EROS   [to Antony] Sir, his chests and treasure

He has not with him.

ANTONY                     Is he gone?

SCARUS                                              Most certain.

ANTONY         Go, Eros, send his treasure after. Do it.

Detain no jot, I charge thee. Write to him—

I will subscribe—gentle adieus and greetings.

Say that I wish he never find more cause

To change a master. O, my fortunes have

Corrupted honest men! Dispatch. Enobarbus!

[Exeunt]          (4.5.10-17)

So, did Eros know about this already, was he trying to protect Antony from this devastating news? Is the suggestion that Enobarbus’s abandoning of his goods makes this a definitive break—or is Eros rather disputing this account, well, he hasn’t taken his stuff with him? I think the former: it’s chests and treasure, which suggests something distinct from simply Enobarbus’s clothes, say, his things, his everyday stuff. It’s not quite that Enobarbus has walked out with only the clothes he stands up in, but it’s close—and he’s left behind and so rejected the things that Antony has implicitly given him, rewarded him with. I think that Eros trying to protect Antony chimes with Eros’s character as it’s been established so far, too. Whatever, Antony is devastated: is he gone? Most certain. Scarus can only confirm. Will Antony explode at this? Break down? Not quite: he can still surprise, and his response is more complex than outright devastation (although he is shocked and hurt and worried): Go, Eros, send his treasure after. Do it. Detain no jot, I charge thee; don’t delay, and don’t keep back anything, send it all. And write to him—I will subscribe, you write it, I’ll sign it (this would be an entirely familiar approach to an early modern audience, used to great men having secretaries; that Antony will subscribe it is a sign both of its authenticity and its importance). Write gentle adieus and greetings; be kind, courteous, loving in both salutation and valediction—and say that I wish he never find more cause to change a master. I hope he never finds himself in a situation where there’s an even more compelling reason for switching allegiance. O, my fortunes have corrupted honest men! This is my fault, I’ve driven him to it, the ups and downs of my circumstances have been too much for him, he’s had enough, so that betrayal seems like the only option, the only certain thing. Dispatch. Go on, do it. Then a cry from the heart, disbelieving and wounded: Enobarbus!

Is Antony being sarcastic through here, is this biting and ironic? It’s not impossible and it’s an option for the actor, to play Antony the hardened politician, them’s the breaks, send him his treasure chests and screw him. But I think it’s a big stretch, given the way he ends; I think that Antony is wounded to the heart by this.