Some time has passed. The sea battle is over. The soldiers who serve Octavius are now coming on land. Scarus, one of Antony’s men, tells Enobarbus about the sea battle. According to Scarus, the two sides were equal: either side could have won (line 12). But then Cleopatra becomes frightened and turns her ships around (lines 14-15). When Antony, who is in one of his Roman ships, sees Cleopatra flee, he chases after her (lines 19-20). And, so, Antony loses against Octavius. Antony really allowed his emotions to defeat himself. The reader should also note the similes that Scarus uses to describe Antony and Cleopatra. Cleopatra is “like a cow in June” (14). Such a cow runs away for the slightest of reasons, such as the bite of a fly or the movement of light wind. Scarus is suggesting that Cleopatra is not only cowardly, but she is also unattractive. Her great physical beauty holds no attraction during a time of war. Antony is “like a doting mallard” (19). He is like a male duck quacking noisily in pursuit of a female duck. His noise or actions are useless to his cause. Scarus concludes with the following:
I never saw an action of such shame.
Experience, manhood, honour, ne’er before
Did violate so itself. (21-23)
Thus, Antony, a man who holds his honor so dearly, has lost that honor because of his passion for Cleopatra.