TITTLE : When Forty Winters Shall Besiege Thy Brow

GENRE : Poem
AUTHOR : William Shakespeare
WRITTEN :

Sonnet 2
When forty winters shall besiege thy brow

When forty winters shall besiege thy brow,

And dig deep trenches in thy beauty's field,
Thy youth's proud livery so gazed on now,
Will be a tattered weed of small worth held.
Then being asked, where all thy beauty lies,
Where all the treasure of thy lusty days,
To say within thine own deep sunken eyes,
Were an all-eating shame, and thriftless praise.
How much more praise deserved thy beauty's use,
If thou couldst answer, "This fair child of mine
Shall sum my count, and make my old excuse,"
Proving his beauty by succession thine.
This were to be new made when thou art old,
And see thy blood warm when thou feel'st it cold.

TITTLE : My Pretty Rose

GENRE : Poem
AUTHOR : William Blake
WRITTEN : 1794

My Pretty Rose

A flower was offered to me,

Such a flower as May never bore;
But I said, ‘I’ve a pretty rose tree,’
And I passed the sweet flower o’er.

Then I went to my pretty rose tree,

To tend her by day and by night;
But my rose turned away with jealousy,
And her thorns were my only delight.

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TITTLE : London
GENRE : Poem
AUTHOR : William Blake
WRITTEN : 1794

London

I wander thro' each charter'd street,

Near where the charter'd Thames does flow,
And mark in every face I meet
Marks of weakness, marks of woe.

In every cry of every Man,

In every Infant's cry of fear,
In every voice, in every ban,
The mind-forg'd manacles I hear.

How the Chimney-sweeper's cry

Every black'ning Church appalls;
And the hapless Soldier's sigh
Runs in blood down Palace walls.

But most thro' midnight streets I hear

How the youthful Harlot's curse
Blasts the new born Infant's tear,
And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse.

The Biography of William Blake

William Blake was born on November 28, 1757 in London, the third of five children. His father
James was a hosier, and could only afford to give William enough schooling to learn the basics
of reading and writing, though for a short time he was able to attend a drawing school run by
Henry Par.

William worked in his father's shop until his talent for drawing became so obvious that he was
apprenticed to engraver James Basire at age 14. He finished his apprenticeship at age 21, and set
out to make his living as an engraver.

Blake married Catherine Boucher at age 25, and she worked with him on most of his artistic
creations. Together they published a book of Blake's poems and drawings called Songs of
Innocence.

Blake engraved the words and pictures on copper plates (a method he claimed he received in a
dream), and Catherine coloured the plates and bound the books. Songs of Innocence sold slowly
during Blake's lifetime, indeed Blake struggled close to poverty for much of his life.

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 More successful was a series of copperplate engravings Blake did to illustrate the Book of Job
for a new edition of the Old Testament.

Blake did not have a head for business, and he turned down publisher's requests to focus on his
own subjects. In his choice of subject Blake was often guided by his gentle, mystical views of
Christianity. Songs of Experience (1794) was followed by Milton (1804-1808), and Jerusalem
(1804-1820).

In 1800 Blake gained a patron in William Hayley, who commissioned him to illustrate his Life of
Cowper, and to create busts of famous poets for his house in Felpham, Suurey.

While at Felpham, Blake was involved in a bizarre episode which could have proven disastrous;
he was accused by a drunken soldier of cursing the king, and on this testimony he was brought to
trial for treason. The cae against Blake proved flimsy, and he was cleared of the charges.

Blake poured his whole being into his work. The lack of public recognition sent him into a
severe depression which lasted from 1810-1817, and even his close friends thought him insane.

Unlike painters like Gainsborough, Blake worked on a small scale; most of his engravings are
little more than inches in height, yet the detailed rendering is superb and exact. Blake's work
received far more public acclaim after his death, and an excerpt from his poem Milton was set to
music, becoming a sort of unofficial Christian anthem of English nationalism in the 20th century.

William Blake died on August 12, 1827, and is buried in an unmarked grave at Bunhill Fields,
London.

TITTLE : Knight’s Tale

GENRE : Prose
AUTHOR : Geoffrey Chaucer
PUBLISHED : 1794

Knight's Tale
Knight’s Tale tells the story of 2 young knights in friendship. Both were injured in the battle and
prisonned in Athen Jail by the King of Athen. From the jail chamber, they make friend with a
beautiful princess that changed into permusuhan. The prince turned to be the daughter of the
King imprisoned them.

N.B. This is the summary. Tense changes in this summary reflect the usage of the historical
present in the original.
Part I

860-910 Theseus, duke of Athens, returns in triumph from Scithia,

where he has conquered and married the queen of the Amazons, Ypolita.
Her young sister Emelye accompanies them. As he comes to the edge
of the town, his progress is interrupted by a group of weeping ladies,
kneeling and clad in black.

3
905-951 The eldest explains that they are waiting here at the
Temple of Clemency to ask Theseus' help. She is the queen, Cappaneus'
wife, and the others all noble ladies, cast down by Fortune. The
tyrant Creon has captured Thebes, killed their husbands, and will
not allow the bodies to be buried.

952-1004 The noble Theseus, moved by their plight, turns aside from
Athens and leads his army to Thebes, where he slays Creon and defeats
his army. He captures the city, tears down its walls, and has the
bodies of the ladies' husbands properly cremated and buried.

1005-1032 As the pillagers ransack the bodies, the heralds recognize

among the wounded two princes of the royal blood, born of sisters.
Theseus sends them to Athens to dwell in prison perpetually.

1033-1069 Years pass; one May morning the beautiful Emelye goes
a-Maying in the garden below the tower in which the prisoners are held.
She gathers flowers and sings like an angel.

1070-1111 One of the prisoners, Palamoun, while he is lamenting

his fate, happens to look out a window; he casts his eye on Emelye
and cries out in pain. His fellow prisoner, Arcite, thinks he is
depressed by their imprisonment and urges him to accept their destiny;
they are victims of the stars. You are mistaken, Palamoun says;
I was wounded through the eye by the woman or goddess I saw in the
garden. He kneels and prays to Venus that if she is indeed the woman whom
he saw in the garden she help him and Arcite out of prison.

1112-1122 Arcite looks through the window, sees Emelye, and is

wounded as badly as Palamoun. He says he must have her mercy and her
grace.

1123-1186 Palamoun is angered; he reminds Arcite that they are not

only cousins but sworn brothers; he loved Emelye first and Arcite is
duty bound to help him. Arcite replies that he loved her first --
Palamoun thought she was a goddess, not a woman. Besides, love is a
greater law than any other, and other laws may be easily broken in
its name. But, why are we arguing, he asks; we are doomed to remain
here in prison and neither of us can have her.

1187-1218 They continue bickering. One day Theseus' dearest

friend Perotheus comes for a visit. He knows Arcite well and pleads
with Theseus to release him. Theseus frees Arcite with the condition
that he, on pain of death, never return to Athens.

1220-1274 Arcite is devastated by the news of his release. He would

rather remain in prison, for then he would at least have the sight of
she whom he loves. He repents that he ever wanted out of prison; alas,

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 how little we understand the workings of Fortune. We often desire
what brings our own destruction; I wanted freedom from prison;
now that freedom exiles me from happiness; without the sight of
Emelye, I shall die.

1275-1336 Palamoun laments as loudly as Arcite. Arcite, he says,

has the better part: he is free from prison and can return to Thebes,
where he can raise an army and make war on Athens, while Palamoun
must remain in prison. He burns with jealousy. He complains of the
cruel Gods, who torture the guiltless. Beasts, at least, are bound
by no laws, and need not fear punishment after death. Saturn condemns
me to prison, and Venus afflicts me with jealousy of Arcite.

1333-1354 Thus Palamoun remains in perpetual prison and Arcite

is exiled and will see his lady never more. You lovers, I ask you
this: Which has the worse?

Part II

1358-1379 Arcite returns to Thebes, where he so suffers for love

that he neither eats nor drinks. He is so afflicted with love-sickness
that his entire appearance, even his voice, is so changed that no one
would recognize him.

1384-1450 Mercury appears to Arcite in a dream and commands

him to go to Athens. He sees in a mirror how greatly changed he is,
and determines to go to Athens disguised as a poor laborer. He is hired
by Emelye's chamberlain; he works so hard that in a year or two he is
made a page of her chamber. Theseus is so impressed that he makes him
a squire of his household and holds him dear. This continues for three
years.

1451-1487 Meanwhile Palamoun suffers in prison, so oppressed

by love that he nearly loses his wits. But in the seventh year of his
imprisonment, on the third night of May, whether by chance or destiny,
with the help of a friend he escapes prison. The guard was given wine
laced with opium, and Palamoun fled to a nearby forest, intending to
set out the next day for Thebes.

1488-1573 Arcite, unaware of what Fortune has in store for him,

sets out to do honor to May, and he happens to ride to the place
where Palamoun is hiding. Palamoun sees Arcite, but he does not
recognize him. Suddenly Arcite's mood changes -- as often happens
to lovers -- and he falls in despair. How long, Juno, he says,
will you war on Thebes and its royal line? I, once called Arcite,
am now called Philostrate, deprived of my own name. Worse, Love has
struck me so hard that I shall die. Emelye's eyes slay me! He
faints.
1572-1574 These words are like a sword in Palamoun's heart.

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 He leaps out and shouts that Arcite is a false traitor and that he,
Palamoun, is his mortal foe. Unless he renounces his love for
Emelye, one of the two must die.

1575-1622 Arcite replies that he will love Emelye despite all.

He will supply Palamoun with food and drink and he will bring him
armor and weapons, and the next day they will fight to the death.

1623-1662 It is true; love will have no fellowship. Early the

next morning Arcite returns with the weapons, and they fight as
fiercely as wild beasts, up to the ankles in their own blood.

1662-1695 Fate, which executes God's will, is so strong that

sometimes something happens that will not happen again in a thousand
years; all is ruled by God's foresight. Theseus, who loves to hunt
the great hart in May, has risen early and ridden out a-hunting,
accompanied by Ypolita and Emelye, all clad in green, and they
come to the forest where Palamoun and Arcite are fighting.

1696-1740 When Theseus sees them he commands them to stop and

demands to know who is here fighting without judges or other officers.
Palamoun confesses their identities: This, he says, is your mortal
foe Arcite, who called himself Philostrate and who loves Emelye,
and I am Palamoun, who also loves her. He admits they both deserve death.

1742-1781 Theseus says that indeed they shall both die. But
his queen, moved by womanhood, begins to weep, and so does Emelye
and all others. They kneel and beg Theseus for mercy until at last
his anger abates; pity comes quickly to a noble heart. A lord should
have pity and take account of circumstances in rendering judgment.

1782-1828 How mighty a lord is the God of Love! He rules each

heart as he wishes. See what he has done to Palamoun and Arcite.
They could have lived royally in Thebes but Love has brought them
here to die. That is what Love has done for them. But the best joke
is that she for whom they are fighting knows nothing about it.
Yet a man must be a fool, either when young or when old. I know
that from my own experience; I was a lover once. Having said this,
Theseus forgives the two young men.

1829-1880 Theseus then says that each of them is worthy to marry

Emelye, but obviously she cannot marry both. Therefore he will sponsor
a great tournament a year hence; Palamoun and Arcite are each to
bring a hundred knights. Whoever slays his opponent or drives him
out of the lists will win Emelye. The two young men rejoice and return
to Thebes to gather their armies.

Part III

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1881-1912 Men would think me neglectful if I failed to tell you
of the great expense that Theseus incurred in building the lists.
It was built round, with walls and a moat, with seats in tiers. There
was a white marble gate on the East and another on the West. Above the
eastern Gate is a temple of Venus, on the west side a temple of Mars,
and on the north a temple of Diana, goddess of chastity.

1913-1917 I must not forget to tell you of the sculpture and

paintings in these chapels.

1918-1965 On the walls in the temple of Venus are painted sighs,

tears, lamenting, and other sorrows that lovers suffer, along with
their oaths and Pleasure, Hope, Desire and such; indeed Venus' principal
dwelling was painted there and her garden with its porter Idleness,
and also Narcissus, Solomon, and others whom love has overcome. The statue
of Venus was naked, floating on the sea, with a musical instrument
in her hand and a rose garland on her head. Her blind son Cupid
stood before her, with his bow and arrows.

1967-2050 The temple of Mars was a dark and grisly place, like
the temple in Thrace that is his principal residence. A stormy forest
is painted on the wall, made of steel, dark, and guarded by heavy
iron-bound doors. There is Felony, rage, murder, and such. There
are paintings of corpses with their throats cut, devastated towns,
burning ships, hunters killed by bears, infants devoured by sows in their
cradles. There are paintings of the murder of Julius Caesar and Nero
and others whose deaths were shaped by the stars. The statue of Mars
stood on a chariot, with the stars Puella and Rubeus above him and
at his feet a red-eyed wolf, devouring a man.

2051-2087 The temple of Diana was painted with scenes of hunting

and chastity, with Calisitopee transformed into a bear, Dane (Daphne)
transformed into a tree, and Acteon devoured by his own dogs,
because he saw Diana naked, as well as others whom the goddess punished.
Her statue was seated on a hart, a moon at her feet, dressed in green
and with a bow and arrow. A woman in childbirth lay before
her, calling for her help. The colors for this cost a great deal.

2089-2116 Now I turn to Palamoun and Arcite. The day of their

return approaches, and they come to Athens, each with a hundred
knights. So noble a company was never seen, for everyone who loves
chivalry and would have a good name wanted to take part. You know
well this would be the same case today. To fight for a lady -- bless
me! -- that is a sight to see!

Palamoun's company contains knights armed in every way.

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2117-2154 The great king of Thrace, Lygurge, is there himself; he rides on a
chariot of gold, drawn by white oxen. He is richly clad in gold and
jewels, and about his chariot run twenty-two white hunting dogs, each
as large as a steer.

With Arcite is Emetreus, the great king of India,

2155-2186 riding on a steed clad in steel and covered with cloth of gold;
he seems like Mars himself. His saddle is covered with jewels, and
he is handsome; he wears a garland on his head and carries an eagle.
There are many noble lords in his company and many a tame lion and
leopard.

All arrive early on Sunday morning. Theseus sees that

2187-2208 they are richly housed and he entertains them at an elaborate feast.
There is no time to tell you where they sat, what ladies were most
beautiful or who spoke most feelingly of love; I must come to the point.

Sunday night, two hours before dawn on Monday morning,

2209-2270 Palamoun goes to Venus' Temple. He prays to Venus to have mercy on
him, and vows to be her true servant. He does not ask for
victory but only that he have Emelye. He makes his sacrifice and
the statue of Venus is motionless for a while and then shakes.
He takes this as a sign that his prayer will be answered, though
with some delay.

The third planetary hour after this, Emelye rises

2271-2365 with the sun and goes to Diana's temple with her maidens. She washes
her body and does her rite, but what it is I shall not tell. She
prays to Diana, asking that she be allowed to remain a maiden all
her life; Turn the hearts of Palamoun and Arcite away from me;
if I must marry, send me the one who most desires me. She weeps.
The fires on the altar go out, come to life again, and go out with
a roaring sound, and blood drips from the brands. Emelye is
frightened, but Diana appears and addresses her: You must wed one
of them, she says, though I can not tell you which. The goddess
disappears with a clattering of her arrows, and Emelye, not knowing what
this all means, leaves.

In the next planetary hour of Mars following this

2267-2438 Arcite goes to Mars' temple. O fierce God of arms, he prays, I
burned for love as you burned for the love of Venus that time that
Vulcan caught you. Help me in the battle tomorrow, and I will be
your true servant forever. The fires on the alter flared up, a
sweet smell came up from the ground, Mars' armor clattered, and
a low voice murmured "Victory!" Elated, Arcite returns to his lodgings.

At this a great dispute arose in the heavens between

2438-2482 Venus and Mars. Jupiter could not stop it, but the aged Saturn,
who had learned much in his long life, found a remedy. My daughter,

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 he says to Venus, I who bring ruin to men, shall manage things
so that Palamoun shall have his lady even though Mars will give
victory to Arcite. Now to the main point.

Part IV

There was great festivity in Athens that May. All

2483-2522 Monday they jousted and danced. The next day there was great
activity throughout the city; armor was donned, lords rode about,
armorers worked, and yeomen and commoners thronged, music played,
and all speculated about who would do best in the fight.

Theseus was awakened by the music and noise but he waited

2523-2568 until the Theban knights came to his palace. Then he appeared before
the people. The heralds called for silence and announced his
decision: He desires no loss of life; projectiles, poleaxes, short
knives, and short swords are not to be used. Each rider is to charge
but once with a sharpened spear. If any one is captured, he is to
be brought to a stake where he must remain. If either leader is slain
or captured, the fighting is to stop. The people cheer this
proclamation, and the trumpets blow as the procession begins to
pass through the city.

Theseus rides with the two knights to the lists and

2569-2598 takes his place with Ypolita and Emelye. Arcite enters from the
West gate, under the temple of Mars. At the same moment Palamoun
enters from the east, under the temple of Venus. The two sides
are evenly matched. The cry goes up "Do now your duty, proud
young knights!"

The melee begins with a general charge; spears are

2599-2635 shattered, swords hammer on helms, blood flows, and maces smash
bones. Horse stumble; one knight falls under the hoofs of the horses,
another tries to defend himself with a broken spear, others are
hurt and taken to the stake. They fight all day, with Theseus
ordering breaks for rest. Palamoun and Arcite duel fiercely; their
blood flows freely.

All things must end. Finally Palamoun, wounded by

2636-2662 Emetreus, is dragged down by twenty men and forced to the stake.
When Theseus sees this, he orders the fighting to stop.

In the heavens Venus weeps so much at this frustration

2663-2670 of her will that her tears fall in the lists. Saturn reassures her;
Mars has had his will; now you shall soon be eased.

The trumpets blow and Arcite removes his helmet and rides
2671-2699 through the field, looking at Emelye; and she looks upon him with a
friendly eye (for women follow the favor of Fortune). Suddenly, a

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 fury sent from hell by Saturn, rises up. Arcite's horse rears up,
catching him unaware, and he falls violently forward on the pommel
of his saddle; he falls from the horse, his breast-bone broken, blood
running in his face. He is carried out of the lists and cut out
of his armor; he was still conscious, calling for Emelye.

Theseus returns to the city; men say that Arcite will

2700-2741 recover and all look to their own wounds. Theseus comforts them all,
and no one can call Palamoun's misadventure cowardly, since he was
one man alone captured by so many. Theseus declares both sides have
won, and he gives all gifts, holds a feast for three days, and
accompanies each departing guest out of town.

Arcite's breast swells, increasing the pain at his

2743-2760 heart. The clotted blood left in his chest corrupts and no medical
attention can help. His body cannot expel the poison; the lungs
swell, and every muscle is infected. Neither vomiting nor laxative
can help; everything is broken; Arcite must die.

He sends for Emelye and Palamoun. He says to Emily

2761-2816 that though he cannot declare all his sorrows to her, he bequeaths
her the service of his spirit. Alas, the sorrows that he feels for
her. He asks her to take him in her arms and tells her that though
he has had strife with Palamoun, there is no one so worthy to be
loved as Palamoun, who loves Emelye. If ever you should be a wife,
Arcite tells her, forget not Palamoun. With that word his speech
fails; the cold begins to grip him and his heart begins to fail.
His last words were "Mercy, Emelye." His spirit left to go I know
not where.

Emily shrieks, Palamoun howls, and Theseus carries

2817-2851 away the swooning Emelye. All of Thebes mourns for Arcite. No one
could cheer up Theseus except his old father Egeus, who knew the
inevitable changes of the world. He tells Theseus that just as no
one has ever died who did not live, so no one lives who will
not die. We are but pilgrims passing through this world.

Theseus sets about providing for the sepulcher. He

2752-2881 decides it will be in the grove where he first came upon Arcite and
Palamoun fighting for their love. He orders trees cut for the fire
and arranges the bier, spread with cloth of gold, upon which lay
Arcite, crowned with laurel. Theseus has the bier brought
into the hall.

Then came Palamoun, weeping, and Emelye, saddest

2882-2912 of all. Steeds bearing the trappings of Arcite are ridden by servants
carrying Arcite's arms. They ride through the main street, spread
with black, toward the grove. Egeus and Theseus walk bearing offering
offerings; Palamoun comes with a great company, and then comes Emelye

10
 carrying a burning torch to start the funeral pyre.

Great work went into making the huge fire. First

2913-2966 a great load of straw was laid. But I shall not tell how the fire
was made nor the names of the trees that were used -- oak, fir, and
such -- nor how they were felled. Nor how the gods and creatures
of the forest fled for fear. Nor how the fire was laid first with
straw, then sticks, then green wood and spices, cloth of gold and
jewels; nor how Arcite lay there; nor how Emelye lit the fire; nor
how she swooned nor what she said nor what jewels men cast in the
flames; nor what other offerings were cast in; nor how the Greeks
rode about the fire nor how Arcite was burned; nor the wake held that
night, the funeral games, their return to Athens. I intend to be brief.

After some years the mourning abates. In Athens a

2967-2985 parliament decides to make an alliance with Thebes. Theseus sends for
Palamoun; he comes still clothed in black. Then Theseus sends for
Emelye. When all were still, he said thus:

The First Mover knew well what he was about when

2986-3040 he first made the fair chain of love, which unites the elements of
fire, air, water, and earth. That same Mover has established limits of
duration to all creatures, beyond which they cannot endure. By this
order we can see that the First Mover is eternal. All in nature
takes its beginning from something that is perfect and whole. And so
all things must pass. The oak grows slowly and lives long but yet
it dies. Stones under are feet are worn down. Rivers go dry. Cities
pass away. Man and woman too must die. What causes this but Jupiter
that turns all back to its origin. One cannot deny this.

Then is it wisdom to make a virtue of necessity and

3041-3074 to accept cheerfully what we cannot escape. He who objects is foolish.
Certainly it is best for one to die young, while he is at the height
of his honor, rather than to die old when he is forgotten. To object
to this is mere self-will. Why complain that Arcite is departed with
honor out of the prison of this life? Let us rather thank Jupiter
for his grace. Before we depart, let us make one perfect joy of two
sorrows.

Sister, says Theseus to Emelye, my advice and that

3075-3108 of my parliament is that you show some pity unto Palamoun and take
him as your husband. He is a king's son and he has served you for many
years. He tells Palamoun to take Emelye's hand. The bond of marriage
was made between them, and they were wed with great bliss. He serves
her so gently and he loves her so tenderly that there was never a
jealous nor argumentive word between them. Thus ends the tale. God
save this company!

11
THE BIOGRAPHY OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER

Geoffrey Chaucer was born in London. He was the son of a prosperous wine merchant and
deputy to the king's butler, and his wife Agnes. Little is known of his early education, but his
works show that he could read French, Latin, and Italian.

In 1359-1360 Chaucer went to France with Edward III's army during the Hundred Years' War.
He was captured in the Ardennes and returned to England after the treaty of Brétigny in 1360.
There is no certain information of his life from 1361 until c.1366, when he perhaps married
Philippa Roet, the sister of John Gaunt's future wife. Philippa died in 1387 and Chaucer enjoyed
Gaunt's patronage throughout his life.

Between 1367 and 1378 Chaucer made several journeys abroad on diplomatic and commercial
missions. In 1385 he lost his employment and rent-free home, and moved to Kent where he was
appointed as justice of the peace. He was also elected to Parliament. This was a period of great
creativity for Chaucer, during which he produced most of his best poetry, among others Troilus
and Cressida (c. 1385), based on a love story by Boccaccio.

Chaucer took his narrative inspiration for his works from several sources but still remained an
entirely individual poet, gradually developing his personal style and techniques. His first
narrative poem, The Book of the Duchess, was probably written shortly after the death of
Blanche, Duchess of Lancaster, first wife of John Gaunt, in September 1369. His next important
work, The House of Fame, was written between 1374 and 1385. Soon afterward Chaucer
translated The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius, and wrote the poem The Parliament of
Birds.

Chaucer did not begin working on The Canterbury Tales until he was in his early 40s. The book,
which was left unfinished when the author died, depicts a pilgrimage by some 30 people, who
are going on a spring day in April to the shrine of the martyr, St. Thomas Becket. On the way
they amuse themselves by telling stories. Among the band of pilgrims are a knight, a monk, a
prioress, a plowman, a miller, a merchant, a clerk, and an oft-widowed wife from Bath. The
stories are interlinked with interludes in which the characters talk with each other, revealing
much about themselves.

According to tradition, Chaucer died in London on October 25, 1400. He was buried in
Westminster Abbey, in the part of the church, which afterwards came to be called Poet's Corner.
A monument was erected to him in 1555.

12
TITTLE : Antony and Cleopatra
GENRE : Play
AUTHOR : William Shakespeare
WRITTEN : Between 1603 and 1607

Antony and Cleopatra

Antony and Cleopatra is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written some
time between 1603 and 1607. It was first printed in the First Folio of 1623. The plot is based on
Thomas North's translation of Plutarch's Life of Markus Antonius and follows the relationship bet
ween Cleopatra and Mark Antony from the time of the Parthian War to Cleopatra's suicide. The
major antagonist is Octavius Caesar, one of Antony's fellow triumviri and the future first empe-
ror of Rome. The tragedy is a Roman play characterized by swift, panoramic shifts in geographic
al locations and in registers, alternating between sensual, imaginative Alexandria and the more
pragmatic, austere Rome.

Many consider the role of Cleopatra in this play one of the most complex female roles in Shakes
peare's work. She is frequently vain and histrionic, provoking an audience almost to scorn; at the
same time, Shakespeare's efforts invest both her and Antony with tragic grandeur. These con-
tradictory features have led to famously divided critical responses.

SYNOPSIS

Mark Antony – one of the Triumvirs of Rome along with Octavius Caesar and Aemilius Lepidus
– has neglected his soldierly duties after being beguiled by Egypt's Queen, Cleopatra. He ignores
Rome's domestic problems, including the fact that his wife, Fulvia, rebelled against Octavius,
and then died.

Octavius calls Antony back to Rome from Alexandria in order to help him fight against Pompey
(Sextus Pompeius), Menecrates, and Menas, three notorious pirates of the Mediterranean. At
Alexandria, Cleopatra begs Antony not to go, and though he repeatedly affirms his love for her,
he eventually leaves.

Back in Rome, Agrippa brings forward the idea that Antony should marry Octavius Caesar's
sister, Octavia, in order to cement the bond between the two men. Antony's lieutenant Enobarbus
though, knows that Octavia can never satisfy him after Cleopatra. In a famous passage, he deli-
neates Cleopatra's charms in paradoxical terms: "Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale / Her in
finite variety: other women cloy / The appetites they feed, but she makes hungry / Where most
she satisfies."

A soothsayer warns Antony that he is sure to lose if he ever tries to fight Octavius.

In Egypt, Cleopatra learns of Antony's marriage, and takes furious revenge upon the messenger
that brings her the news. She grows content only when her courtiers assure her that Octavia is
homely by Elizabethan standards: short, low-browed, round-faced and with bad hair.

At a confrontation, the triumvirs parley with Pompey, and offer him a truce. He can retain Sicily
and Sardinia, but he must help them "rid the sea of pirates" and send them tributes. After some
hesitation Pompey accedes. They engage in a drunken celebration on Pompey's galley. Menas

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suggests to Pompey that he kill the three triumvirs and make himself ruler of Rome, but he refu-
ses, finding it dishonorable. Later, Octavius and Lepidus break their truce with Pompey and war
against him. This is unapproved by Antony, and he is furious.

Antony returns to Alexandria, Egypt, and crowns Cleopatra and himself as rulers of Egypt and
the eastern third of the Roman Empire (which was Antony's share as one of the triumvirs). He
accuses Octavius of not giving him his fair share of Pompey's lands, and is angry that Lepidus,
whom Octavius has imprisoned, is out of the triumvirate. Octavius agrees to the former demand,
but otherwise is very displeased with what Antony has done.

In this Baroque vison, Battle of Actium by Lorenzo A. Castro (1672), Cleopatra flees, lower left,
in a barge with a figurehead of Fortuna.

Antony prepares to battle Octavius. Enobarbus urges Antony to fight on land, where he has the
advantage, instead of by sea, where the navy of Octavius is lighter, more mobile and better man-
ned. Antony refuses, since Octavius has dared him to fight at sea. Cleopatra pledges her fleet to
aid Antony. However, in the middle of the battle, Cleopatra flees with her sixty ships, and Anto-
ny follows her, leaving his army to ruin. Ashamed of what he has done for the love of Cleopatra,
Antony reproaches her for making him a coward, but also sets this love above all else, saying
"Give me a kiss; even this repays me."

Octavius sends a messenger to ask Cleopatra to give up Antony and come over to his side. She
hesitates, and flirts with the messenger, when Antony walks in and angrily denounces her beha-
vior. He sends the messenger to be whipped. Eventually, he forgives Cleopatra, and pledges to
fight another battle for her, this time on land.

On the eve of the battle, Antony's soldiers hear strange portents, which they interpret as the god
Hercules abandoning his protection of Antony. Furthermore, Enobarbus, Antony's long-serving
lieutenant, deserts him and goes over to Octavius's side. Rather than confiscating Enobarbus's
goods, which he did not take with him when he fled to Octavius, Antony orders them to be sent
to Enobarbus. Enobarbus is so overwhelmed by Antony's generosity, and so ashamed of his own
disloyalty, that he dies from a broken heart.

The battle goes well for Antony, until Octavius shifts it to a sea-fight. Once again, Antony loses
when Cleopatra's ships break off action and flee — his own fleet surrenders, and he denounces
Cleopatra: "This foul Egyptian hath betrayed me." He resolves to kill her for the treachery. Cleo-
patra decides that the only way to win back Antony's love is to send him word that she killed
her- self, dying with his name on her lips. She locks herself in her monument, and awaits
Antony's return.

Her plan fails: rather than rushing back in remorse to see the "dead" Cleopatra, Antony decides
that his own life is no longer worth living. He begs one of his aides, Eros, to run him through
with a sword, but Eros cannot bear to do it, and kills himself. Antony admires Eros' courage and
attempts to do the same, but only succeeds in wounding himself. In great pain, he learns that
Cleopatra is indeed alive. He is hoisted up to her in her monument, and dies in her arms.

Octavius goes to Cleopatra, trying to convince her to surrender. She angrily refuses, since she
can imagine nothing worse than being led in triumph through the streets of Rome, proclaimed a
villain for the ages. She imagines that "the quick comedians / Extemporally will stage us, and
present / Our Alexandrian revels: Antony / Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see / Some

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squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness / I' th' posture of a whore." This speech is full of dramatic
irony, because in Shakespeare's time Cleopatra really was played by a "squeaking boy", and
Shakespeare's play does depict Antony's drunken revels.

Cleopatra is betrayed and taken into custody by the Romans. She gives Octavius what she claims
is a complete account of her wealth, but is betrayed by her treasurer, who claims she is holding
treasure back. Octavius reassures her that he is not interested in her wealth, but Dolabella warns
her that he intends to parade her at his triumph.

Cleopatra resolves to kill herself, using the poison of an asp. She dies calmly and ecstatically,
imagining how she will meet Antony again in the afterlife. Her serving maids, Iras and Charmi-
an, also kill themselves. Octavius discovers the dead bodies and experiences conflicting emo-
tions. Antony's and Cleopatra's deaths leave him free to become the first Roman Emperor, but he
also feels some kind of sympathy for them: "She shall be buried by her Antony. / No grave upon
the earth shall clip in it / A pair so famous..." He orders a public military funeral.

BIOGRAPHY

NAME : WILLIAM SHAKESPARE

NATIONALITY : BRITISH; ENGLISH
DATE OF BIRTHH : APRIL 23, 1564
FATHER’S NAME : JOHN SHAKESPARE
MOTHER’S NAME : MARRY ARDEN
DATE IF DEATH : APRIL 23, 1616.
SHAKESPARE’S WORK :

Comedy History Tragedy Poetry

All's Well That Ends Well Henry IV, part 1 Antony and The Sonnets
As You Like It Henry IV, part 2 Cleopatra A Lover's Complaint
The Comedy of Errors Henry V Coriolanus The Rape of Lucrece
Cymbeline Henry VI, part 1 Hamlet Venus and Adonis
Love's Labours Lost Henry VI, part 2 Julius Caesar Funeral Elegy by
Measure for Measure Henry VI, part 3 King Lear W.S.
The Merry Wives of Windsor Henry VIII Macbeth
The Merchant of Venice King John Othello
A Midsummer Night's Dream Richard II Romeo and Juliet
Much Ado About Nothing Richard III Timon of Athens
Pericles, Prince of Tyre Titus Andronicus
Taming of the Shrew
The Tempest
Troilus and Cressida
Twelfth Night
Two Gentlemen of Verona
Winter's Tale

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Shakespeare’s life can be divided into three periods: the first 20 years in Stratford, which include
his schooling, early marriage, and fatherhood; the next 25 years as an actor and playwright
in London; and the last five in retirement back in Stratford where he enjoyed moderate
wealth gained from his theatrical successes. The years linking the first two periods are
marked by a lack of information about Shakespeare, and are often referred to as the “dark
years”; the transition from active work into retirement was gradual and cannot be precisely
dated [Boyce, 587].

His parents, John and Mary (Arden), were married about 1557; she was of the landed gentry, he
a yeoman—a glover and commodities merchant. By 1568, John had risen through the
ranks of town government and held the position of high bailiff, similar to mayor. William,
the eldest son, was born in 1564, probably on April 23, several days before his baptism on
April 26, 1564. That Shakespeare also died on April 23, 52 years later, may have resulted
in the adoption of this birthdate.

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