caesar and cleopatra-第8节
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statesmanshipfollies and fictions ten times bloodier than
honest vengeance！ What a fool was I then！ To think that
men's lives should be at the mercy of such fools！ （Humbly） Lucius
Septimius； pardon me： why should the slayer of Vercingetorix
rebuke the slayer of Pompey？ You are free to go with the rest。 Or
stay if you will： I will find a place for you in my service。
LUCIUS。 The odds are against you； Caesar。 I go。 （He turns to go
out through the loggia。）
RUFIO （full of wrath at seeing his prey escaping）。 That means
that he is a Republican。
LUCIUS （turning defiantly on the loggia steps）。 And what are you？
RUFIO。 A Caesarian； like all Caesar's soldiers。
CAESAR （courteously）。 Lucius： believe me； Caesar is no Caesarian。
Were Rome a true republic； then were Caesar the first of
Republicans。 But you have made your choice。 Farewell。
LUCIUS。 Farewell。 Come； Achillas； whilst there is yet time。
Caesar； seeing that Rufio's temper threatens to get the worse of
him； puts his hand on his shoulder and brings him down the hall
out of harm's way； Britannus accompanying them and posting
himself on Caesar's right hand。 This movement brings the three in
a little group to the place occupied by Achillas； who moves
haughtily away and joins Theodotus on the other side。 Lucius
Septimius goes out through the soldiers in the loggia。 Pothinus；
Theodotus and Achillas follow him with the courtiers； very
mistrustful of the soldiers； who close up in their rear and go
out after them； keeping them moving without much ceremony。 The
King is left in his chair； piteous； obstinate； with twitching
face and fingers。 During these movements Rufio maintains an
energetic grumbling； as follows：
RUFIO （as Lucius departs）。 Do you suppose he would let us go if
he had our heads in his hands？
CAESAR。 I have no right to suppose that his ways are any baser
than mine。
RUFIO。 Psha！
CAESAR。 Rufio： if I take Lucius Septimius for my model； and
become exactly like him； ceasing to be Caesar； will you serve me
still？
BRITANNUS。 Caesar： this is not good sense。 Your duty to Rome
demands that her enemies should be prevented from doing further
mischief。 （Caesar； whose delight in the moral eye…to…business of
his British secretary is inexhaustible； smiles intelligently。）
RUFIO。 It is no use talking to him； Britannus： you may save your
breath to cool your porridge。 But mark this； Caesar。 Clemency is
very well for you； but what is it for your soldiers； who have to
fight tomorrow the men you spared yesterday？ You may give what
orders you please； but I tell you that your next victory will be
a massacre； thanks to your clemency。 I； for one； will take no
prisoners。 I will kill my enemies in the field； and then you can
preach as much clemency as you please： I shall never have to
fight them again。 And now； with your leave； I will see these
gentry off the premises。 （He turns to go。）
CAESAR （turning also and seeing Ptolemy）。 What！ Have they left
the boy alone！ Oh shame； shame！
RUFIO （taking Ptolemy's hand and making him rise）。 Come； your
majesty！
PTOLEMY （to Caesar； drawing away his hand from Rufio）。 Is he
turning me out of my palace？
RUFIO （grimly）。 You are welcome to stay if you wish。
CAESAR （kindly）。 Go； my boy。 I will not harm you； but you will be
safer away； among your friends。 Here you are in the lion's mouth。
PTOLEMY （turning to go）。 It is not the lion I fear； but （looking
at Rufio） the jackal。 （He goes out through the loggia。）
CAESAR （laughing approvingly）。 Brave boy！
CLEOPATRA （jealous of Caesar's approbation； calling after
Ptolemy）。 Little silly。 You think that very clever。
CAESAR。 Britannus： Attend the King。 Give him in charge to that
Pothinus fellow。 （Britannus goes out after Ptolemy。）
RUFIO （pointing to Cleopatra）。 And this piece of goods？ What is
to be done with HER？ However； I suppose I may leave that to you。
（He goes out through the loggia。）
CLEOPATRA （flushing suddenly and turning on Caesar）。 Did you mean
me to go with the rest？
CAESAR （a little preoccupied； goes with a sigh to Ptolemy's
chair； whilst she waits for his answer with red cheeks and
clenched fists）。 You are free to do just as you please；
Cleopatra。
CLEOPATRA。 Then you do not care whether I stay or not？
CAESAR （smiling）。 Of course I had rather you stayed。
CLEOPATRA。 Much； MUCH rather？
CAESAR （nodding）。 Much； much rather。
CLEOPATRA。 Then I consent to stay； because I am asked。 But I do
not want to； mind。
CAESAR。 That is quite understood。 （Calling） Totateeta。
Ftatateeta； still seated； turns her eyes on him with a sinister
expression； but does not move。
CLEOPATRA （with a splutter of laughter）。 Her name is not
Totateeta： it is Ftatateeta。 （Calling） Ftatateeta。 （Ftatateeta
instantly rises and comes to Cleopatra。）
CAESAR （stumbling over the name）。 Ftatafeeta will forgive the
erring tongue of a Roman。 Tota： the Queen will hold her state
here in Alexandria。 Engage women to attend upon her； and do all
that is needful。
FTATATEETA。 Am I then the mistress of the Queen's household？
CLEOPATRA （sharply）。 No： I am the mistress of the Queen's
household。 Go and do as you are told； or I will have you thrown
into the Nile this very afternoon； to poison the poor crocodiles。
CAESAR （shocked）。 Oh no； no。
CLEOPATRA。 Oh yes； yes。 You are very sentimental； Caesar； but you
are clever； and if you do as I tell you； you will soon learn to
govern。
Caesar； quite dumbfounded by this impertinence； turns in his
chair and stares at her。
Ftatateeta； smiling grimly； and showing a splendid set of teeth；
goes； leaving them alone together。
CAESAR。 Cleopatra： I really think I must eat you； after all。
CLEOPATRA （kneeling beside him and looking at him with eager
interest； half real； half affected to show how intelligent she
is）。 You must not talk to me now as if I were a child。
CAESAR。 You have been growing up since the Sphinx introduced us
the other night； and you think you know more than I do already。
CLFOPATRA （taken down； and anxious to justify herself）。 No： that
would be very silly of me： of course I know that。 But； （suddenly）
are you angry with me？
CAESAR。 No。
CLEOPATRA （only half believing him）。 Then why are you so
thoughtful？
CAESAR （rising）。 I have work to do； Cleopatra。
CLEOPATRA （drawing back）。 Work！ （Offended） You are tired of
talking to me； and that is your excuse to get away from me。
CAESAR （sitting down again to appease her）。 Well； well： another
minute。 But thenwork！
CLFOPATRA。 Work！ What nonsense！ You must remember that you are a
King now： I have made you one。 Kings don't work。
CAESAR。 Oh！ Who told you that； little kitten？ Eh？
CLEOPATRA。 My father was King of Egypt； and he never worked。 But
he was a great King； and cut off my sister's head because she
rebelled against him and took the throne from him。
CAESAR。 Well； and how did he get his throne back again？
CLEOPATRA （eagerly； her eyes lighting up）。 I will tell you。 A
beautiful young man； with strong round arms； came over the desert
with many horsemen； and slew my sister's husband and gave my
father back his throne。 （Wistfully） I was only twelve then。 Oh； I
wish he would come again； now that I am a Queen。 I would
make him my husband。
CAESAR。 It might be managed； perhaps； for it was I who sent that
beautiful young man to help your father。
CLEOPATRA （enraptured）。 You know him！
CAESAR （nodding）。 I do。
CLEOPATRA。 Has he come with you？ （Caesar shakes his head： she is
cruelly disappointed。） Oh； I wish he had； I wish he had。 If only
I were a little older； so that he might not think me a mere
kitten； as you do！ But perhaps that is because YOU are old。 He is
many； MANY years younger than you； is he not？
CAESAR （as if swallowing a pill）。 He is somewhat younger。
CLEOPATRA。 Would he be my husband； do you think； if I asked him？
CAESAR。 Very likely。
CLEOPATRA。 But I should not like to ask him。 Could you not
persuade him to ask mewithout knowing that I wanted him to？
CAESAR （touched by her innocence of the beautiful young
man's character）。 My poor child！
CLEOPATRA。 Why do you say that as if you were sorry for me？ Does
he love anyone else？
CAESAR。 I am afraid so。
CLEOPATRA （tearfully）。 Then I shall not be his first love。
CAESAR。 Not quite the first。 He is greatly admired by women。
CLEOPATRA。 I wish I could be the first。 But if he loves me； I
will make him kill all the rest。 Tell me： is he still beautiful？
Do his strong round arms shine in the sun like marble？
CAESAR。 He is in excellent conditionconsidering how much he
eats and drinks。
CLEOPATRA。 Oh； you must not say common； earthly things about him；
for I love him。 He is a god。
CAESAR。 He is a great captain of horsemen； and swifter of foot
than any other Roman。
CLEOPATRA。 What is his real name？
CAESAR （puzzled）。 His REAL name？
CLEOPATRA。 Yes。 I always call him Horus； because Horus is the
most beautiful of our gods。 But I want to know his real name。
CAESAR。 His name is Mark Antony。
CLEOPATRA （musically）。 Mark Antony； Mark Antony； Mark Antony！
What a beautiful name！ （She throws her arms round Caesar's neck。）
Oh； how I love you for sending him to help my father！ Did y
