_The edge of the quay in front of the palace, looking out west over
the east harbor of Alexandria to Pharos island, just off the end of
which, and connected with it by a narrow mole, is the famous
lighthouse, a gigantic square tower of white marble diminishing in
size storey by storey to the top, on which stands a cresset beacon.
The island is joined to the main land by the Heptastadium, a great
mole or causeway five miles long bounding the harbor on the south._
_In the middle of the quay a Roman sentinel stands on guard, pilum in
hand, looking out to the lighthouse with strained attention, his left
hand shading his eyes. The pilum is a stout wooden shaft 4½ feet
long, with an iron spit about three feet long fixed in it. The
sentinel is so absorbed that he does not notice the approach from the
north end of the quay of four Egyptian market porters carrying rolls
of carpet, preceded by Ftatateeta and Apollodorus the Sicilian.
Apollodorus is a dashing young man of about 24, handsome and debonair,
dressed with deliberate æstheticism in the most delicate purples and
dove greys, with ornaments of bronze, oxydized silver, and stones of
jade and agate. His sword, designed as carefully as a medieval cross,
has a blued blade showing through an openwork scabbard of purple
leather and filagree. The porters, conducted by Ftatateeta, pass along
the quay behind the sentinel to the steps of the palace, where they
put down their bales and squat on the ground. Apollodorus does not
pass along with them: he halts, amused by the preoccupation of the
sentinel._
APOLLODORUS (_calling to the sentinel_). Who goes there, eh?
SENTINEL (_starting violently and turning with his pilum at the
charge, revealing himself as a small, wiry, sandy-haired,
conscientious young man with an elderly face_). What's this? Stand.
Who are you?
APOLLODORUS. I am Apollodorus the Sicilian. Why, man, what are you
dreaming of? Since I came through the lines beyond the theatre there,
I have brought my caravan past three sentinels, all so busy staring at
the lighthouse that not one of them challenged me. Is this Roman
discipline?
SENTINEL. We are not here to watch the land but the sea. Caesar has
just landed on the Pharos. (_Looking at Ftatateeta_) What have you
here? Who is this piece of Egyptian crockery?
FTATATEETA. Apollodorus: rebuke this Roman dog; and bid him bridle his
tongue in the presence of Ftatateeta, the mistress of the Queen's
household.
APOLLODORUS. My friend: this is a great lady, who stands high with
Caesar.
SENTINEL (_not at all impressed, pointing to the carpets_). And what
is all this truck?
APOLLODORUS. Carpets for the furnishing of the Queen's apartments in
the palace. I have picked them from the best carpets in the world; and
the Queen shall choose the best of my choosing.
SENTINEL. So you are the carpet merchant?
APOLLODORUS (_hurt_). My friend: I am a patrician.
SENTINEL. A patrician! A patrician keeping a shop instead of following
arms!
APOLLODORUS. I do not keep a shop. Mine is a temple of the arts. I am
a worshipper of beauty. My calling is to choose beautiful things for
beautiful Queens. My motto is Art for Art's sake.
SENTINEL. That is not the password.
APOLLODORUS. It is a universal password.
SENTINEL. I know nothing about universal passwords. Either give me the
password for the day or get back to your shop.
_Ftatateeta, roused by his hostile tone, steals towards the edge of
the quay with the step of a panther, and gets behind him._
APOLLODORUS. How if I do neither?
SENTINEL. Then I will drive this pilum through you.
APOLLODORUS. At your service, my friend. (_He draws his sword, and
springs to his guard with unruffled grace._)
FTATATEETA (_suddenly seizing the sentinel's arms from behind_).
Thrust your knife into the dog's throat, Apollodorus. (_The chivalrous
Apollodorus laughingly shakes his head; breaks ground away from the
sentinel towards the palace; and lowers his point._)
SENTINEL (_struggling vainly_). Curse on you! Let me go. Help ho!
FTATATEETA (_lifting him from the ground_). Stab the little Roman
reptile. Spit him on your sword.
_A couple of Roman soldiers, with a centurion, come running along the
edge of the quay from the north end. They rescue their comrade, and
throw off Ftatateeta, who is sent reeling away on the left hand of the
sentinel._
CENTURION (_an unattractive man of fifty, short in his speech and
manners, with a vine wood cudgel in his hand_). How now? What is all
this?
FTATATEETA (_to Apollodorus_). Why did you not stab him? There was
time!
APOLLODORUS. Centurion: I am here by order of the Queen to----
CENTURION (_interrupting him_). The Queen! Yes, yes: (_to the
sentinel_) pass him in. Pass all these bazaar people in to the Queen,
with their goods. But mind you pass no one out that you have not
passed in--not even the Queen herself.
SENTINEL. This old woman is dangerous: she is as strong as three men.
She wanted the merchant to stab me.
APOLLODORUS. Centurion: I am not a merchant. I am a patrician and a
votary of art.
CENTURION. Is the woman your wife?
APOLLODORUS (_horrified_). No, no! (_Correcting himself politely_) Not
that the lady is not a striking figure in her own way. But
(_emphatically_) she is _not_ my wife.
FTATATEETA (_to the Centurion_). Roman: I am Ftatateeta, the mistress
of the Queen's household.
CENTURION. Keep your hands off our men, mistress; or I will have you
pitched into the harbor, though you were as strong as ten men. (_To
his men_) To your posts: march! (_He returns with his men the way they
came._)
FTATATEETA (_looking malignantly after him_). We shall see whom Isis
loves best: her servant Ftatateeta or a dog of a Roman.
SENTINEL (_to Apollodorus, with a wave of his pilum towards the
palace_). Pass in there; and keep your distance. (_Turning to
Ftatateeta_) Come within a yard of me, you old crocodile; and I will
give you this (_the pilum_) in your jaws.
CLEOPATRA (_calling from the palace_). Ftatateeta, Ftatateeta.
FTATATEETA (_Looking up, scandalized_). Go from the window, go from
the window. There are men here.
CLEOPATRA. I am coming down.
FTATATEETA (_distracted_). No, no. What are you dreaming of? O ye
gods, ye gods! Apollodorus: bid your men pick up your bales; and in
with me quickly.
APOLLODORUS. Obey the mistress of the Queen's household.
FTATATEETA (_impatiently, as the porters stoop to lift the bales_).
Quick, quick: she will be out upon us. (_Cleopatra comes from the
palace and runs across the quay to Ftatateeta._) Oh that ever I was
born!
CLEOPATRA (_eagerly_). Ftatateeta: I have thought of something. I want
a boat--at once.
FTATATEETA. A boat! No, no: you cannot. Apollodorus: speak to the
Queen.
APOLLODORUS (_gallantly_). Beautiful Queen: I am Apollodorus the
Sicilian, your servant, from the bazaar. I have brought you the three
most beautiful Persian carpets in the world to choose from.
CLEOPATRA. I have no time for carpets to-day. Get me a boat.
FTATATEETA. What whim is this? You cannot go on the water except in
the royal barge.
APOLLODORUS. Royalty, Ftatateeta, lies not in the barge but in the
Queen. (_To Cleopatra_) The touch of your majesty's foot on the
gunwale of the meanest boat in the harbor will make it royal. (_He
turns to the harbor and calls seaward_) Ho there, boatman! Pull in to
the steps.
CLEOPATRA. Apollodorus: you are my perfect knight; and I will always
buy my carpets through you. (_Apollodorus bows joyously. An oar
appears above the quay; and the boatman, a bullet-headed, vivacious,
grinning fellow, burnt almost black by the sun, comes up a flight of
steps from the water on the sentinel's right, oar in hand, and waits
at the top._) Can you row, Apollodorus?
APOLLODORUS. My oars shall be your majesty's wings. Whither shall I
row my Queen?
CLEOPATRA. To the lighthouse. Come. (_She makes for the steps._)
SENTINEL (_opposing her with his pilum at the charge_). Stand. You
cannot pass.
CLEOPATRA (_flushing angrily_). How dare you? Do you know that I am
the Queen?
SENTINEL. I have my orders. You cannot pass.
CLEOPATRA. I will make Caesar have you killed if you do not obey me.
SENTINEL. He will do worse to me if I disobey my officer. Stand back.
CLEOPATRA. Ftatateeta: strangle him.
SENTINEL (_alarmed--looking apprehensively at Ftatateeta, and
brandishing his pilum_). Keep off, there.
CLEOPATRA (_running to Apollodorus_). Apollodorus: make your slaves
help us.
APOLLODORUS. I shall not need their help, lady. (_He draws his
sword._) Now soldier: choose which weapon you will defend yourself
with. Shall it be sword against pilum, or sword against sword?
SENTINEL. Roman against Sicilian, curse you. Take that. (_He hurls his
pilum at Apollodorus, who drops expertly on one knee. The pilum passes
whizzing over his head and falls harmless. Apollodorus, with a cry of
triumph, springs up and attacks the sentinel, who draws his sword and
defends himself, crying_) Ho there, guard. Help!
_Cleopatra, half frightened, half delighted, takes refuge near the
palace, where the porters are squatting among the bales. The boatman,
alarmed, hurries down the steps out of harm's way, but stops, with his
head just visible above the edge of the quay, to watch the fight. The
sentinel is handicapped by his fear of an attack in the rear from
Ftatateeta. His swordsmanship, which is of a rough and ready sort, is
heavily taxed, as he has occasionally to strike at her to keep her off
between a blow and a guard with Apollodorus. The Centurion returns
with several soldiers. Apollodorus springs back towards Cleopatra as
this reinforcement confronts him._
CENTURION (_coming to the sentinel's right hand_). What is this? What
now?
SENTINEL (_panting_). I could do well enough for myself if it weren't
for the old woman. Keep her off me: that is all the help I need.
CENTURION. Make your report, soldier. What has happened?
FTATATEETA. Centurion: he would have slain the Queen.
SENTINEL (_bluntly_). I would, sooner than let her pass. She wanted to
take boat, and go--so she said--to the lighthouse. I stopped her, as
I was ordered to; and she set this fellow on me. (_He goes to pick up
his pilum and returns to his place with it._)
CENTURION (_turning to Cleopatra_). Cleopatra: I am loth to offend
you; but without Caesar's express order we dare not let you pass
beyond the Roman lines.
APOLLODORUS. Well, Centurion; and has not the lighthouse been within
the Roman lines since Caesar landed there?
CLEOPATRA. Yes, yes. Answer that, if you can.
CENTURION (_to Apollodorus_). As for you, Apollodorus, you may thank
the gods that you are not nailed to the palace door with a pilum for
your meddling.
APOLLODORUS (_urbanely_). My military friend, I was not born to be
slain by so ugly a weapon. When I fall, it will be (_holding up his
sword_) by this white queen of arms, the only weapon fit for an
artist. And now that you are convinced that we do not want to go
beyond the lines, let me finish killing your sentinel and depart with
the Queen.
CENTURION (_as the sentinel makes an angry demonstration_). Peace
there. Cleopatra. I must abide by my orders, and not by the subtleties
of this Sicilian. You must withdraw into the palace and examine your
carpets there.
CLEOPATRA (_pouting_). I will not: I am the Queen. Caesar does not
speak to me as you do. Have Caesar's centurions changed manners with
his scullions?
CENTURION (_sulkily_). I do my duty. That is enough for me.
APOLLODORUS. Majesty: when a stupid man is doing something he is
ashamed of, he always declares that it is his duty.
CENTURION (_angry_). Apollodorus----
APOLLODORUS (_interrupting him with defiant elegance_). I will make
amends for that insult with my sword at fitting time and place. Who
says artist, says duelist. (_To Cleopatra_) Hear my counsel, star of
the east. Until word comes to these soldiers from Caesar himself, you
are a prisoner. Let me go to him with a message from you, and a
present; and before the sun has stooped half way to the arms of the
sea, I will bring you back Caesar's order of release.
CENTURION (_sneering at him_). And you will sell the Queen the
present, no doubt.
APOLLODORUS. Centurion: the Queen shall have from me, without payment,
as the unforced tribute of Sicilian taste to Egyptian beauty, the
richest of these carpets for her present to Caesar.
CLEOPATRA (_exultantly, to the Centurion_). Now you see what an
ignorant common creature you are!
CENTURION (_curtly_). Well, a fool and his wares are soon parted. (_He
turns to his men_) Two more men to this post here; and see that no one
leaves the palace but this man and his merchandize. If he draws his
sword again inside the lines, kill him. To your posts. March.
_He goes out, leaving two auxiliary sentinels with the other._
APOLLODORUS (_with polite goodfellowship_). My friends: will you not
enter the palace and bury our quarrel in a bowl of wine? (_He takes
out his purse, jingling the coins in it._) The Queen has presents for
you all.
SENTINEL (_very sulky_). You heard our orders. Get about your
business.
FIRST AUXILIARY. Yes: you ought to know better. Off with you.
SECOND AUXILIARY (_looking longingly at the purse--this sentinel is a
hooknosed man, unlike his comrade, who is squab faced_). Do not
tantalize a poor man.
APOLLODORUS (_to Cleopatra_). Pearl of Queens: the Centurion is at
hand; and the Roman soldier is incorruptible when his officer is
looking. I must carry your word to Caesar.
CLEOPATRA (_who has been meditating among the carpets_). Are these
carpets very heavy?
APOLLODORUS. It matters not how heavy. There are plenty of porters.
CLEOPATRA. How do they put the carpets into boats? Do they throw them
down?
APOLLODORUS. Not into small boats, majesty. It would sink them.
CLEOPATRA. Not into that man's boat, for instance? (_Pointing to the
boatman._)
APOLLODORUS. No. Too small.
CLEOPATRA. But you can take a carpet to Caesar in it if I send one?
APOLLODORUS. Assuredly.
CLEOPATRA. And you will have it carried gently down the steps and take
great care of it?
APOLLODORUS. Depend on me.
CLEOPATRA. Great, _great_ care?
APOLLODORUS. More than of my own body.
CLEOPATRA. You will promise me not to let the porters drop it or throw
it about?
APOLLODORUS. Place the most delicate glass goblet in the palace in the
heart of the roll, Queen; and if it be broken, my head shall pay for
it.
CLEOPATRA. Good. Come, Ftatateeta. (_Ftatateeta comes to her.
Apollodorus offers to squire them into the palace._) No, Apollodorus,
you must not come. I will choose a carpet for myself. You must wait
here. (_She runs into the palace._)
APOLLODORUS (_to the porters_). Follow this lady (_indicating
Ftatateeta_); and obey her.
_The porters rise and take up their bales._
FTATATEETA (_addressing the porters as if they were vermin_). This
way. And take your shoes off before you put your feet on those stairs.
_She goes in, followed by the porters with the carpets. Meanwhile
Apollodorus goes to the edge of the quay and looks out over the
harbor. The sentinels keep their eyes on him malignantly._
APOLLODORUS (_addressing the sentinel_). My friend----
SENTINEL (_rudely_). Silence there.
FIRST AUXILIARY. Shut your muzzle, you.
SECOND AUXILIARY (_in a half whisper, glancing apprehensively towards
the north end of the quay_). Can't you wait a bit?
APOLLODORUS. Patience, worthy three-headed donkey. (_They mutter
ferociously; but he is not at all intimidated._) Listen: were you set
here to watch me, or to watch the Egyptians?
SENTINEL. We know our duty.
APOLLODORUS. Then why don't you do it? There's something going on over
there. (_Pointing southwestward to the mole._)
SENTINEL (_sulkily_). I do not need to be told what to do by the like
of you.
APOLLODORUS. Blockhead. (_He begins shouting_) Ho there, Centurion.
Hoiho!
SENTINEL. Curse your meddling. (_Shouting_) Hoiho! Alarm! Alarm!
FIRST AND SECOND AUXILIARIES. Alarm! alarm! Hoiho!
_The Centurion comes running in with his guard._
CENTURION. What now? Has the old woman attacked you again? (_Seeing
Apollodorus_) Are _you_ here still?
APOLLODORUS (_pointing as before_). See there. The Egyptians are
moving. They are going to recapture the Pharos. They will attack by
sea and land: by land along the great mole; by sea from the west
harbor. Stir yourselves, my military friends: the hunt is up. (_A
clangor of trumpets from several points along the quay._) Aha! I told
you so.
CENTURION (_quickly_). The two extra men pass the alarm to the south
posts. One man keep guard here. The rest with me--quick.
_The two auxiliary sentinels run off to the south. The Centurion and
his guard run off northward; and immediately afterwards the bucina
sounds. The four porters come from the palace carrying a carpet,
followed by Ftatateeta._
SENTINEL (_handling his pilum apprehensively_). You again! (_The
porters stop._)
FTATATEETA. Peace, Roman fellow: you are now single-handed.
Apollodorus: this carpet is Cleopatra's present to Caesar. It has
rolled up in it ten precious goblets of the thinnest Iberian crystal,
and a hundred eggs of the sacred blue pigeon. On your honor, let not
one of them be broken.
APOLLODORUS. On my head be it. (_To the porters_) Into the boat with
them carefully.
_The porters carry the carpet to the steps._
FIRST PORTER (_looking down at the boat_). Beware what you do, sir.
Those eggs of which the lady speaks must weigh more than a pound
apiece. This boat is too small for such a load.
BOATMAN (_excitedly rushing up the steps_). Oh thou injurious porter!
Oh thou unnatural son of a she-camel! (_To Apollodorus_) My boat, sir,
hath often carried five men. Shall it not carry your lordship and a
bale of pigeons' eggs? (_To the porter_) Thou mangey dromedary, the
gods shall punish thee for this envious wickedness.
FIRST PORTER (_stolidly_). I cannot quit this bale now to beat thee;
but another day I will lie in wait for thee.
APPOLODORUS (_going between them_). Peace there. If the boat were but
a single plank, I would get to Caesar on it.
FTATATEETA (_anxiously_). In the name of the gods, Apollodorus, run no
risks with that bale.
APOLLODORUS. Fear not, thou venerable grotesque: I guess its great
worth. (_To the porters_) Down with it, I say; and gently; or ye shall
eat nothing but stick for ten days.
_The boatman goes down the steps, followed by the porters with the
bale: Ftatateeta and Apollodorus watching from the edge._
APOLLODORUS. Gently, my sons, my children--(_with sudden alarm_)
gently, ye dogs. Lay it level in the stern--so--'tis well.
FTATATEETA (_screaming down at one of the porters_). Do not step on
it, do not step on it. Oh thou brute beast!
FIRST PORTER (_ascending_). Be not excited, mistress: all is well.
FTATATEETA (_panting_). All well! Oh, thou hast given my heart a turn!
(_She clutches her side, gasping._)
_The four porters have now come up and are waiting at the stairhead to
be paid._
APOLLODORUS. Here, ye hungry ones. (_He gives money to the first
porter, who holds it in his hand to shew to the others. They crowd
greedily to see how much it is, quite prepared, after the Eastern
fashion, to protest to heaven against their patron's stinginess. But
his liberality overpowers them._)
FIRST PORTER. O bounteous prince!
SECOND PORTER. O lord of the bazaar!
THIRD PORTER. O favored of the gods!
FOURTH PORTER. O father to all the porters of the market!
SENTINEL (_enviously, threatening them fiercely with his pilum_).
Hence, dogs: off. Out of this. (_They fly before him northward along
the quay._)
APOLLODORUS. Farewell, Ftatateeta. I shall be at the lighthouse before
the Egyptians. (_He descends the steps._)
FTATATEETA. The gods speed thee and protect my nursling!
_The sentry returns from chasing the porters and looks down at the
boat, standing near the stairhead lest Ftatateeta should attempt to
escape._
APOLLODORUS (_from beneath, as the boat moves off_). Farewell, valiant
pilum pitcher.
SENTINEL. Farewell shopkeeper.
APOLLODORUS. Ha, ha! Pull, thou brave boatman, pull. Soho-o-o-o-o!
(_He begins to sing in barcarolle measure to the rhythm of the oars_)
My heart, my heart, spread out thy wings:
Shake off thy heavy load of love--
Give me the oars, O son of a snail.
SENTINEL (_threatening Ftatateeta_). Now mistress: back to your
henhouse. In with you.
FTATATEETA (_falling on her knees and stretching her hands over the
waters_). Gods of the seas, bear her safely to the shore!
SENTINEL. Bear _who_ safely? What do you mean?
FTATATEETA (_looking darkly at him_). Gods of Egypt and of Vengeance,
let this Roman fool be beaten like a dog by his captain for suffering
her to be taken over the waters.
SENTINEL. Accursed one: is she then in the boat? (_He calls over the
sea_) Hoiho, there, boatman! Hoiho!
APOLLODORUS (_singing in the distance_).
My heart, my heart, be whole and free:
Love is thine only enemy.
_Meanwhile Rufio, the morning's fighting done, sits munching dates on
a faggot of brushwood outside the door of the lighthouse, which towers
gigantic to the clouds on his left. His helmet, full of dates, is
between his knees; and a leathern bottle of wine is by his side.
Behind him the great stone pedestal of the lighthouse is shut in from
the open sea by a low stone parapet, with a couple of steps in the
middle to the broad coping. A huge chain with a hook hangs down from
the lighthouse crane above his head. Faggots like the one he sits on
lie beneath it ready to be drawn up to feed the beacon._
_Caesar is standing on the step at the parapet looking out anxiously,
evidently ill at ease. Britannus comes out of the lighthouse door._
RUFIO. Well, my British islander. Have you been up to the top?
BRITANNUS. I have. I reckon it at 200 feet high.
RUFIO. Anybody up there?
BRITANNUS. One elderly Tyrian to work the crane; and his son, a well
conducted youth of 14.
RUFIO (_looking at the chain_). What! An old man and a boy work that!
Twenty men, you mean.
BRITANNUS. Two only, I assure you. They have counterweights, and a
machine with boiling water in it which I do not understand: it is not
of British design. They use it to haul up barrels of oil and faggots
to burn in the brazier on the roof.
RUFIO. But----
BRITANNUS. Excuse me: I came down because there are messengers coming
along the mole to us from the island. I must see what their business
is. (_He hurries out past the lighthouse._)
CAESAR (_coming away from the parapet, shivering and out of sorts_).
Rufio: this has been a mad expedition. We shall be beaten. I wish I
knew how our men are getting on with that barricade across the great
mole.
RUFIO (_angrily_). Must I leave my food and go starving to bring you a
report?
CAESAR (_soothing him nervously_). No, Rufio, no. Eat, my son. Eat.
(_He takes another turn, Rufio chewing dates meanwhile._) The
Egyptians cannot be such fools as not to storm the barricade and swoop
down on us here before it is finished. It is the first time I have
ever run an avoidable risk. I should not have come to Egypt.
RUFIO. An hour ago you were all for victory.
CAESAR (_apologetically_). Yes: I was a fool--rash, Rufio--boyish.
RUFIO. Boyish! Not a bit of it. Here. (_Offering him a handful of
dates._)
CAESAR. What are these for?
RUFIO. To eat. That's what's the matter with you. When a man comes to
your age, he runs down before his midday meal. Eat and drink; and then
have another look at our chances.
CAESAR (_taking the dates_). My age! (_He shakes his head and bites a
date._) Yes, Rufio: I am an old man--worn out now--true, quite true.
(_He gives way to melancholy contemplation, and eats another date._)
Achillas is still in his prime: Ptolemy is a boy. (_He eats another
date, and plucks up a little._) Well, every dog has his day; and I
have had mine: I cannot complain. (_With sudden cheerfulness_) These
dates are not bad, Rufio. (_Britannus returns, greatly excited, with a
leathern bag. Caesar is himself again in a moment._) What now?
BRITANNUS (_triumphantly_). Our brave Rhodian mariners have captured a
treasure. There! (_He throws the bag down at Caesar's feet._) Our
enemies are delivered into our hands.
CAESAR. In that bag?
BRITANNUS. Wait till you hear, Caesar. This bag contains all the
letters which have passed between Pompey's party and the army of
occupation here.
CAESAR. Well?
BRITANNUS (_impatient of Caesar's slowness to grasp the situation_).
Well, we shall now know who your foes are. The name of every man who
has plotted against you since you crossed the Rubicon may be in these
papers, for all we know.
CAESAR. Put them in the fire.
BRITANNUS. Put them--(_he gasps_)!!!!
CAESAR. In the fire. Would you have me waste the next three years of
my life in proscribing and condemning men who will be my friends when
I have proved that my friendship is worth more than Pompey's was--than
Cato's is. O incorrigible British islander: am I a bull dog, to seek
quarrels merely to shew how stubborn my jaws are?
BRITANNUS. But your honor--the honor of Rome----
CAESAR. I do not make human sacrifices to my honor, as your Druids do.
Since you will not burn these, at least I can drown them. (_He picks
up the bag and throws it over the parapet into the sea._)
BRITANNUS. Caesar: this is mere eccentricity. Are traitors to be
allowed to go free for the sake of a paradox?
RUFIO (_rising_). Caesar: when the islander has finished preaching,
call me again. I am going to have a look at the boiling water machine.
(_He goes into the lighthouse._)
BRITANNUS (_with genuine feeling_). O Caesar, my great master, if I
could but persuade you to regard life seriously, as men do in my
country!
CAESAR. Do they truly do so, Britannus?
BRITANNUS. Have you not been there? Have you not seen them? What
Briton speaks as you do in your moments of levity? What Briton
neglects to attend the services at the sacred grove? What Briton wears
clothes of many colors as you do, instead of plain blue, as all solid,
well esteemed men should? These are moral questions with us.
CAESAR. Well, well, my friend: some day I shall settle down and have a
blue toga, perhaps. Meanwhile, I must get on as best I can in my
flippant Roman way. (_Apollodorus comes past the lighthouse._) What
now?
BRITANNUS (_turning quickly, and challenging the stranger with
official haughtiness_). What is this? Who are you? How did you come
here?
APOLLODORUS. Calm yourself, my friend: I am not going to eat you. I
have come by boat, from Alexandria, with precious gifts for Caesar.
CAESAR. From Alexandria!
BRITANNUS (_severely_). That is Caesar, sir.
RUFIO (_appearing at the lighthouse door_). What's the matter now?
APOLLODORUS. Hail, great Caesar! I am Apollodorus the Sicilian, an
artist.
BRITANNUS. An artist! Why have they admitted this vagabond?
CAESAR. Peace, man. Apollodorus is a famous patrician amateur.
BRITANNUS (_disconcerted_). I crave the gentleman's pardon. (_To
Caesar_) I understood him to say that he was a professional.
(_Somewhat out of countenance, he allows Apollodorus to approach
Caesar, changing places with him. Rufio, after looking Apollodorus up
and down with marked disparagement, goes to the other side of the
platform._)
CAESAR. You are welcome, Apollodorus. What is your business?
APOLLODORUS. First, to deliver to you a present from the Queen of
Queens.
CAESAR. Who is that?
APOLLODORUS. Cleopatra of Egypt.
CAESAR (_taking him into his confidence in his most winning manner_).
Apollodorus: this is no time for playing with presents. Pray you, go
back to the Queen, and tell her that if all goes well I shall return
to the palace this evening.
APOLLODORUS. Caesar: I cannot return. As I approached the lighthouse,
some fool threw a great leathern bag into the sea. It broke the nose
of my boat; and I had hardly time to get myself and my charge to the
shore before the poor little cockleshell sank.
CAESAR. I am sorry, Apollodorus. The fool shall be rebuked. Well,
well: what have you brought me? The Queen will be hurt if I do not
look at it.
RUFIO. Have we time to waste on this trumpery? The Queen is only a
child.
CAESAR. Just so: that is why we must not disappoint her. What is the
present, Apollodorus?
APOLLODORUS. Caesar: it is a Persian carpet--a beauty! And in it
are--so I am told--pigeons' eggs and crystal goblets and fragile
precious things. I dare not for my head have it carried up that narrow
ladder from the causeway.
RUFIO. Swing it up by the crane, then. We will send the eggs to the
cook; drink our wine from the goblets; and the carpet will make a bed
for Caesar.
APOLLODORUS. The crane! Caesar: I have sworn to tender this bale of
carpet as I tender my own life.
CAESAR (_cheerfully_). Then let them swing you up at the same time;
and if the chain breaks, you and the pigeons' eggs will perish
together. (_He goes to the chain and looks up along it, examining it
curiously._)
APOLLODORUS (_to Britannus_). Is Caesar serious?
BRITANNUS. His manner is frivolous because he is an Italian; but he
means what he says.
APOLLODORUS. Serious or not, he spake well. Give me a squad of
soldiers to work the crane.
BRITANNUS. Leave the crane to me. Go and await the descent of the
chain.
APOLLODORUS. Good. You will presently see me there (_turning to them
all and pointing with an eloquent gesture to the sky above the
parapet_) rising like the sun with my treasure.
_He goes back the way he came. Britannus goes into the lighthouse._
RUFIO (_ill-humoredly_). Are you really going to wait here for this
foolery, Caesar?
CAESAR (_backing away from the crane as it gives signs of working_).
Why not?
RUFIO. The Egyptians will let you know why not if they have the sense
to make a rush from the shore end of the mole before our barricade is
finished. And here we are waiting like children to see a carpet full
of pigeons' eggs.
_The chain rattles, and is drawn up high enough to clear the parapet.
It then swings round out of sight behind the lighthouse._
CAESAR. Fear not, my son Rufio. When the first Egyptian takes his
first step along the mole, the alarm will sound; and we two will reach
the barricade from our end before the Egyptians reach it from their
end--we two, Rufio: I, the old man, and you, his biggest boy. And the
old man will be there first. So peace; and give me some more dates.
APOLLODORUS (_from the causeway below_). Soho, haul away. So-ho-o-o-o!
(_The chain is drawn up and comes round again from behind the
lighthouse. Apollodorus is swinging in the air with his bale of carpet
at the end of it. He breaks into song as he soars above the parapet._)
Aloft, aloft, behold the blue
That never shone in woman's eyes--
Easy there: stop her. (_He ceases to rise._) Further round! (_The
chain comes forward above the platform._)
RUFIO (_calling up_). Lower away there. (_The chain and its load begin
to descend._)
APOLLODORUS (_calling up_). Gently--slowly--mind the eggs.
RUFIO (_calling up_). Easy there--slowly--slowly.
_Apollodorus and the bale are deposited safely on the flags in the
middle of the platform. Rufio and Caesar help Apollodorus to cast off
the chain from the bale._
RUFIO. Haul up.
_The chain rises clear of their heads with a rattle. Britannus comes
from the lighthouse and helps them to uncord the carpet._
APOLLODORUS (_when the cords are loose_). Stand off, my friends: let
Caesar see. (_He throws the carpet open._)
RUFIO. Nothing but a heap of shawls. Where are the pigeons' eggs?
APOLLODORUS. Approach, Caesar; and search for them among the shawls.
RUFIO (_drawing his sword_). Ha, treachery! Keep back, Caesar: I saw
the shawl move: there is something alive there.
BRITANNUS (_drawing his sword_). It is a serpent.
APOLLODORUS. Dares Caesar thrust his hand into the sack where the
serpent moves?
RUFIO (_turning on him_). Treacherous dog----
CAESAR. Peace. Put up your swords. Apollodorus: your serpent seems to
breathe very regularly. (_He thrusts his hand under the shawls and
draws out a bare arm._) This is a pretty little snake.
RUFIO (_drawing out the other arm_). Let us have the rest of you.
_They pull Cleopatra up by the wrists into a sitting position.
Britannus, scandalized, sheathes his sword with a drive of protest._
CLEOPATRA (_gasping_). Oh, I'm smothered. Oh, Caesar; a man stood on
me in the boat; and a great sack of something fell upon me out of the
sky; and then the boat sank, and then I was swung up into the air and
bumped down.
CAESAR (_petting her as she rises and takes refuge on his breast_).
Well, never mind: here you are safe and sound at last.
RUFIO. Ay; and now that she is here, what are we to do with her?
BRITANNUS. She cannot stay here, Caesar, without the companionship of
some matron.
CLEOPATRA (_jealously, to Caesar, who is obviously perplexed_). Aren't
you glad to see me?
CAESAR. Yes, yes; _I_ am very glad. But Rufio is very angry; and
Britannus is shocked.
CLEOPATRA (_contemptuously_). You can have their heads cut off, can
you not?
CAESAR. They would not be so useful with their heads cut off as they
are now, my sea bird.
RUFIO (_to Cleopatra_). We shall have to go away presently and cut
some of your Egyptians' heads off. How will you like being left here
with the chance of being captured by that little brother of yours if
we are beaten?
CLEOPATRA. But you mustn't leave me alone. Caesar you will not leave
me alone, will you?
RUFIO. What! Not when the trumpet sounds and all our lives depend on
Caesar's being at the barricade before the Egyptians reach it? Eh?
CLEOPATRA. Let them lose their lives: they are only soldiers.
CAESAR (_gravely_). Cleopatra: when that trumpet sounds, we must take
every man his life in his hand, and throw it in the face of Death. And
of my soldiers who have trusted me there is not one whose hand I shall
not hold more sacred than your head. (_Cleopatra is overwhelmed. Her
eyes fill with tears._) Apollodorus: you must take her back to the
palace.
APOLLODORUS. Am I a dolphin, Caesar, to cross the seas with young
ladies on my back? My boat is sunk: all yours are either at the
barricade or have returned to the city. I will hail one if I can: that
is all I can do. (_He goes back to the causeway._)
CLEOPATRA (_struggling with her tears_). It does not matter. I will
not go back. Nobody cares for me.
CAESAR. Cleopatra----
CLEOPATRA. You want me to be killed.
CAESAR (_still more gravely_). My poor child: your life matters little
here to anyone but yourself. (_She gives way altogether at this,
casting herself down on the faggots weeping. Suddenly a great tumult
is heard in the distance, bucinas and trumpets sounding through a
storm of shouting. Britannus rushes to the parapet and looks along the
mole. Caesar and Rufio turn to one another with quick intelligence._)
CAESAR. Come, Rufio.
CLEOPATRA (_scrambling to her knees and clinging to him_). No, no. Do
not leave me, Caesar. (_He snatches his skirt from her clutch._) Oh!
BRITANNUS (_from the parapet_). Caesar: we are cut off. The Egyptians
have landed from the west harbor between us and the barricade!!!
RUFIO (_running to see_). Curses! It is true. We are caught like rats
in a trap.
CAESAR (_ruthfully_). Rufio, Rufio: my men at the barricade are
between the sea party and the shore party. I have murdered them.
RUFIO (_coming back from the parapet to Caesar's right hand_). Ay:
that comes of fooling with this girl here.
APOLLODORUS (_coming up quickly from the causeway_). Look over the
parapet, Caesar.
CAESAR. We have looked, my friend. We must defend ourselves here.
APOLLODORUS. I have thrown the ladder into the sea. They cannot get in
without it.
RUFIO. Ay; and we cannot get out. Have you thought of that?
APOLLODORUS. Not get out! Why not? You have ships in the east harbor.
BRITANNUS (_hopefully, at the parapet_). The Rhodian galleys are
standing in towards us already. (_Caesar quickly joins Britannus at
the parapet._)
RUFIO (_to Apollodorus, impatiently_). And by what road are we to walk
to the galleys, pray?
APOLLODORUS (_with gay, defiant rhetoric_). By the road that leads
everywhere--the diamond path of the sun and moon. Have you never seen
the child's shadow play of The Broken Bridge? "Ducks and geese with
ease get over"--eh? (_He throws away his cloak and cap, and binds his
sword on his back._)
RUFIO. What are you talking about?
APOLLODORUS. I will shew you. (_Calling to Britannus_) How far off is
the nearest galley?
BRITANNUS. Fifty fathom.
CAESAR. No, no: they are further off than they seem in this clear air
to your British eyes. Nearly quarter of a mile, Apollodorus.
APOLLODORUS. Good. Defend yourselves here until I send you a boat from
that galley.
RUFIO. Have you wings, perhaps?
APOLLODORUS. Water wings, soldier. Behold!
_He runs up the steps between Caesar and Britannus to the coping of
the parapet; springs into the air; and plunges head foremost into the
sea._
CAESAR (_like a schoolboy--wildly excited_). Bravo, bravo! (_Throwing
off his cloak_) By Jupiter, I will do that too.
RUFIO (_seizing him_). You are mad. You shall not.
CAESAR. Why not? Can I not swim as well as he?
RUFIO (_frantic_). Can an old fool dive and swim like a young one? He
is twenty-five and you are fifty.
CAESAR (_breaking loose from Rufio_). Old!!!
BRITANNUS (_shocked_). Rufio: you forget yourself.
CAESAR. I will race you to the galley for a week's pay, father Rufio.
CLEOPATRA. But me! me!! me!!! What is to become of _me_?
CAESAR. I will carry you on my back to the galley like a dolphin.
Rufio: when you see me rise to the surface, throw her in: I will
answer for her. And then in with you after her, both of you.
CLEOPATRA. No, no, NO. I shall be drowned.
BRITANNUS. Caesar: I am a man and a Briton, not a fish. I must have a
boat. I cannot swim.
CLEOPATRA. Neither can I.
CAESAR (_to Britannus_). Stay here, then, alone, until I recapture the
lighthouse: I will not forget you. Now, Rufio.
RUFIO. You have made up your mind to this folly?
CAESAR. The Egyptians have made it up for me. What else is there to
do? And mind where you jump: I do not want to get your fourteen stone
in the small of my back as I come up. (_He runs up the steps and
stands on the coping._)
BRITANNUS (_anxiously_). One last word, Caesar. Do not let yourself be
seen in the fashionable part of Alexandria until you have changed your
clothes.
CAESAR (_calling over the sea_). Ho, Apollodorus: (_he points skyward
and quotes the barcarolle_)
The white upon the blue above--
APOLLODORUS (_swimming in the distance_)
Is purple on the green below--
CAESAR (_exultantly_). Aha! (_He plunges into the sea._)
CLEOPATRA (_running excitedly to the steps_). Oh, let me see. He will
be drowned. (_Rufio seizes her._) Ah--ah--ah--ah! (_He pitches her
screaming into the sea. Rufio and Britannus roar with laughter._)
RUFIO (_looking down after her_). He has got her. (_To Britannus_)
Hold the fort, Briton. Caesar will not forget you. (_He springs off._)
BRITANNUS (_running to the steps to watch them as they swim_). All
safe, Rufio?
RUFIO (_swimming_). All safe.
CAESAR (_swimming further of_). Take refuge up there by the beacon;
and pile the fuel on the trap door, Britannus.
BRITANNUS (_calling in reply_). I will first do so, and then commend
myself to my country's gods. (_A sound of cheering from the sea.
Britannus gives full vent to his excitement_) The boat has reached
him: Hip, hip, hip, hurrah!