In Act IV of Julius Caesar, Antony,
who has seemed so loyal to Caesar, and a loving friend, shows himself an exigent man as
he marks Publius, borther of Lepidus, the third member of the triumvirate formed after
Caesar's death. While Lepidus has agreed to his brother's death, he only does so on
condition that Antony agree to sacrifice his nephew. This Antony does. Then, Antony
shows that he is willing to use even Lepidus to achieve his political objectives by
having him fetch Caesar's will so that they can reduce some of the legacies that
he mentioned in his funeral oration. When Lepidus has departed, Octavius accuses Antony
of treachery, saying that he has just gone along with Lepiudus in our "black sentence
and proscription" of Publius. To this Antony counters that he is older and knows more.
Lepidus is only given honors so that he will carry out important errands for
them.
This is
a slight unmeritable
man,
readability="13">Meet to be sent on errands; is it
fit,The threefold world divided, he should
standOne of the three to share it?
(IV,i,13-16)Octavius is
incredulous; he accuses Antony, pointing to his treachery in taking Lepidus's side in
their "black sentence and proscription." But, Antony dismisses this accusation by
implying that he is wiser by saying he is older,
explaining,To
ease ourselves of divers sland'rous
loads,readability="18">He shall but bear them as the ass bears
gold,To groan and sweat under the
business,Either led or driven, as we point the
way...Then take we down his load, and turn him
off,....(IV,i,22-27)But,
Octavius still demurs, telling Antony that he may do what he wishes, but Lepidus is a
"tried and valiant friend." Heartlessly, Antony
retorts,So
is my horse, Octavius, and for thatI do appoint him store
of provender.It is a creature that I teach to
fight,To wind, to stop, to run directly
on,His corporal motion governed by my
spirit.And, in some taste, is Lepidus but
so....Do not talk of him
But
as a property.
(IV,i,32-43)After Lepidus
runs the errand Antony has sent him on, Antony will sacrifice him because, he
says, Lepidus is unfit to have so much power. Ironically, Antony has become what Brutus
was concerned about in Caesar: hungry himself for power.
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