Cleopatra is distraught to hear of Antony's marriage to Octavia. Sextus Pompey makes peace with the Triumverate.
Antony leaves Egypt and Cleopatra to meet Octavian and Lepidus to meet the threat of Pompey. Agrippa arranges a marriage between Antony and Octavia, Octavian's sister.
Anthony is neglecting his duty while dalying with Cleopatra. He receives news that his wife, Fulvia, has died.
I read and analyze T.S Eliot's Christmas poem, "The Journey of the Magi." I include a reading of Lancelot Andrewe's Christmas Homily that Eliot stole, err relied heavily upon in this poem.
The image of the Christmas card sent with Eliot's poem is at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journey_of_the_Magi#/media/File:T_S_Eliot_1927_The_Journey_of_the_Magi_No_8_Ariel_Poems_Faber.jpg
A recording of Eliot reading the poem is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCVnuEWXQcg
Anthony, in misfortune, was most nearly a virtuous man.
We read Plutarch and see how much Shakespeare stole. Rather a lot, really.
His life was gentle and the elements
So mixed in him that nature might stand up
And say to all the world “This was a man.”
Great Caesar's Ghost! And the Battle of Philippi begins.
Anthony and Octavius join forces against the conspirators. We see Brutus and Cassius quarreling.
Antony's famous funeral oration.
Cry “Havoc!” and let slip the dogs of war
The conspirators come together at Brutus' house. Caesar's wife begs him not to go to the Capitol.
Led by Cassius, the conspiracy against Caesar comes together, but Brutus has not joined yet.
This episode we hear Caesar's famous "lean and hungry" short speech as follows:
"Let me have men about me that are fat,
Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep a-nights.
Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look.
He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous."
We also hear, "But for mine
own part, it was Greek to me."
Beware the Ides of March!
Movie version of the play is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETrA5w1i3M0
Plutarch concludes. Although Plutarch found much admirable in Coriolanus' character, his pride was a fatal flaw.
We conclude the reading of Plutarch's life of Coriolanus. The women of Rome, led by his mother and wife, persuade Coriolanus to give up his siege of Rome. His Volscian enemy engineers his death.
Coriolanus successfully wages war on Rome on behalf of the Volscians and rebuffs Roman attempts to recall him to the city.
We continue reading Plutarch's account of the life of Coriolanus. He is exiled from Rome and offers his assistance to the Volscians in waging war on Rome.
Marcius is, almost alone, victorious over the Volscians, and receives the new name of Coriolanus. He is very virtuous in his behavior, but apparently begins to crave political advancement.
We continue our study of what ancient historians said about Coriolanus.