Antony and Cleopatra: Act 2, Scene 2 Summary & Analysis

In Rome, Lepidus tells Enobarbus to try to get Antony to speak kindly to Octavius. Enobarbus says Antony will do as he pleases, and Lepidus tells him that, in the face of imminent danger, “small to greater matters must give way.” Enobarbus remains stubborn. Antony enters, and then Octavius enters with two friends, Maecenas and Agrippa.

Lepidus tries to mediate between Antony and Octavius, telling them to put aside their personal differences to deal with Pompey. Octavius is upset with Antony for spending so much time in Egypt and because his wife and brother made war against him. Antony says his brother never consulted him about the war, and that his wife had an impetuous spirit.

Octavius chastises Antony for ignoring the messages he sent to him. Antony says his messenger arrived just after a feast, and he talked to him the next morning. Octavius accuses Antony of violating his oath to lend him “arms and aid” in a time of need. Antony apologizes slightly, and asks for pardon for his wife. Maecenas tells Antony and Octavius to stop arguing so that they can deal with the threat of Pompey.

Enobarbus agrees, noting that they can take up their dispute again once Pompey is dealt with. Antony tells him to be quiet, and Enobarbus says he forgot “that truth should be silent.” Agrippa speaks up and suggests that, since Fulvia is now dead, Octavius’ sister Octavia could be married to Antony, in order to bind Octavius and Antony together as brothers. Octavius and Antony agree to the plan.

Antony, Lepidus, and Octavius now turn their attention to Pompey, who is at Mount Misena, south of Rome. Before preparing their forces, though, Antony and Octavius go to see Octavia, to conclude the business of the marriage. Lepidus leaves with them. Maecenas, Enobarbus, and Agrippa are glad that Octavius and Antony appear to have resolved their dispute. Enobarbus tells them about how he and Antony slept all day and drank all night in Egypt.

Enobarbus tells Agrippa and Maecenas about Cleopatra, who has a huge barge “like a burnished throne,” made of gold with silver oars. He describes Cleopatra’s beauty and says she was surrounded by “pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids,” and female attendants like mermaids. He says her boat gives off “a strange invisible perfume.”

Enobarbus says that when Antony first saw Cleopatra, he invited her to dinner. She declined, though, and invited him to be her guest at dinner. Agrippa responds that Cleopatra even once got Caesar to "put away his sword," and that after they slept together she bore Caesar a child. Maecenas praises Octavia’s beauty and wisdom, but Enobarbus doubts that Antony will ever really leave Cleopatra. He says that “other women cloy / The appetites they feed, but she makes hungry / Where most she satisfies.”