Antony and Cleopatra by Shakespeare
One night, Julius Caesar was killed and Antony made a speech over his body. When a civil war rose, Servius (the narrator) was one of the first soldiers to join Antony's legions. He was commended for his courage and promoted to the rank of centurion before the Battle of Philippi. After the battle came peace--though it was a peace that wasn't bound to last long.
The empire had been divided into three people: Octavius Caesar, who was cold-hearted and merciless took the West, Lepidus, who wasn't harmful one bit, the African provinces, and Antony the East.
Soon after, the Parthians invade Rome's territory, and Antony and his legions of soldiers set out to sea to take care of them. They were lucky, as the Parthians were untrained and ran the moment they saw the armies.
After the victorious "fight", Antony summons Servius to his tent and promoted him again to be in his personal bodyguard. Antony tells him that they will be leaving for Tarsus, where he will be meeting Queen Cleopatra of Egypt to confirm that she was Brutus's (the man who killed Julius Caesar to try and grant the people of Rome liberty) supplier. He tells Servius to stay by his side always, and Servius agrees.
On the way to Tarsus, all the people were gossiping about Cleopatra's beauty and how she had lured Julius Caesar into her charms. Servius assures himself that Antony would never be interested in an Egyptian queen, especially as he is married to a woman from one of the most powerful families of Rome.
Three days later, Servius was waiting on the quayside with Antony for Cleopatra, who was over two hours late to Antony's annoyance.
Cleopatra's ship finally arrives, and everyone is shocked at the magnificence of the ship- the wonderful sails, the shimmering gold and purple and silver, the enchanting music, and the beauty of Cleopatra. Antony greets Cleopatra, who bows at his feet to Antony's astonishment. Antony helps her up and invites her to dine with him in the city.
Cleopatra refuses and instead invites Antony to try some of the food cooked by her Egyptian cooks. Servius notices that Antony has fallen in love with Cleopatra, and then in a week, they all set sail for Egypt.
Over the years, Antony grew older and only seemed to worry about Cleopatra and his children. When the other people from Antony's legion say that Cleopatra has bewitched Antony, Servius immediately defends Antony.
Meanwhile, in Rome, pandemonium spread through the people. Antony's wife and brother--Fulvia and Lucius--raised an army to attempt to overthrow the cruel Octavius Caesar, but the army lost sorely. The Parthians invaded Rome's territory once again, and Fulvia dies on her way to visit her husband, Antony.
Antony is stricken at this news, and Servius comforts him. Antony decides that he will travel to Rome and settle things with Caesar, concluding that if the three rulers--Lepidus, Caesar, and Antony--can make peace with Pompeius, then they can combine their armies and defeat the Parthians in battle, therefore saving Rome.
Cleopatra is anguished that Antony had to go, but at last, she has no choice in the matter that Antony must go and save Rome before it is too late.
Servius listens to Antony, Lepidus, and Caesar talking, and finally, Antony comes out. He instructs Servius to go to Egypt to tell Cleopatra that he has made peace with Caesar.
Antony tells Servius of the deal he made with Caesar. For them to have their peace, he must marry Octavia, the sister of Caesar. He orders Servius to tell Cleopatra that the marriage is unimportant and doesn't change anything and that Antony and Octavia will go back to Egypt once Antony has signed a treaty with Pompeius.
Servius is skeptical of Antony succeeding in convincing Caesar that his marriage to Octavia is not a sham, and he fears Cleopatra's response when she discovers the marriage.
Servius passes along the message to Cleopatra, who is enraged and draws a knife, which her handmaidens snatch away immediately; Cleopatra is then deeply sorrowful.
Before Antony and his new wife, Octavia, were even halfway to Egypt, Caesar broke the treaty with Pompeius. He defeated him in battle, executed Lepidus, and took the African provinces as his own. Antony sent Octavia back to Rome on the hunch that war was coming, not wanting to hold her captive.
When Antony arrived in Egypt, he and Cleopatra joined forces to fight against Caesar. Antony seemed different, somehow--as if growing older had only made him more headstrong, not more knowledgeable and wise. He insisted on fighting at sea, to block Caesar from landing his legions.
Antony's generals desperately tried to change his mind, but Antony stood his ground and would not change his mind, vowing to meet Caesar at sea.
The battle was named Actium--Servius still has nightmares of that period. Actium was a bloodbath--men died left and right. For a while, it appears Antony will emerge from the battle victorious and having defeated the enemy; but just then, Cleopatra comes in her ship, trying to encourage Antony and the fleets by the sight of her. Seeing the bloodbath in front of her, she orders the ship back to the harbor.
A Roman ship gives chase to Cleopatra, and Antony turns around to rescue Cleopatra, causing the captains of the fleet to run, believing that all had been lost and that they would not win.
Antony bargained with Caesar for peace, offering him his third of the empire if he could stay with Cleopatra in Egypt. Caesar declined his offer, saying he would make peace with Cleopatra only if Antony was slaughtered.
Antony declared Cleopatra guilty, saying she had betrayed him to Caesar because she had been angry about his marriage to Octavia; Cleopatra went into hiding, scared of Antony.
Antony's generals fight on land outside Alexandria, defeating Caesar's men. Just as the celebrations had begun, a messenger comes, bearing news. Cleopatra's fleet surrendered, therefore leaving Antony's men unfed and unarmed.
Antony orders everyone out, save for Servius. He asks Servius to kill him, and, horrified, Servius refuses. Antony tries to stab himself and instead ends up slashing himself--a deep slash. He orders Servius to take him to Cleopatra, who runs to Antony immediately.
Antony says to Cleopatra to tell Caesar that she had killed him, to have peace with Caesar. In the end, Antony dies, and full of grief, Cleopatra takes a small black snake which bites her, causing her to die and join her lover in death.
8.5/10. The writing style combined both casualness and formality, poignant yet comical. It's unique from the rest of Shakespeare's plays. If you're new to Shakespeare's plays, Antony and Cleopatra is an adequate start.
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