Summary

Serapion, an Egyptian priest, has seen Egypt's future. The Nile River floods, and all of the creatures who live there are washed to shore. Suddenly, the river recedes. All of the animals are stranded on the land and doomed to die. Alexas, the eunuch who serves as a confidant and counselor for Egypt's queen, Cleopatra, dismisses Serapion's dream. Alexas is more concerned about earthly desires than spiritual omens. Mark Antony, the Roman general who has been Cleopatra's lover for ten years, is not celebrating his birthday with her. His love for her may be waning. Alexas believes that Mark Antony may seek to regain the favor of the Roman Empire. He betrayed the Roman Empire when he fled Actium, the site of the final battle in his civil war against its current emperor, Caesar Octavius (Augustus Caesar). Alexas fears, if Mark Antony is...