Context: Twice defeated by Octavius Caesar in their struggle to gain control of the Roman Empire, Mark Antony falls on his own sword, fatally wounding himself. Before he dies, however, he is carried by his guard to the monument where Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt and his lover, has taken refuge from Caesar's forces. Although he has twice seen victory against Octavius Caesar slip from his grasp because of Cleopatra's desertion of his forces, the dying Antony still loves the Egyptian queen, as she loves him. Her attendants lift Antony to her place of refuge, that he may kiss her once more before he dies. Held in his beloved's arms, Antony bids Cleopatra neither lament nor feel sorrow at his defeat and death. He tells her to remember him as he once was, the noblest Roman and the strongest. He reminds her that he dies by his own hand, by his own choice, and not conquered by a fellow Roman.

Context: Dissension and struggle for power mark the rule of the Roman Empire by the triumvirate, Aumvirate, Antony, Octavius Caesar, and Lepidus. Antony loses influence to young Caesar when he becomes romantically entangled with Cleopatra, the betwitching queen of Egypt. When the forces of Caesar and Antony finally meet in battle, Antony is defeated. Accusing Cleopatra of double-crossing him and causing his downfall, Antony vows to kill the queen. Cleopatra dispatches word to Antony that she is dead, hoping to bring her lover to repentance. Antony, distraught, falls upon his sword and is taken to die in the arms of Cleopatra. Cleopatra faints with her dead lover in her arms, but quickly recovers and commands Charmian and her other attendants to put aside their sorrow and to prepare a noble funeral befitting the noble Roman who has died:

Context: These famous lines are frequently employed today to convey a compliment not only to or about a woman, but, with the substitution of a few words, any skill or talent. Thus, by changing the feminine pronouns to masculine, a very accurate comment is made on Shakespeare himself. In the play, Enobarbus, friend of Mark Antony and officer in his forces, describes the beauty and fascination of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. He is in Rome, where he and Antony have recently arrived from Egypt, and is talking to two fellow-officers, one of whom suggests that now Antony must desert her.

Context: Battling against Octavius Caesar for the right to rule the Roman Empire, Mark Antony is twice defeated, once at the Battle of Actium and again later, near Alexandria. Antony's defeats are caused by his love for Cleopatra. Twice she deserts him in battle, leaving the scene with her forces, and twice he loses a victory because of her defection. Realizing that his love for Cleopatra has cost him victory, the empire, and even his honor, Antony vows revenge, despite his love. But when Cleopatra learns of his anger she sends him the false news of her suicide. These tidings persuade Antony that Cleopatra truly loved him, and in remorse he falls upon his sword, fatally wounding himself. Before he dies, however, members of his guard carry him to the monument where Cleopatra has taken refuge. The dying Antony assures Cleopatra that he dies of his own will, personally unconquered by Octavius Caesar. That he should slay himself is proper, replies Cleopatra.

Context: The love of Antony, one of the reigning triumvirs of the Roman Empire, and Cleopatra, voluptuous Queen of Egypt, has run its course, with Antony, dead from his own sword and Cleopatra from a poisonous snake. Caesar, in Egypt to carry its mighty queen back to Rome as a display for his own grandeur, views the bodies of Cleopatra and her attendants, unmarred by the venom of the asp.

Context: Mark Antony, one of the triumvirate that rules Rome, dallies at the court of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, in Alexandria. Because he, a grizzled veteran general, is hopelessly in love with Cleopatra, he is the object of much gossip among his followers. Word comes that there is great unrest in Rome threatening the state, and that Fulvia, Antony's wife, is dead. Antony, enchanted by the queen's charms, knows he must break off and mind the affairs of Rome. He approaches Cleopatra to take his leave, but she, pretending to be ill and sensing his intention, rails coquettishly at him, chiding him unmercifully.

Context: The vast Roman empire is ruled by Antony, Octavius Caesar, and Lepidus, a shaky triumvirate, filled with friction and disputes of power. Antony, enamored of Cleopatra, the bewitching Queen of Egypt, makes such a fool of himself that he loses his power in the empire to young Caesar. Antony attempts to negotiate a treaty with Caesar. Caesar refuses to consider his bargain, but does agree to a bargain sought by Cleopatra–that she be granted the crown of the Ptolemies–on the condition that she have Antony beheaded. In his extremity, Antony, deriding his opponent for youthfulness and cowardice, vowing that he will challenge Caesar to a duel, conveys to Cleopatra the message that she must send his head to Caesar in exchange for the power she seeks.

Context: Mark Antony, co-ruler of Rome, is so beguiled by Cleopatra, beautiful Queen of Egypt, that he employs poor judgment in military decisions and acts on impulse rather than on deliberation. As a result, he is dishonored. Defeated in a sea battle at Actium by his rival, Octavius Caesar, he is deserted by his men. He believes, too, that Cleopatra betrayed him. But brought word that she is dead, he desires to follow her, and falls upon his own sword. Mortally wounded, he learns she is not dead. Brought to her, he lies in her arms, dying.

Context: Cleopatra, enchanting Queen of Egypt, is alone in her tomb with her attendants and the Roman guards. She is the captive of Octavius Caesar. Her lover and husband, Mark Antony, is dead by his own hand after a disgraceful defeat. Her imperial dreams of ruling Rome jointly with him are also dead. Caesar, impervious to her charms, promises her a future, but she sees through his scheme. She realizes she is no match for him, and that he desires to exhibit her in his triumph in Rome. Cleopatra determines upon a noble death rather than such dishonorable exhibition. She arranges for an asp to be brought to her in a basket of figs, which, when it bites, brings quick, painless death. She prepares for death.

Context: The rulers of the Roman Empire–Mark Antony, Octavius Caesar, and Lepidus–force the rebellious Pompey to come to terms, and the four prepare to seal their pact by a round of eating and drinking. In the general euphoria that follows, the delightfully shrewd and cynical Enobarbus, friend and officer of Antony, greets an old acquaintance, the equally shrewd and cynical Menas, friend and officer of Pompey. Their conversation is a humorous foil to the dialogue of the four military leaders:

Context: From Cleopatra's love and Egypt's luxury, Antony is recalled to a stern sense of duty as one of the three rulers of the Roman Empire. The Parthians have invaded from the East ("These strong Egyptian fetters I must break"); his wife, Fulvia, is dead ("There's a great spirit gone."); rebellion is afoot in the West. "I must from this enchanting queen break off," asserts Antony. Cleopatra, however, has other ideas, and we now see her at work. She tells one of her attendants: "See where he is, who's with him, what he does–/ I did not send you. If you find him sad,/ Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report/ That I am sudden sick. Quick, and return." But one of her ladies-in-waiting thinks Cleopatra is going about her business in the wrong way:

Context: This saying is heard frequently today in either the past or present tense. In the play, Mark Antony, one of the triumvirate that rules Rome, is deeply in love with Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, and wastes his days and nights in Alexandria. Urgent affairs of state and a threatened military action against Rome finally force him to turn his back on Cleopatra and hasten home, accompanied by his friend and officer, Enobarbus. Now, in Rome, Agrippa and Maecenas, fellow military officers, are eagerly questioning Enobarbus about the extravagances and beauty of Cleopatra. He describes her arrival when first she met Antony.

Context: Mark Antony, co-ruler of the Roman Empire, falls in love with Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. Through a series of circumstances he ends his friendship with Octavius, his fellowruler, and the opposing forces of Octavius and Antony meet at the Battle of Actium, in which Antony is defeated. He is defeated because, at a crucial point in the sea-battle, Cleopatra and her fleet desert him. Antony, who can think only of Cleopatra, leaves the fighting to follow her, thus losing the battle, the empire, and his honor. The lovers meet at Alexandria, some time after the battle, in Cleopatra's palace. At this meeting Antony tells Cleopatra that he knows his whole cause is lost; he says, "Alack, our terrene moon/ Is now eclipsed, and it portends alone/ The fall of Antony." Reassured by Cleopatra that she still loves him, Antony recalls his courage, and resolves to try once more, with his land forces, to seek the defeat of Octavius, after a celebration. Cleopatra, in her reply to him, reveals the selfishness that is part and parcel of her nature. She thinks and speaks, not of Antony and his future, but of the fact that the present day is her birthday. The quotation supplied the title of a famous mystery story by Dorothy Sayers.

Context: Cleopatra, beautiful Queen of Egypt, is in the act of killing herself. Alone with her attendants in her tomb, a captive of Octavius Caesar, she prefers to die rather than to allow herself to be exhibited to the populace of Rome as his prisoner. There is nothing left to live for since her lover Mark Antony is dead, and with him, her imperial dreams. Charmian, an attendant, is with her.

Context: Usually shortened to "my salad days" or "the salad days," this saying is still current, and refers to the fresh, green, early years of life. In the play, Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, is separated from Mark Antony, her lover and a ruler of Rome, who is at home on urgent affairs of state. She has him constantly in her thoughts, writes him every day, and is hungry for news of him. Cleopatra asks her attendant Charmian if ever she loved Julius Caesar so, and Charmian teases her about that earlier affair. She finally admits she is but echoing words Cleopatra once used about Caesar.

Context: After the death of Julius Caesar, Antony and Octavius Caesar, together with the ineffectual Lepidus, rule the Roman Empire. Antony, however, whiles away his time in Alexandria with the fascinating Cleopatra but, when he learns that the Empire is threatened by rebellion and invasion, breaks his passionate enthrallment and returns to Rome. Temperamentally and otherwise, Antony and Octavius are at opposite poles and are destined to come to blows. In Rome, Octavius airs a number of grievances against Antony. Finally, it is suggested that, since Antony's wife, Fulvia, has just died, Octavius and Antony might end their quarrels and cement an alliance if Antony were to marry Octavius' sister. Since Antony is scarcely free of his passion for Cleopatra, the marriage ultimately serves as an occasion for further enmity. But for the moment, and only for the moment, the marriage seems a possible source of friendship. A Roman noble, Agrippa, makes the proposal:

Context: Domitius Enorbarbus is Mark Antony's trusted friend, as well as one of his most talented and faithful officers. But when Antony decides, after his disastrous defeat at Actium, to risk another battle against Octavius Caesar, Enobarbus, seeing no other way to save his own life and future, abandons Antony to join Caesar's forces near Alexandria. Learning of Enobarbus' desertion, Antony exhibits no ill-will, for he believes that he has lost the right to his friends' and subordinates' loyalty through his own dishonorable actions, which spring from his uncontrollable passion for Cleopatra. So far from being angry, Antony even sends all Enobarbus' treasure after him to Caesar's camp. Antony's charity, and his refusal to become angry, strike Enobarbus with shame. Filled with emotion, he wanders from the Roman camp, berating himself for his disloyalty. He apostrophizes the moon as witness of his repentance just before he falls dead of shame for his revolt.

Context: Mark Antony, one of the three rulers of Rome, whiles away his time and his cares of state in the arms of the enchanting Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. Messages arrive from Rome which, because of their grave importance, force him, reluctantly, to take his leave of her and return home. Now, in his absence, Cleopatra cannot get Antony out of her thoughts as she speaks to her attendant, Charmian.

Context: Cleopatra, beautiful Queen of Egypt, is alone in her tomb with her attendants and her Roman guards. She is the captive of Octavius Caesar. Her lover, Mark Antony, is dead. Her dreams of ruling the Roman world with him and their children are likewise dead. Caesar comes to her with sweet words and fair promises for her well-being, but she sees through his words. He wants to keep her alive to display in his triumph when he returns to Rome. When Caesar leaves her, Cleopatra whispers to an attendant, Charmian. As she does so, the other attendant, Iras, tries to hurry her with words of heavy foreboding.

Context: Once the greatest of generals, Antony has ceased to concern himself with affairs of empire because of his passion for Cleopatra. As one of his friends disgustedly notes, "His captain's heart" "is become the bellows and the fan/To cool a gypsy's lust." But now rebellion and invasion have recalled Antony to Rome, where the other members of the ruling triumvirate–Lepidus and Octavius Caesar–are in great need of his soldierly qualities. In Alexandria, meanwhile, Cleopatra awaits the return of her lover, writing letter after letter to her "demi-Atlas," for if Atlas bore the globe on his shoulders, Antony bears half of it (the other half being borne by Octavius, Lepidus being too ineffectual to matter). As a general, moreover, Antony is the protecter of men, their armor–"arm," and helmet–"burgonet." Thus, the intensity of the conflict within Antony–between his passion for Cleopatra and his Roman sense of duty–is suggested unwittingly by Cleopatra herself:

Context: Antony, one of the triumvirs ruling the Roman Empire after the death of Julius Caesar, has been infatuated with Cleopatra, and, ignoring his imperial duties as well as his wife, Fulvia, has spent his days and nights in Alexandria reveling with and loving the Egyptian Queen. When a messenger arrives from Rome, Antony, to the disgust of his friends, at first dismisses him without a hearing. But then, as Cleopatra puts it, "a Roman thought" possesses him, and he recalls the messenger, who hesitates to speak for fear his bad news may "infect" the messenger, making him seem hateful to the great Antony. But now we see another Antony, one who refuses to turn away from duty or truth. He hears that while he lay idle in Alexandria, the Parthians seized, or "extended," large portions of the Empire. The passage gains in effect by contrast with the way Cleopatra later treats a messenger who brings her bad news. Overwrought, she takes her feelings out on the messenger.

Context: At the opening of the play, Antony and Cleopatra are immersed in love and pleasure. But as messengers bring news of rebellion, invasion, and the death of his wife, Fulvia, Antony is transformed until he becomes again the great general, one of the three rulers of the Roman Empire. He leaves for Rome, where he is awaited impatiently by the other triumvirs, Lepidus and Octavius Caesar. Fearing rebellion and piracy, even Caesar, who loathes Antony, pays tribute to Antony's qualities as a soldier:

Context: Mark Antony, a co-ruler of Rome, is so smitten with love for Cleopatra, beautiful and voluptuous Queen of Egypt, that he uses poor judgment in his decisions and acts on impulse, rather than on cool deliberation, where she is concerned. Now, dishonored by his actions and defeated by Octavius Caesar at Actium–a sea battle to decide who will rule the world–deserted by his forces, and informed that Cleopatra is dead, he feels his heart break. He asks his servant, Eros, with words that have double meaning, to remove his armor.

Context: This saying is no doubt the source for the slang phrases heard today, "Kiss it away" and "kiss it off." In the play, Mark Antony, one of three co-rulers of Rome along with Octavius Caesar and Lepidus, rules the eastern portion of the Roman world. He is hopelessly enamored of Cleopatra, beautiful and voluptuous Queen of Egypt. He remains with her until urgent affairs of state and threats to his position force him to return home. He makes alliances with Caesar, marries his sister Octavia to bind the renewed friendship, takes his new wife to Athens, but is unhappy. When word comes that Caesar has renewed their rivalry, he dispatches Octavia to Rome to smooth affairs, and then slips off to Alexandria and Cleopatra's arms. Meanwhile, Caesar removes Lepidus from power and is now Antony's only rival for control of Rome. When Antony gives Roman provinces to his twin children and their mother, Cleopatra, and proclaims them rulers, Caesar moves against him. Unwisely, Antony ignores his advantage on land and chooses to fight a sea battle at Actium. He flees with Cleopatra and loses. Two officers discuss the disaster.

Context: With friction rather than harmony a triumvirate, Antony, Octavius Caesar, and Lepidus, rules the vast Roman Empire. Antony, whose charge is the Eastern portion of the kingdom, loses power to young Caesar when he falls foolishly in love with the voluptuous and beguiling Queen of Egypt, Cleopatra. Finally the forces of Antony and Caesar meet in battle. Antony, badly beaten, feels that Cleopatra has caused his downfall and vows to kill her. Cleopatra tries to bring her lover to repentance by sending him a message saying she is dead. Antony, receiving the false message and filled with grief, falls upon his sword. He is taken to die in the arms of Cleopatra, who says to her attendants: