When Octavius Caesar hears the message regarding Antony’s challenge to single combat – one leader against the other – Octavius laughs at it and makes fun of Antony. He believes Antony is nearly defeated and comments that large numbers of Antony’s men have already deserted him. In fact, Octavius believes that there are enough deserters to defeat the troops that remain with Antony.
When Antony hears that Octavius has refused his challenge to single combat, Antony becomes morose (miserable, pessimistic). He does not think that he will be able to defeat Octavius, and so he bids farewell to his men. He tells them, “I look on you as one that takes his leave” (28-29). In other words, he is saying goodbye to them forever.
When Enobarbus tells Antony that he has made his men depressed and that they even are weeping, Antony realizes the mistake he has made. He does not want to make his men feel sad and defeated before they even begin the next battle. So, Antony quickly contradicts himself and tells the men that he expects to be victorious against Octavius in tomorrow’s battle (line 43).
The night before the battle, Antony’s soldiers hear a strange and ominous (menacing, gloomy) sound coming from below the ground. This sound was produced beneath the stage by oboes (called hautboys during the Renaissance). The soldiers wonder what the sound means. They believe it is an omen, and one soldier states that “’tis the god Hercules, whom Antony loved, now leaves him” (1415). Hercules was the Greek hero who was a son of Zeus and who possessed incredible strength. The soldier’s comment suggests that the gods or fate were always favorable to Antony in the past, but now that has changed. Fate now has a negative destiny in store for Antony. In other words, the soldiers expect to lose the battle.
The next morning Antony puts on his armor in preparation for the battle. Antony, however, is a changed man. He appears powerful and confident. He is about to begin an activity in which he is accomplished: fighting on land. He is not letting the past distract him. After Antony exits, Cleopatra comments to Charmian that she does not really believe that Antony will win (lines 36-38). The positive feelings of Antony and the negative feelings of Cleopatra are thus set in contrast. And this contrast adds suspense to the play.