Oh What does this mean? What emotion does it express? It is the keynote to our interpretation of Cleopatra's bearing during this interview. And how is that bearing to be interpreted? If we believe that she is here playing false to Anthony, this ‘Oh’ must be a shudder. If she is true to Anthony,—and nothing in this play can make me believe otherwise,—and is merely, with consummate skill, drawing on the Ambassador in order to probe to the bottom Cæsar's plans so that she can protect Anthony and herself, then this ‘Oh’ is shocked surprise, inadvertently escaping from her at the bare suggestion that she feared Anthony more than she loved him,—Anthony! for whom her love was without a bourn! With whatever tone it was uttered, the Ambassador was quick to interpret it not otherwise than as a confirmation of his insinuation.—Ed.
William Shakespeare. Horace Howard Furness. A New Variorum Edition of Shakespeare: The Tragedie of Anthonie, and Cleopatra. Philadelphia and London. J. B. Lippincott Company. 1907.
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