caesar and cleopatra-第13章

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rises　impatiently。）　Begone；　all　of　you。　I　will　speak　with
Pothinus　alone。　Drive　them　out；　Ftatateeta。　（They　run　out
laughing。　Ftatateeta　shuts　the　door　on　them。）　What　are　YOU
waiting　for？

FTATATEETA。　It　is　not　meet　that　the　Queen　remain　alone　with

CLEOPATRA　（interrupting　her）。　Ftatateeta：　must　I　sacrifice　you　to
your　father's　gods　to　teach　you　that　I　am　Queen　of　Egypt；　and　not
you？

FTATATEETA　（indignantly）。　You　are　like　the　rest　of　them。　You　want
to　be　what　these　Romans　call　a　New　Woman。　（She　goes　out；　banging
the　door。）

CLEOPATRA　（sitting　down　again）。　Now；　Pothinus：　why　did　you　bribe
Ftatateeta　to　bring　you　hither？

POTHINUS　（studying　her　gravely）。　Cleopatra：　what　they　tell　me　is
true。　You　are　changed。

CLEOPATRA。　Do　you　speak　with　Caesar　every　day　for　six　months：　and
YOU　will　be　changed。

POTHINUS。　It　is　the　common　talk　that　you　are　infatuated　with　this
old　man。

CLEOPATRA。　Infatuated？　What　does　that　mean？　Made　foolish；　is　it
not？　Oh　no：　I　wish　I　were。

POTHINUS。　You　wish　you　were　made　foolish！　How　so？

CLEOPATRA。　When　I　was　foolish；　I　did　what　I　liked；　except　when
Ftatateeta　beat　me；　and　even　then　I　cheated　her　and　did　it　by
stealth。　Now　that　Caesar　has　made　me　wise；　it　is　no　use　my　liking
or　disliking；　I　do　what　must　be　done；　and　have　no　time　to　attend
to　myself。　That　is　not　happiness；　but　it　is　greatness。　If　Caesar
were　gone；　I　think　I　could　govern　the　Egyptians；　for　what　Caesar
is　to　me；　I　am　to　the　fools　around　me。

POTHINUS　（looking　hard　at　her）。　Cleopatra：　this　may　be　the　vanity
of　youth。

CLEOPATRA。　No；　no：　it　is　not　that　I　am　so　clever；　but　that　the
others　are　so　stupid。

POTHINUS　（musingly）。　Truly；　that　is　the　great　secret。

CLEOPATRA。　Well；　now　tell　me　what　you　came　to　say？

POTHINUS　（embarrassed）。　I！　Nothing。

CLEOPATRA。　Nothing！

POTHINUS。　At　leastto　beg　for　my　liberty：　that　is　all。

CLEOPATRA。　For　that　you　would　have　knelt　to　Caesar。　No；　Pothinus：
you　came　with　some　plan　that　depended　on　Cleopatra　being　a　little
nursery　kitten。　Now　that　Cleopatra　is　a　Queen；　the　plan　is　upset。

POTHINUS　（bowing　his　head　submissively）。　It　is　so。

CLEOPATRA　（exultant）。　Aha！

POTHINUS　（raising　his　eyes　keenly　to　hers）。　Is　Cleopatra　then
indeed　a　Queen；　and　no　longer　Caesar's　prisoner　and　slave？

CLEOPATRA。　Pothinus：　we　are　all　Caesar's　slavesall　we　in　this
land　of　Egyptwhether　we　will　or　no。　And　she　who　is　wise　enough
to　know　this　will　reign　when　Caesar　departs。

POTHINUS。　You　harp　on　Caesar's　departure。

CLEOPATRA。　What　if　I　do？

POTHINUS。　Does　he　not　love　you？

CLEOPATRA。　Love　me！　Pothinus：　Caesar　loves　no　one。　Who　are　those
we　love？　Only　those　whom　we　do　not　hate：　all　people　are　strangers
and　enemies　to　us　except　those　we　love。　But　it　is　not　so　with
Caesar。　He　has　no　hatred　in　him：　he　makes　friends　with　everyone
as　he　does　with　dogs　and　children。　His　kindness　to　me　is　a
wonder：　neither　mother；　father；　nor　nurse　have　ever　taken　so　much
care　for　me；　or　thrown　open　their　thoughts　to　me　so　freely。

POTHINUS。　Well：　is　not　this　love？

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　i