PROLOGUE:  A chorus of Romans, Greeks, Parisians, Jews, and soldiers condemns the Roman General Antony for his life of luxury in Egypt and for his shameless behavior with the Egyptian queen Cleopatra.

ACT I:  In Alexandria, Antony realizes that his life in Egypt with Cleopatra is making him weak and he tells his friend Enobarbus that he will go back to Rome.  Cleopatra enters and the lovers bid a reluctant farewell.  Back in Rome, Antony is greeted by the Senate but admonished by Caesar Octavius for neglecting his responsibilities and ignoring his requests for more troops.  The Senator Agrippa tries to placate the argument and suggests that Antony marry Caesar’s sister Octavia as a demonstration of peace between the two men; Antony agrees. In her palace in Alexandria, Cleopatra pines for Antony and languishes over their separation.  (“Give me some music.”) When a messenger brings news of Antony’s marriage, she punishes the messenger but takes pleasure when he tells her that she is more beautiful than Octavia. In a Roman banquet hall the soldiers celebrate Antony’s marriage to Octavia and his reconciliation with Caesar.  Antony asks Octavia to overlook his past discretions.  Dorabella, Caesar’s emissary, says that now that he is married, Antony will have to end his relationship Cleopatra.  Enobarbus says that Antony will never be able to give up Cleopatra and recalls the first time the lovers met (“When first she met Antony”). A vision of the queen appears as she calls out for Antony to return to her.  Antony declares that he will return to Egypt.

ACT II:  Caesar rails against Antony’s desertion and tells the Senate that he has given Cleopatra the lands of Cyprus, Lydia, and lower Syria.  He vows that Antony will pay the consequences and they prepare to go to war. In Cleopatra’s palace, her attendants have a soothsayer read their fortune and are told that they will outlive their mistress.  Antony and Cleopatra enter and are interrupted by Enobarbus, who brings news that Caesar is advancing with the Roman army.  As Antony leaves to go prepare his troops, Cleopatra intends to go with him but Enobarbus warns her that she is too much of a distraction for Antony.  Cleopatra swears her revenge on Enobarbus and says that she will not be left behind.  In Antony’s camp, the guards hear haunting music.  They believe that it is Hercules, the god of war, abandoning his support of Antony.  At dawn, Antony and Cleopatra awaken and vow their love for each other.  (“Oh take, oh take those lips away”) Despite her protests, Antony leaves to prepare his troops for battle, and Cleopatra gets her army ready as well.  At the height of the battle, as the Egyptian army is being overrun, Cleopatra’s ships are seen in the distance, fleeing back to Alexandria.  As his army is defeated, Antony is demoralized. (“Hark! The land bids me tread no more upon it”) In her palace, Cleopatra meets with Thidias, one of Caesar’s emissaries, to discuss the terms of surrender.  Antony is furious and denounces the queen, suspicious that she has abandoned him for Caesar.  Cleopatra flees to her monument and sends her attendant to tell Antony that she has killed herself.  When he hears the news that she is dead, Antony begs his shield bearer Eros to kill him.  Instead Eros kills himself.  Antony retrieves the sword and stabs himself just as Cleopatra’s attendant enters to tell him that she is not really dead.  Gravely injured, Antony asks to be carried to her.

ACT III:  Anthony is brought to Cleopatra.  They bid farewell just as he dies.  Filled with despair, Cleopatra recounts a dream she had in which she saw Antony as the Emperor of Rome. Caesar arrives, assures Cleopatra that he no longer means her any harm, and mourns Antony’s passing.  Dorabella, Caesar’s emissary, confesses to the queen that despite his reassurances, Caesar plans to lead her through the streets as a captive.  Unwilling to accept this, Cleopatra summons a man to bring a basket full of poisonous snakes. Taking the snakes, Cleopatra and her two attendants commit suicide (“Give me my robe, put on my crown”) as everyone laments the loss of the immortal lovers.