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Pompey's Strategy and Perception

Pompey and his men Menacrates and Menas discuss their plans to oppose Mark Antony in Italy. They believe Antony has grown lazy from luxuriating in Egypt with Cleopatra and will be unprepared for war. Pompey intends to use Antony's relationship with Cleopatra to weaken him and draw him away from Egypt so that Pompey can seize control over the region and its resources.

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Laranya Akkula
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834 views2 pages

Pompey's Strategy and Perception

Pompey and his men Menacrates and Menas discuss their plans to oppose Mark Antony in Italy. They believe Antony has grown lazy from luxuriating in Egypt with Cleopatra and will be unprepared for war. Pompey intends to use Antony's relationship with Cleopatra to weaken him and draw him away from Egypt so that Pompey can seize control over the region and its resources.

Uploaded by

Laranya Akkula
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SCENE I. Messina. POMPEY's house.

Enter POMPEY, MENECRATES, and MENAS, in warlike manner


POMPEY
If the great gods be just, they shall assist Enter VARRIUS
The deeds of justest men.
MENECRATES How now, Varrius!
Know, worthy Pompey, VARRIUS
That what they do delay, they not deny. This is most certain that I shall deliver:
POMPEY Mark Antony is every hour in Rome
Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays Expected: since he went from Egypt 'tis
The thing we sue for. A space for further travel.
MENECRATES POMPEY
We, ignorant of ourselves, I could have given less matter
Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers A better ear. Menas, I did not think
Deny us for our good; so find we profit This amorous surfeiter would have donn'd his
By losing of our prayers. helm
For such a petty war: his soldiership
POMPEY Is twice the other twain: but let us rear
I shall do well: The higher our opinion, that our stirring
The people love me, and the sea is mine; Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck
My powers are crescent, and my auguring hope The ne'er-lust-wearied Antony.
Says it will come to the full. Mark Antony
In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make MENAS
No wars without doors: Caesar gets money where I cannot hope
He loses hearts: Lepidus flatters both, Caesar and Antony shall well greet together:
Of both is flatter'd; but he neither loves, His wife that's dead did trespasses to Caesar;
Nor either cares for him. His brother warr'd upon him; although, I think,
Not moved by Antony.
MENAS
Caesar and Lepidus POMPEY
Are in the field: a mighty strength they carry. I know not, Menas,
How lesser enmities may give way to greater.
POMPEY Were't not that we stand up against them all,
Where have you this? 'tis false. 'Twere pregnant they should square between
MENAS themselves;
From Silvius, sir. For they have entertained cause enough
POMPEY To draw their swords: but how the fear of us
He dreams: I know they are in Rome together, May cement their divisions and bind up
Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love, The petty difference, we yet not know.
Salt Cleopatra, soften thy waned lip! Be't as our gods will have't! It only stands
Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both! Our lives upon to use our strongest hands.
Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts, Come, Menas.
Keep his brain fuming; Epicurean cooks
Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite; Exeunt
That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour
Even till a Lethe'd dulness!

Question: Examine the role of perception in this scene. (20marks)

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