ANTONY                                 Where is she?

DIOMEDES     Locked in her monument. She had a prophesying fear

Of what hath come to pass; for when she saw—

Which never shall be found—you did suspect

She had disposed with Caesar, and that your rage

Would not be purged, she sent word she was dead;

But fearing since how it might work, hath sent

Me to proclaim the truth; and I am come,

I dread, too late.

ANTONY Too late, good Diomed. Call my guard, I prithee.

DIOMEDES What ho, the Emperor’s guard! The guard, what ho!

Come, your lord calls.            (4.15.116-127)

Antony can’t believe it: where is she? where is Cleopatra? Is she alive, then? Yes. She’s locked in her monument. And then an explanation which rings utterly true, exemplifying Cleopatra’s insecurity, her indecision, her inconstancy, not least to herself: she had a prophesying fear of what hath come to pass. She had a terrible feeling that you’d do something like this. When she saw you did suspect she had disposed with Caesar, done a deal with him—and that never shall be found, that would never happen, never—and also she saw that your rage would not be purged, that nothing would calm you or console you (she was frightened by the violence of your temper) she, er, sent word she was dead. It seemed like a good idea at the time! And then, fearing since how it might work, rightly concerned about the effect that this might have, how you might respond, she sent me to proclaim the truth, to put you right. She tried! She did! She tried to make amends, to undo her terrible mistake. But I am come, I dread, too late. It has to sound lame, because Diomedes knows that this situation has to be past remedy, that Antony is dying, and Antony know too. Antony is—as is so often the case—kind and courteous to a servant, and wryly understated too. Too late, good Diomed. That’s one way of putting it. (He can play it with sarcasm too.) Call my guard, I prithee. Can you get me some help, from soldiers who might know what they’re doing? (He knows Diomedes is out of his depth.) Diomedes is only too eager to take orders: what ho, the Emperor’s guard! Is anyone there? Help! The guard, what ho! Come, your lord calls. Is there anyone else left who is still loyal to Antony, who can offer assistance in this desperate moment?