Summary

Iras, a handmaiden, and Alexas, the eunuch, are attending Cleopatra. Charmion, another handmaiden whom the queen asks to carry a message of love to Mark Antony, returns. Charmion says she delivered the message, that the queen would die of grief if Mark Antony returned to the Roman Empire, as passionately as the queen herself imparted it to her. For his part, Mark Antony told Charmion it was because he loved the queen that seeing her would weaken his resolve. Cleopatra despairs, but Charmion assures her Mark Antony was just as pained to give the message as she is to hear it. He pretended to rub his eyes in order to wipe away tears. Fearing Mark Antony may eventually reconcile with Caesar Octavius and invade Egypt, Alexas convinces Cleopatra that Mark Antony's sadness shows he wishes for Cleopatra to free him from Ventidius...