caesar and cleopatra-第1章

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Caesar　and　Cleopatra

by　George　Bernard　Shaw





ACT　I

An　October　night　on　the　Syrian　border　of　Egypt　towards　the　end　of
the　XXXIII　Dynasty；　in　the　year　706　by　Roman　computation；
afterwards　reckoned　by　Christian　computation　as　48　B。C。　A　great
radiance　of　silver　fire；　the　dawn　of　a　moonlit　night；　is　rising
in　the　east。　The　stars　and　the　cloudless　sky　are　our　own
contemporaries；　nineteen　and　a　half　centuries　younger　than　we
know　them；　but　you　would　not　guess　that　from　their　appearance。
Below　them　are　two　notable　drawbacks　of　civilization：　a　palace；
and　soldiers。　The　palace；　an　old；　low；　Syrian　building　of
whitened　mud；　is　not　so　ugly　as　Buckingham　Palace；　and　the
officers　in　the　courtyard　are　more　highly　civilized　than　modern
English　officers：　for　example；　they　do　not　dig　up　the　corpses　of
their　dead　enemies　and　mutilate　them；　as　we　dug　up　Cromwell　and
the　Mahdi。　They　are　in　two　groups：　one　intent　on　the　gambling　of
their　captain　Belzanor；　a　warrior　of　fifty；　who；　with　his　spear
on　the　ground　beside　his　knee；　is　stooping　to　throw　dice　with　a
sly…looking　young　Persian　recruit；　the　other　gathered　about　a
guardsman　who　has　just　finished　telling　a　naughty　story　（still
current　in　English　barracks）　at　which　they　are　laughing
uproariously。　They　are　about　a　dozen　in　number；　all　highly
aristocratic　young　Egyptian　guardsmen；　handsomely　equipped　with
weapons　and　armor；　very　unEnglish　in　point　of　not　being　ashamed
of　and　uncomfortable　in　their　professional　dress；　on　the
contrary；　rather　ostentatiously　and　arrogantly　warlike；　as
valuing　themselves　on　their　military　caste。

Belzanor　is　a　typical　veteran；　tough　and　wilful；　prompt；　capable
and　crafty　where　brute　force　will　serve；　helpless　and　boyish　when
it　will　not：　an　effective　sergeant；　an　incompetent　general；　a
deplorable　dictator。　Would；　if　influentially　connected；　be
employed　in　the　two　last　capacities　by　a　modern　European　State　on
the　strength　of　his　success　in　the　first。　Is　rather　to　be　pitied
just　now　in　view　of　the　fact　that　Julius　Caesar　is　invading　his
country。　Not　knowing　this；　is　intent　on　his　game　with　the
Persian；　whom；　as　a　foreigner；　he　considers　quite　capable　of
cheating　him。

His　subalterns　are　mostly　handsome　young　fellows　whose　interest
in　the　game　and　the　story　symbolizes　with　tolerable　completeness
the　main　interests　in　life　of　which　they　are　conscious。　Their
spears　are　leaning　against　the　walls；　or　lying　on　the　ground
ready　to　their　hands。　The　corner　of　the　courtyard　forms　a
triangle　of　which　one　side　is　the　front　of　the　palace；　with　a
doorway；　the　other　a　wall　with　a　gateway。　The　storytellers　are　on
the　palace　side：　the　gamblers；　on　the　gateway　side。　Close　to　the
gateway；　against　the　wall；　is　a　stone　block　high　enough　to　enable
a　Nubian　sentinel；　standing　on　it；　to　look　over　the　wall。　The
yard　is　lighted　by　a　torch　stuck　in　the　wall。　As　the　laughter
from　the　group　round　the　storyteller　dies　away；　the　kneeling
Persian；　winning　the　throw；　snatches　up　the　stake　from　the
ground。

BELZANOR。　By　Apis；　Persian；　thy　gods　are　good　to　thee。

THE　PERSIAN。　Try　yet　again；　O　captain。　Double　or　quits！

BELZANOR。　No　more。　I　am　not　in　the　vein。

THE　SENTINEL　（poising　his　javelin　as　he　peers　over　the　wall）。
Stand。　Who　goes　there？

They　all　start；　listening。　A　strange　voice　replies　from　without。

VOICE。　The　bearer　of　evil　tidings。

BELZANOR　（calling　to　the　sentry）。　Pass　him。

THE　SENTINEL。　（grounding　his　javelin）。　Draw　near；　O　bearer　of
evil　tidings。

BELZANOR　（pocketing　the　dice　and　picking　up　his　spear）。　Let　us
receive　this　man　with　honor。　He　bears　evil　tidings。

The　guardsmen　seize　their　spears　and　gather　about　the　gate；
leaving　a　way　through　for　the　new　comer。

PERSIAN　（rising　from　his　knee）。　Are　evil　tidings；　then；
honorable？

BELZANOR。　O　barbarous　Persian；　hear　my　instruction。　In　Egypt　the
bearer　of　good　tidings　is　sacrificed　to　the　gods　as　a　thank
offering　but　no　god　will　accept　the　blood　of　the　messenger　of
evil。　When　we　have　good　tidings；　we　are　careful　to　send　them　in
the　mouth　of　the　cheapest　slave　we　can　find。　Evil　tidings　are
borne　by　young　noblemen　who　desire　to　bring　themselves　into
notice。　（They　join　the　rest　at　the　gate。）

THE　SENTINEL。　Pass；　O　young　captain；　and　bow　the　head　in　the
House　of　the　Queen。

VOICE。　Go　anoint　thy　javelin　with　fat　of　swine；　O　Blackamoor；　for
before　morning　the　Romans　will　make　thee　eat　it　to　the　very　butt。

The　owner　of　the　voice；　a　fairhaired　dandy；　dressed　in　a
different　fashion　to　that　affected　by　the　guardsmen；　but　no　less
extravagantly；　comes　through　the　gateway　laughing。　He　is　somewhat
battlestained；　and　his　left　forearm；　bandaged；　comes　through　a
torn　sleeve。　In　his　right　hand　he　carries　a　Roman　sword　in　its
sheath。　He　swaggers　down　the　courtyard；　the　Persian　on　his　right；
Belzanor　on　his　left；　and　the　guardsmen　crowding　down　behind　him。

BELZANOR。　Who　art　thou　that　laughest　in　the　House　of　Cleopatra
the　Queen；　and　in　the　teeth　of　Belzanor；　the　captain　of　her
guard？

THE　NEW　COMER。　I　am　Bel　Affris；　descended　from　the　gods。

BELZANOR　（ceremoniously）。　Hail；　cousin！

ALL　（except　the　Persian）。　Hail；　cousin！

PERSIAN。　All　the　Queen's　guards　are　descended　from　the　gods；　O
stranger；　save　myself。　I　am　Persian；　and　descended　from　many
kings。

BEL　AFFRIS　（to　the　guardsmen）。　Hail；　cousins！　（To　the　Persian；
condescendingly）　Hail；　mortal！

BELZANOR。　You　have　been　in　battle；　Bel　Affris；　and　you　are　a
soldier　among　soldiers。　You　will　not　let　the　Queen's　women　have
the　first　of　your　tidings。

BEL　AFFRIS。　I　have　no　tidings；　except　that　we　shall　have　our
throats　cut　presently；　women；　soldiers；　and　all。

PERSIAN　（to　Belzanor）。　I　told　you　so。

THE　SENTINEL　（who　has　been　listening）。　Woe；　alas！

BEL　AFFRIS　（calling　to　him）。　Peace；　peace；　poor　Ethiop：　destiny
is　with　the　gods　who　painted　thee　black。　（To　Belzanor）　What　has
this　mortal　（indicating　the　Persian）　told　you？

BELZANOR。　He　says　that　the　Roman　Julius　Caesar；　who　has　landed　on
our　shores　with　a　handful　of　followers；　will　make　himself　master
of　Egypt。　He　is　afraid　of　the　Roman　soldiers。　（The　guardsmen
laugh　with　boisterous　scorn。）　Peasants；　brought　up　to　scare　crows
and　follow　the　plough。　Sons　of　smiths　and　millers　and　tanners！
And　we　nobles；　consecrated　to　arms；　descended　from　the　gods！

PERSIAN。　Belzanor：　the　gods　are　not　always　good　to　their　poor
relations。

BELZANOR　（hotly；　to　the　Persian）。　Man　to　man；　are　we　worse　than
the　slaves　of　Caesar？

BEL　AFFRIS　（stepping　between　them）。　Listen；　cousin。　Man　to　man；
we　Egyptians　are　as　gods　above　the　Romans。

THE　GUARDSMEN　（exultingly）。　Aha！

BEL　AFFRIS。　But　this　Caesar　does　not　pit　man　against　man：　he
throws　a　legion　at　you　where　you　are　weakest　as　he　throws　a　stone
from　a　catapult；　and　that　legion　is　as　a　man　with　one　head；　a
thousand　arms；　and　no　religion。　I　have　fought　against　them；　and　I
know。

BELZANOR　（derisively）。　Were　you　frightened；　cousin？

The　guardsmen　roar　with　laughter；　their　eyes　sparkling　at　the
wit　of　their　captain。

BEL　AFFRIS。　No；　cousin；　but　I　was　beaten。　They　were　frightened
（perhaps）；　but　they　scattered　us　like　chaff。

The　guardsmen；　much　damped；　utter　a　growl　of　contemptuous
disgust。

BELZANOR。　Could　you　not　die？

BEL　AFFRIS。　No：　that　was　too　easy　to　be　worthy　of　a　descendant　of
the　gods。　Besides；　there　was　no　time：　all　was　over　in　a　moment。
The　attack　came　just　where　we　least　expected　it。

BELZANOR。　That　shows　that　the　Romans　are　cowards。

BEL　AFFRIS。　They　care　nothing　about　cowardice；　these　Romans：　they
fight　to　win。　The　pride　and　honor　of　war　are　nothing　to　them。

PERSIAN。　Tell　us　the　tale　of　the　battle。　What　befell？

THE　GUARDSMEN　（gathering　eagerly　round　Bel　Afris）。　Ay：　the　tale
of　the　battle。

BEL　AFFRIS。　Know　then；　that　I　am　a　novice　in　the　guard　of　the
temple　of　Ra　in　Memphis；　serving　neither　Cleopatra　nor　her
brother　Ptolemy；　but　only　the　high　gods。　We　went　a　journey　to
inquire　of　Ptolemy　why　he　had　driven　Cleopatra　into　Syria；　and
how　we　of　Egypt　should　deal　with　the　Roman　Pompey；　newly　come　to
our　shores　after　his　defeat　by　Caesar　at　Pharsalia。　What；　think
ye；　did　we　learn？　Even　that　Caesar　is　coming　also　in　hot　pursuit
of　his　foe；　and　that　Ptolemy　has　slain　Pompey；　whose　severed　head
he　holds　in　readiness　to　present　to　the　conqueror。　（Sensation
among　the　guardsmen。）　Nay；　more：　we　found　that　Caesar　is　already
come；　for　we　had　not　made　half　a　day's　journey　on　our　way　back
when　we　came　upon　a　city　rabble　flying　from　his　legions；　whose
landing　they　had　gone　out　to　withstand。

BELZANOR。　And　ye；　the　temple　guard！　Did　you　not　withstand　these
legions？

BEL　AFFRIS。　What　man　could；　that　we　did。　But　there　came　the　sound
of　a　trumpet　whose　voice　was　as　the　cursing　of　a　black　mountain。
Then　saw　we　a　moving　wall　of　shields　coming　towards　us。　You　know
how　the　heart　burns　when　you　charge　a　fortified　wall；　but　how　if
the　fortified　wall　were　to　charge　YOU？

THE　PERSIAN　（exulting　in　having　told　them　so）。　Did　I　not　say　it？

BEL　AFFRIS。　When　the　wall　came　nigh；　it　changed　into　a　line　of
mencommon　fellows　enough；　with　helmets；　leather　tunics；　and
breastplates。　Every　man　of　them　flung　his　javelin：　the　one　that
came　my　way　drove　through　my　shield　as　through　a　papyruslo
there！　（he　points　to　the　bandage　on　his　left　arm）　and　would　have
gone　through　my　neck　had　I　not　stooped。　They　were　charging　at　the
double　then；　and　were　upon　us　with　short　swords　almost　as　soon　as
their　javelins。　When　a　man　is　close　to　you　with　such　a　sword；　you
can　do　nothing　with　our　weapons：　they　are　all　too　long。

THE　PERSIAN。　What　did　you　do？

BEL　AFFRIS。　Doubled　my　fist　and　smote　my　Roman　on　the　sharpness
of　his　jaw。　He　was　but　mortal　after　all：　he　lay　down　in　a　stupor；
and　I　took　his　sword　and　laid　it　on。　（Drawing　the　sword）　Lo！　a
Roman　sword　with　Roman　blood　on　it！

THE　GUARDSMEN　（approvingly）。　Good！　（They　take　the　sword　and　hand
it　round；　examining　it　curiously。）

THE　PERSIAN。　And　your　men？

BEL　AFFRIS。　Fled。　Scattered　like　sheep。

BELZANOR　（furiously）。　The　cowardly　slaves！　Leaving　the
descendants　of　the　gods　to　be　butchered！

BEL　AFFRIS　（with　acid　coolness）。　The　descendants　of　the　gods　did
not　stay　to　be　butchered；　cousin。　The　battle　was　not　to　the
strong；　but　the　race　was　to　the　swift。　The　Romans；　who　have　no
chariots；　sent　a　cloud　of　horsemen　in　pursuit；　and　slew
multitudes。　Then　our　high　priest's　captain　rallied　a　dozen
descendants　of　the　gods　and　exhorted　us　to　die　fighting。　I　said
to　myself：　surely　it　is　safer　to　stand　than　to　lose　my　breath　and
be　stabbed　in　the　back；　so　I　joined　our　captain　and　stood。　Then
the　Romans　treated　us　with　respect；　for　no　man　attacks　a　lion
when　the　field　is　full　of　sheep；　except　for　the　pride　and　honor
of　war；　of　which　these　Romans　know　nothing。　So　we　escaped　with
our　lives；　and　I　am　come　to　warn　you　that　you　must　open　your
gates　to　Caesar；　for　his　advance　guard　is　scarce　an　hour　behind
me；　and　not　an　Egyptian　warrior　is　left　standing　between　you　and
his　legions。

THE　SENTINEL。　Woe；　alas！　（He　throws　down　his　javelin　and　flies
into　the　palace。）

BELZANOR。　Nail　him　to　the　door；　quick！　（The　guardsmen　rush　for
him　with　their　spears；　but　he　is　too　quick　for　them。）　Now　this
news　will　run　through