us out. (To
Theodotus) Away with you.

THEODOTUS (to Pothinus). I must go to save the library. (He hurries
out.)

CAESAR. Follow him to the gate, Pothinus. Bid him urge your people to
kill no more of my soldiers, for your sake.

POTHINUS. My life will cost you dear if you take it, Caesar. (He goes
out after Theodotus.)

Rufio, absorbed in watching the embarkation, does not notice the
departure of the two Egyptians.

RUFIO (shouting from the loggia to the beach). All ready, there?

A CENTURION (from below). All ready. We wait for Caesar.

CAESAR. Tell them Caesar is coming--the rogues! (Calling) Britannicus.
(This magniloquent version of his secretary's name is one of Caesar's
jokes. In later years it would have meant, quite seriously and
officially, Conqueror of Britain.)

RUFIO (calling down). Push off, all except the longboat. Stand by it to
embark, Caesar's guard there. (He leaves the balcony and comes down into
the hall.) Where are those Egyptians? Is this more clemency? Have you
let them go?

CAESAR (chuckling). I have let Theodotus go to save the library. We must
respect literature, Rufio.

RUFIO (raging). Folly on folly's head! I believe if you could bring back
all the dead of Spain, Gaul and Thessaly to life, you would do it that
we might have the trouble of fighting them over again.

CAESAR. Might not the gods destroy the world if their only thought were
to be at peace next year? (Rufio, out of all patience, turns away in
anger. Caesar suddenly grips his sleeve, and adds slyly in his ear.)
Besides, my friend: every Egyptian we imprison means imprisoning two
Roman soldiers to guard him. Eh?

RUFIO. Agh! I might have known there was some fox's trick behind your
fine talking. (He gets away from Caesar with an ill-humored shrug, and
goes to the balcony for another look at the preparations; finally goes
out.)

CAESAR. Is Britannus asleep? I sent him for my armor an hour ago.
(Calling) Britannicus, thou British islander. Britannicus!

Cleopatra, runs in through the loggia with Caesar's helmet and sword,
snatched from Britannus, who follows her with a cuirass and greaves.
They come down to Caesar, she to his left hand, Britannus to his right.

CLEOPATRA. I am going to dress you, Caesar. Sit down. (He obeys.) These
Roman helmets are so becoming! (She takes off his wreath.) Oh! (She
bursts out laughing at him.)

CAESAR. What are you laughing at?

CLEOPATRA. You're bald (beginning with a big B, and