- TLN 2654rhetorical device
“fight i' the fire or i' the air”
Antony boasts he would fight in fire or air if Caesar chose those elements for the battle. Classical cosmology held that the universe was made of four elements — earth, water, fire, and air — and that human existence was confined to the lower two. Claiming willingness to fight in fire or air is a hyperbolic way of saying he fears nothing, regardless of where or how the enemy comes.
“our foot / Upon the hills adjoining to the city / Shall stay with us”
'Foot' is the standard Elizabethan military term for infantry — soldiers who fight on foot, as opposed to cavalry. Antony orders his foot-soldiers to hold position on the high ground near Alexandria while the fleet engages at sea, keeping a land force in reserve.
historical The Battle of Actium“They have put forth the haven”
'Put forth the haven' means the enemy fleet has sailed out of harbor. 'Put forth' was the standard phrase for a ship leaving port; 'haven' means harbor or anchorage. Antony is reporting that Caesar's ships are already at sea, making the engagement imminent.
“Where their appointment we may best discover”
'Appointment' here means the enemy's military disposition or arrangement — how and where Caesar's forces are deployed — not a scheduled meeting. 'Discover' means to observe or reconnoiter, not to find for the first time. Antony is leading his troops to a vantage point where they can watch the sea-battle unfold.