Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

VENTIDIUS

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)Ven. | Ʋ en.
Words243
Characters1376
Typicality0.41 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA11954.35
BritDrama no.1517
ClusterCluster 6 — Battlefield messengers & soldiers

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

Now darting Parthya art thou stroke, and now Pleased Fortune does of Marcus Crassus death Make me revenger. Bear the Kings Sons body, Before our Army, thy Pacorus Orades, Pays this for Marcus Crassus. O Sillius, Sillius, I have done enough. A lower place note well May make too great and act. For learn this Sillius, Better to leave undone, then by our deed Acquire too high a Fame, when him we serves away. Caesar and Anthony have ever won More in their officer, then person. Sossius One of my place in Syria, his Lieutenant, For quick accumulation of renown, Which he achieved by' the minute, lost his favour. Who does in the Wars more then his Captain can, Becomes his Captains Captain: and Ambition (The Soldiers virtue) rather makes choice of lose Then gain, which darkens him. I could do more to do Anthonius good, But 'twould offend him. And in his offence, Should my performance perish. I'll humbly signify what in his name, That magical word of War we have effected, How with his Banners, and his well paid ranks, The nere-yet beaten Horse of Parthia, We have jaded out of the Field. He purposes to Athens, whither with what hast The weight we must convey with's, will permit: We shall appear before him. On there, pass along. Marcus Octavius, Marcus Iusteus, Publicola, and Celius, are for Sea: But we keep whole by Land. This speed of Caesars Carries beyond belief.

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.