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?

RUFIO (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 send him up.
(Beckoning) Come along!

Pothinus enters and stops mistrustfully between the two, looking from
one to the other.

CAESAR (graciously). Ah, Pothinus! You are welcome. And what is the news
this afternoon?

POTHINUS. Caesar: I come to warn you of a danger, and to make you an
offer.

CAESAR. Never mind the danger. Make the offer.

RUFIO. Never mind the offer. What's the danger?

POTHINUS. Caesar: you think that Cleopatra is devoted to you.

CAESAR (gravely). My friend: I already know what I think. Come to your
offer.

POTHINUS. I will deal plainly. I know not by what strange gods you have
been enabled to defend a palace and a few yards of beach against a city
and an army. Since we cut you off from Lake Mareotis, and you dug wells
in the salt sea sand and brought up buckets of fresh water from them, we
have known that your gods are irresistible, and that you are a worker of
miracles. I no longer threaten you.

RUFIO (sarcastically). Very handsome of you, indeed.

POTHINUS. So be it: you are the master. Our gods sent the north west
winds to keep you in our hands; but you have been too strong for them.

CAESAR (gently urging him to come to the point). Yes, yes, my friend.
But what then?

RUFIO. Spit it out, man. What have you to say?

POTHINUS. I have to say that you have a traitress in your camp.
Cleopatra.

THE MAJOR-DOMO (at the table, announcing). The Queen! (Caesar and Rufio
rise.)

RUFIO (aside to Pothinus). You should have spat it out sooner, you fool.
Now it is too late.

Cleopatra, in gorgeous raiment, enters in state through the gap in the
colonnade, and comes down past the image of Ra and past the table to
Caesar. Her retinue, headed by Ftatateeta, join