"All for Love" summary

Act One

Serapion describes foreboding omens (of storms, whirlwinds, and the flooding of the Nile) of Egypt's impending doom. Alexas, Cleopatra's eunuch, dismisses Serapion's claims and is more concerned with Cleopatra's relationship with Antony. He sees that Cleopatra dotes on Antony and worries that Antony will not continue seeing Cleopatra. Thus, Serapion hosts a festival to celebrate Antony's honour.

Ventidius, a Roman general, comes to aide Antony in Alexandria. Ventidius disagrees with Antony's relationship with Cleopatra and offers to give Antony troops if he leaves her. Although Antony is insulted by Ventidius's opinions regarding Cleopatra (and refuses to hear anything negative about her), Antony agrees.

Act Two

Cleopatra mourns about her situation without Antony. Charmion, Cleopatra's lady in waiting, attempts to set up a meeting between Cleopatra and Antony, but she is unsuccessful. Cleopatra thus sends Alexas to try to win back Antony using gifts (jewels including a bracelet). Alexas suggests that Cleopatra should tie the bracelet onto Antony's wrist. In the subsequent meeting between Cleopatra and Antony, Ventidius appears and tries to proclaim how Cleopatra is not Antony's rightful partner and would betray him for her own safety. However, Cleopatra wins this argument by demonstrating a letter showing that she refused Egypt and Syria from Octavius. Antony is overjoyed by Cleopatra's decision and proclaims his love for her.

Act Three

Antony is returning from battle and is overwhelmed with love for Cleopatra. Ventidius comes to speak with Antony, who attempts to flee unsuccessfully. Antony does not want to go back to war but doesn't know how to stop it. He believes Dolabella can help him and Ventidius brings Dolabella out. Dolabella, Antony's friend, appears after Antony's success in battle. Dolabella was banished for his love for Cleopatra, but he returns to a warm welcome from Antony. Dolabella offers a gift that will bring peace between Antony and Caesar. The gift is Octavia, Antony's true wife and Caesar's sister, and Antony's two daughters. Octavia tells Antony the war will stop when he returns to his rightful place, by her side. Antony and Octavia reunite, and Alexas's attempts to meddle for the sake of Cleopatra are dismissed. Cleopatra appears informed of her defeat. Alexas tells her to avoid Octavia but Cleopatra chooses to face her as a rival. Cleopatra and Octavia have an argument, it seems clear that Octavia is whom Antony rightfully belongs to, even if it is not she whom he loves most.

Act Four

Antony has been convinced by Octavia that his rightful place is by her side, in Rome, with his children. Antony plans to leave but does not have the strength to tell Cleopatra himself. Antony asks Dolabella to tell Cleopatra he is leaving so that Antony will not be persuaded to stay. Ventidius overhears that Dolabella will be going to Cleopatra to bid her farewell. He also sees her divising a plan with Alexas to inspire jealousy in Antony by way of Dolabella. Ventidius and Octavia see Dolabella taking Cleopatra's hand, but when the time comes to make a move romantically, both of them fall apart from the guilt of their betrayal. Ventidius tells Antony that Cleopatra and Dollabella have become lovers and Octavia also bears witness. Ventidius then asks Alexas to testify to the same story, which Alexas believes to be. Antony is infuriated by this information, but is still looking for some loophole that would confirm Cleopatra's innocence. Antony's belief in Cleopatra's innocence hurts Octavia and she leaves permanently. When Dolabella and Cleopatra try to explain themselves Antony refuses to believe them.

Act Five

Antony takes Cleopatra's naval fleet and sails to Caesar where he is greeted like an old friend. They then sail back to Alexandria. When Cleopatra hears of this Alexas tells her to flee and that he will attempt to make amends with Caesar. Cleopatra tells him this would make him a traitor and that he cannot go to Caesar. Cleopatra flees and Alexas is left behind. Antony and Ventidius meet up and prepare to fight. Alexas, Cleopatra's messenger, comes and informs Antony that Cleopatra is dead. Antony then tells Ventidus to end his life, but Ventidius refuses and kills himself. With Ventidius dead, Antony then tried and failed to commit suicide. Cleopatra then comes in and sees Antony, still living, but on the verge of death. Antony dies. Cleopatra then kills herself. Serapion delivers their eulogy.

"All for Love" Act V

            In this Act we at first meet Cleopatra, Charmion and Iras. If a sincere lover like Charmion appeals to God to be more just. Cleopatra is made to suffer so much, people will lose faith in a just Providence and will start thinking that human life is governed only by chance. Cleopatra is extremely sad. She wants to tear away her eyes from their sockets because they captivated Antony's heart but could not keep it.

She lived only for Antony and now that he has banished her. She wants to die. She pulls out her dagger and wants to kill herself but the maids hold her. She says that she may keep on living but it will be miserable existence with love stifled within her. She calls Alexas and tells him that he is a traitor responsible for all her sufferings. He advised her make love to Dolabella in order to arouse Jealousy in Antony. The result has been that Octavia has left and she has been banished. She is sunk so low that 'he does not have voice even to curse him.

           

           Alexas, on the other hand, thinks that the situation is very good for her now. Octavia has gone and Dolabella has been banished. So Antony is now wholly hers. Alexas tells her that a naval battle is being fought at this time between the fleets of Octavius and Egypt and Antony is watching it from the lighthouse of Alexandria. There is a big shout. Alexas says that the Egyptians must have won.

            

          A little later there is a big shout from the port. Alexas thinks that this signifies their final victory. Serapion, however, brings the horrible news that Egypt is lost. The well-equipped Egyptian fleet went out to meet the fleet of Octavius but there was no fight. The sailors of the two sides exchanged greetings by throwing up their caps in the air. The Egyptian ships were received like friends and the two fleets came to the port together. Antony is very angry as he thinks that the'Egyptian fleet must have betrayed him on the orders of Cleopatra.

Alexas advises Cleopatra to go to the monument while he would go to Octavius. He would appeal to Octavius to spare her life and let this mad man (Antony) die. This makes Cleopatra very angry. She calls him a traitor and says that she has been ruined because she acted on his suggestions. Saying that she leaves.

Alexas considers how he can save his own life. He is not worried about the fate of Cleopatra.

Antony and Ventidius come there. Antony says that the Egyptians have betrayed him. Ventidius says that the Egyptians are all traitors and their queen is the embodiment of the spirit of treachery. Antony and Ventidius have decided to die honourable deaths and so Ventidius suggests that with the help of the three legions that they still have, they should fight against the troops of Octavius and kill as many of his soldiers as possible and they may be able to get victory.

 When they see Alexas they want to kill him but Antony feels that he is a mean liar who is not worthy of being killed by their swords. Antony asks him to say one word to justify the actions of his queen.

Alexas says that his queen has gone where she cannot be troubled to love or by him. Antony thinks that she must have run away with Dolabella. She had sent her fleet to Octavius and now she has gone to seek his friendship. Then Alexas tells them that Cleopatra has established her innocence by killing herself.

          

         She was so sad at being accused of faithlessness in Antony that she shut herself up within her monument. She snatched her dagger and before her attendants could stop her she plunged it into her heart Ventidius is glad to hear that Cleopatra is dead. But Antony feels that he is guilty because he is the murderer of his truthful and innocent beloved.

Alexas says to himself that the sorrow of Antony at the false news of Cleopatra's death shows that he still loves the queen. He will be happy to find that she is alive and they will soon be reconciled to each other. He thinks that he has acted very cleverly. He has saved his life and brought Antony and Cleopatra together.

Ventidius tells Antony that he should rouse himself up and they would die fighting. But Antony cays that he would not fight any longer. When Cleopatra is dead there is no charm in fighting. He has a strong contempt for life. He would die heroically but not by fighting. Now that Cleopatra is dead he does not care if Octavius rules the entire world. In fact, it would be better if the world has only one ruler. Ventidius says that he would have preferred to die fighting but he would definitely not live after Antony's death. Antony tells Ventidius to kill him and then go to Octavius to claim his reward. Ventidius says that he is asking him to act as a traitor. He could never imagine that he would treat his friend thus. Antony now requests Ventidius to kill him. Ventidius takes his friend's hand, bids him farewell and embraces him. He asks Antony to turn his face to the other side. Then Ventidius kills himself.

Antony exclaims that he has robbed him of his death. He says that Ventidius was his leader in life and he has proved to be his leader in death also. Then Antony falls on his sword.

But he does not die immediately as the sword did not pierce the heart. He says that death is keeping him waiting. Then he hears some footsteps. He thinks that it would be a disgrace if some of Caesar's men come there and find him living and suspect that he tried to kill himself but had no real intention of killing himself. He tries to rise on his knees.

Just then Cleopatra enters asking, "Where is my lord" ? When she seed Antony lying on the ground and Ventidius dead by his side she exclaims, "I have come too late. O that cursed Alexas"' Antony asks her, 'Are you living ? Or am I dead and am meeting the spirit of Cleopatra "I am in the underworld"? She asks him how he is feeling. He says, " I am feeling like a man who is leaving this world in a hurry and has packed up everything but in his haste he has forgotten one jewel and he returns as fast as he can to take that. I kept my death in abeyance for you." She prays to God to give his life back to him.

But Antony says that what she is wishing cannot happen. His soul is parting from his body. He only wants to hear from her that she was never false to him. She says that it is too late to say that. She would prove her faithfulness by dying with him. Regarding the Egyptian fleet she says that it betrayed both of them.

As for the allegation about her love for Dolabella, she clarifies that she never cared for him and now she hates him. Antony believes her and as fully satisfied. Cleopatra assures him that she would come to the other world very soon with him. She adds, "I am yours and I will never allow Ceasar to take possession of anything that belongs to you.

Antony tells her that they had lived through ages of happiness. He is happy that they are dying in each other's arms. He wants to have one last kiss. He says, "This kiss is worth much more than the whole empire I am leaving behind to Octavius," Saying that he dies. Cleopatra says, "I will give you ten thousand kisses," and keeps on shouting, 'My lord! my lord!" Iras tells her that Antony's soul has already left the body.

Cleopatra decides that she must die at the earliest. She says that she is the wife of a Roman and she knows how to die. She says that she is tied with Antony in such a strong matrimonial tie that no Roman law can dissolve it. Cleopatra then asks her maids to start work at once. Caesar has occupied the town.

She feels that her lord (Antony) is looking down from heaven and is afraid that the men of Octavius might capture her. She does not want to keep Antony waiting for his beloved for long. She asks Charmion to bring her crown and richest jewels. Iras is asked to bring the asps (vipers) which will cure all their evils. She says that it is sweet to die when others want to force her to live by capturing her alive.

First of all, Cleopatra crowned Antony with the laurel wreath. Then she asked her maids to dress her as a bride because she was going to meet her lover. Then she asked them to seat her by the side of her lover. This was the celebration of his immortal love. Then she ordered Iras to give her the casket containing the asps. She says that the serpent performs the horrible work of death better than death itself. It just touches a person's limbs and the person is put to sleep without any sensation of pain.

Serapion brings the news that the town has surrendered and Caesar is at the gates. Cleopatra says that Octavius is coming too late because death is already in possession of what he wanted to possess. Then she gets her arm bitten by the serpent. Charmion and Iras also decided to die With their mistress and so they also got bitten by the serpent.

 Cleopatra starts feeling the touch of death in her veins. She started feeling numb all over the body. She asked them to lay her on Antony's breast. Then she challenges Octavius to separate her from Antony if he can and dies.

Charmion says that Cleopatra has died like a queen, the last descendant of a great race of Egyptian rulers.

Serapion says, "See how the lovers are sitting together in great dignity as if they were giving laws to half of mankind."

Serapion orders that Alexas should be arrested. He will be made a scapegoat and led in the victory procession of Octavius. Regarding Antony and Cleopatra he says :

         

          "Blessed couple, you may sleep for long ages.........Future generations will say that no great lovers lived so well and died so well as Antony and Cleopatra."

"All for Love" Act IV

           Antony requests Dolabella to go to Cleopatra and bid farewell to her on his behalf for him to tell Cleopatra that he was leaving was worse than death. Her look would melt him and he would give up his determination to leave her. Dolabella then suggests that Ventidius should be sent for this purpose. He is rough by nature and can break news bluntly to her. But Antony thinks that Ventidius would break the news so harshly that it may even kill Cleopatra. Dolabella, alone, could convey the news in a nice manner. Dolabella, however, says that he is soft top nature.

         Antony says, that is exactly why he is sending him. He should convey the news of the separation so softly and gently that it should look like the meeting of two lovers. He tells his friend to tell her that if he acquires influence over Octavius he would arrange terms of peace for her in such a way that she remains a queen with all her dignity intact. A number of times he tries to go away but he comes back to give an additional message to Dolabella. He wants him to tell her that he has taken this decision under the compulsion of circumstances. She should also be told that she should keep her love for Antony intact. If he hears that she has taken another lover his heart will be broken. Saying this Antony goes away.

         Dolabella loved Cleopatra in the past and feels that attraction even now. He thinks that now he can make love to her because Antony has abandoned her. Ventidius wants that Cleopatra should be completely discredited and separated from Antony. So he thinks that if Dolabella and Cleopatra are in love Antony will completely abandon her. Alexes wants that Antony should not go away. He thinks that if Antony finds that Dolabella is in love with his beloved he will not go away. He will feel jealous and so he will fall more deeply in love with Cleopatra.

       So he suggests to Cleopatra that she should encourage love. Cleopatra says that she cannot do this sort of cheating. Her love is so pure that she can neither hide ir from Antony whom she loves nor show it to one whom she does not love. But Alexas tells her that she will have to force herself to show love to Dolabella. This will make Antony doubly desirous to possess his beloved whom he feared to lose.

          Dolabella now meets Cleopatra. Ventidius has placed himself at a point from where he can overhear the conversation. Dolabella sells Cleopatra that the Roman poets Gallus and Tibullus described the beauty of their beloveds, Cytheris and Delia but if they had seen Cleopatra they would have Only sung songs describing her beauty. He then tells her that he has brought bad news from Antony. He tells her that ..ntenv used the harshest words in his message of farewell. His eyes were red with anger and he had a stern face. In his anger he had blurted out, "Let her go away for ever. She is a stain on my fair name and has destroyed all my hopes. She should be driven to a remote place. If she is allowed to about she will corrupt the whole earth irredeemably."

        
           At this Cleopatra got such a shock that she collapsed and fainted Then Dolabella realized what a terrible mistake he had committed. When Cleopatra recovered consciousness she said that she wanted to die. She did not want to live in a world in which there is so much falsehood, where vows are broken and sincere love is wronged. She then tells Dolabella that he has been most unkind to speak those harsh words.

               Then Dolabella kneels before the queen and tells her that he has done a great injury to his dear friend. Antony never spoke those harsh words. He says, "l was traitor and I concocted that lie in order to win your love. I ask for your forgiveness." Cleopatra now confesses that she was only pretending when she showed her love to him. She says, ' wanted to call back Antony's departing love by rousing jealousy in his mind." Dolabella now feels that in abandoning Cleopatra Antony is losing a very big treasure.

           She feels that she is about to die and so requests Dolabella to arrange a private meeting between her and her love. Dolabella promises to arrange such a meeting but he asks for one favour ; he should he allowed to touch her hand. She permits him to hold her hand.

            The scene between Cleopatra and Dolabella has been observed by Ventidius and Octavia. When Dolabella and Cleopatra go away. Ventidius tells Octavia that the queen of Egypt seemed to say to her. "Take away your old man (Antony). I am happier with Dolabella."

           Octavia decides that she will not allow Antony to negotiate terms of peace for Cleopatra with her brother.

                  Antony comes there and asks Octavia whether her letters are ready. She says that they are. Antony then draws Ventidius aside and asks him when he saw Dolabella last. Ventidius tells him that he and Cleopatra have gone away together. Dolabella conveyed Antony's farewell to her and she bade farewell to her former lover by taking a new lover.

                 Antony tells Ventidius that he is slandering her. Ventidius says that he and Octavia saw Dolabella and Cleopatra making love and Dolabella kissing her on the cheeks. Octavia tells him that she also saw all this. Ventidius adds that now she is Dolabell's Cleopatra, in fact, she is everyone's Cleopatra. He says that it is natural for a mistress to take a new lover when her old lover has deserted her.

            Antony says that it is all false and it is a plot hatched by the two of them against Cleopatra. Ventidius says that Cleopatra is really false and he will prove that by bringing a witness before him. He calls Alexas and asks him what is happening between Cleopatra and her lover. Antony asks Alexas to be absolutely truthful.

            Alexas thinks that if he tells Antony that Cleopatra is in love with Dolabella his jealousy will be roused and he will become passionately devoted to Cleopatra. So he tells a lie. He tells them that in the past Cleopatra was sincerely in love with Antony.

                 But Dolabella has been loving her for a long time. After she was rejected by Antony she took Dolabella as her lover. Antony gets furious with Alexas and throws him out. He wishes that Alexas should be tortured in hell for ever.

          Octavia tells Antony that he is unfair to her in showing so much solicitude for a dissolute, faithless prostitute. Antony is so angry that he orders Octavia to leave him. Octavia asks him what crime she has committed.

              But Antony gets more and more angry and orders Octavia to leave him. He asks Ventidius why he has let this fury (Octavia) loose on him. Octavia becomes very angry at the use of the word 'fury' for her. She tells him that she is going away for ever. He has treated her love with contempt and she cannot bear it any longer. She tells him to go back to Cleopatra.

               She says that she will always do her duty to him. She willtake full care of her children who would cheer her in her miserable state. She says that she is leaving him finally because she has no hope of having him entirely to herself and she would never share him with Cleopatra. Saying that she leaves.

                 Ventidius says to himself that things are working in away opposite to his intentions. He wanted to separate Antony and Cleopatra and bring Antony and Octavia together. Instead of that he separated Octavia from her husband for ever.

             Antony sees Dolabella coming towards him. He asks him whether he had conveyed his message to Cleopatra. He says that he was very sorry to give the message and he had promised to her that Antony would bid farewell to her himself and Cleopatra is coming herself for this purpose.

              Antony tells them that both of them are false and faithless. They are serpents whom he warmed in the affection of his heart and who have now united in biting him. Cleopatra asks whether God has some other torture ready for her apart from her separation from Antony. Antony replies that the tortures that were inflicted on sinners in hell so far were mild. The gods will now have to devise new punishments for crimes such as theirs. They were treacherous to him while he reposed full faith in them.

              Dolabella tells Antony that he does not love her as much as he loves him. He says that Ventidius and Octavia saw them making love to each other. Cleopatra says that these two are her enemies, Antony replies that Alexas is not her enemy. He has confirmed their love. Dolabella tells him that he loved her and he is very sorry for that.

            
           But Cleopatra is innocent. Cleopatra explains that she kindled Dolabella's love because she wanted to create jealousy in Antony. Her aim was to retain Antony's love. Antony wants to know whether they have any witness to prove that this was their aim. Cleopatra says that their witnesses are themselves and God. He wants them to get away from his sight. Dolabella asks for forgiveness.

            Antony says that he can forgive an enemy but not a mistress and a friend. He asks them to go away forever. Cleopatra says that she does not want to leave him even for a moment and he is asking her to go away forever. Where is she to go ? She says, "If I have offended you, please kill me but please do not banish me from your sight."

             Antony says that his false sentiment urges him to forgive her but his sense of honour demands that he must banish her. He tells her that she was convicted on the evidence of her own eunuch, Alexas. Then she tells him that Alexas arranged this drama of love between Dolabella and Cleopatra in order to rouse his jealousy and bring her closer to his heart.

            But Antony is not prepared to depend on Alexas because he will say things according to his queen's moods. Then she says, "Farewell, my cruel lord." She says that she still loves him sincerely and intensely. Antony still believes that Dolabella and Cleopatra are in love. He wants that they should live separately in future. He says to Cleopatra, "Mourn over the fact that you were false to me and I could not trust you any longer." Then they go in different directions.

"All for Love" Act III

Antony has won a victory over Octavius. Trumpets are played as he enters. Cleopatra then comes with a laurel wreath and crowns Antony. Antony says that while he was fighting he was thinking of her warm embraces which he would get after his victory. She calls him her great Mars and he calls he." his loving Venus. In her arms he finds perennial spring.

Ventidius comes and looks at the love game going on there. Antony wants to go to the temple of Isis. Ventidius pulls him by his robe. Ventidius tells him that he has come with a message which Antony would love to hear. Antony says that he would return. Ventidius says that Antony's virtues are so mixed with his Vices that the gods would be confused when awarding rewards and punishment to him.

Antony comes back and tells Ventidius that he can win victories without his help. He has pushed the enemy from his positions. About five thousand enemy troops have been killed. Ventidius says that he has done well but the loss of five thousand soldiers will not weaken Octavius. His advice is that Antony should take advantage of his temporary victory to sign a treaty of peace with Octavius favourable to him. Antony says that Octavius is a cool murderer and he will not sign any treaty of peace. Ventidius asks whether he has any friend in the camp of Octavius. Antony replies that he has none, but if he wins four or five small victories of this type he will be able to finally defeat Octavius. Ventidius wants Antony to realize his difficulties. He draws his supplies from one small town (Alexandria) and he has the support of the Euptians only, while Octavius can draw his men and supplies from all over the world.

Antony says that he had one sincere friend but he has left him now. He is Dolabella. He had fallen in love with Cleopatra. When Antony asked him not to see the lady he left without even taking leave. Ventidius tells him that Dolabella's behaviour showed that be loved Antony more than he loved Cleopatra and in Caesar's camp he had been working hard for peace between the two leaders.

Antony says that he wished that he were with him at this time. Then Ventidius tells him that Dolabella had sent a messenger with some papers from Octavius's camp. Ventidius goes and immediately come back with Dolabella. Antony is delighted to see him and says that a bridegroom could not be so full of yearning for his bride as he was for his friend. He tells him that he is in the worst state of degradation.

Dolabella says that for him his friend is still the Lord of all the world. Antony recalls the days of his glory when his chambers were tilled with kings who were now slaves and were only waiting to salute him.

But now fortune has abandoned him and Octavius is now her favourite. Dolabella tells him frankly that what he is now is by his own doing.

Antony tells him that there was a time when he thought that Cleopatra was responsible for his brother's death. She came from Egypt to clear herself of the charge. Her galley sailed down the silvery waters of the river Cydnus. The pulleys and ropes were made of silk and the flags were waving with gold. Her maid-servants were dressed like Nereids. Cleopatra lay on her coach like a sea-born Venus. boys dress as- Cupids stood with their painted wings fanning her. The beautiful sight overwhelmed all the onlookers with joy. Dolabella was so charmed that he forgot his anger.

Dolabella says that he fell in love with Cleopatra in his young days and it was a purely personal matter. But Antony fell in love with her at his advanced age and his love affected the Roman Empire. He then says that he has been working to bring about reconciliation between Antony and Octavius. He has brought an agreement the terms of which are most honourable to Antony. The person who influenced Octavius to agree to these terms was Octavia, Antony's wife.

Ventidius goes and brings with him Octavia and Antony's two little daughters. Antony is upset to see them there. Dolabella says, "For shame, my lord, receive them with kindness even if you cannot love them. If you profess to be a man, meet them, embrace them and bid them welcome. Ventidius tells him that he has brought them here."

Octavia says, "I have been waiting for my welcome which I could surely expect even as stranger." She asks Antony, "Do you know now who I am 0" Antony replies that she is the sister of Octavius. Octavia says rightly that it is unkind of him to say that. If she had been only the sister of Octavius she would have remained in his camp. She is his wife whom he has treated with great cruelty. She wants to claim her rights as his wife. He says that it seems to him that she has meanly begged her brother for his life. Antony now says that his wife and his friends have all betrayed him and would force him to accept mean conditions. He would have to live as a branded slave of his wife.

Octavia, however, explains that his honour is her honour and she would never get her husband humiliated by her brother. According to the terms of the agreement he would be free, free even from the wife he hates. Octavius will withdraw his troops and he will become the ruler of the East. He can drop her m Athens or somewhere else. She will retain the name of 'wife' but it will involve him in no commitment. He can enjoy Cleopatra's love in peace.

When Antony heard this his face became red with shame. He had been extremely cruel to his wife and she had repaid him with great generosity and self-sacrifice. A tear came to his eye. He said that he could not accept the proposals because she had done everything out of a sense of duty and not because of love. Dolabella tells him that Octavia loves him very much. Antony is in a fix and does not know what to do. He feels pity for Octavia and wants to redress the wrongs that he has done to her. But he cannot abandon Cleopatra who loves him and is prepared to die for him.

Ventidius tells him that Cleopatra deserves neither pity nor justice because she is responsible for Antony's ruin. Octavia says that she would forget all the wrongs that he has done to her. She asks her children to run to their father, kneel down before him and take him by the hand. The children go to him and embrace him. This overwhelms him. He says, "Take me, Octavia, take me, children. I am yours. You may share me between yourselves." He promises that all his lapses will be set right. Octavia exclaims, "O blessed moment." Ventidius is so happy that tears come in his eyes. Antony asks Octavia to stay with him at night. The next morning he and Octavius would become friends again.

Alexas was very unhappy at this development. His plan that Cleopatra should betray Antony and become friendly with Octavius had not been successful because Cleopatra had very great love for Antony. And now Antony was going to abandon Cleopatra because of his reconciliation with Octavia. He conveys this news to the queen who is plunged into deep distress. Octavia has captured her Antony. She wants to know whether this lady is bright and beautiful. Alexas says that Cleopatra is the climax of wonder so far as beauty is concerned. But Octavia is good and virtuous.

Octavia comes there with Ventidius. She walks up to Cleopatra with dignity. Cleopatra tells her that she is a queen. Octavia says that she isa Roman and the future of Cleopatra depended upon the vision of Romans. Cleopatra says, "Your husband, who is a Roman, is a slave to my love." Octavia tells het that she has come to Egypt to free her husband from this slavery. Cleopatra tells her that Antony legally is her husband hut all his love is for her (Cleopatra). Octavia says that Cleopatra has sensual charms which entrapped Julius Caesar and have now entrapped her husband. She is a shame to womankind. She makes her illegitimate love pleasing to men.

Cleopatra says that she is proud of her charms which have attracted the bravest and greatest of men (Antony) to her. Octavia then accuses her of having ruined him and having made him an object of contempt all over the world. She betrayed him at Actium. She had reduced his children to the position of orphans and his wife to the position of a widow. Cleopatra tells her that this was not true. Octavia had the honour of being called his wife while she herself had lost the honour ot a queen and had acquired the contemptuous title of a 'Mistress'. Only her life is left now and that too she wishes to sacrifice for her love Octavia leaves saying, "All right, do what you wish."

Cleopatra says that her spirits are sinking down and she wishes to die. She asks her maids to take her to a lonely chamber where she can abandon herself fully to grief at Antony's unkindness.

"All for Love" Act II

The second Act takes us to Cleopatra and her followers. Cleopatra has heard that Ventidius has overcome Antony and he has decided to go away. What is she to do now ? Alexas tells her that he is only going to fight for her.

But Cleopatra says that if that was so he would have come to see her. She is sure that if he goes away he would not be hers any longer and all her hopes would be lost. Since Antony has abandoned her she does not mind even being made a slave by Octavius. There is no reason in her love for Antony. It is sheer madness. Iras urges her to forget Antony.

But Cleopatra cannot forget him. She would always love him even if he is unfaithful and cruel.

           

           Cleopatra had sent Charmion with a message to Antony that she wanted to meet him to bid a last farewell to him. Ventidius wanted to prevent Charmion from seeing Antony but Antony saw her and gave orders that she should be allowed to come to him. When he heard her request he sighed. He told Charmion to convey to her that he would always respect her but if he saw her he would not be able to leave.

Cleopatra is pained at the use of the word 'respect.' He should have used that word for his wife Octavia who had no warm feelings for him. Alexas feels that Antony has great love for her and if Cleopatra sees him he would agree to stay. He needs her help to rid him of the influence of Ventidius who wants to take him to fight.

Antony along with Ventidius and his commanders and troops is going out of Alexandria. They talk about Octavius. He has no manly courage but knows how to take secret revenge, Antony had challenged him to fight a single combat with him. Octavius replied that he knew more ways than one to die. Antony says that Octavius would choose all the ways to the except death by fighting.

Ventidius says that this man would prefer to die of fever. Antony says that Octavius is cold by temperament and so he cannot die of fever. He would prefer to die of old age and in his bed. Ventidius says that Antony won the battle of Philippi against Brutus and Cassius and caned out a vast empire and now this man wants to push him out like rubbish. Just as the order is to be given to the troops to march, Alexas comes with a message from Cleopatra.

Alexas flatters Antony and says that he is like a god and requests him to listen to the message which mournful Cleopatra sends to her lord. She sends a thousand wishes, ten thousand prayers and millions of blessings for his success in the wars. She as also sent millions of Sighs and tears. She would have also sent ma dear embraces and parting kisses but he is already tired of them. Antony asks Alexas what the queen wants. Alexas replies that in the first place the queen wants that the noble warriors who are accompanying Antony should take the fullest care of him. Alexas presents jewels to all the important commanders as tokens ot affection from the queen. She has sent one fine jewel for Ventidius whom she does not regard as her enemy because he loves her lord.

Ventidius does not accept the jewel because It IS a sort of bribe. For Antony she would have sent her soul but she gave that to him a long I time back. She sends a ruby bracelet studded with bleeding hearts which is her emblem. Ventidius asks Antony not to touch the gift as it has been poisoned by the touch of the sender.

But Antony says that a lady's gifts of love should be accepted with honour. He says that when he is alone in his tent in the wakeful hours of winter nights he will pass the time by rolling the pretty beads of this bracelet. The beads will remind him of her love.

Antony finds it difficult to tie the bracelet. He asks Alexas to tie it for him. Alexas suggests that some lady's hand should tie it and the hest person would be the lady who sent the gift to him. Alexas sends an attendant to call Cleopatra. Ventidius requests him not to see Cleopatra. But Antony says that he would only bid farewell to her. Ventidius says that the enchantment exercised by her eyes would do Caesar's work of defeating him. Antony says that he is a Roman trained in the rules of gentle courtesy and so as he is her guest he must hid farewell to her while leaving.

Cleopatra then comes there. Antony tells her that they have loved each other and brought about each other's ruin. Cleopatra tells him that the gods are jealous of her happiness. The world is bent upon separating them. Even he has become the enemy of her love. Antony tells her that she is the sole cause of her ruin. He tells her that he loved her even before Julius Caesar met her and enjoyed her in her young days.

After Caesar was murdered he came to Egypt and neglected his Official duties and gave himself up entirely to her love. He loved her passionately. His wife Fulvia grew jealous and raised a war in Italy to call him back. But he did not go. While he lay enfolded Within her arms his authority over the part of the Roman Empire that he ruled slipped away. All that remained in his possession was Alexandria.

Fulvia's death caused some peace in the Roman Empire. He married Octavia, the sister of Octavius. Cleopatra called him and he deserted Octavia and came to her. This made Octavius hostile to him and so the entire Roman world turned against him. She was responsible for this. He was strongest by land but she advised him to fight at sea and .then at a crucial moment in the battle of Actium she deserted with her fleet and so he lost the battle. All this ruin has been brought on him by her. He asks her whether she wants ro ruin him further by sticking to him. He has twelve legions left with him and with the help ot these he wants to retrieve his honour and she has come to intercept him and expose him again to shameful defeat.

Cleopatra asks him how she can defend herself when her judge, Antony, has already condemned her. She is sorry that Julius Caesar first enjoyed her love. She is sure that if Antony had been her first choice she would not have felt the need of second choice. Julius Caesar only possessed her body but she only loved Antony. It is true that she kept him away from his wife (Fulvia) who used to cause mischiefs and wars.

But she is not to be blamed for Antony's desertion of Octavia. She pleads that at Actium she did not betray him. The cause of her flight was fear.

Antony asks her whether she wants that he should stay on at Alexandria and perish. She replies that as a friend she would.advise him to go but as a lover she would appeal to him to stay even if it means his ruin.

Cleopatra shows him a letter which she had received from Octavius. The letter offered to make her the absolute ruler of Egypt and Syria if she separated from Antony. It was a fine offer if she wanted to live separately from Antony.

But she had rejected the offer as she regarded the love of Antony as more precious than kingdoms.

Antony recognizes the handwriting of Octavius. Cleopatra tells him that she loves him so much that she cannot live without him. If she cannot live with him she would like to die with him. She tells him to go and earn glory as a soldier and leave her dying there. She says that she is a weak and forsaken woman and she wants to die at this very time in his arms.

Antony is tremendously moved and wishes that he should die first. Ventidius asks him to remember that Cleopatra is a toy as compared to his fortune, honour and fame. But Antony tells him that Cleopatra means much more to him than his fortune, honour and fame. He is convinced that his queen is innocent and loves him. He asks Ventidius to beg her pardon. Ventidius says that he would rather die than do that. Antony decides that he will not go from one who is so good as to reject kingdoms for the sake of his love, Ventidius leaves Saying, "O woman, you ere capable of doing more harm to man than all the gods have the power of doing good to him".

Antony is very angry with Octavius for the treachery he wanted to do to him. He wants to attack him and defeat him just then, so that when night came they could enjoy the pleasure of mutual love and triumph over Caesar before they died.

"All for Love" Act I

The play begins after the defeat of Mark Antony at the battle of Actium. Octavius has besieged Alexandria and. Antony, in a mood of utter dejection, has withdrawn to a lonely spot in the temple of Isis, He has given orders that he will not see anyone and if anyone forces his entry into his presence he will be killed.

Serapion, Mryis and the priests of Isis enter and talk about the evil omens that have been seen recently. They threaten disaster to Egypt and to her queen, Cleopatra. The river Nile has started flooding before its normal time and has caused destruction everywhere. The tombs of the old kings have opened and ghosts have come out and are moving about in the streets. There are horrible sights all around. Alexas, a eunuch and a follower of Cleopatra, comes there. He chastises the priests for talking about Omens and spreading panic among the people. He thinks that the Omens are only creations of the priests' Imagination.

The priests should build up the morale of the people. The Romans under the leadership of Octavius Caesar are camping all around Alexandria. The cowardly Egyptians pray for Antony put in their heart of hearts they recognize Octavius as their lord. They are surprised that Antony is sitting idle instead of fighting to regain his glory. He is in complete despair and refuses to see even Cleopatra. His wife OCtavia whom he has abandoned is with her brother (Octavius) and is desirous of taking revenge. They are afraid that if Antony is defeated, Egypt will become a province of the Roman Empire and the rich crops Of Egypt will be exported to feed the people of Italy.

Alexas says that he wanted that Cleopatra should abandon Antony and have truce with Octavius. If she does that she can reign as the queen of Egypt. But she is madly in love with Antony and refuses to leave him. Alexas appeals to the priests not to frighten the people with talk of omens hut to strengthen their hearts.

Ventidius, a general' and a sincere friend of Antony, now comes there. A gentleman of Antony tells him that his master has given up eating and drinking and sleeping and is completely lost in thought. Sometimes he raves like a mad man. He sees no one, not even Cleopatra. Ventidius says that Antony has many superhuman qualities hut he has been pulled down his sensual love for Cleopatra.

Serapion announces that the queen desires that all the people should celebrate this day with all triumph and rejoicing because it is Antony's birthday. Ventidius, however, says that the tongue that commands this general revelry should be cursed. Those who make merry when Antony is in danger cannot be called his friends. He wishes that Cleopatra had been born in some future age to ruin some prince other  than Antony. He is being sacrificed at the altar of Cleopatra's love. She has left him devoid of all virtues. He was a great Roman in the past but now he has become a feeble toy of a woman.

As Antony comes, Ventidius withdraws and listens to him from a distance. Antony says that he will celebrate his birthday with complete sadness. He had risen like a meteor and then he hastened downwards to be trampled over by Octavius Caesar.

Antony lies down on the ground and says that now he is a mere shadow of an emperor and the space he occupies on mother earth is now his empire. Soon he is going to be reduced to ashes.

Ventidius now goes to him. Antony asks him whether he is Ventidius. Ventidius says that he is the same person but Antony is not what he was when he saw him last. Antony asks him to leave him alone. Ventidius says that he loves him next only to God. He has come from a great distance to meet him and so he cannot leave him. Seeing Antony's miserable condition Ventidius starts shedding tears. This moves Antony also to shed tears. He calls Ventidius 'father.' Ventidius calls him 'emperor.' Antony says that he has been humiliated so much that he does not deserve to he called by any honourable title. He cannot forget the humiliation of his defeat at Actium. Ventidius tells him that Julius Caesar also lost a battle but he did not lose his heart.

Antony says that he feels humiliated because he ran away from the battlefield like a coward. He was the favourite of Fortune when he was young but due to his wild indulgence and revelries Fortune has deserted him. He has brought about his own ruin. Ventidius says that he will bring balm for his wounds and help him recover his lost fortune. At this Antony starts laughing. He says that Ventidius is trying to give a medicine to revive the dead. Ventidius asks him whether he wants to surrender before Octavius without a fight, Antony wants to kill himself. Ventidius says that he can die with him when there is occasion for it.

But just now, they should be ready to fight and to conquer. He exhorts Antony to rise up for the sake of honour. He has twelve legions of brave Roman soldiers. He had left them in Syria. They were keen to fight under Antony's leadership. Antony asks him to bring them to Alexandria. Ventidius says that they will not come here because they will not fight for Cleopatra. Why should they fight to make her conquer and make Antony a greater slave to her love ? Why should they shed blood to conquer kingdoms which Antony will hand over to her for a kiss ?

Antony tells Ventidius that he can talk about his other faults and weaknesses but he must not talk of Cleopatra in this way. 'She deserves more worlds than I can lose,' he says. Ventidius says that the gods have entrusted the responsibility for the welfare of a large part of mankind Antony and he regards this work as less important than the love of one frivolous and worthless woman (Cleopatra).

This annoys Antony and he says that it is his impudence to talk to him like this. He says, "Your soldiers are cowards and you are a traitor. I wish you were my equal in arms as Caesar was, so that I could fight against you and kill you without a blot on my honour."

Ventidius replies, "You may kill me. You have done something worse than that by calling me a traitor." Ventidius adds that if he had been a traitor he would have taken his legions to Octavius and not come to Antony in his miserable state.

Antony now realizes his mistake and asks for his forgiveness. Ventidius says that his unkindness in calling him a 'traitor' has already killed him. He says that before the love of Cleopatra misled him he was the best and the finest of men. Now Antony is convinced that Ventidius alone loves him and the rest of the people only flatter him.

The words of Ventidius rouse up Antony from his lethargy and depression. He embraces his friend and says that now he would act in a way as. to deserve the praises he has bestowed on him. He says, "I surrender myself to you. You can use me as you like. Please lead me to . victory. You know how to do this."

Ventidius asks him whether he would leave Cleopatra. Antony replied that he loves her more than his life and empire hut he would leave her. He is ready to fight. He would lead the old troops who beat the Parthians. Ventidius is now certain that they would be able to defeat Octavius. Antony still sighs for Cleopatra but he is filled with the. soul of a hero. He is eager to fight. He wants to massacre the enemies and win victories. 

The Spider and the Bee Episode

-Swift

Brilliantly conceived and skillfully presented, the episode of the spider and the Bee in "The Battle of the Books" is a glorious piece of literature with a perennial charm. Swift seems to have been inspired by Bacon's "Nonum Organum". This episode helps Swift to launch a stinging and scintillating satire on the moderns.

A Spider dwelt in the highest corner of a window in the Royal Library. Swift presents its hob webs as a mansion. One day the spider's mansion suddenly shook and the spider was shocked. A bee, by chance, had entered the window and sat on the outer walls of the mansion. The Citadel sank under its weight. The spider felt that the Doom's Day had come. Soon the bee freed itself from the web. Meanwhile the spider had removed from its shock. It saw the bee. Anger replaced fear. It began to hurl abusive words at the bee. With obdurate pride it claimed superiority over the bee.

The spider argued that the bee was a homeless wanderer and an indiscriminate plunderer of nature and that the bee's only possession was its wing and drone-pipe. The spider.boasted that it had the architectural skill to build its own house with its own hands from the material derived from the own body.

The bee said that its wings (flight) and voice (music) were God's gifts for noble ends. What is collected from flowers enriched it without harming them. The bee argues that though there were labour and method in the spider's work, the materials of the construction were flimsy. The spider had only filth and poison in its breast. But the bee ranged freely in gardens and after long search and wise discrimination brought home honey and wax. Thus the bee felt that it was superior to the spider. Then it flew away.

Hearing the words of the spider and the bee, Aesop sums up the arguments. The spider represents the moderns and the bee represents the ancients. Like the spider, the moderns have only mechanical skill. Their productions are flimsy and dirty. There is neither breadth of treatment nor durability in their works. But, like the bee, the ancients have no pretensions. Just as the bee has wings and sweet voice, the ancients have creative imagination and creative use of language. Wide range, infinite search and discrimination are the characteristics of the bee and the ancients. Just as the bee brings home honey and wax, he ancients provide mankind with delight and light. (enjoyment and enlightenment).

Aesop's interpretation can be regarded as Swift's stand. As Herbert David says, "This fable and the interpretation of it are Swift's real contribution to the debate between the Ancients and the Moderns". This episode is a smaller and subtler allegory with in a large allegory. The web stands for modern books. Honey and Wax stands for the productions of the ancients. While the larger allegory (the whole book) establishes the superiority of the bee (representing the ancients) will prove the path for progress and thus it enhances the larger allegory. So, this episode need not be regarded as a digression.

As in fables, in this episode the characters are from the animal word (the bee and the spider). Some message will be conveyed through fables. Through this episode the superiority of the ancients over the moderns is established and the pretensions of the moderns are exposed.