caesar and cleopatra-第3节

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throat。）

BEL　AFFRIS　（laying　a　hand　on　Ftatateeta's　left　shoulder）。　Forbear
her　yet　a　moment；　Persian。　（To　Ftatateeta；　very　significantly）
Mother：　your　gods　are　asleep　or　away　hunting；　and　the　sword　is　at
your　throat。　Bring　us　to　where　the　Queen　is　hid；　and　you　shall
live。

FTATATEETA　（contemptuously）。　Who　shall　stay　the　sword　in　the　hand
of　a　fool；　if　the　high　gods　put　it　there？　Listen　to　me；　ye　young
men　without　understanding。　Cleopatra　fears　me；　but　she　fears　the
Romans　more。　There　is　but　one　power　greater　in　her　eyes　than　the
wrath　of　the　Queen's　nurse　and　the　cruelty　of　Caesar；　and　that　is
the　power　of　the　Sphinx　that　sits　in　the　desert　watching　the　way
to　the　sea。　What　she　would　have　it　know；　she　tells　into　the　ears
of　the　sacred　cats；　and　on　her　birthday　she　sacrifices　to　it　and
decks　it　with　poppies。　Go　ye　therefore　into　the　desert　and　seek
Cleopatra　in　the　shadow　of　the　Sphinx；　and　on　your　heads　see　to
it　that　no　harm　comes　to　her。

BEL　AFFRIS　（to　the　Persian）。　May　we　believe　this；　O　subtle　one？

PERSIAN。　Which　way　come　the　Romans？

BEL　AFFRIS。　Over　the　desert；　from　the　sea；　by　this　very　Sphinx。

PERSIAN　（to　Ftatateeta）。　O　mother　of　guile！　O　aspic's　tongue！　You
have　made　up　this　tale　so　that　we　two　may　go　into　the　desert　and
perish　on　the　spears　of　the　Romans。　（Lifting　his　knife）　Taste
death。

FTATATEETA。　Not　from　thee；　baby。　（She　snatches　his　ankle　from
under　him　and　flies　stooping　along　the　palace　wall　vanishing　in
the　darkness　within　its　precinct。　Bel　Affris　roars　with　laughter
as　the　Persian　tumbles。　The　guardsmen　rush　out　of　the　palace　with
Belzanor　and　a　mob　of　fugitives；　mostly　carrying　bundles。）

PERSIAN。　Have　you　found　Cleopatra？

BELZANOR。　She　is　gone。　We　have　searched　every　corner。

THE　NUBIAN　SENTINEL　（appearing　at　the　door　of　the　palace）。　Woe！
Alas！　Fly；　fly！

BELZANOR。　What　is　the　matter　now？

THE　NUBIAN　SENTINEL。　The　sacred　white　cat　has　been　stolen。　Woe！
Woe！　（General　panic。　They　all　fly　with　cries　of　consternation。
The　torch　is　thrown　down　and　extinguished　in　the　rush。　Darkness。
The　noise　of　the　fugitives　dies　away。　Dead　silence。　Suspense。
Then　the　blackness　and　stillness　breaks　softly　into　silver　mist
and　strange　airs　as　the　windswept　harp　of　Memnon　plays　at　the
dawning　of　the　moon。　It　rises　full　over　the　desert；　and　a　vast
horizon　comes　into　relief；　broken　by　a　huge　shape　which　soon
reveals　itself　in　the　spreading　radiance　as　a　Sphinx　pedestalled
on　the　sands。　The　light　still　clears；　until　the　upraised　eyes　of
the　image　are　distinguished　looking　straight　forward　and　upward
in　infinite　fearless　vigil；　and　a　mass　of　color　between　its　great
paws　defines　itself　as　a　heap　of　red　poppies　on　which　a　girl
lies　motionless；　her　silken　vest　heaving　gently　and　regularly
with　the　breathing　of　a　dreamless　sleeper；　and　her　braided　hair
glittering　in　a　shaft　of　moonlight　like　a　bird's　wing。

Suddenly　there　comes　from　afar　a　vaguely　fearful　sound　（it
might　be　the　bellow　of　a　Minotaur　softened　by　great　distance）　and
Memnon's　music　stops。　Silence：　then　a　few　faint　high…ringing
trumpet　notes。　Then　silence　again。　Then　a　man　comes　from
the　south　with　stealing　steps；　ravished　by　the　mystery　of　the
night；　all　wonder；　and　halts；　lost　in　contemplation；　opposite　the
left　flank　of　the　Sphinx；　whose　bosom；　with　its　burden；　is　hidden
from　him　by　its　massive　shoulder。）

THE　MAN。　Hail；　Sphinx：　salutation　from　Julius　Caesar！　I　have
wandered　in　many　lands；　seeking　the　lost　regions　from　which　my
birth　into　this　world　exiled　me；　and　the　company　of　creatures
such　as　I　myself。　I　have　found　flocks　and　pastures；　men　and
cities；　but　no　other　Caesar；　no　air　native　to　me；　no　man　kindred
to　me；　none　who　can　do　my　day's　deed；　and　think　my　night's
thought。　In　the　little　world　yonder；　Sphinx；　my　place　is　as　high
as　yours　in　this　great　desert；　only　I　wander；　and　you　sit　still；
I　conquer；　and　you　endure；　I　work　and　wonder；　you　watch　and　wait；
I　look　up　and　am　dazzled；　look　down　and　am　darkened；　look　round
and　am　puzzled；　whilst　your　eyes　never　turn　from　looking　outout
of　the　worldto　the　lost　regionthe　home　from　which　we　have
strayed。　Sphinx；　you　and　I；　strangers　to　the　race　of　men；　are　no
strangers　to　one　another：　have　I　not　been　conscious　of　you　and　of
this　place　since　I　was　born？　Rome　is　a　madman's　dream：　this　is　my
Reality。　These　starry　lamps　of　yours　I　have　seen　from　afar　in
Gaul；　in　Britain；　in　Spain；　in　Thessaly；　signalling　great　secrets
to　some　eternal　sentinel　below；　whose　post　I　never　could　find。
And　here　at　last　is　their　sentinelan　image　of　the　constant　and
immortal　part　of　my　life；　silent；　full　of　thoughts；　alone　in　the
silver　desert。　Sphinx；　Sphinx：　I　have　climbed　mountains　at　night
to　hear　in　the　distance　the　stealthy　footfall　of　the　winds　that
chase　your　sands　in　forbidden　playour　invisible　children；　O
Sphinx；　laughing　in　whispers。　My　way　hither　was　the　way　of
destiny；　for　I　am　he　of　whose　genius　you　are　the　symbol：　part
brute；　part　woman；　and　part　Godnothing　of　man　in　me　at　all。
Have　I　read　your　riddle；　Sphinx？

THE　GIRL　（who　has　wakened；　and　peeped　cautiously　from　her　nest　to
see　who　is　speaking）。　Old　gentleman。

CAESAR　（starting　violently；　and　clutching　his　sword）。　Immortal
gods！

THE　GIRL。　Old　gentleman：　don't　run　away。

CAESAR　（stupefied）。　〃Old　gentleman：　don't　run　away！！！〃　This！　To
Julius　Caesar！

THE　GIRL　（urgently）。　Old　gentleman。

CAESAR。　Sphinx：　you　presume　on　your　centuries。　I　am　younger　than
you；　though　your　voice　is　but　a　girl's　voice　as　yet。

THE　GIRL。　Climb　up　here；　quickly；　or　the　Romans　will　come　and　eat
you。

CAESAR　（running　forward　past　the　Sphinx's　shoulder；　and　seeing
her）。　A　child　at　its　breast！　A　divine　child！

THE　GIRL。　Come　up　quickly。　You　must　get　up　at　its　side　and　creep
round。

CAESAR　（amazed）。　Who　are　you？

THE　GIRL。　Cleopatra；　Queen　of　Egypt。

CAESAR。　Queen　of　the　Gypsies；　you　mean。

CLEOPATRA。　You　must　not　be　disrespectful　to　me；　or　the　Sphinx
will　let　the　Romans　eat　you。　Come　up。　It　is　quite　cosy　here。

CAESAR　（to　himself）。　What　a　dream！　What　a　magnificent　dream！　Only
let　me　not　wake；　and　I　will　conquer　ten　continents　to　pay　for
dreaming　it　out　to　the　end。　（He　climbs　to　the　Sphinx's　flank；　and
presently　reappears　to　her　on　the　pedestal；　stepping　round　its
right　shoulder。）

CLEOPATRA。　Take　care。　That's　right。　Now　sit　down：　you　may　have
its　other　paw。　（She　seats　herself　comfortably　on　its　left　paw。）
It　is　very　powerful　and　will　protect　us；　but　（shivering；　and　with
plaintive　loneliness）　it　would　not　take　any　notice　of　me　or　keep
me　company。　I　am　glad　you　have　come：　I　was　very　lonely。　Did　you
happen　to　see　a　white　cat　anywhere？

CAESAR　（sitting　slowly　down　on　the　right　paw　in　extreme
wonderment）。　Have　you　lost　one？

CLEOPATRA。　Yes：　the　sacred　white　cat：　is　it　not　dreadful？　I
brought　him　here　to　sacrifice　him　to　the　Sphinx；　but　when　we　got
a　little　way　from　the　city　a　black　cat　called　him；　and　he　jumped
out　of　my　arms　and　ran　away　to　it。　Do　you　think　that　the　black
cat　can　have　been　my　great…great…great…grandmother？

CAESAR　（staring　at　her）。　Your　great…great…great…grandmother！
Well；　why　not？　Nothing　would　surprise　me　on　this　night　of　nights。

CLEOPATRA。　I　think　it　must　have　been。　My　great…grandmother's
great…grandmother　was　a　black　kitten　of　the　sacred　white　cat；　and
the　river　Nile　made　her　his　seventh　wife。　That　is　why　my　hair　is
so　wavy。　And　I　always　want　to　be　let　do　as　I　like；　no　matter
whether　it　is　the　will　of　the　gods　or　not：　that　is　because　my
blood　is　made　with　Nile　water。

CAESAR。　What　are　you　doing　here　at　this　time　of　night？　Do　you
live　here？

CLEOPATRA。　Of　course　not：　I　am　the　Queen；　and　I　shall　live　in　the
palace　at　Alexandria　when　I　have　killed　my　brother；　who　drove　me
out　of　it。　When　I　am　old　enough　I　shall　do　just　what　I　like。　I
shall　be　able　to　poison　the　slaves　and　see　them　wriggle；　and
pretend　to　Ftatateeta　that　she　is　going　to　be　put　into　the　fiery
furnace。

CAESAR。　Hm！　Meanwhile　why　are　you　not　at　home　and　in　bed？

CLEOPATRA。　Because　the　Romans　are　coming　to　eat　us　all。　YOU　are
not　at　home　and　in　bed　either。

CAESAR　（with　conviction）。　Yes　I　am。　I　live　in　a　tent；　and　I　am
now　in　that　tent；　fast　asleep　and　dreaming。　Do　you　suppose　that　I
believe　you　are　real；　you　impossible　little　dream　witch？

CLEOPATRA　（giggling　and　leaning　trustfully　towards　him）。　You　are
a　funny　old　gentleman。　I　like　you。

CAESAR。　Ah；　that　spoils　the　dream。　Why　don't　you　dream　that　I　am
young？

CLEOPATRA。　I　wish　you　were；　only　I　think　I　should　be　more　afraid
of　you。　I　like　men；　especially　young　men　with　round　strong　arms；
but　I　am　afraid　of　them。　You　are　old　and　rather　thin　and　stringy；
but　you　have　a　nice　voice；　and　I　like　to　have　somebody　to　talk
to；　though　I　think　you　are　a　little　mad。　It　is　the　moon　that
makes　you　talk　to　yourself　in　that　silly　way。

CAESAR。　What！　you　heard　that；　did　you？　I　was　saying　my　prayers　to
the　great　Sphinx。

CLEOPATRA。　But　this　isn't　the　great　Sphinx。

CAESAR　（much　disappointed；　looking　up　at　the　statue）。　What！

CLEOPATRA。　This　is　only　a　dear　little　kitten　of　the　Sphinx。　Why；
the　great　Sphinx　is　so　big　that　it　has　a　temple　between　its　paws。
This　is　my　pet　Sphinx。　Tell　me：　do　you　think　the　Romans