, he was
  troubled
        with a rheum;
      What willingly he did confound he wail'd,
      Believe't- till I weep too.
    CAESAR. No, sweet Octavia,
      You shall hear from me still; the time shall not
      Out-go my thinking on you.
    ANTONY. Come, sir, come;
      I'll wrestle with you in my strength of love.
      Look, here I have you; thus I let you go,
      And give you to the gods.
    CAESAR. Adieu; be happy!
    LEPIDUS. Let all the number of the stars give light
      To thy fair way!
    CAESAR. Farewell, farewell!                   [Kisses OCTAVIA]
    ANTONY. Farewell!                       Trumpets sound. Exeunt
  
  ACT_3|SC_3
  
  
  
  
feat_summary_name: Act III, Scene ii
target: Back at Caesar's house in Rome, Enobarbus and Agrippa talk while the rest of the group work out the details of the truce and its aftermath: Pompey has already left, Antony will take Octavia and go back to Athens, Caesar is sad to see them go, and Lepidus is pitifully hung over. Enobarbus and Agrippa go back and forth, gently mocking Lepidus about whether he loves Antony or Caesar better. They decide he's the beetle in the center, and the other two men his wings on either side. Clearly, Lepidus is a joke. Just then, Lepidus, Antony, Caesar, and Octavia enter the scene. They're about to say their big goodbyes before they part ways, and Caesar bids Antony to take care of his sister, whose love will seal the bond between the two men. Octavia bids her brother a teary goodbye, and asks to speak to him in his ear. Hearing her words, Enobarbus and Agrippa worry Caesar will cry, as he wept at Philippi over Brutus. Instead, Caesar responds to Octavia's secret plea that he'll think of her and be in touch often. Caesar gives the couple a final blessing, and all exit.