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Scenes 6 and 7, Act ii., the interview with Pompey, are in Plutarch, but it is not evident why they are in the drama. They do not advance the action. Shakespeare preserves also Antony's message to Octavius that if he was dissatisfied with the treatment of Thyreus he might hang or torture Antony's freedman Hipparchus a detestable piece of brutality which might well have been omitted.
This may be mockery, but after she has let Thyreus kiss her she goes on: 'Your Caesar's father oft, When he hath mus'd of taking kingdoms in, Bestow'd his lips on that unworthy place, As it rain'd kisses. She reminds herself of this, fresh from Antony, who had just told her of Octavius's offer to protect her if she would give up the 'grizled head' of her lover. After Antony's death she finds
Yet she would not give up Antony, whom she loved; though to my knowledge Cæsar, by his freedman, Thyreus, made promise to her of her dominions for herself and for her children if she would but slay Antony, or even betray him bound.
Thyreus tells her that Caesar knows she did not embrace Antony from love but from fear, and she replies: 'He is a god, and knows What is most right: mine honour was not yielded, But conquer'd merely.
In addition Shakespeare makes her 'hop forty paces through the public street. What could have induced him to invent this story? She threatens Charmian with bloody teeth; lets Thyreus kiss her hand, arousing thereby Antony's rage.
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