The third scene of this act begins with Antony talking to his new bride, Octavia. He admits to her that in the past he has made mistakes (“blemishes” in line 5). He is, of course, referring to his relationship with Cleopatra as a fault that he hopes to correct. He adds that in the future “all be done by th’ rule” (7). The word rule here indicates regularity or propriety. Antony is declaring that he will be a proper and good husband. He is stating that he will act moderately and rationally. Antony is not telling a lie here. He means what he says. The cool and level headed Antony is speaking. However, emotions are strong, even in the best and noblest of men. By the end of this same scene, Antony’s emotions will once again overpower his reason.
After Octavia and her brother Octavius leave
Antony, he speaks to a soothsayer, a fortune-teller. Antony asks the soothsayer to whom will fortune or fate be more favorable: to Octavius or to Antony. The soothsayer tells him that fate will favor Octavius and that Antony must stay away from him. The fortune-teller also adds the following:
Thy daemon, that thy spirit which keeps thee, is
Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable, Where Caesar’s is not. But near him thy angel
Becomes afeard, as being overpowered. (17-20)
The soothsayer is stating that Antony has a guardian angel – also referred to as a demon or spirit – that makes Antony in every way superior to other men, including Octavius Caesar. But whenever Antony is in conflict with Octavius, Antony is defeated. The soothsayer states that Antony’s angel becomes weakened when it is in the presence of Octavius’ own angel. Many people in Shakespeare’s time may have accepted this passage in quite literal terms. The idea of a guardian angel is a part of Christian or Catholic teaching – everybody literally has a guardian angel who watches over him or her. Yet, the angel could also be viewed as a metaphor. Not only does it represent one’s own internal sense of spirit or courage. It also represents the role of destiny or fate that affects an individual. Thus, in a metaphorical reading of these lines, the soothsayer is indicating that the superior Antony will lose in any struggle or conflict with the inferior Octavius. These lines foreshadow the outcome of the play. The same idea is repeated a moment later when the soothsayer more directly states, “If thou dost play with him at any game, thou art sure to lose” (23-24). The soothsayer is essentially telling Antony, then, to stay away from Octavius.
Antony accepts the words of the soothsayer as truth. Antony says to himself, “The very dice obey him” (31). Dice are used in gambling, a game of chance or luck. Antony is stating that chance or luck favors Octavius, and chance or luck is just another way of saying fate. Thus, Antony contradicts the earlier promise that he had made to Octavia:
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
I’th’ East my pleasure lies. (37-38)
Partly out of respect or fear (an emotion) for what the soothsayer said and partly (and especially) because Antony is not able to prevent himself from thinking about Cleopatra, Antony decides to return to Egypt. He wishes to keep his distance from Octavius, but he also dearly wishes to be in the arms of Cleopatra once again. Yet, he also knows that in returning to Egypt, he will be breaking the contract of marriage to Octavia. And, so the peace between him and
Octavius will also break.
AGAINST POMPEY
The fourth scene is brief. The men who serve Octavius – Agrippa and Maecenas – are eager and willing to follow Mark Antony’s orders now that Octavius and Antony have become friends. The Roman soldiers then get ready to march against the forces of Pompey.