full text of Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra; full text and free performance schedule of Antony and Cleopatra

[snorko]

Full text of Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra:
http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext02/candc10.txt

Full text of Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra:
http://shakespeare.mit.edu/cleopatra/full.html

Free performances of Antony and Cleopatra from Shakespeare by the Sea:
http://www.shakespearebythesea.org/calendar.html

[snorko]

Plutarch. 75. Caesar. Lives.
at MIT Classics: http://classics.mit.edu/Plutarch/caesar.1b.txt

Search for Egypt to find some of the primary source material for
Shaw's play. The passage through the first and second matches give
background to points briefly referenced in the play, but Cleopatra's
story begins at the third match, copied below. As this is public
domain text, we can repost long sections without violating any
copyright. Be careful to avoid reposting copyrighted material online,
on this group or others you may use.

Plutarch's Lives is a common primary source for much of the world's
general knowledge of ancient Greco-Roman figures. Any time in your
future studies, if a historical figure is mentioned, try looking up
and analyzing a brief quote for your projects. MIT Classics is a handy
site to find searchable full-text versions of much ancient fiction and
non-fiction, mostly Greco-Roman, but also including Confucius'
Analects, Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, and Sun Tzu's Art of war, all of
which could provide useful ideas for this term's analysis of Rome and
the US (http://classics.mit.edu/Browse/index.html).

"As to the war in Egypt, some say it was at once dangerous and
dishonourable, and noways necessary, but occasioned only by his
passion for Cleopatra. Others blame the ministers of the king, and
especially the eunuch Pothinus, who was the chief favourite and had
lately killed Pompey, who had banished Cleopatra, and was now secretly
plotting Caesar's destruction (to prevent which, Caesar from that time
began to sit up whole nights, under pretence of drinking, for the
security of his person), while openly he was intolerable in his
affronts to Caesar, both by his words and actions. For when Caesar's
soldiers had musty and unwholesome corn measured out to them, Pothinus
told them they must be content with it, since they were fed at
another's cost. He ordered that his table should be served with wooden
and earthen dishes, and said Caesar had carried off all the gold and
silver plate, under pretence of arrears of debt. For the present
king's father owed Caesar one thousand seven hundred and fifty myriads
of money. Caesar had formerly remitted to his children the rest, but
thought fit to demand the thousand myriads at that time to maintain
his army. Pothinus told him that he had better go now and attend to
his other affairs of greater consequence, and that he should receive
his money at another time with thanks. Caesar replied that he did not
want Egyptians to be his counsellors, and soon after privately sent
for Cleopatra from her retirement.

She took a small boat, and one only of her confidants, Apollodorus,
the Sicilian, along with her, and in the dusk of the evening landed
near the palace. She was at a loss how to get in undiscovered, till
she thought of putting herself into the coverlet of a bed and lying at
length, whilst Apollodorus tied up the bedding and carried it on his
back through the gates to Caesar's apartment. Caesar was first
captivated by this proof of Cleopatra's bold wit, and was afterwards
so overcome by the charm of her society that he made a reconciliation
between her and her brother, on the condition that she should rule as
his colleague in the kingdom. A festival was kept to celebrate this
reconciliation, where Caesar's barber, a busy listening fellow, whose
excessive timidity made him inquisitive into everything, discovered
that there was a plot carrying on against Caesar by Achillas, general
of the king's forces, and Pothinus, the eunuch. Caesar, upon the first
intelligence of it, set a guard upon the hall where the feast was kept
and killed Pothinus. Achillas escaped to the army, and raised a
troublesome and embarrassing war against Caesar, which it was not easy
for him to manage with his few soldiers against so powerful a city and
so large an army. The first difficulty he met with was want of water,
for the enemies had turned the canals. Another was, when the enemy
endeavoured to cut off his communication by sea, he was forced to
divert that danger by setting fire to his own ships, which, after
burning the docks, thence spread on and destroyed the great library. A
third was, when in an engagement near Pharos, he leaped from the mole
into a small boat to assist his soldiers who were in danger, and when
the Egyptians pressed him on every side, he threw himself into the
sea, and with much difficulty swam off. This was the time when,
according to the story, he had a number of manuscripts in his hand,
which, though he was continually darted at, and forced to keep his
head often under water, yet he did not let go, but held them up safe
from wetting in one hand, whilst he swam with the other. His boat in
the meantime, was quickly sunk. At last, the king having gone off to
Achillas and his party, Caesar engaged and conquered them. Many fell
in that battle, and the king himself was never seen after. Upon this,
he left Cleopatra queen of Egypt, who soon after had a son by him,
whom the Alexandrians called Caesarion, and then departed for Syria."

[snorko]

Study guide for Antony and Cleopatra prepared by students:
http://www.snorko.org/AntonyCleo2.pdf

[snorko]

Plutarch. 75. Antony. Lives.
http://classics.mit.edu/Plutarch/antony.1b.txt

"with the better class and with
all well-conducted people his general course of life made him, as
Cicero says absolutely odious, utter disgust being excited by his
drinking bouts at all hours, his wild expenses, his gross amours,
the day spent in sleeping or walking off his debauches, and the night
in banquets and at theatres, and in celebrating the nuptials of some
comedian or buffoon. It is related that, drinking all night at the
wedding of Hippias, the comedian, on the morning, having to harangue
the people, he came forward, overcharged as he was, and vomited before
them all, one of his friends holding his gown for him. Sergius, the
player, was one of the friends who could do most with him; also
Cytheris,
a woman of the same trade, whom he made much of, and who, when he
went his progress, accompanied him in a litter, and had her equipage
not in anything inferior to his mother's; while every one, moreover,
was scandalized at the sight of the golden cups that he took with
him, fitter for the ornaments of a procession than the uses of a
journey,
at his having pavilions set up, and sumptuous morning repasts laid
out by river sides and in groves, at his having chariots drawn by
lions, and common women and singing girls quartered upon the houses
of serious fathers and mothers of families. And it seemed very
unreasonable
that Caesar, out of Italy, should lodge in the open field, and with
great fatigue and danger, pursue the remainder of a hazardous war,
whilst others, by favour of his authority, should insult the citizens
with their impudent luxury.

All this appears to have aggravated party quarrels in Rome, and to
have encouraged the soldiers in acts of licence and rapacity.
…
However, Caesar, by dealing gently with his errors,
seems to have succeeded in curing him of a good deal of his folly
and extravagance. He gave up his former courses, and took a wife,
Fulvia, the widow of Clodius the demagogue, a woman not born for
spinning
or housewifery, nor one that could be content with ruling a private
husband, but prepared to govern a first magistrate, or give orders
to a commander-in-chief. So that Cleopatra had great obligations to
her for having taught Antony to be so good a servant, he coming to
her hands tame and broken into entire obedience to the commands of
a mistress. He used to play all sorts of sportive, boyish tricks,
to keep Fulvia in good-humour. As, for example, when Caesar, after
his victory in Spain, was on his return, Antony, among the rest, went
out to meet him; and, a rumour being spread that Caesar was killed
and the enemy marching into Italy, he returned to Rome, and,
disguising
himself, came to her by night muffled up as a servant that brought
letters from Antony. She, with great impatience, before received the
letter, asks if Antony were well, and instead of an answer he gives
her the letter; and, as she was opening it, took her about the neck
and kissed her. This little story, of many of the same nature, I give
as a specimen.
…
ut it was his character in calamities to be better than at any other
time. Antony, in misfortune, was most nearly a virtuous man. It is
common enough for people, when they fall into great disasters, to
discern what is right, and what they ought to do; but there are but
few who in such extremities have the strength to obey their judgment,
either in doing what it approves or avoiding what it condemns; and
a good many are so weak as to give way to their habits all the more,
and are incapable of using their using minds. Antony, on this
occasion,
was a most wonderful example to his soldiers. He, who had just quitted
so much luxury and sumptuous living, made no difficulty now of
drinking
foul water and feeding on wild fruits and roots. Nay, it is related
they ate the very bark of trees, and, in passing over the Alps, lived
upon creatures that no one before had ever been willing to touch.
…
This triumvirate was very hateful to the Romans, and Antony most of
all bore the blame, because he was older than Caesar, and had greater
authority than Lepidus, and withal he was no sooner settled in his
affairs, but he turned to his luxurious and dissolute way of living.
…
Such being his temper, the last and crowning mischief that could
befall
him came in the love of Cleopatra, to awaken and kindle to fury
passions
that as yet lay still and dormant in his nature, and to stifle and
finally corrupt any elements that yet made resistance in him of
goodness
and a sound judgment. He fell into the snare thus…"

[snorko]

Outline of Acts and scenes, Antony and Cleopatra

I.i, in which Roman soldiers complain about Antony’s behavior while he
plays with Cleopatra and ignores a messenger from Octavius Caesar;

I.ii, in which Cleopatra’s women consult a soothsayer; Cleopatra
whines about and teases Antony over his returning to Rome; Antony
discusses leaving Egypt with his soldier Enobarbus;

I.iii, in which Antony and Cleopatra part;

I.iv, in which Octavius complains about Antony’s behavior and his own
need of Antony against Pompey;

I.v, in which Cleopatra daydreams of the absent Antony;

II.i, in which Pompey hopes Octavius and Antony will fight each other,
not join together against him;

II.ii, in which Caesar and Antony reconcile and agree that Antony will
marry Octavia, Octavius’ sister;

II.iii, in which Antony and Octavia part;

II.iv, in which Lepidus and other soldiers part;

II.v, in which Cleopatra learns of Antony’s marriage;

II.vi, in which Caesar, Antony, Lepidus, and Pompey make peace;

II.vii, in which Caesar, Antony, Lepidus, and Pompey drunkenly
celebrate their peace;

III.i, in which Roman soldiers discuss success under Antony and
Octavius’ united leadership;

III.ii, in which Antony, Octavia, and Octavius part;

III.iii, in which Cleopatra learns more of Antony’s marriage;

III.iv, in which Octavia asks Antony not to fight Octavius;

III.v, in which Anotny’s soldiers Enobarbus and Eros discuss Lepidus’
arrest by Caesar and the pending conflict between Caesar and Antony;

III.vi, in which Caesar lists formal complaints against Antony and
comforts his sister with her private complaints;

III.vii, in which Antony sides with Cleopatra on battle at sea against
his soldiers' protest for land battle;

III.viii, in which Caesar prepares for battle at sea;

III.ix, in which Antony prepares for battle at sea;

III.x, in which Enobarbus and others complain of rout after Antony
leaves the battle, chasing Celopatra, who panicked and fled;

III.xi, in which Antony bemoans his situation;

III.xii, in which Antony receives Caesar's messenger, Thidias;

III.xiii, in which Thidias attempts to negotiate with Cleopatra, but
Antony has
him whipped and sent back with a single combat challenge to Caesar;

IV.i, in which Caesar, irritated but patient, dismisses Antony's
challenge and
plans the next battle;

IV.ii, in which Antony orders a party before the next day's battle;

IV.iii, in which Roman soldiers discuss their prospects in the next
day's battle;

IV.iv, in which Antony and Cleopatra part for battle;

IV.v, in which, upon hearing Enobarbus has left him for Caesar, Antony
sends his former soldier's loot after him;

IV.vi, in which Caesar orders Antony's defectors sent first against
him, but
Enobarbus, after receiving his loot from Antony, seeks a ditch
instead;

IV.vii, in which Antony surveys a victory with his soldiers;

IV.viii, in which Antony and Cleopatra celebrate the day's success;

IV.ix, in which Enobarbus finds the ditch he seeks;

IV.x, in which Antony prepares again the next day for battle--on
land;

IV.xi, in which Caesar prepares again the next day for battle--on
land;

IV.xii, in which Antony rages that Cleopatra has betrayed him after
his fleet yields to Caesar;

IV.xiii, in which Cleopatra cries and sends rumor of her death to
Antony;

IV.xiv, in which, upon hearing the (false) report of Cleopatra's
death, Antony falls on his sword and fatally wounds himself but
doesn't die immediately; then, after hearing her death was only a
rumor, he has his dying self delivered to Cleopatra;

IV.xv, in which Antony and Cleopatra say goodbye;

V.i, in which Caesar approaches Cleopatra;

V.ii, in which Caesar and Cleopatra meet; then, despite Caesar's
suicide watch orders over the queen, she receives an asp; Caesar
investigates then departs for Rome.