ABSTRACT
Coming at the beginning of the fifth Act to Philippi, Shakespeare omits the sickness of Octavius which endangered his cause, and the delay of ten days before the two armies were ranged on the plains. Octavius' reference to the enemy's coming down from the hills links V.I with the discussion in IV.3.195-21 I. Antony misjudges the courage of the enemy. His reference to their 'bravery' comes from North's remark that 'For bravery and rich furniture, Brutus' army far excelled Cresar's' (inf 1 17). There is a moment of disagreement between Octavius and Antony when the former insists on leading the right wing of the army (V.I.16-20), refusing to be overborne by the more experienced Antony. This really happened in the opposite camp (inf 120), but Shakespeare transfers it, presumably to show that both partnerships were marred by
51 discord. But whereas Brutus and Cassius came together harmoniously the tart exchange between Antony and Octavius symbolizes an uneasy relationship which in Plutarch had already been marked by mutual mistrust and open combat.
