Content Warning: This section of the guide describes and analyzes the source text’s treatment of death by suicide. This guide also refers to the source text’s use of racist slurs against Romani people.

Two Roman soldiers named Philo and Demetrius discuss their concern that the Roman general Mark Antony is neglecting his duty to Rome because he has fallen in love with the Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra. Cleopatra teases Antony after he receives messages from the young Octavius Caesar and from his wife, Fulvia, telling him that he ought to return to them. Antony refuses to hear the messengers, telling Cleopatra that he prefers to spend time with her and enjoy the pleasures of life. They leave together to spend the night in leisure, and Philo and Demetrius lament that Antony no longer cares about his responsibilities as a triumvir, one of the three main leaders of his home country.

Cleopatra’s advisor Alexas brings in a soothsayer to tell fortunes. The queen’s maids, Charmian and Iras, learn from the soothsayer that they will outlive Cleopatra. They interpret this to mean that they will live very long lives. However, when they ask if they will bear children or marry great kings, the soothsayer responds that they will only if their wishes could grow wombs.