Enobarbus

Also known as: Domitius / Enobarb · Family: Antony's party · Role: officer · First appears: Antony and Cleopatra · Act I, Scene II

As an officer in Antony’s party, Enobarbus is summoned by his patron Cleopatra in Act I, Scene II. In Act II, he calls Agrippa his honourable friend, faces Menas as an enemy, and addresses Mark Antony as his brave emperor; in Act III, he greets Eros as a friend and later decides to seek a way to leave Mark Antony: “When valour preys on reason, It eats the sword it fights with. I will seek Some way to leave him.”

At Alexandria in Act IV, Scene I, Enobarbus still pledges to fight beside Mark Antony in the coming battle. That morning, he defects to Octavius Caesar’s camp, becoming Mark Antony’s enemy and standing with Octavius Caesar, his patron. Despite this, Mark Antony sends Eros after him with his treasure.

Relationship record

Life events

Enobarbus decides to seek a way to leave Antony.(Antony and Cleopatra · Act III, Scene XII)
- With: Mark Antony
- “When valour preys on reason, It eats the sword it fights with. I will seek Some way to leave him.”
Enobarbus pledges to fight beside Antony in the coming battle.(Antony and Cleopatra · Act IV, Scene I · 📍 Alexandria)
- With: Mark Antony
- “Woo’t thou fight well? ENOBARBUS. I’ll strike, and cry ‘Take all.’”
Enobarbus defects from Antony to Caesar’s camp.(Antony and Cleopatra · Act IV, Scene V · 📍 Alexandria)
- With: Octavius Caesar Mark Antony
- “One ever near thee. Call for Enobarbus, He shall not hear thee, or from Caesar’s camp Say ‘I am none of thine.’”
Antony sends Enobarbus’s treasure after him despite his defection.(Antony and Cleopatra · Act IV, Scene V · 📍 Alexandria)
- With: Mark Antony
- “Go, Eros, send his treasure after. Do it. Detain no jot, I charge thee.”

Antony and Cleopatra · Act I, Scene II

patron: Cleopatra “Enobarbus! ENOBARBUS. Madam? CLEOPATRA. Seek him and bring him hither.”

Antony and Cleopatra · Act II, Scene I

friends with Agrippa “Half the heart of Caesar, worthy Maecenas! My honourable friend, Agrippa!”

Antony and Cleopatra · Act II, Scene VI

enemies with Menas “We came hither to fight with you.”

Antony and Cleopatra · Act II, Scene VII

patron: Mark Antony “Ha, my brave emperor”

Antony and Cleopatra · Act III, Scene V

friends with Eros “How now, friend Eros?”

Antony and Cleopatra · Act III, Scene VII

employer: Mark Antony (Enobarbus addresses Antony as his lord.) “ANTONY. For that he dares us to ’t. ENOBARBUS. So hath my lord dared him to single fight.”
patron: Mark Antony “So hath my lord dared him to single fight.”

Antony and Cleopatra · Act III, Scene VIII

patron: Mark Antony “ENOBARBUS. I’ll yet follow The wounded chance of Antony, though my reason Sits in the wind against me.”

Antony and Cleopatra · Act III, Scene XII

employer: Mark Antony (Enobarbus describes his allegiance to Antony as his fallen lord and master.) “Yet he that can endure To follow with allegiance a fallen lord Does conquer him that did his master conquer, And earns a place i’ th’ story.”

Antony and Cleopatra · Act IV, Scene I

friends with Mark Antony “Tomorrow, soldier, By sea and land I’ll fight. Or I will live, Or bathe my dying honour in the blood Shall make it live again. Woo’t thou fight well? ENOBARBUS. I’ll strike, and cry ‘Take all.’”

Antony and Cleopatra · Act IV, Scene V

patron: Mark Antony “Say that I wish he never find more cause To change a master.”
enemies with Mark Antony “I fight against thee!”
patron: Octavius Caesar “Sir, He is with Caesar.”
employer: Mark Antony “O Antony, Thou mine of bounty, how wouldst thou have paid My better service, when my turpitude Thou dost so crown with gold!”

Antony and Cleopatra · Act IV, Scene VIII

employer: Mark Antony (Enobarbus identifies Antony as the master from whom he revolted and whom he abandoned.) “O Antony, Nobler than my revolt is infamous, Forgive me in thine own particular, But let the world rank me in register A master-leaver and a fugitive.”

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Extracted from the original text of Shakespeare's Roman Plays. Made with Rho MD.