CAESAR                      Welcome to Rome;

Nothing more dear to me. You are abused

Beyond the mark of thought, and the high God

To do you justice, makes his ministers

Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort,

And ever welcome to us.

AGRIPPA                    Welcome, lady.          (3.6.85-90)

Caesar changes direction a little here; having spoken as the politician, the general, the leader with a strong sense of his own destiny, his renewed welcome to Rome signals that he is also speaking as a brother, addressing the sister who is nothing more dear to me. You are still the thing about whom I care the most, he seems to say, and you are abused beyond the mark of thought; you’ve been deceived, mistreated, taken advantage of more than one would have thought possible, and in every possible way. (One of the people who has taken advantage of Octavia is, of course, her brother.) But the high God, to do you justice and to seek redress and recompense on your behalf, makes his ministers of us and those who love you. I am acting in your name, as your champion, to avenge the wrong that has been done to you, the grievous insult that your husband Antony has given you. (It’s also in my own interests, obviously.) Caesar’s speaking in the plural of himself, as is his wont, but his we also seems to encompass his companions Agrippa and Maecenas and others too: all of them, all of us will be ministers, agents of divine justice. We’ll look after you, and put things right. So, best of comfort, be reassured, and assured of our care and sympathy—and ever welcome to us. Happy homecoming! (The welcoming is just a little bit over-egged.) Welcome, lady, adds Agrippa, reinforcing Caesar’s promise that all of Team Rome are on her side.