"Antony & Cleopatra" at Shakespeare & Co.
This evening, friends and I went to Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, Mass. (the subject of an earlier post) to see Antony and Cleopatra.
Source: http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~ekondrat/Octavian3.html
In Egypt there once reigned a beautiful and ambitious queen, named Cleopatra, of such rare charm and strange attraction that she seemed to cast a spell over all men that came into her presence; and Cleopatra used her beauty with a deep and artful cleverness to win whatever she desired — in a manner beyond explanation, almost magical.
Cleopatra had been placed upon the throne of Egypt by Julius Caesar, who won her kingdom from her brother Ptolemy — for Caesar had been stricken with instant and blinding affection for Cleopatra, who overpowered him with the amazing wonder of her beauty until he became bound hand and foot to do her service. But when Caesar was murdered, his control over the Roman dominions of which Egypt was part, was taken by three men who called themselves triumvirs, one of whom was Caesar's former friend, Mark Antony.
When the triumvirs divided the Roman territory, Egypt and the kingdoms of the east were given to Mark Antony, and Cleopatra determined to win his heart as she had won the heart of Caesar before him, until like Caesar, Antony should be fast fettered in her love to do her bidding. For Cleopatra intended through the love of Antony to become the mistress of the eastern kingdoms that he ruled, and she resolved to spare no pains to win this power for which purpose she must first become the mistress of Antony's affections.
So, when Antony came into the east, Cleopatra surrounded herself with a display of wealth unparalleled even in that day, when kings and queens spared no splendour in their adornment; and she sailed down the river Cydnus to meet him, in a barge wonderful with gold until it seemed to burn upon the water. The oars were all of silver and kept stroke to time of flutes that played in pleasing melody; the sails were of purple silk, perfumed until the very winds were love-sick with them and a strange and subtle scent was blown to the shore. On deck, in a pavilion of gold cloth, where were embroidered the loves of Venus, Cleopatra lay in great magnificence, waited on by boys like Cupids, while her handmaidens, who were her sailors, pulled at the silken ropes until the great sails swelled and flared like flame above her head.
That night Cleopatra invited Antony to a great banquet, where she won his heart as she had won the heart of Caesar before him; and Antony became her complete slave, forgetting all save his desire to serve and to be near this marvellous queen. Antony thought no more of his fellow triumvirs, to whom he owed the duty of safe keeping the great countries in his charge; he forgot his wife, Fulvia, or if thinking of her wished her dead, and spent his time revelling and feasting with Cleopatra. She, who saw that Antony was held in love of her, would laugh him in and out of patience; and once, while he was in his cups, she arrayed him for a jest in her mantles and head-dress, while she buckled to her waist his Roman sword. By her side the nights of Antony were made light with wine and revelry, but his days were spent in idle slumber and dull ease, ill fitting his great fame and his honour as a Roman general. For Antony, in his affection for Cleopatra, forgot his duties as a soldier and the care of the great countries that had been entrusted to him; and in his way of life, the ease in which he took his pleasure and the luxury that surrounded him, Antony became as womanly as the queen he loved.
The love-making of Antony and his utter subjection to the idlest whim of Cleopatra, were soon born to the ears of Octavius Caesar and Marcus Lepidus, his fellow triumvirs, who were greatly angered by his misconduct. For Antony's lieutenants were more powerful in deed than their commander, who would, moreover, insult the messengers from Rome and pay but little heed to their most urgent tidings. Antony preferred to reel the streets of Alexandria at noon, brawling and exchanging buffets with the idle rogues that he encountered, and he cared not that his feasting and luxurious ways were the shame of his friends at Rome and had become the common theme of gossip in the Roman market-place. Antony's wild revels and carousings were the more marked and brought more sharply into public disfavour by his former greatness, for until he met with Cleopatra, he had been a skillful and brave commander, capable of any hardship, disdaining not the rudest berry on the roughest hedge for food, prepared to couch himself on flint and sleep there as in a bed of down, with action and purposes all strong and resolute, as befitted a great soldier.
If any time could have awakened Antony from his revels, affairs in Italy should then have called him thither, for Rome was threatened with the swords of civil war, and Caesar and Lepidus were in sore need of the troops that Antony had with him in the east. The son of the great Pompey who had been Julius Caesar's enemy, now threatened the triumvirs as his father had threatened Caesar, and all discontented persons who hoped to repair their fortunes by a war, had flocked to Pompey's banner. Antony's wife, Fulvia, had raised an army against Caesar, hoping by this means to call her lord from Egypt; but Fulvia had been stricken with a grievous illness and suddenly in the midst of her preparations she had died.
Word of these ill tidings came together to the court of Cleopatra, and Antony determined that he must break his strong Egyptian fetters, as he named her charms, and hasten to Italy, where the times, he said, cried out to him to leave his idle love-making. So Antony bade Cleopatra to use no means to withhold him for he would go; and he took his farewell fearfully lest even then she might dissuade him. For Cleopatra cared not if his Roman fortunes were destroyed forever so long as he remained with her and had the power to do her bidding in the east. She feared that if Antony departed, her control over him would be lost, and she sought to change his purpose with all her skill and all her arts. She said that eternity had spoken from their lips and eyes; that love such as theirs could bide no separation. When she found him still resolved in spite of all her pleadings, she wished him smooth success and laurelled victory, and bade him, although in anger and sadness, to leave her. And Antony left in haste, flying like a fugitive from Egypt, lest the persuasion of Cleopatra weaken him and force him to forego his purpose.
When Antony arrived at Rome, he found that his long continued absence and the evil repute that preceded him had harmed him not a little in all Roman eyes, while Caesar was enraged to the point of taking up arms against him. Were it not for their common enemy, Pompey, Antony and Caesar then and there would have made war upon each other, but Pompey had gained control of all the sea and was proud in his new strength. Antony and Caesar, therefore, became reconciled, and to seal their revived friendship, Antony married Caesar's sister, Octavia, a matron of high and noble character, ill suited to become the wife of such a reveller as Antony. For even then Antony was planning to acquit himself against Pompey with the utmost speed and return to the gorgeous pleasures of the east and to the arms of Cleopatra.
In the meanwhile, Cleopatra was love-sick and restless at the absence of her beloved Antony. She told her maids that she would drink mandragora and sleep till his return; yet how then, said she, might she hear about this paragon of men, his bearing, his words, his actions, how he appeared and what he spoke; for the slightest thing when graced by his dear presence became, she said, a matter for an empire. Cleopatra sent to Antony each day a troop of messengers with letters for him, saying that she would unpeople Egypt before he should lack many daily greetings from her; and Antony sent to her a priceless pearl that he had kissed, with the message that her throne should be increased with conquered kingdoms, to mend what he was pleased to call the poorness of his present.
In such manner did Antony receive the renewed friendship and confidence of Caesar, who had been willing to strengthen the bonds between them by the hand of his own sister, whom he loved tenderly. For Antony had spoken to Caesar so like his former self, with such apparent readiness of purpose and so many promises of reformation, that Caesar had no thought of his future intentions, which he believed to be honourable. But the friends of both knew that Antony was still in Cleopatra's bondage, proposing to return to Egypt on his first opportunity; and they knew likewise that this would mean instant war between Caesar and Antony, whose new relationship by marriage would become a very sword between them.
When Cleopatra learned that Antony had wedded Octavia, she was angered so greatly that she endeavoured to slay with her own hand the messenger who brought the tidings; but when she learned how this Octavia appeared — the colour of her hair and eyes, what were her years and features, she knew that such a wife could never keep her Antony away from Egypt. She determined that when Antony returned, she would confuse his senses with the utmost luxury until he could nevermore escape, even should he desire to; and she believed that if war should come between Caesar and Antony, that with her aid Antony could overthrow his enemies and win a power even greater than before. Her days were spent in talking with her maidens of Antony's virtues, her nights in dreaming of Antony; and she fed her mind by night and day with love, as with delicious poison.
With Caesar and Lepidus, in the meanwhile, Antony had prepared to overthrow the force of Pompey and regain control over the Roman empire. But conflict was no longer necessary, for when Pompey knew that Antony had joined the others against him instead of remaining idly in Egypt, he made peace with the triumvirs, for he knew likewise that Antony was a better general than either Caesar or Lepidus, and he feared that against their triple strength his own power would be useless.
When peace was made, it was not long before Antony bade his wife Octavia farewell, saying falsely that he would go to the city of Athens, and he returned to Cleopatra to spend his time with her in feasts and revelry of such profuse extravagance that the like had never been beheld. Antony caused himself and Cleopatra to be publicly enthroned on chairs of gold, making her absolute queen of the dominions that had been entrusted to his care. Not only did he break all promises to Caesar and with his own hand sever all ties that bound him to his country, but he demanded money from the eastern kingdoms and prepared for war with Rome, showing in all his deeds how far he had been betrayed from his former self.
All this while Antony became more and more bound in his love to Cleopatra, and indeed it was nothing but his blind affection for her that had caused him to become a stranger to his honour and his patriotism. Love had overpowered all his senses. His skill as a commander, his soldierly pride and judgment forsook him. His thoughts, that should have been directed to the war that threatened him, hung on Cleopatra; and to all appearance he cared little that Caesar with a powerful force of soldiers had come into the east to conquer him, for he believed that with Cleopatra to aid him, Caesar would be driven back to Rome.
In spite of the entreaties of his lieutenants, Antony conceived the mad purpose of fighting Caesar by sea instead of by land; and this intent showed plainly that his former skill in war had been destroyed. For the Roman fleet was infinitely stronger than Antony's, with experienced seamen and captains, while the Egyptian vessels were manned for the most part by reapers or ploughmen, slaves who were unused to ships and soldiers, who while brave on land would lose their courage in the untried action of a fight at sea. Also Cleopatra determined to be present in her own galley at this conflict — an act unheard of in the customs of war and greatly disapproved by Antony's commanders, who feared, not without cause, that Antony might be distracted by her presence until his fleet should suffer as a consequence. But Antony, however, would hear no reasons to the contrary, and accompanied by Cleopatra prepared to meet Caesar in a naval engagement.
How far Antony's commanders had been justified in their fears was soon beheld, for in the terrible encounter with the Roman vessels, while the conflict was at height, before advantage had been given to either side, Cleopatra took fright at the confusion of battle, which was new and fearful to her, and she sailed away with all her vessels, leaving Antony to overcome his enemies as best he might without her further aid. When the ships of Cleopatra had departed, the Roman fleet soon began to prevail over the lessened number of their enemies, and it was plain to see that Caesar would be victorious.
But a calamity even more terrible than Cleopatra's flight had befallen the ill-fated ships of Antony, for Antony himself, when he saw the retreating sails of the Egyptians, showed the complete ruin that Cleopatra's magic had wrought within him, and to his eternal disgrace followed her out of the conflict, leaving his fleet without an admiral at the mercy of the Roman vessels. By this act Antony not only undid the fame that he had won in many battles, but lost forever his chance to defeat Caesar. For many kings that would have remained loyal to Antony in case of his success, now offered their allegiance to Caesar, while many of Antony's own officers and soldiers deserted in shame and anger to the Roman ranks.
In this way did the strength of Antony's blind love which was akin to madness work the complete ruin of his fortunes. But after flying from his enemies, Antony seemed to awaken as from a dream to a sense of his past conduct. In bitter shame he called his friends about him, bidding them to fly and save themselves, for by his own example, as he said in sorrow, he had taught them how to turn their shoulders to a foe; and he blamed himself so pitifully that all who heard him were compelled to weep and wonder at the ruins of his former self; Cleopatra herself wept and begged him to forgive her, saying she little thought he would have followed when she fled.
Antony bade Cleopatra, although with tenderness, to be ashamed for leaving him in such a manner. He said that she knew his sword had become weak through love of her alone and that he would follow where she led, even against the bidding of the gods. But when Cleopatra made as though she would weep again, Antony could blame her no longer and bade her kiss him, saying that such a kiss repaid him utterly for all that he had lost, and he called for food and wine with a sad attempt at cheerfulness, commanding his dismayed followers to be merry in spite of their ill fortunes.
To Caesar Antony sent a messenger who in his own person showed the pitiful state to which his lord had fallen, for while Antony could once have ordered kings to do his bidding, this messenger was no other than a poor schoolmaster, who begged of Caesar that Antony should be allowed to live in Egypt, or if not, that he might retire to Athens and remain there, a private citizen.
Cleopatra also sued for favours from Caesar, and she worded her message in most gracious terms, acknowledging his greatness. She said that she craved of him her kingdom for her heirs, for that in Caesar's voice she heard the doom of Egypt; and she framed this message in such manner that Caesar believed she was prepared to forsake Antony. Caesar was partly right in this surmise, for Cleopatra would indeed have been both ready and willing to keep her power through his love could she have won it, even as she had ruled through Antony's affection. And while she was not yet prepared to forsake Antony, she smoothed her way with Caesar with her utmost skill, and it was plain to see that when he finally should triumph, she would turn to him for favour.
Caesar replied that for Antony's request he had no ears. If Cleopatra would renounce her disgraced friend and slay him, or at least drive him from Egypt, he would consider what she asked him. Caesar also sent an officer named Thyreus to Cleopatra in the endeavour to win her away from Antony, and with smooth words Thyreus tempted her until she sent by him another gracious message to Caesar.
It chanced, however, that when Thyreus prepared to leave her he begged her hand to kiss, and Cleopatra gave it to him, saying that it was a hand that Julius Caesar and the great Pompey had often stooped to honour. But while Thyreus bent over her hand, Antony came before them, and beholding Caesar's messenger in such favour he partly realized Cleopatra's faithlessness. Antony cried out in grief and anger, demanding of Cleopatra how she dared to stoop so low as to bestow upon a servant, his own playfellow, her hand — that kingly seal and plighter of high hearts. He commanded his attendants to bear Thyreus from his presence and whip him until he cried aloud for mercy; and turning to Cleopatra, Antony gazed on her in a terrible manner and asked if he had sacrificed his fame in Rome, forsaken all his fortunes and forborne the getting of a lawful race by a gem of women to be made at last the rival of a slave in the pay of Caesar. When the attendants returned with Thyreus, Antony said to him that the next time a lady's hand should fever him, he would do well to shake with fear in looking on it; and he bade Thyreus return with his stripes to Caesar, and bear him word of his entertainment.
Cleopatra, however, with words of affection contrived to soothe the angered heart of Antony — an easy task, when Antony did so desire to believe in her true love. For as a flame will flicker into life before it dies, men in evil fortune entertain wild hopes that never can come true, and Antony now was ready both to believe Cleopatra and to think that he could conquer the army arrayed against him. He prepared for a final encounter with Caesar and called his disheartened followers about him to spend one more night together in revelry and drown their fears in drinking to the battle that was imminent.
That night, while Antony and his lieutenants were carousing, a sign of his approaching ruin was given to the soldiers of his guard without the palace. For a noise as of music filled the air, and muffled drums and hautboys sounded underneath the earth. The sounds grew dim in distance until they faded into silence, and the soldiers said in fear that they were caused by the great god Hercules whom Antony had loved, and they signified, said the soldiers, that Hercules was leaving Antony to his fate. When the soldiers approached others who were on guard in different places about the palace it seemed that all had heard the unearthly music, and everywhere it had waned and died away as though played by someone taking leave of them.
The fighting that followed between Antony and Caesar was brief and final; for while Antony at first seemed to conquer, Caesar soon prevailed. And now a further proof was given to Antony of Cleopatra's hollowness, for again her Egyptian vessels that were to aid him in his battle which was partly fought by sea gave way speedily, surrendering to Caesar; and the sailors of both fleets shouted in joy, more like friends that met after a time of separation than enemies that had contended against each other.
Antony was resolved bitterly to upbraid Cleopatra who had a second time been false to him, and when he saw her she had become so hateful to his eyes that he warned her away quickly lest he should blemish Caesar's triumph by slaying her. He called her the greatest spot of all her sex, most terrible and monster-like to have betrayed him; and his rage increasing almost to madness, he could no longer withhold his vengeance but resolved to follow her and slay her.
Cleopatra, in the utmost terror at his anger, fled with her women into one of the great monuments of stone that were near her palace, and there she barred herself so that Antony might not follow her. She sent to Antony a slave who was to tell him that his anger had made her do the deed that he intended, for that she had taken her own life; and she bade the slave to word his message piteously, thinking that when Antony should hear this false report, his anger would give way to instant grief, and then learning the truth, he would do nothing but rejoice that she was still alive.
Cleopatra's deception, however, had an effect far different from what she had believed, and with most fatal consequence to Antony; for when he learned of her death, although he himself had purposed to effect it, he could no longer bear to live but stabbed himself with his own sword; and learning before he died that Cleopatra still was living, he was carried, mortally hurt, to the monument where she had taken refuge. For the tidings of her death had completely reawakened his great love.
There Antony was lifted to Cleopatra's side, and lay dying with her arms about him; and as he died, he bade her with his last breath to seek her safety from Caesar. And Antony begged her never to remember him as he was then — crushed, despised and at the point of death, but to think of him as he had been in former days when he first loved her,— strong to give her what she wished and powerful in pride with all the eastern world at his command. Then the tormented heart of Antony could bear no more and in the midst of his words he became silent; even his love could no longer withhold the death that was swiftly coming upon him, and he died.
Cleopatra did not long survive Antony, for when she knew that Caesar was resolved to bear her as a captive to Rome and lead her through the open streets in his triumph, she also determined to end her life; and she caused a slave to bring her in secret a snake that was called the asp, whose sting is almost instantly fatal to its victims, causing them to die as though they fall into a sudden slumber with no pain. Cleopatra laid one of these snakes upon her breast, keeping it there until she seemed to fall asleep; and her handmaidens did likewise; and when the guard came upon them, only one of her attendants remained alive, who breathed out faintly that such a death was well and fitting for a princess like her mistress, who was descended from so long a line of royal kings.
There remained nothing for Caesar but to perform the funeral rites of Cleopatra and of his former friend and confederate, Antony, and Caesar laid them together in one tomb so that Antony might sleep forever in the presence of the queen whom he had loved so well.
Source: Google Book Search.
Labels: Arts
posted by Karen Nelson @ 11:16 PM
<< Home