Enter a Messenger

ANTONY                     Thy business?

MESSENGER  The news is true, my lord. He is descried.

Caesar has taken Toryne.

ANTONY         Can he be there in person? ’Tis impossible;

Strange that his power should be. Canidius,

Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land,

And our twelve thousand horse. We’ll to our ship.

Away, my Thetis!                   (3.7.53-60)

A messenger: sitrep, news. But Antony’s all ready to go, with his plan, with Cleopatra, to fight at sea, so there’s a touch of impatience: thy business? what do you want? It’s confirmation of the rumour earlier, that Caesar has taken Toryne; the news is true, he is descried, he’s been sighted. Can he be there in person, Caesar himself? Antony’s disconcerted at this news, but he reassures himself: ’tis impossible that Caesar should be there, so close by, and strange that even his power, his army should be. So Antony’s going to remain resolutely sceptical as to this news, it seems, but there will be a slight change of plan. Canidius, our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land, and our twelve thousand horse. There will, therefore, be at least some preparation for a land battle, if it comes to that, under Canidius’s command, and not all the infantrymen will be put to fight on board ship. (Retaining them in readiness on land, while sensible, means that the ships will be even more thinly crewed.) But, still, Antony’s own resolve is firm. We’ll to our ship! All aboard! Away, my Thetis. And so the Roman general and his sea goddess are all ready to take to the waves…