and　hold　her　while　Ftatateeta　escapes。）
  CAESAR。　You　scratch；　kitten；　do　you？
  CLEOPATRA　（breaking　from　him）。　I　will　beat　somebody。　I　will　beat
  him。　（She　attacks　the　slave。）　There；　there；　there！　（The　slave
  flies　for　his　life　up　the　corridor　and　vanishes。　She　throws　the
  snake…skin　away　and　jumps　on　the　step　of　the　throne　with　her　arms
  waving；　crying）　I　am　a　real　Queen　at　lasta　real；　real　Queen！
  Cleopatra　the　Queen！　（Caesar　shakes　his　head　dubiously；　the
  advantage　of　the　change　seeming　open　to　question　from　the　point
  of　view　of　the　general　welfare　of　Egypt。　She　turns　and　looks　at
  him　exultantly。　Then　she　jumps　down　from　the　step；　runs　to　him；
  and　flings　her　arms　round　him　rapturously；　crying）　Oh；　I　love　you
  for　making　me　a　Queen。
  CAESAR。　But　queens　love　only　kings。
  CLEOPATRA。　I　will　make　all　the　men　I　love　kings。　I　will　make　you
  a　king。　I　will　have　many　young　kings；　with　round；　strong　arms；
  and　when　I　am　tired　of　them　I　will　whip　them　to　death；　but　you
  shall　always　be　my　king：　my　nice；　kind；　wise；　proud　old　king。
  CAESAR。　Oh；　my　wrinkles；　my　wrinkles！　And　my　child's　heart！　You
  will　be　the　most　dangerous　of　all　Caesar's　conguests。
  CLEOPATRA　（appalled）。　Caesar！　I　forgot　Caesar。　（Anxiously）　You
  will　tell　him　that　I　am　a　Queen；　will　you　not？　a　real　Queen。
  Listen！　（stealthily　coaxing　him）　let　us　run　away　and　hide　until
  Caesar　is　gone。
  CAESAR。　If　you　fear　Caesar；　you　are　no　true　Queen；　and　though　you
  were　to　hide　beneath　a　pyramid；　he　would　go　straight　to　it　and
  lift　it　with　one　hand。　And　then！　（He　chops　his　teeth　together。）
  CLEOPATRA　（trembling）。　Oh！
  CAESAR。　Be　afraid　if　you　dare。　（The　note　of　the　bucina
  resounds　again　in　the　distance。　She　moans　with　fear。　Caesar
  exalts　in　it；　exclaiming）　Aha！　Caesar　approaches　the　throne　of
  Cleopatra。　Come：　take　your　place。　（He　takes　her　hand　and　leads
  her　to　the　throne。　She　is　too　downcast　to　speak。）　Ho；　there；
  Teetatota。　How　do　you　call　your　slaves？
  CLEOPATRA　（spiritlessly；　as　she　sinks　on　the　throne　and　cowers
  there；　shaking）。　Clap　your　hands。
  He　claps　his　hands。　Ftatateeta　returns。
  CAESAR。　Bring　the　Queen's　robes；　and　her　crown；　and　her　women；
  and　prepare　her。
  CLEOPATRA　（eagerlyrecovering　herself　a　little）。　Yes；　the　Crown；
  Ftatateeta：　I　shall　wear　the　crown。
  FTATATEETA。　For　whom　must　the　Queen　put　on　her　state？
  CAESAR。　For　a　citizen　of　Rome。　A　king　of　kings；　Totateeta。
  CLEOPATRA　（stamping　at　her）。　How　dare　you　ask　questions？　Go　and
  do　as　you　are　told。　（Ftatateeta　goes　out　with　a　grim　smile。
  Cleopatra　goes　on　eagerly；　to　Caesar）　Caesar　will　know　that　I　am
  a　Queen　when　he　sees　my　crown　and　robes；　will　he　not？
  CAESAR。　No。　How　shall　he　know　that　you　are　not　a　slave　dressed　up
  in　the　Queen's　ornaments？
  CLEOPATRA。　You　must　tell　him。
  CAESAR。　He　will　not　ask　me。　He　will　know　Cleopatra　by　her　pride；
  her　courage；　her　majesty；　and　her　beauty。　（She　looks　very
  doubtful。）　Are　you　trembling？
  CLEOPATRA　（shivering　with　dread）。　No；　II（in　a　very　sickly
  voice）　No。
  Ftatateeta　and　three　women　come　in　with　the　regalia。
  FTATATEETA。　Of　all　the　Queen's　women；　these　three　alone　are　left。
  The　rest　are　fled。　（They　begin　to　deck　Cleopatra；　who　submits；
  pale　and　motionless。）
  CAESAR。　Good；　good。　Three　are　enough。　Poor　Caesar　generally　has
  to　dress　himself。
  FTATATEETA　（contemptuously）。　The　Queen　of　Egypt　is　not　a　Roman
  barbarian。　（To　Cleopatra）　Be　brave；　my　nursling。　Hold　up　your
  head　before　this　stranger。
  CAESAR　（admiring　Cleopatra；　and　placing　the　crown　on　her　head）。
  Is　it　sweet　or　bitter　to　be　a　Queen；　Cleopatra？
  CLEOPATRA。　Bitter。
  CAESAR。　Cast　out　fear；　and　you　will　conquer　Caesar。　Tota：　are
  the　Romans　at　hand？
  FTATATEETA。　They　are　at　hand；　and　the　guard　has　fled。
  THE　WOMEN　（wailing　subduedly）。　Woe　to　us！
  The　Nubian　comes　running　down　the　hall。
  NUBIAN。　The　Romans　are　in　the　courtyard。　（He　bolts　through　the
  door。　With　a　shriek；　the　women　fly　after　him。　Ftatateeta's　jaw
  expresses　savage　resolution：　she　does　not　budge。　Cleopatra　can
  hardly　restrain　herself　from　following　them。　Caesar　grips　her
  wrist；　and　looks　steadfastly　at　her。　She　stands　like　a　martyr。）
  CAESAR。　The　Queen　must　face　Caesar　alone。　Answer　〃So　be　it。〃
  CLEOPATRA　（white）。　So　be　it。
  CAESAR　（releasing　her）。　Good。
  A　tramp　and　tumult　of　armed　men　is　heard。　Cleopatra's　terror
  increases。　The　bucina　sounds　close　at　hand；　followed　by　a
  formidable　clangor　of　trumpets。　This　is　too　much　for　Cleopatra：
  she　utters　a　cry　and　darts　towards　the　door。　Ftatateeta
  stops　her　ruthlessly。
  FTATATEETA。　You　are　my　nursling。　You　have　said　〃So　be　it〃；　and　if
  you　die　for　it；　you　must　make　the　Queen's　word　good。　（She　hands
  Cleopatra　to　Caesar；　who　takes　her　back；　almost　beside　herself
  with　apprehension；　to　the　throne。）
  CAESAR。　Now；　if　you　quail！　（He　seats　himself　on　the　throne。）
  She　stands　on　the　step；　all　but　unconscious；　waiting　for　death。
  The　Roman　soldiers　troop　in　tumultuously　through　the　corridor；
  headed　by　their　ensign　with　his　eagle；　and　their　bucinator；　a
  burly　fellow　with　his　instrument　coiled　round　his　body；　its
  brazen　bell　shaped　like　the　head　of　a　howling　wolf。　When　they
  reach　the　transept；　they　stare　in　amazement　at　the　throne；　dress
  into　ordered　rank　opposite　it；　draw　their　swords　and　lift　them　in
  the　air　with　a　shout　of　HAIL　CAESAR。　Cleopatra　turns　and
  stares　wildly　at　Caesar；　grasps　the　situation；　and；　with　a　great
  sob　of　relief；　falls　into　his　arms。
  ACT　II
  Alexandria。　A　hall　on　the　first　floor　of　the　Palace；　ending　in　a
  loggia　approached　by　two　steps。　Through　the　arches　of　the　loggia
  the　Mediterranean　can　be　seen；　bright　in　the　morning　sun。　The
  clean　lofty　walls；　painted　with　a　procession　of　the　Egyptian
  theocracy；　presented　in　profile　as　flat　ornament；　and　the　absence
  of　mirrors；　sham　perspectives；　stuffy　upholstery　and　textiles；
  make　the　place　handsome；　wholesome；　simple　and　cool；　or；　as　a
  rich　English　manufacturer　would　express　it；　poor；　bare；
  ridiculous　and　unhomely。　For　Tottenham　Court　Road　civilization　is
  to　this　Egyptian　civilization　as　glass　bead　and　tattoo
  civilization　is　to　Tottenham　Court　Road。
  The　young　king　Ptolemy　Dionysus　（aged　ten）　is　at　the　top　of　the
  steps；　on　his　way　in　through　the　loggia；　led　by　his　guardian
  Pothinus；　who　has　him　by　the　hand。　The　court　is　assembled　to
  receive　him。　It　is　made　up　of　men　and　women　（some　of　the　women
  being　officials）　of　various　complexions　and　races；　mostly
  Egyptian；　some　of　them；　comparatively　fair；　from　lower　Egypt；
  some；　much　darker；　from　upper　Egypt；　with　a　few　Greeks　and　Jews。
  Prominent　in　a　group　on　Ptolemy's　right　hand　is　Theodotus；
  Ptolemy's　tutor。　Another　group；　on　Ptolemy's　left；　is　headed　by
  Achillas；　the　general　of　Ptolemy's　troops。　Theodotus　is　a　little
  old　man；　whose　features　are　as　cramped　and　wizened　as　his　limbs；
  except　his　tall　straight　forehead；　which　occupies　more　space　than
  all　the　rest　of　his　face。　He　maintains　an　air　of　magpie　keenness
  and　profundity；　listening　to　what　the　others　say　with　the
  sarcastic　vigilance　of　a　philosopher　listening　to　the　exercises
  of　his　disciples。　Achillas　is　a　tall　handsome　man　of　thirty…five；
  with　a　fine　black　beard　curled　like　the　coat　of　a　poodle。
  Apparently　not　a　clever　man；　but　distinguished　and　dignified。
  Pothinus　is　a　vigorous　man　of　fifty；　a　eunuch；　passionate；
  energetic　and　quick　witted；　but　of　common　mind　and　character；
  impatient　and　unable　to　control　his　temper。　He　has　fine　tawny
  hair；　like　fur。　Ptolemy；　the　King；　looks　much　older　than　an
  English　boy　of　ten；　but　he　has　the　childish　air；　the　habit　of
  being　in　leading　strings；　the　mixture　of　impotence　and　petulance；
  the　appearance　of　being　excessively　washed；　combed　and　dressed　by
  other　hands；　which　is　exhibited　by　court…bred　princes　of　all
  ages。
  All　receive　the　King　with　reverences。　He　comes　down　the　steps　to
  a　chair　of　state　which　stands　a　little　to　his　right；　the　only
  seat　in　the　hall。　Taking　his　place　before　it；　he　looks　nervously
  for　instructions　to　Pothinus；　who　places　himself　at　his　left
  hand。
  POTHINUS。　The　King　of　Egypt　has　a　word　to　speak。
  THEODOTUS　（in　a　squeak　which　he　makes　impressive　by　sheer
  self…opinionativeness）。　Peace　for　the　King's　word！
  PTOLEMY　（without　any　vocal　inflexions：　he　is　evidently　repeating
  a　lesson）。　Take　notice　of　this　all　of　you。　I　am　the　firstborn　son
  of　Auletes　the　Flute　Blower　who　was　your　King。　My　sister　Berenice
  drove　him　from　his　throne　and　reigned　in　his　stead　butbut　（he
  hesitates）
  POTHINUS　（stealthily　prompting）。but　the　gods　would　not　suffer
  PTOLEMY。　Yesthe　gods　would　not　suffernot　suffer　（he　stops；
  then；　crestfallen）　I　forget　what　the　gods　would　not　suffer。
  THEODOTUS。　Let　Pothinus；　the　King's　guardian；　speak　for　the　King。
  POTHINUS　（suppressing　his　impatience　with　difficulty）。　The　King
  wished　to　say　that　the　gods　would　not　suffer　the　impiety　of　his
  sister　to　go　unpunished。
  PTOLEMY　（hastily）。　Yes：　I　remember　the　rest　of　it。　（He　resumes
  his　monotone）。　Therefore　the　gods　sent　a　stranger；　one　Mark
  Antony；　a　Roman　captain　of　horsemen；　across　the　sands　of　the
  desert　and　he　set　my　father　again　upon　the　throne。　And　my　father
  took　Berenice　my　sister　and　struck　her　head　off。　And　now　that　my
  father　is　dead　yet　another　of　his　daughters；　my　si