feat_summary_path: finished_summaries/shmoop/The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra/section_15_part_0.txt
feat_book_id: The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra.act iii.scene iv
feat_summary_id: act iii, scene iv
feat_summary: {"name": "Act III, Scene iv", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20210116191009/https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/antony-cleopatra/summary/act-iii-scene-iv", "summary": "Back in Athens at Antony's house, Antony complains to Octavia of Caesar's behavior since their departure. Caesar has broken their pact and waged war against Pompey, not to mention he has railed against Antony in public. Octavia laments that she's monkey in the middle of this mess, and she pleads with him not to believe the reports against her brother. She wouldn't know whom to support in a quarrel between her brother and her husband. Antony tells her not to fear; he'll win back his honor by raising a war against Caesar. He sends his wife back to Rome to be with her brother while he prepares for war with Caesar.", "analysis": ""}
text: SCENE IV.
                    Athens. ANTONY'S house
  
                   Enter ANTONY and OCTAVIA
  
    ANTONY. Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that-
      That were excusable, that and thousands more
      Of semblable import- but he hath wag'd
      New wars 'gainst Pompey; made his will, and read it
      To public ear;
      Spoke scandy of me; when perforce he could not
      But pay me terms of honour, cold and sickly
      He vented them, most narrow measure lent me;
      When the best hint was given him, he not took't,
      Or did it from his teeth.
    OCTAVIA. O my good lord,
      Believe not all; or if you must believe,
      Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady,
      If this division chance, ne'er stood between,
      Praying for both parts.
      The good gods will mock me presently
      When I shall pray 'O, bless my lord and husband!'
      Undo that prayer by crying out as loud
      'O, bless my brother!' Husband win, win brother,
      Prays, and destroys the prayer; no mid-way
      'Twixt these extremes at all.
    ANTONY. Gentle Octavia,
      Let your best love draw to that point which seeks
      Best to preserve it. If I lose mine honour,
      I lose myself; better I were not yours
      Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested,
      Yourself shall go between's. The meantime, lady,
      I'll raise the preparation of a war
      Shall stain your brother. Make your soonest haste;
      So your desires are yours.
    OCTAVIA. Thanks to my lord.
      The Jove of power make me, most weak, most weak,
      Your reconciler! Wars 'twixt you twain would be
      As if the world should cleave, and that slain men
      Should solder up the rift.
    ANTONY. When it appears to you where this begins,
      Turn your displeasure that way, for our faults
      Can never be so equal that your love
      Can equally move with them. Provide your going;
      Choose your own company, and command what cost
      Your heart has mind to.                               Exeunt
  
  ACT_3|SC_5
  
  
  
  
feat_summary_name: Act III, Scene iv
target: Back in Athens at Antony's house, Antony complains to Octavia of Caesar's behavior since their departure. Caesar has broken their pact and waged war against Pompey, not to mention he has railed against Antony in public. Octavia laments that she's monkey in the middle of this mess, and she pleads with him not to believe the reports against her brother. She wouldn't know whom to support in a quarrel between her brother and her husband. Antony tells her not to fear; he'll win back his honor by raising a war against Caesar. He sends his wife back to Rome to be with her brother while he prepares for war with Caesar.