Act 4, Scene 3 — Antony and Cleopatra

The argument The night before battle, soldiers on watch hear strange music beneath the ground — and interpret it as Hercules, Antony's divine patron, abandoning him.

Enter a Company of Soldiers.

FIRST SOLDIER [routine camaraderie before battle]

Brother, good night. Tomorrow is the day.

Goodnight, brother. Tomorrow is the decisive day.

Sleep well, brother. Tomorrow's the big day.

night bro tomorrow's the day

SECOND SOLDIER ≋ verse [curious, sensing something odd]

It will determine one way. Fare you well.

Heard you of nothing strange about the streets?

It will settle things one way or another. Good luck. Have you heard anything unusual around the city?

That'll decide things. Take care. Did you hear anything weird out there?

will settle things take care heard anything weird?

FIRST SOLDIER [mildly curious]

Nothing. What news?

nothing. what news?

SECOND SOLDIER [shrugging off a rumor]

Belike ’tis but a rumour. Good night to you.

It's probably just a rumor. Goodnight to you.

It's probably just talk. Goodnight.

prob just rumors night

FIRST SOLDIER [casual farewell]

Well, sir, good night.

Well then, goodnight, sir.

Alright, see you tomorrow.

night sir

Enter two other Soldiers.

SECOND SOLDIER [issuing a routine order]

Soldiers, have careful watch.

Soldiers, keep careful watch.

Everyone, stay alert and keep your eyes open.

soldiers keep watch stay alert

THIRD SOLDIER [friendly parting words]

And you. Good night, good night.

And you as well. Goodnight, goodnight.

You too. Sleep well, sleep well.

u 2 night night

[_They place themselves in every corner of the stage._]

SECOND SOLDIER ≋ verse [cautiously hopeful about tomorrow]

Here we. And if tomorrow

Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope

Our landmen will stand up.

Here we are. And if tomorrow Our fleet succeeds, I have complete confidence Our ground forces will hold strong.

Well, here we are. And if our ships do well tomorrow, I'm totally confident Our army on land will stand firm.

here we go if our navy wins tomorrow the army will hold up i'm confident

FIRST SOLDIER [proud confidence in the army]

’Tis a brave army, and full of purpose.

It's a courageous army, full of determination.

It's a solid army, and they know what they're fighting for.

brave army full of purpose

[_Music of the hautboys under the stage._]

SECOND SOLDIER [alert, startled by a sound]

Peace, what noise?

peace, what noise?

FIRST SOLDIER [urgent hush]

List, list!

Listen, listen!

Did you hear that? Did you hear that?

listen listen

SECOND SOLDIER [straining to listen]

Hark!

Listen!

Do you hear it?

listen

Music i’ th’ air.

THIRD SOLDIER [unsettled realization]

Under the earth.

under the earth.

FOURTH SOLDIER [hopefully seeking reassurance]

It signs well, does it not?

That's a good sign, isn't it?

That sounds like a good omen, doesn't it?

good sign right?

THIRD SOLDIER [ominously certain]

No.

no.

FIRST SOLDIER [uneasy and baffled]

Peace, I say! What should this mean?

Quiet, I say! What can this mean?

Quiet everyone! What does that sound mean?

shh! what does that mean?

SECOND SOLDIER ≋ verse [grimly reading a bad omen]

’Tis the god Hercules, whom Antony loved,

Now leaves him.

It's the god Hercules, whom Antony loved, Now leaving him.

It's Hercules, the god Antony used to worship, And he's abandoning him.

it's hercules antony's god who's leaving him

Why it matters The soldier's identification of the music as Hercules departing is the play's most explicit supernatural omen — Antony is losing not just his army but his divine sponsor.

FIRST SOLDIER ≋ verse [wary, seeking confirmation]

Walk. Let’s see if other watchmen

Do hear what we do.

Let's move about. Let's see if other watchmen Also hear what we're hearing.

Come on, let's walk around. Let's find out if other guards Are hearing this same thing.

let's walk around see if other watchmen hear this too

[_They advance to another post._]

SECOND SOLDIER [calling out to the others]

How now, masters!

Hey, listen up, everyone!

Hey, you all, listen!

yo everyone!

ALL [collectively alarmed]

How now! How now! Do you hear this?

Hey! Hey! Do you hear that?

Wait, wait! Are you all hearing this?

hey! hey! u hear that?

FIRST SOLDIER [unsettled agreement]

Ay. Is’t not strange?

Yes. Isn't it strange?

Yeah. Isn't that weird?

yeah so weird right?

THIRD SOLDIER [insistent, checking others heard]

Do you hear, masters? Do you hear?

Are you listening, everyone? Are you listening?

Everyone, did you hear that? Did you hear it?

everyone hear that? yall hear?

FIRST SOLDIER ≋ verse [determined to investigate]

Follow the noise so far as we have quarter.

Let’s see how it will give off.

Follow the sound as far as our area extends. Let's watch how it ends.

Chase the sound wherever it goes within our patrol zone. Let's see where it stops.

follow the noise in our area see where it ends

ALL [uneasy agreement]

Content. ’Tis strange.

Agreed. It is strange.

Yeah, okay. It's really strange.

ok yeah its weird

[_Exeunt._]

The Reckoning

A scene of pure theatrical magic and dread. The soldiers hear music no one can explain — floating in the air, then seeming to come from underground. One soldier names what everyone feels: it is Hercules leaving. The god who was Antony's patron, whose strength Antony claimed, is walking away the night before the final battle. Shakespeare stages the supernatural without ever quite committing to it: it might be imagination, might be fact. The effect is the same either way.

If this happened today…

Soldiers stationed overnight before a major offensive hear something they can't identify — music, or something like it, from beneath the street. They all hear it. They look at each other. One of them says quietly: 'That's bad.' They don't explain what they mean. They don't have to.

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