The Oxford Dictionary of Plays

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All for Love

All for Love

Alternative Title: The World Well Lost

Author: John Dryden

First Performance: 1677, London

Published: 1678

Genre: Trag. in 5 acts; blank verse

Setting: Alexandria, Egypt, 30 BC

Cast: 6m, 4f, extras

Cleopatra's treacherous flight from battle has cost Antony the battle of Actium. His general Ventidius accuses Antony of throwing away his empire for love. Tricked into meeting Cleopatra, Antony becomes reconciled to her when she shows him that she has rejected an offer of peace from their enemy, Octavius. After winning a minor battle, Antony is confronted by his wife Octavia, who, like Ventidius, begs him to make peace with Octavius. Octavia then meets Cleopatra and accuses her of destroying Antony's life. Antony, roused to jealousy by Cleopatra's behaviour towards his...

[The entire page is 354 words long]

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