How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Act.Scene.Line). Line numbers correspond to the Riverside edition.
Quote #7
ENOBARBUS
Upon her landing, Antony sent to her,
Invited her to supper. She replied
It should be better he became her guest,
Which she entreated. Our courteous Antony,
Whom ne'er the word of "No" woman heard speak,
Being barber'd ten times o'er, goes to the feast,
And for his ordinary pays his heart
For what his eyes eat only. (2.2.258-265)
Enobarbus confirms the trope about love that keeps popping up—Antony is accustomed to hearing "yes" from women, so he’s intrigued by the woman who's haughty enough to say "no" to him. This validates Cleopatra’s earlier strategy of playing hard-to-get.
Quote #8
ANTONY
Egypt, thou knew'st too well
My heart was to thy rudder tied by th' strings,
And thou shouldst tow me after. O'er my spirit
Thy full supremacy thou knew'st, and that
Thy beck might from the bidding of the gods
Command me. (3.11.60-65)
Love and power are inextricably tied. Antony’s love for Cleopatra forces him to follow her. She is the commander of his actions, even in the political and military arenas of his life, because of his overpowering love for her.
Quote #9
CLEOPATRA
His legs bestrid the ocean, his reared arm
Crested the world. His voice was propertied
As all the tuned spheres, and that to friends;
But when he meant to quail and shake the orb,
He was as rattling thunder. For his bounty,
There was no winter in 't; an autumn 'twas
That grew the more by reaping. His delights
Were dolphin-like: they show'd his back above
The element they lived in. In his livery
Walk'd crowns and crownets; realms and islands
were
As plates dropped from his pocket. (5.2.102-113)
Now that Antony is finally gone for good, Cleopatra can heap all the praise on him that she didn’t dare while he lived. She was once afraid that being honest about her feelings would push him away.