Summary

Forsaken by Mark Antony, Cleopatra returns to her chamber and attempts suicide. Her handmaidens, Iras and Charmion, restrain her. When Alexas enters her chamber, she accuses him of turning Mark Antony against her by urging her to flirt with Dolabella to make him jealous. In an aside to the audience, Alexas agrees he is blameworthy. However, he says he was wrong to protect such a self-destructive queen from usurpation. He is a servant, he argues, not a master. He should not attempt to wield political influence.

In this act, Alexas finally candidly admits to the audience that he fears for his life. He still tries to manipulate Cleopatra. He tells her Mark Antony is jealous, and his jealousy is making him realize he still loves the queen. Alexas is confident he can convince Mark Antony to return to her. Unfortunately for Alexas...