Antony and Cleopatra — Act 3, Scene 12: Egypt. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's camp.

In Caesar’s camp, Octavius Caesar receives Antony’s ambassador, Euphronius, and asks who he is before hearing his message. Dolabella identifies him as Antony’s schoolmaster, sent on a diminished errand compared with the powerful envoys Antony once used. Euphronius explains that Antony asks to be allowed to live in Egypt; if that is refused, he asks instead to live quietly as a private man in Athens. He also says Cleopatra submits to Caesar and asks that her children keep the rule of Egypt. Caesar rejects Antony’s request outright, says Cleopatra may only be heard if she abandons Antony, and then privately instructs Thyreus to court her loyalty with promises and whatever persuasive words he can devise.