e it for the sake of peace.

BRITANNUS (unconsciously anticipating a later statesman). Peace with
honor, Pothinus.

POTHINUS (mutinously). Caesar: be honest. The money you demand is the
price of our freedom. Take it; and leave us to settle our own affairs.

THE BOLDER COURTIERS (encouraged by Pothinus's tone and Caesar's
quietness). Yes, yes. Egypt for the Egyptians!

The conference now becomes an altercation, the Egyptians becoming more
and more heated. Caesar remains unruffled; but Rufio grows fiercer and
doggeder, and Britannus haughtily indignant.

RUFIO (contemptuously). Egypt for the Egyptians! Do you forget that
there is a Roman army of occupation here, left by Aulus Gabinius when he
set up your toy king for you?

ACHILLAS (suddenly asserting himself). And now under my command. I am
the Roman general here, Caesar.

CAESAR (tickled by the humor of the situation). And also the Egyptian
general, eh?

POTHINUS (triumphantly). That is so, Caesar.

CAESAR (to Achillas). So you can make war on the Egyptians in the name
of Rome and on the Romans--on me, if necessary--in the name of Egypt?

ACHILLAS. That is so, Caesar.

CAESAR. And which side are you on at present, if I may presume to ask,
general?

ACHILLAS. On the side of the right and of the gods.

CAESAR. Hm! How many men have you?

ACHILLAS. That will appear when I take the field.

RUFIO (truculently). Are your men Romans? If not, it matters not how
many there are, provided you are no stronger than 500 to ten.

POTHINUS. It is useless to try to bluff us, Rufio. Caesar has been
defeated before and may be defeated again. A few weeks ago Caesar was
flying for his life before Pompey: a few months hence he may be flying
for his life before Cato and Juba of Numidia, the African King.

ACHILLAS (following up Pothinus's speech menacingly). What can you do
with 4,000 men?

THEODOTUS (following up Achillas's speech with a raucous squeak). And
without money? Away with you.

ALL THE COURTIERS (shouting fiercely and crowding towards Caesar). Away
with you. Egypt for the Egyptians! Begone.

Rufio bites his beard, too angry to speak. Caesar sits on comfortably
as if he were at breakfast, and the cat were clamoring for a piece of
Finnan-haddie.

CLEOPATRA. Why do you let them talk to you like that Caesar? Are you
afraid?

CAESAR. Why, my dear, what they say is quite true.

CLEOPATRA. But if you go away, I shall not be Queen.

CAESAR. I shall not go a