Act III, scene I

     Antony has won the battle. He is re-united with cleopatra who threatens to punish him for his unkindness with many an 'eager kiss'. Antony says that cleopatra will never satiate him. She likes the ripe fruit that only to be replaced by another fruit. Antony is also not weakened by sexual bout with cleopatra. He says that he grows ‘rich by giving’.

      Antony proudly declares that he has destroyed five thousand soldiers of octavius. Yet, octavius is aided by many nation and so it is hard to rout him. Ventidius advises Antony to make Peace with Octavius's forgiveness. Ventidius wishes there were somebody genuinely interested in Antony's welfare who could use his influence to establish a cordial relationship between Antony and Octavius. Antony says that he has only one friend namely, Dolebella who also was enamoured of cleopatra and left Alexandra to avoid made the necessary arrangements for a meeting between the two friends brings Dolebella before Antony. Antony Rapturously greets Dolebella, calling him his better half and saying that not even a newly wedded bridegroom would have longed for his bride as he did for dolabella. There is evidently a streak of homosexuality between the two friends. 

 As pre-arranged by ventidius, Dolabella is followed by Octavia and her two little daughter. Antony is aghast to see them. He says haughtily that he would not appeal to octavius to forgive him. Octavia says that, in the same way, she would not beg for Antony's love. However, she says that she is prepared to make sacrifices for his sake. She says that she would report to her brother that Antony and herself have been reconciled. On hearing this, Octavius would withdraw his troops. Thereafter, Antony could leave Octavia at Anthens and go back to cleopatra. She says that she would be quit content with ‘the barren name of wifewife'and not make any claim on Antony. Antony is touched by Octavia's love and capacity for sacrifice. He unites with Octavia and the two children pathetically clinging to him. He asks them to spend the night with him and says that he would become 'one' with Octavius the next day. 

   Now follows a confrontation between Octavia and Cleopatra. Cleopatra says proudly that she is proud of her beauty which has enslaved Antony, a Roman. Octavia charges cleopatra with having made Antony cheap in Rome. Cleopatra replies that she has also suffered actualy. She has lost her honour and stained the glory of her royal house. All that she has gained is only the sordid name of mistress. She finally says that she is prepared to die for Antony's sake. Octavia goes away. Cleopatra complains that her sight grows dim and every object around her dances ‘in a maze of death’death'she wants to weep ‘till death' became of Antony's unkindness.