Enter Enobarbus and Eros

ENOBARBUS  How now, friend Eros?

EROS   There’s strange news come, sir.

ENOBARBUS  What, man?

EROS   Caesar and Lepidus have made wars upon Pompey.

ENOBARBUS  This is old. What is the success?

EROS   Caesar, having made use of him in the wars ’gainst Pompey, presently denied him rivality, would not let him partake in the glory of the action, and, not resting here, accuses him of letters he had formerly wrote to Pompey; upon his own appeal seizes him; so the poor third is up, till death enlarge his confine.   (3.5.1-10)

Unless lines have been reassigned earlier on, this is Eros’s first appearance in the play: he’s clearly known to Enobarbus, but of lower rank. There’s news to be exchanged: how now, what’s the latest? and it’s strange news, hot off the press. What, man? spit it out. (Or, perhaps, Enobarbus is never really surprised by anything; nothing’s news to him.) The latest, apparently, is that Caesar and Lepidus have made wars upon Pompey. That carefully brokered truce, which seemed unlikely in anticipation and fragile even as it was formed, has failed to hold. But this is old news, says Enobarbus. What is the success? What has been the outcome of this? And this is the real news: Caesar, having made use of Lepidus in the wars ’gainst Pompey, presently denied him rivality, wouldn’t treat him as an equal, tried to do him down. (Historically, Lepidus attempted to betray Caesar but his troops remained loyal to Caesar.) Caesar would not let him partake in the glory of the action, kept him out of the battle and the victory, and, not resting here—not even being satisfied with that—accuses him of letters he had formerly wrote to Pompey. He accused Lepidus of going behind his back to Pompey, on the basis of letters he’d previously written and, as prosecutor, judge, and jury, upon his own appeal seizes him. Lepidus is now Caesar’s prisoner, in effect; the poor third of the triumvirate (who was always an embarrassing passenger, so far as Caesar was concerned) is now up, imprisoned, till death enlarge his confine. Lepidus out, off the scene and only death will release him. Well, that is news, and timely evidence of Caesar’s ruthlessness.