CLEOPATRA。　What！　When　he　will　do　as　much　for　the　first　girl　he
  meets　on　his　way　back　to　Rome？　Ask　his　slave；　Britannus：　he　has
  been　just　as　good　to　him。　Nay；　ask　his　very　horse！　His　kindness
  is　not　for　anything　in　ME：　it　is　in　his　own　nature。
  POTHINUS。　But　how　can　you　be　sure　that　he　does　not　love　you　as
  men　love　women？
  CLEOPATRA。　Because　I　cannot　make　him　jealous。　I　have　tried。
  POTHINUS。　Hm！　Perhaps　I　should　have　asked；　then；　do　you　love　him？
  CLEOPATRA。　Can　one　love　a　god？　Besides；　I　love　another　Roman：　one
  whom　I　saw　long　before　Caesarno　god；　but　a　manone　who　can
  love　and　hateone　whom　I　can　hurt　and　who　would　hurt　me。
  POTHINUS。　Does　Caesar　know　this？
  CLEOPATRA。　Yes
  POTHINUS。　And　he　is　not　angry。
  CLEOPATRA。　He　promises　to　send　him　to　Egypt　to　please　me！
  POTHINUS。　I　do　not　understand　this　man？
  CLEOPATRA　（with　superb　contempt）。　YOU　understand　Caesar！　How
  could　you？　（Proudly）　I　doby　instinct。
  POTHINUS　（deferentially；　after　a　moment's　thought）。　Your　Majesty
  caused　me　to　be　admitted　to…day。　What　message　has　the　Queen　for
  me？
  CLEOPATRA。　This。　You　think　that　by　making　my　brother　king；　you
  will　rule　in　Egypt；　because　you　are　his　guardian　and　he　is　a
  little　silly。
  POTHINUB。　The　Queen　is　pleased　to　say　so。
  CLEOPATRA。　The　Queen　is　pleased　to　say　this　also。　That　Caesar
  will　eat　up　you；　and　Achillas；　and　my　brother；　as　a　cat　eats　up
  mice；　and　that　he　will　put　on　this　land　of　Egypt　as　a　shepherd
  puts　on　his　garment。　And　when　he　has　done　that；　he　will　return　to
  Rome；　and　leave　Cleopatra　here　as　his　viceroy。
  POTHINUS　（breaking　out　wrathfully）。　That　he　will　never　do。　We
  have　a　thousand　men　to　his　ten；　and　we　will　drive　him　and　his
  beggarly　legions　into　the　sea。
  CLEOPATRA　（with　scorn；　getting　up　to　go）。　You　rant　like　any
  common　fellow。　Go；　then；　and　marshal　your　thousands；　and　make
  haste；　for　Mithridates　of　Pergamos　is　at　hand　with　reinforcements
  for　Caesar。　Caesar　has　held　you　at　bay　with　two　legions：　we　shall
  see　what　he　will　do　with　twenty。
  POTHINUS。　Cleopatra
  CLEOPATRA。　Enough；　enough：　Caesar　has　spoiled　me　for　talking　to
  weak　things　like　you。　（She　goes　out。　Pothinus；　with　a　gesture　of
  rage；　is　following；　when　Ftatateeta　enters　and　stops　him。）
  POTHINUS。　Let　me　go　forth　from　this　hateful　place。
  FTATATEETA。　What　angers　you？
  POTHINUS。　The　curse　of　all　the　gods　of　Egypt　be　upon　her！　She　has
  sold　her　country　to　the　Roman；　that　she　may　buy　it　back　from　him
  with　her　kisses。
  FTATATEETA。　Fool：　did　she　not　tell　you　that　she　would　have　Caesar
  gone？
  POTHINUS。　You　listened？
  FTATATEETA。　I　took　care　that　some　honest　woman　should　be　at　hand
  whilst　you　were　with　her。
  POTHINUS。　Now　by　the　gods
  FTATATEETA。　Enough　of　your　gods！　Caesar's　gods　are　all　powerful
  here。　It　is　no　use　YOU　coming　to　Cleopatra：　you　are　only　an
  Egyptian。　She　will　not　listen　to　any　of　her　own　race：　she　treats
  us　all　as　children。
  POTHINUS。　May　she　perish　for　it！
  FTATATEETA　（balefully）。　May　your　tongue　wither　for　that　wish！　Go！
  send　for　Lucius　Septimius；　the　slayer　of　Pompey。　He　is　a　Roman：
  may　be　she　will　listen　to　him。　Begone！
  POTHINUS　（darkly）。　I　know　to　whom　I　must　go　now。
  FTATATEETA　（suspiciously）。　To　whom；　then？
  POTHINUS。　To　a　greater　Roman　than　Lucius。　And　mark　this；
  mistress。　You　thought；　before　Caesar　came；　that　Egypt　should
  presently　be　ruled　by　you　and　your　crew　in　the　name　of　Cleopatra。
  I　set　myself　against　it。
  FTATATEETA　（interrupting　himwrangling）。　Ay；　that　it　might　be
  ruled　by　you　and　YOUR　crew　in　the　name　of　Ptolemy。
  POTHINUS。　Better　me；　or　even　you；　than　a　woman　with　a　Roman
  heart；　and　that　is　what　Cleopatra　is　now　become。　Whilst　I　live；
  she　shall　never　rule。　So　guide　yourself　accordingly。　（He　goes
  out。）
  It　is　by　this　time　drawing　on　to　dinner　time。　The　table　is
  laid　on　the　roof　of　the　palace；　and　thither　Rufio　is　now
  climbing；　ushered　by　a　majestic　palace　official；　wand　of　office
  in　hand；　and　followed　by　a　slave　carrying　an　inlaid　stool。　After
  many　stairs　they　emerge　at　last　into　a　massive　colonnade　on
  the　roof。　Light　curtains　are　drawn　between　the　columns　on
  the　north　and　east　to　soften　the　westering　sun。　The　official
  leads　Rufio　to　one　of　these　shaded　sections。　A　cord　for　pulling
  the　curtains　apart　hangs　down　between　the　pillars。
  THE　OFFICIAL　（bowing）。　The　Roman　commander　will　await　Caesar
  here。
  The　slave　sets　down　the　stool　near　the　southernmost　column；　and
  slips　out　through　the　curtains。
  RUFIO　（sitting　down；　a　little　blown）。　Pouf！　That　was　a　climb。　How
  high　have　we　come？
  THE　OFFICIAL。　We　are　on　the　palace　roof；　O　Beloved　of　Victory！
  RUFIO。　Good！　the　Beloved　of　Victory　has　no　more　stairs　to　get　up。
  A　second　official　enters　from　the　opposite　end；　walking
  backwards。
  THE　SECOND　OFFICIAL。　Caesar　approaches。
  Caesar；　fresh　from　the　bath；　clad　in　a　new　tunic　of　purple
  silk；　comes　in；　beaming　and　festive；　followed　by　two　slaves
  carrying　a　light　couch；　which　is　hardly　more　than　an　elaborately
  designed　bench。　They　place　it　near　the　northmost　of　the　two
  curtained　columns。　When　this　is　done　they　slip　out　through　the
  curtains；　and　the　two　officials；　formally　bowing；　follow　them。
  Rufio　rises　to　receive　Caesar。
  CAESAR　（coming　over　to　him）。　Why；　Rufio！　（Surveying　his　dress
  with　an　air　of　admiring　astonishment）　A　new　baldrick！　A　new
  golden　pommel　to　your　sword！　And　you　have　had　your　hair　cut！　But
  not　your　beard？　Impossible！　（He　sniffs　at　Rufio's　beard。）　Yes；
  perfumed；　by　Jupiter　Olympus！
  RUFIO　（growling）。　Well：　is　it　to　please　myself？
  CAESAR　（affectionately）。　No；　my　son　Rufio；　but　to　please　meto
  celebrate　my　birthday。
  RUFIO　（contemptuously）。　Your　birthday！　You　always　have　a　birthday
  when　there　is　a　pretty　girl　to　be　flattered　or　an　ambassador　to
  be　conciliated。　We　had　seven　of　them　in　ten　months　last　year。
  CAESAR　（contritely）。　It　is　true；　Rufio！　I　shall　never　break
  myself　of　these　petty　deceits。
  RUFIO。　　Who　is　to　dine　with　usbesides　Cleopatra？
  CAESAR。　Apollodorus　the　Sicilian。
  RUFIO。　That　popinjay！
  CAESAR。　Come！　the　popinjay　is　an　amusing　dogtells　a　story；
  sings　a　song；　and　saves　us　the　trouble　of　flattering　the　Queen。
  What　does　she　care　for　old　politicians　and　campfed　bears　like　us？
  No：　Apollodorus　is　good　company；　Rufio；　good　company。
  RUFIO。　Well；　he　can　swim　a　bit　and　fence　a　bit：　he　might　be
  worse；　if　he　only　knew　how　to　hold　his　tongue。
  CAESAR。　The　gods　forbid　he　should　ever　learn！　Oh；　this　military
  life！　this　tedious；　brutal　life　of　action！　That　is　the　worst　of
  us　Romans：　we　are　mere　doers　and　drudgers：　a　swarm　of　bees　turned
  into　men。　Give　me　a　good　talkerone　with　wit　and　imagination
  enough　to　live　without　continually　doing　something！
  RUFIO。　Ay！　a　nice　time　he　would　have　of　it　with　you　when　dinner
  was　over！　Have　you　noticed　that　I　am　before　my　time？
  CAESAR。　Aha！　I　thought　that　meant　something。　What　is　it？
  RUFIO。　Can　we　be　overheard　here？
  CAESAR。　Our　privacy　invites　eavesdropping。　I　can　remedy　that。　（He
  claps　his　hands　twice。　The　curtains　are　drawn；　revealing　the　roof
  garden　with　a　banqueting　table　set　across　in　the　middle　for　four
  persons；　one　at　each　end；　and　two　side　by　side。　The　side　next
  Caesar　and　Rufio　is　blocked　with　golden　wine　vessels　and　basins。
  A　gorgeous　major…domo　is　superintending　the　laying　of　the　table
  by　a　staff　of　slaves。　The　colonnade　goes　round　the　garden　at　both
  sides　to　the　further　end；　where　a　gap　in　it；　like　a　great
  gateway；　leaves　the　view　open　to　the　sky　beyond　the　western　edge
  of　the　roof；　except　in　the　middle；　where　a　life　size　image　of　Ra；
  seated　on　a　huge　plinth；　towers　up；　with　hawk　head　and　crown　of
  asp　and　disk。　His　altar；　which　stands　at　his　feet；　is　a　single
  white　stone。）　Now　everybody　can　see　us；　nobody　will　think　of
  listening　to　us。　（He　sits　down　on　the　bench　left　by　the　two
  slaves。）
  RUFIO　（sitting　down　on　his　stool）。　Pothinus　wants　to　speak　to
  you。　I　advise　you　to　see　him：　there　is　some　plotting　going　on
  here　among　the　women。
  CAESAR。　Who　is　Pothinus？
  RUFIO。　The　fellow　with　hair　like　squirrel's　furthe　little
  King's　bear　leader；　whom　you　kept　prisoner。
  CAEBAR　（annoyed）。　And　has　he　not　escaped？
  RUFIO。　No。
  CAESAR　（rising　imperiously）。　Why　not？　You　have　been　guarding　this
  man　instead　of　watching　the　enemy。　Have　I　not　told　you　always　to
  let　prisoners　escape　unless　there　are　special　orders　to　the
  contrary？　Are　there　not　enough　mouths　to　be　fed　without　him？
  RUFIO。　Yes；　and　if　you　would　have　a　little　sense　and　let　me　cut
  his　throat；　you　would　save　his　rations。　Anyhow；　he　WON'T　escape。
  Three　sentries　have　told　him　they　would　put　a　pilum　through　him
  if　they　saw　him　again。　What　more　can　they　do？　He　prefers　to　stay
  and　spy　on　us。　So　would　I　if　I　had　to　do　with　generals　subject　to
  fits　of　clemency。
  CAESAR　（resuming　his　seat；　argued　down）。　Hm！　And　so　he　wants　to
  see　me。
  RUFIO。　Ay。　I　have　brought　him　with　me。　He　is　waiting　there
  （jerking　his　thumb　over　his　shoulder）　under　guard。
  CAESAR。　And　you　want　me　to　see　him？
  RUFI0　（obstinately）。　I　don't　want　anything。　I　daresay　you　will　do
  what　you　like。　Don't　put　it　on　to　me。
  CAESAR　（with　an　air　of　doing　it　expressly　to　indulge　Rufio）。
  Well；　well：　let　us　have　him。
  RUFIO　（calling）。　Ho　there；　guard！　Release　your　man　and　s