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Act 4, Scene 5 — Antony’s camp near Alexandria.
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Original
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The argument Antony learns that Enobarbus has defected to Caesar and immediately sends his friend's treasure after him, with a letter of kind farewell.
Trumpets sound. Enter Antony and Eros, a Soldier meeting them.
SOLDIER [loyal well-wishing]

The gods make this a happy day to Antony!

May the gods make this a fortunate day for Antony!

May the gods give Antony good luck today!

gods bless antony make it a good day

ANTONY ≋ verse [regretful about his strategy]

Would thou and those thy scars had once prevailed

To make me fight at land!

I wish you and those scars of yours had once convinced me To fight on land!

I wish your battle experience and those scars could have convinced me To fight on the ground instead!

wish ur scars convinced me to fight on land

SOLDIER ≋ verse [regretfully agreeing]

Hadst thou done so,

The kings that have revolted and the soldier

That has this morning left thee would have still

Followed thy heels.

If you had done so, The kings who have rebelled and the soldier Who left you this morning would still Be following you.

If you had done that, The rebel kings and the soldier Who abandoned you this morning would still Be at your side.

if u did the rebel kings & the soldier who left today would still follow u

ANTONY [alarmed at desertion]

Who’s gone this morning?

Who left this morning?

Who abandoned me this morning?

whos leaving this morning?

SOLDIER ≋ verse [reluctant to break the news]

Who?

One ever near thee. Call for Enobarbus,

He shall not hear thee, or from Caesar’s camp

Say “I am none of thine.”

Who? Someone who was always near you. Call for Enobarbus, He won't answer you, or from Caesar's camp Say "I'm no longer yours."

Who? Someone who was always at your side. Try calling for Enobarbus, But he won't respond, or he'll call back from Caesar's camp And say "I don't belong to you anymore."

who? someone close to u call enobarbus he won't answer or say from caesar's camp i'm not urs anymore

ANTONY [stunned disbelief]

What sayest thou?

What are you telling me?

What are you saying?

what r u saying?

SOLDIER ≋ verse [confirming the painful truth]

Sir,

He is with Caesar.

Sir, He joined Caesar.

Sir, He's gone to Caesar.

sir he's with caesar

EROS ≋ verse [adding an awkward detail]

Sir, his chests and treasure

He has not with him.

Sir, his trunks and treasures He doesn't have with him.

Sir, he left his belongings and valuables Behind when he went.

sir he left behind his chests & treasure

ANTONY [quietly devastated]

Is he gone?

Is he gone?

Is he gone?

is he gone?

SOLDIER [plainly confirming]

Most certain.

Most certain.

Most certain.

most certain.

ANTONY ≋ verse [generous despite the betrayal]

Go, Eros, send his treasure after. Do it.

Detain no jot, I charge thee. Write to him—

I will subscribe—gentle adieus and greetings.

Say that I wish he never find more cause

To change a master. O, my fortunes have

Corrupted honest men! Dispatch.—Enobarbus!

Go, Eros, send his belongings after him. Do it. Don't delay even a moment, I command you. Write to him— I will sign—kind farewells and greetings. Say that I wish he never finds reason again To change masters. Oh, my misfortune has Corrupted honest men! Hurry.—Enobarbus!

Go, Eros, send his things after him. Now. Don't waste a second, I'm telling you. Write him a letter— I'll add my signature—kind goodbyes and warm regards. Tell him I hope he never has to abandon another master again. Oh, my downfall has Turned good men into traitors! Get going.—Enobarbus!

eros send his stuff hurry no delays write him kind goodbyes wish he doesn't have to change masters again my failure corrupted good men! dispatch

Why it matters Antony's response to Enobarbus's defection — sending back his treasure with a kind letter rather than rage — is one of the most devastating acts of generosity in the play. It will destroy Enobarbus.
🎭 Dramatic irony Antony blames himself — 'my fortunes have corrupted honest men' — but the audience knows Enobarbus is arguably the most honest man in the play. His departure is a rational response to a lost war, not corruption. Antony's self-blame is generous and also wrong.
[_Exeunt._]

The Reckoning

A scene of devastating generosity. Antony hears that his most trusted companion — Enobarbus — has gone to the enemy. His response is not rage but self-blame: 'O, my fortunes have corrupted honest men.' He sends the treasure Enobarbus left behind and writes him a warm farewell. This will kill Enobarbus more certainly than any punishment could.

If this happened today…

A CEO finds out his most trusted executive has quietly moved to the competitor. He doesn't call the lawyers. He calls the CFO: 'Send back everything he left behind. All of it. And write him a letter — from me. Wish him well.' He sets the phone down. 'I drove good people out. My mess, not his.' The executive, receiving the boxes and the letter, will never recover from this.

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