breastplates。　Every　man　of　them　flung　his　javelin：　the　one　that
  came　my　way　drove　through　my　shield　as　through　a　papyruslo
  there！　（he　points　to　the　bandage　on　his　left　arm）　and　would　have
  gone　through　my　neck　had　I　not　stooped。　They　were　charging　at　the
  double　then；　and　were　upon　us　with　short　swords　almost　as　soon　as
  their　javelins。　When　a　man　is　close　to　you　with　such　a　sword；　you
  can　do　nothing　with　our　weapons：　they　are　all　too　long。
  THE　PERSIAN。　What　did　you　do？
  BEL　AFFRIS。　Doubled　my　fist　and　smote　my　Roman　on　the　sharpness
  of　his　jaw。　He　was　but　mortal　after　all：　he　lay　down　in　a　stupor；
  and　I　took　his　sword　and　laid　it　on。　（Drawing　the　sword）　Lo！　a
  Roman　sword　with　Roman　blood　on　it！
  THE　GUARDSMEN　（approvingly）。　Good！　（They　take　the　sword　and　hand
  it　round；　examining　it　curiously。）
  THE　PERSIAN。　And　your　men？
  BEL　AFFRIS。　Fled。　Scattered　like　sheep。
  BELZANOR　（furiously）。　The　cowardly　slaves！　Leaving　the
  descendants　of　the　gods　to　be　butchered！
  BEL　AFFRIS　（with　acid　coolness）。　The　descendants　of　the　gods　did
  not　stay　to　be　butchered；　cousin。　The　battle　was　not　to　the
  strong；　but　the　race　was　to　the　swift。　The　Romans；　who　have　no
  chariots；　sent　a　cloud　of　horsemen　in　pursuit；　and　slew
  multitudes。　Then　our　high　priest's　captain　rallied　a　dozen
  descendants　of　the　gods　and　exhorted　us　to　die　fighting。　I　said
  to　myself：　surely　it　is　safer　to　stand　than　to　lose　my　breath　and
  be　stabbed　in　the　back；　so　I　joined　our　captain　and　stood。　Then
  the　Romans　treated　us　with　respect；　for　no　man　attacks　a　lion
  when　the　field　is　full　of　sheep；　except　for　the　pride　and　honor
  of　war；　of　which　these　Romans　know　nothing。　So　we　escaped　with
  our　lives；　and　I　am　come　to　warn　you　that　you　must　open　your
  gates　to　Caesar；　for　his　advance　guard　is　scarce　an　hour　behind
  me；　and　not　an　Egyptian　warrior　is　left　standing　between　you　and
  his　legions。
  THE　SENTINEL。　Woe；　alas！　（He　throws　down　his　javelin　and　flies
  into　the　palace。）
  BELZANOR。　Nail　him　to　the　door；　quick！　（The　guardsmen　rush　for
  him　with　their　spears；　but　he　is　too　quick　for　them。）　Now　this
  news　will　run　through　the　palace　like　fire　through　stubble。
  BEL　AFFRIS。　What　shall　we　do　to　save　the　women　from　the　Romans？
  BELZANOR。　Why　not　kill　them？
  PERSIAN。　Because　we　should　have　to　pay　blood　money　for　some　of
  them。　Better　let　the　Romans　kill　them：　it　is　cheaper。
  BELZANOR　（awestruck　at　his　brain　power）。　O　subtle　one！　O
  serpent！
  BEL　AFFRIS。　But　your　Queen？
  BELZANOR。　True：　we　must　carry　off　Cleopatra。
  BEL　AFFRIS。　Will　ye　not　await　her　command？
  BELZANOR。　Command！　A　girl　of　sixteen！　Not　we。　At　Memphis　ye　deem
  her　a　Queen：　here　we　know　better。　I　will　take　her　on　the　crupper
  of　my　horse。　When　we　soldiers　have　carried　her　out　of　Caesar's
  reach；　then　the　priests　and　the　nurses　and　the　rest　of　them　can
  pretend　she　is　a　queen　again；　and　put　their　commands　into　her
  mouth。
  PERSIAN。　Listen　to　me；　Belzanor。
  BELZANOR。　Speak；　O　subtle　beyond　thy　years。
  THE　PERSIAN。　Cleopatra's　brother　Ptolemy　is　at　war　with　her。　Let
  us　sell　her　to　him。
  THE　GUARDSMEN。　O　subtle　one！　O　serpent！
  BELZANOR。　We　dare　not。　We　are　descended　from　the　gods；　but
  Cleopatra　is　descended　from　the　river　Nile；　and　the　lands　of　our
  fathers　will　grow　no　grain　if　the　Nile　rises　not　to　water　them。
  Without　our　father's　gifts　we　should　live　the　lives　of　dogs。
  PERSIAN。　It　is　true：　the　Queen's　guard　cannot　live　on　its　pay。
  But　hear　me　further；　O　ye　kinsmen　of　Osiris。
  THE　GUARDSMEN。　Speak；　O　subtle　one。　Hear　the　serpent　begotten！
  PERSIAN。　Have　I　heretofore　spoken　truly　to　you　of　Caesar；　when
  you　thought　I　mocked　you？
  GUARDSMEN。　Truly；　truly。
  BELZANOR　（reluctantly　admitting　it）。　So　Bel　Affris　says。
  PERSIAN。　Hear　more　of　him；　then。　This　Caesar　is　a　great　lover　of
  women：　he　makes　them　his　friends　and　counselors。
  BELZANOR。　Faugh！　This　rule　of　women　will　be　the　ruin　of　Egypt。
  THE　PERSIAN。　Let　it　rather　be　the　ruin　of　Rome！　Caesar　grows　old
  now：　he　is　past　fifty　and　full　of　labors　and　battles。　He　is　too
  old　for　the　young　women；　and　the　old　women　are　too　wise　to
  worship　him。
  BEL　AFFRIS。　Take　heed；　Persian。　Caesar　is　by　this　time　almost
  within　earshot。
  PERSIAN。　Cleopatra　is　not　yet　a　woman：　neither　is　she　wise。　But
  she　already　troubles　men's　wisdom。
  BELZANOR。　Ay：　that　is　because　she　is　descended　from　the　river
  Nile　and　a　black　kitten　of　the　sacred　White　Cat。　What　then？
  PERSIAN。　Why；　sell　her　secretly　to　Ptolemy；　and　then　offer
  ourselves　to　Caesar　as　volunteers　to　fight　for　the　overthrow　of
  her　brother　and　the　rescue　of　our　Queen；　the　Great　Granddaughter
  of　the　Nile。
  THE　GUARDSMEN。　O　serpent！
  PERSIAN。　He　will　listen　to　us　if　we　come　with　her　picture　in　our
  mouths。　He　will　conquer　and　kill　her　brother；　and　reign　in　Egypt
  with　Cleopatra　for　his　Queen。　And　we　shall　be　her　guard。
  GUARDSMEN。　O　subtlest　of　all　the　serpents！　O　admiration！　O
  wisdom！
  BEL　AFFRIS。　He　will　also　have　arrived　before　you　have　done
  talking；　O　word　spinner。
  BELZANOR。　That　is　true。　（An　affrighted　uproar　in　the　palace
  interrupts　him。）　Quick：　the　flight　has　begun：　guard　the　door。
  （They　rush　to　the　door　and　form　a　cordon　before　it　with　their
  spears。　A　mob　of　women…servants　and　nurses　surges　out。　Those　in
  front　recoil　from　the　spears；　screaming　to　those　behind　to　keep
  back。　Belzanor's　voice　dominates　the　disturbance　as　he　shouts）
  Back　there。　In　again；　unprofitable　cattle。
  THE　GUARDSMEN。　Back；　unprofitable　cattle。
  BELZANOR。　Send　us　out　Ftatateeta；　the　Queen's　chief　nurse。
  THE　WOMEN　（calling　into　the　palace）。　Ftatateeta；　Ftatateeta。
  Come；　come。　Speak　to　Belzanor。
  A　WOMAN。　Oh；　keep　back。　You　are　thrusting　me　on　the　spearheads。
  A　huge　grim　woman；　her　face　covered　with　a　network　of　tiny
  wrinkles；　and　her　eyes　old；　large；　and　wise；　sinewy　handed；　very
  tall；　very　strong；　with　the　mouth　of　a　bloodhound　and　the　jaws　of
  a　bulldog；　appears　on　the　threshold。　She　is　dressed　like　a　person
  of　consequence　in　the　palace；　and　confronts　the　guardsmen
  insolently。
  FTATATEETA。　Make　way　for　the　Queen's　chief　nurse。
  BELZANOR。　（with　solemn　arrogance）。　Ftatateeta：　I　am　Belzanor；　the
  captain　of　the　Queen's　guard；　descended　from　the　gods。
  FTATATEETA。　（retorting　his　arrogance　with　interest）。　Belzanor：　I
  am　Ftatateeta；　the　Queen's　chief　nurse；　and　your　divine　ancestors
  were　proud　to　be　painted　on　the　wall　in　the　pyramids　of　the　kings
  whom　my　fathers　served。
  The　women　laugh　triumphantly。
  BELZANOR　（with　grim　humor）　Ftatateeta：　daughter　of　a
  long…tongued；　swivel…eyed　chameleon；　the　Romans　are　at　hand。　（A
  cry　of　terror　from　the　women：　they　would　fly　but　for　the　spears。）
  Not　even　the　descendants　of　the　gods　can　resist　them；　for　they
  have　each　man　seven　arms；　each　carrying　seven　spears。　The　blood
  in　their　veins　is　boiling　quicksilver；　and　their　wives　become
  mothers　in　three　hours；　and　are　slain　and　eaten　the　next　day。
  A　shudder　of　horror　from　the　women。　Ftatateeta；　despising　them
  and　scorning　the　soldiers；　pushes　her　way　through　the　crowd　and
  confronts　the　spear　points　undismayed。
  FTATATEETA。　Then　fly　and　save　yourselves；　O　cowardly　sons　of　the
  cheap　clay　gods　that　are　sold　to　fish　porters；　and　leave　us　to
  shift　for　ourselves。
  BELZANOR。　Not　until　you　have　first　done　our　bidding；　O　terror　of
  manhood。　Bring　out　Cleopatra　the　Queen　to　us　and　then　go　whither
  you　will。
  FTATATEETA　（with　a　derisive　laugh）。　Now　I　know　why　the　gods　have
  taken　her　out　of　our　hands。　（The　guardsmen　start　and　look　at　one
  another）。　Know；　thou　foolish　soldier；　that　the　Queen　has　been
  missing　since　an　hour　past　sun　down。
  BELZANOR　（furiously）。　Hag：　you　have　hidden　her　to　sell　to　Caesar
  or　her　brother。　（He　grasps　her　by　the　left　wrist；　and　drags　her；
  helped　by　a　few　of　the　guard；　to　the　middle　of　the　courtyard；
  where；　as　they　fling　her　on　her　knees；　he　draws　a　murderous
  looking　knife。）　Where　is　she？　Where　is　she？　or　（He　threatens　to
  cut　her　throat。）
  FTATATEETA　（savagely）。　Touch　me；　dog；　and　the　Nile　will　not　rise
  on　your　fields　for　seven　times　seven　years　of　famine。
  BELZANOR　（frightened；　but　desperate）。　I　will　sacrifice：　I　will
  pay。　Or　stay。　（To　the　Persian）　You；　O　subtle　one：　your　father's
  lands　lie　far　from　the　Nile。　Slay　her。
  PERSIAN　（threatening　her　with　his　knife）。　Persia　has　but　one　god；
  yet　he　loves　the　blood　of　old　women。　Where　is　Cleopatra？
  FTATATEETA。　Persian：　as　Osiris　lives；　I　do　not　know。　I　chide　her
  for　bringing　evil　days　upon　us　by　talking　to　the　sacred　cats　of
  the　priests；　and　carrying　them　in　her　arms。　I　told　her　she　would
  be　left　alone　here　when　the　Romans　came　as　a　punishment　for　her
  disobedience。　And　now　she　is　gonerun　awayhidden。　I　speak　the
  truth。　I　call　Osiris　to　witness。
  THE　WOMEN　（protesting　officiously）。　She　speaks　the　truth；
  Belzanor。
  BELZANOR。　You　have　frightened　the　child：　she　is　hiding。　Search
  quickinto　the　palacesearch　every　corner。
  The　guards；　led　by　Belzanor；　shoulder　their　way　into　the　palace
  through　the　flying　crowd　of　women；　who　escape　through　the
  courtyard　gate。
  FTATATEETA　（screaming）。　Sacrilege！　Men　in　the　Queen's　chambers！
  Sa　（Her　voice　dies　away　as　the　Persian　puts　his　knife　to　her
  throat。）
  BEL　AFFRIS　（laying　a　hand　on　Ftatateeta's　left　shoulder）。　Forbear
  her