This scheme indeed miscarries owing to Antony’s intervention, but meanwhile it has become unnecessary owing to the torrent of deserters. So Octavius is sure of his case, and can dismiss with ridicule the idea of a single fight. In Plutarch he does so too, but with the implied brag that he would certainly be victor: “Caesar answered him that he had many other wayes to dye then so;” when the he stands for Antony: but owing to North’s fortunate ambiguity Shakespeare takes it as referring to the speaker:
Let the old ruffian know
I have many other ways to die; mean time
Laugh at his challenge.
(IV. i. 4.)
A more subtle contumely; for it implies that Caesar with scornful impartiality acknowledges Antony’s superiority as a sabreur, but can afford to dismiss that as of no moment. His response has already been annotated in advance by Enobarbus, when Antony was inditing his cartel:
Yes, like enough, high-battled Caesar will
Unstate his happiness, and be staged to the show,
Against a sworder!... That he should dream,
Knowing all measures, the full Caesar will