Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

DOLABELLA

in Antony and Cleopatra — Shakespeare, William

Metadata

PlayAntony and Cleopatra
AuthorShakespeare, William
Year (catalogued)1623
First performance1607
Decade1620s
GenreTragedy
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyKing's Men
Speech prefix(es)Dolla. | Dol. | Dola.
Words325
Characters1734
Typicality0.23 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA11954.35
BritDrama no.1517
ClusterCluster 9 — Boon companions & bluff banter

Important excerpts

No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).

Full speech

Caesar, it's his Schoolmaster, And argument that he is plucked, when hither He sends so poor a Pinion of his Wing, Which had superfluous Kings for Messengers, Not many Moons gone by. Caesar, I shall. And strange it is, That Nature must compel us to lament Our most persisted deeds. Proculeius, What thou hast done, thy Master Caesar knows, And he hath sent for thee: for the Queen, I'll take her to my Guard. Most Noble Empress, you have herd of me. Assuredly you know me. I understand not, Madam. If it might please you. Most Sovereign Creature. Cleopatra. Gentle Madam, no. Hear me, good Madam: Your lose is as your self, great; and you bear it As answering to the weight, would I might never Overtake pursued success: But I do feel By the rebound of yours, a grief that suits My very heart at root. I am loath to tell you what, I would you knew. Though he be Honourable. Madam he will, I know't. It is the Emperor Madam. Where's the Queen? Madam, as thereto sworn, by your command (Which my love makes Religion to obey) I tell you this: Caesar through Syria Intends his journey, and within three days, You with your Children will he send before, Make your best use of this. I have performed Your pleasure, and my promise. I your Servant: Adieu good Queen, I must attend on Caesar. How goes it here? Caesar, thy thoughts Touch their effects in this: Thy self art coming To see performed the dreaded Act which thou So soughtest to hinder. O sir, you are too sure and Augurer: That you did fe re, is done. Who was last with them? Here on her breast, There is a vent of Blood, and something blown, The Like is on her Arm. A Rarer spirit never Did steer humanity: but you Gods will give us Some faults to make us men, Caesar is touched.

Plot summary

Plot — Antony and Cleopatra
Antony dallies with Cleopatra in Egypt while the Roman world collapses into faction. His wife and brother make war on Caesar, and Pompey takes advantage of his absence to foment a sea war with the state and avenge his murdered father. At first Antony ignores Caesar’s messages, but his wife’s death draws him back to Rome, where he and Caesar are reconciled; to seal the league, Antony marries Caesar’s sister, Octavia. A soothsayer, who has told the fortunes of members of Cleopatra’s court, warns him that, although he is a better man than Caesar, Caesar will always prove the more successful of the two. Antony, Caesar, and Lepidus meet Pompey with an army, but war is averted. Lepidus gets egregiously drunk at the feast on Pompey’s galley to celebrate the treaty. Pompey refuses his ally Menas’ dishonourable proposal to kill the triumvirate and make him master of the world. Antony’s lieutenant Ventidius defeats the Parthians in battle, but is cautious about taking too much of the credit for himself. Meanwhile, news of Antony’s marriage reaches Cleopatra; she does not take it well. Antony leaves Rome with his new wife, but absence breeds suspicion between him and Caesar. Caesar breaks the truce with Pompey and deposes Lepidus on a pretext. Antony, in turn, sends Octavia home and returns to Egypt, where he creates Cleopatra queen of several dominions. War between east and west follows. Antony perversely chooses to fight by sea, and Cleopatra insists on being present at the battle. They are routed when Cleopatra flees and Antony follows her. Antony’s followers begin to defect to Caesar, but Enobarbus remains loyal. Caesar attempts to divide the lovers by offering Cleopatra security if she will banish or kill Antony. Antony has the messenger whipped for over-familiarity with Cleopatra, and determines to fight to the bitter end. Enobarbus decides finally to go over to Caesar, but leaves behind his treasure; Antony sends it after him, and the guilt-stricken Enobarbus dies. Antony defeats Caesar in a land battle, but loses the next day at sea. Spurned by Antony, Cleopatra takes refuge in her monument and sends him false news of her death. He stabs himself and is pulled up, dying, to join Cleopatra in the monument. Caesar hopes to display Cleopatra in his triumph at Rome, but she frustrates him by smuggling an asp past her guard and committing suicide.