Crassus' death Make me revenger. Bear the king's son's body Before our army. Thy Pacorus, Orodes, Pays this for Marcus Crassus. The Parthians, who were famed for their shooting of arrows, especially when in retreat, had defeated and slain the Roman proconsul Marcus Crassus and later under Labienus and Pacorus (cf. note on I. ii. 107) had ravaged Asia Minor and Syria. Their defeat by Ventidius, with the slaying of Pacorus, son of the king Orodes, avenged the Roman dead.
III. ii. 26, 27. as my furthest band Shall pass on thy approof. As the greatest security I can give shall be ventured on your conduct.
III. ii. 51, 52. He has a cloud in's face. Eno. He were the worse for that were he a horse. A horse without a white mark, or star, on his forehead was supposed to have a mischievous or dogged disposition. He was said to have a cloud in his face.
III. iii. 3. Herod of Jewry. Herod, king of the Jews, was presented as a fierce blusterer in the miracle plays.
III. iii. 33, 34. and her forehead As low as she would wish it. Low foreheads were not esteemed in Shakespeare's day, especially among the ladies. The words 'as low as she would wish it' are ironical.
III. iv. S. d. Athens. Antony married Octavia in 40 B. C. and took the eastern half of the Roman empire for his province. In 32 B. C. he repudiated Octavia, and in the same year war was declared by Octavius, against Cleopatra. The battle of Actium in 31 B. C. and the capture of Alexandria in 30 B. C, with the death of Antony and Cleopatra, immediately succeeded. There is, therefore, a space of about eight years between Act II, Scene 2 and Act III, Scene 4. Within this period came the agreement with Pompey, a renewal of the triumvirate, and a war with the Parthians in which Antony was unsuccessful.
