Original subtitles

By Apis, Persian, thy gods are good to thee.

Try yet again, O captain.

Double or quits!

No more. I am not in the vein.

Captain, a stranger approaches.

Stand. Who goes there? The bearer of evil tidings.

Pass him in.

Who art thou that laughest in the House of Cleopatra the Queen,

and in the teeth of Belzanor, the captain of her guard?

I am Bel Affris, descended from the gods.

Hail, cousin!

Hail, cousin!

All the Queen's guards are descended from the gods, save myself.

I am a Persian,

descended from many kings.

Hail, cousins!

Hail, mortal!

You have been in battle, Bel Affris; and you are a soldier among soldiers.

You will not let the Queen's women have the first of your tidings.

I have no tidings,

except that we shall have our throats cut presently,

women, soldiers, and all.

I thought so.

Tell us what we fell.

Yes, tell us, tell us.

Know then that I serve in a guard in the temple of Ra, here in Memphis.

We went to Alexandria to inquire of king Ptolemy,

how we egyptians do with a Roman Pompey newly come to our shores

after his defeat by Caesar at Pharsalia.

Caesar defeated Pompey?

Thus Roman fight Roman?

Even as egyptian fights egyptian.

What did you learn from the Queen's brother Ptolemy, a pretender?

We learned that Caesar is coming also in hot pursuit of his foe, and that Ptolemy has slain Pompey.

Nay, more: we found that Caesar is already come;

for we had not made half a day's journey on our way back

when we came upon a city rabble flying from his legions.

And ye, the temple guard! Did you not withstand these legions?

What man could, that we did.

But this Caesar throws his legions where we are weakest

as he throws a stone from a catapult.

And this legion is a man with one head and thousand arms

And no religion, I have fought against him, I know.

Were you frightened, cousin?

No cousin, but I was beaten.

Could you not die?

There was no time

All was over in a moment.

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.

Woe, alas!

Nail him to the door, quick!

Now this news will run through the palace like fire through stubble.

What shall we do to save the women from the Romans?

Why not kill them?

Because we should have to pay blood money.

Better let the Romans kill them:

it is cheaper.

O subtle one! O serpent!

But your Queen? True:

we must carry off Cleopatra.

I will take her on the crupper of my horse.

Fly, fly!

What's an uproar?

The sacred white cat has been stolen!

Hail, Sphinx:

salutation from Julius Caesar!

I have wandered in many lands, seeking the lost regions

from which my birth into this world exiled me,

and the company of creatures such as I myself.

I have found flocks and pastures, men and cities,

but no other Caesar, no air native to me,

no man kindred to me, none

who can do my day's deed, and think my night's thought.

In the little world yonder, Sphinx, my place is as high

as yours in this great desert;

only I wander, and you sit still; I conquer,

and you endure; I work and wonder, you watch and wait;

Sphinx,

you and I, strangers to the race of men, are no strangers to one another:

have I not been conscious of you and of this place since I was born?

Rome is a madman's dream:

this is my Reality.

My way hither was the way of destiny;

for I am he of whose genius you are the symbol:

part brute, part woman, and part God--

nothing of man in me at all.

Have I read your riddle, Sphinx?

Old gentleman.

Immortal gods!

Old gentleman: don't run away.

Old gentleman:

don't run away!!!

This! To Julius Caesar!

Old gentleman.

Sphinx: you presume on your centuries.

I am younger than you, though your voice is but a girl's voice as yet.

Climb up here, quickly; or the Romans will come and eat you.

A child at its breast! A divine child!

Come up quickly. You must get up at its side and creep round.

Who are you?

Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt.

Queen of the Gypsies, you mean.

You must not be disrespectful to me,

or the Sphinx will let the Romans eat you.

Come up. It is quite cosy here.

What a dream!

What a magnificent dream!

Only let me not wake,

Take care.

That's right. Now sit down:

you may have its other paw.

It is very powerful and will protect us;

but it would not take any notice of me or keep me company.

I am glad you have come: I was very lonely.

Did you happen to see a white cat anywhere?

Have you lost one?

Yes: the sacred white cat: is it not dreadful?

I brought him here to sacrifice him to the Sphinx;

but when we got a little way from the city a black cat called him,

and he jumped out of my arms and ran away to it.

Do you think that the black cat can have been my great-great-great-grandmother?

Your great-great-great-grandmother!

Well, why not?

Nothing would surprise me on this night of nights.

I think it must have been. My great-grandmother's great-grandmother

was a black kitten of the sacred white cat;

and my blood is made with Nile water.

That is why my hair is so wavy.

What are you doing here at this time of night?

Do you live here? Of course not:

I am the Queen; and I shall live in the palace at Alexandria

when I have killed my brother, who drove me out of it.

When I am old enough I shall do just what I like.

I shall be able to poison the slaves and see them wriggle, and pretend to Ftatateeta,

my nurse, that she is going to be put into the fiery furnace.

Hm! Meanwhile why are you not at home and in bed?

Because the Romans are coming to eat us all.

YOU are not at home and in bed either.

Yes I am.

I live in a tent; and I am now in that tent, fast asleep and dreaming.

Do you suppose that I believe

you are real, you impossible little dream witch?

You are a funny old gentleman. I like you.

Ah, that spoils the dream.

Why don't you dream that I am young?

I wish you were;

only I think I should be more afraid of you.

I like men, especially young men with round strong arms;

but I am afraid of them.

You are old and rather wrinkly;

but you have a nice voice; and I like to have somebody to talk to,

though I think you are a little mad.

It is the moon that makes you talk to yourself in that silly way.

What! you heard that, did you?

I was saying my prayers to the great Sphinx.

But this isn't the great Sphinx. What!

This is only a dear little kitten of the Sphinx.

Why, the great Sphinx is so big that it has a temple between its paws.

This is my pet Sphinx.

Tell me: do you think the Romans have any sorcerers

who could take us away from the Sphinx by magic?

Why? Are you afraid of the Romans?

Oh, they would eat us if they caught us.

They are barbarians.

Their chief is called Julius Caesar.

His father was a tiger and his mother a burning mountain; and his nose is like an elephant's trunk.

They all have long noses, and ivory tusks,

and little tails, and seven arms with a hundred arrows in each;

and they live on

human flesh.

Would you like me to show you a real Roman?

No. You are frightening me.

No matter: this is only a dream--

It is not a dream: it is not a dream. See, see.

How dare you?

You said you were dreaming.

I only wanted to show you--

Come, come: don't cry.

A queen mustn't cry.

Cleopatra: can you see my face well?

Yes.

It is so white in the moonlight.

Are you sure it is the moonlight that makes me look whiter than an Egyptian?

Do you notice that I have a rather long nose?

It is a Roman nose, Cleopatra.

Bite him in two, Sphinx: bite him in two.

I meant to sacrifice the white ca--I did indeed--I--Ah!

Cleopatra: shall I show you a way to prevent Caesar from eating you?

Oh do, do, do.

I will steal a crown jewel and give them to you.

I will make the river Nile water your lands twice a year.

My child. Your gods are afraid of the Romans:

you see the Sphinx dare not bite me,

nor prevent me carrying you off to Julius Caesar.

You won't, you won't. You said you wouldn't.

Caesar never eats women. But he eats girls and cats.

Now you are a silly little girl;

and you are descended from the black kitten. You are both a girl and a cat.

And will he eat me? Yes;

unless you make him believe that you are a woman.

Oh, you must get a sorcerer to make a woman of me.

Are you a sorcerer? Perhaps.

But it will take a long time;

and this very night you in the palace of your fathers.

you must stand face to face with Caesar

No, no. I daren't.

Whatever dread may be in your soul--

however terrible Caesar may be to you--

you must confront him as a brave woman and a great queen;

and you must feel no fear.

If your hand shakes: if your voice quavers;

then--night and death!

But if he thinks you worthy to rule,

he will set you on the throne by his side

and make you the real ruler of Egypt.

No: he will find me out: he will find me out.

He is easily deceived by women.

Their eyes dazzle him;

Then we will cheat him.

If you do that he will eat you at one mouthful.

I will do whatever you tell me. I will be good!

I will be your slave.

Hark! What was that?

Caesar's voice.

Let us run away. Come. Oh, come.

You are safe with me

until you stand on your throne to receive Caesar.

Lead me to your palace in the desert.

I will, I will. Oh, come, come, come:

the gods are angry. Do you feel the earth shaking?

It is the tread of Caesar's legions.

This way, quickly. And let us look for the white cat as we go.

It is he that has turned you into a Roman.

Incorrigible, oh,

incorrigible!

Come, come.

Ftatateeta!

What place is this?

This is where I sit on the throne when I am allowed to wear my crown and robes.

Ftatateeta!

Order the slave to light the lamps.

Do you think I may? Of course.

You are the Queen. Go on.

Light all the lamps.

Stop.

Who is this you have with you;

and how dare you order the lamps to be lighted

without my permission?

Who is she? Ftatateeta.

Chief nurse to--

I speak to the Queen. Be silent.

Is this how your servants know their places?

Send her away;

and you do as the Queen has bidden.

You are the Queen: send her away.

Ftatateeta, dear: you must go away--just for a little.

You are not commanding her to go away: you are begging her.

You are no Queen. You will be eaten. Farewell.

No, no, no. Don't leave me.

A Roman does not stay with queens who are afraid of their slaves.

I am not afraid. Indeed I am not afraid.

We shall see who is afraid here.

Cleopatra--

On your knees, woman:

am I also a child that you dare trifle with me?

Slave.

Can you cut off a head?

Yes.

Have you remembered yourself, mistress?

O Queen, forget not thy servant in the days of thy greatness.

Go.

Begone.

Go away.

Give me something to beat her with.

You scratch, kitten, do you?

I will beat somebody.

I will beat him.

There,

there, there!

I am a Queen at last--

a real, real Queen!

Cleopatra the Queen!

Oh, I love you for making me a Queen.

But queens love only kings.

I will make all the men I love kings.

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 will always be my king: my nice, kind,

wise, good old king.

Oh, my wrinkles! You will be the most dangerous of all Caesar's conguests.

Caesar!

I forgot Caesar.

You will tell him that I am a Queen, will you not? a real Queen.

Listen! let us run away and hide until Caesar is gone.

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--!

Be afraid if you dare.

Caesar approaches the palace of Cleopatra.

Come: take your place.

Ho, there, Teetatota.

How do you call your slaves?

Clap your hands.

Totateeta, bring the Queen's robes, and her crown,

and her women; and prepare her.

Yes, the Crown, Ftatateeta: I shall wear the crown.

For whom must the Queen put on her state?

For a citizen of Rome. A king of kings.

How dare you ask questions?

Go and do as you are told.

Of all the Queen's women, these two alone are left. The rest are fled.

Two is enough.

Poor Caesar generally has to dress himself.

The Queen of Egypt is not a Roman barbarian.

Be brave, my nursling. Hold up your head before this stranger.

Are you trembling?

No, I--

I.

You must tell Caesar that I am a queen.

He will not ask me.

He will know Cleopatra by her pride,

her courage, her majesty, and her beauty.

Is it sweet or bitter to be a Queen, Cleopatra?

Bitter.

Cast out fear; and you will conquer Caesar.

Stop! Sentinels.

Fly, fly, fly. The Romans are in the courtyard.

The Romans are in the courtyard.

(Women are shrieking.)

The Queen must face Caesar alone.

Answer "So be it."

So be it. Good.

A-a-a!

You are my nursling.

You have said "So be it";

and if you die for it, you must make the Queen's word good.

Forward! Now...

Now, if you quail--!

Hail Caesar!

Hail Caesar!

Aah!

Ripe figs!

Fresh mackerel! Fresh mackerel!

The Roman, the Roman,

They coming! They coming!

Why did you run away?

My children!

The Romans will not eat you.

They are as civilized as you.

Stop!

Attention!

We waiting for a second in command-Rufio.

This city is Alexandria.

Remember that-Alexandria: the capital of Egypt.

You got to behave yourselfs here.

Be stippish with the men but you may fascinize with the women.

Silence!

Silence, I tell you!

That is Rufio.

Attention!

A turn left!

Centurion! Sir!

See that building. That's the royal palace.

Caesar in there, I am going now to join him.

Keep a patrol of picked men, when we call, they may be wanted.

Picked men, you understand. Yes sir.

Who are these Romans?

Peasants, drop of the scarecrow, sons of smiths, millers and tanners.

Are not we all nobles consecrated to arms, descended from gods?

Gods are not always good to their poor relations

O subtle one! O serpent!

Sixteen, eighteen, twenty four ...

Let us wait and take sides with a winner.

Ptolemy. Cleopatra.

Cleopatra or ... Ptolemy.

The King of Egypt has a word to speak.

Peace for the King's word!

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

but--

but--

the gods would not suffer--

Yes--the gods would not suffer--

Gods--

I forget what the gods would not suffer.

The King wished to say that the gods would not suffer

the impiety of his sister to go unpunished.

Yes, yes: I remember the rest of it.

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.

Now...

And now that my father is dead, my sister Cleopatra,

would snatch the kingdom from me and reign in my place.

But the gods would not suffer

will not maintain

Oh yes--will not maintain such iniquity,

But with the help of the witch Ftatateeta

she hath cast a spell on the Roman Julius Caesar

to uphold her false pretence to rule Egypt.

Take notice then that I will not suffer--

What is it that I will not suffer now?

The King will not suffer a foreigner to take from him the throne of our Egypt.

Tell the King, Achillas, how many soldiers

and horsemen follow Julius Caesar?

But two Roman legions, O King.

Three thousand soldiers and scarce a thousand horsemen.

Peace, ho!

Caesar approaches.

The King permits the Roman commander to enter!

Which is the King?

The man or the boy?

I am Pothinus, the guardian of my lord the King.

So you are the King.

Dull work at your age, eh?

your servant, Pothinus.

And this gentleman?

Achillas, the King's general.

A general, eh?

I am a general myself. But I began too old.

Health and many victories, Achillas!

As the gods will, Caesar.

And you, sir, are--?

Theodotus, the King's tutor.

So, you teach men how to be kings, Theodotus.

That is very clever of you.

And this place?

The council chamber of the chancellors of the King's treasury, Caesar.

Ah! That reminds me. I want some money.

The King's treasury is poor, Caesar.

Yes: I notice that there is but one chair in it.

Bring a chair there, some of you, for Caesar.

Caesar--

No, no, my boy: that is your chair of state.

Sit down.

Sit down!

A chair for Caesar!

Sacrilege!

Sit on that, Caesar.

Ah, I forgot. I have not made my companions known here. Pothinus:

This gentleman is Rufio, my comrade in arms.

this is Britannus, my secretary.

How do you do.

He is an islander from the western end of the world

Caesar, the tax returns. A surplus as you predicted.

Now, Pothinus, to business.

I want 16000 talents.

16000?

Impossible.

There is not so much money in the King's treasury.

The Royal taxes have not been collected for a whole year.

O, yes they have, Pothinus.

My officers have been collecting them all morning.

Is it possible that Caesar, the conqueror of the world,

has time to occupy himself with such a trifle as our taxes?

My friend: taxes are the chief business of a conqueror of the world.

You must pay, Pothinus.

But in return for your bounty, I will settle this dispute about the throne for you,

if you will.

You say the matter has been at issue for a year.

May I have ten minutes at it?

You will do as you please, doubtless.

Good! But first, let us have Cleopatra here.

Cleopatra? She is not in Alexandria.

I think she is. Call Totateeta.

Ho there,

Teetatota.

Who pronounces the name of Ftatateeta, the Queen's chief nurse?

Nobody can pronounce it, Tota, except yourself.

Where is your mistress?

Will the Queen favor us with her presence for a moment?

Am I to behave like a Queen?

Yes.

You may go Ftatateeta.

Caesar: this is how she treats me always.

If I am a King why is she allowed to take everything from me?

You are not to be King, you little cry-baby.

You are to be eaten by the Romans.

Come here, my boy, and stand by me.

Take your throne: I don't want it.

Go this instant and sit down in your place.

Go, Ptolemy.

Always take a throne when it is offered to you.

Now, Pothinus--

Are you not going to speak to me?

Be quiet.

Open your mouth again before I give you leave; and you shall be eaten.

I am not afraid.

A queen must not be afraid.

Eat my husband there, if you like: he is afraid.

Your husband! What do you mean?

That little thing.

Husband!

Caesar: you are a stranger here, and do not know our laws.

The kings and queens of Egypt may not marry

except with their own royal blood.

Ptolemy and Cleopatra are born king and consort

just as they are born brother and sister.

Caesar: this is not proper.

Not proper?

I say it is a scandal.

Scandal or not, my friend, it opens the gate of peace.

Hear what I propose.

Hear Caesar there.

Ptolemy and Cleopatra shall reign jointly in Egypt.

Peace with honor, Pothinus.

What conceit!

Roman trick!

We will not have it!

Caesar: be honest.

The money you demand is the price of our freedom.

Take it; and leave us to settle our own affairs.

Yes, return to your own country.

Egypt belongs to us, not to you.

Egypt for the Egyptians!

Egypt for the Egyptians!

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?

And now under my command

I am the Roman general here, Caesar.

And also the Egyptian general, eh?

That is so, Caesar.

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?

That is so, Caesar.

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

On the side of the right

and of the gods.

Hm! How many men have you?

That will appear when I take the field.

Are your men Romans?

If not, it matters not how many there are.

Insolence!

It is useless to try to bluff us, Rufio.

Caesar has been defeated before and he may be defeated again.

What can you do with 4,000 men?

And without money?

Away with you.

Go back to your den.

Caesar, why do you let them talk to you like that ?

Are you afraid?

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

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

I shall not go away until you are Queen.

(murmur)

Achillas: if you are not a fool,

you will take that girl whilst she is under your hand.

Why not take Caesar as well, Achillas?

Well said, Rufio. Why not?

Try, Achillas, try.

Yes, Caesar too.

Guard there.

(Shouting)

Peace, egyptians.

You are Caesar's prisoners, all of you.

Oh no, no, no. By no means.

Caesar's guests, gentlemen, Caesar's guests.

Won't you cut their heads off?

Cut off your brother's head?

Why not?

He would cut off mine, if he got the chance.

Wouldn't you, Ptolemy?

I would. I will, too, when I grow up.

Caesar: if you attempt to detain us--

He will succeed, Egyptian: make up your mind to that.

The road to Rome is open; and you shall travel it if Caesar chooses.

I could do no less, Pothinus, to secure the retreat of my own soldiers.

I am accountable for every life among them.

I am the King's guardian.

I stand on my right here.

Where is your right?

It is in the Rufio's scabbard, my friend.

I may not be able keeping it there much longer.

And this is Roman justice?

But not Roman gratitude, I hope.

Is Caesar's life of so little account to him

that he forgets we have saved it.

My life, is that all?

Your life, your laurels, your future.

I can call a witness to prove

that but for us

Roman army of occupation, led by Pompey, the greatest soldier in the world

would now have Caesar at its mercy.

Ho, there, Lucius Septimius come forth and testify before Caesar.

No, no.

Yes, I say.

Let the military tribune bear witness.

Lucius Septimius!

Bear witness, Lucius Septimius!

Caesar came to Egypt in pursuit of his foe.

Did we shelter his foe?

As Pompey's foot touched the Egyptian shore,

his head fell by the stroke of my sword.

We have given you a full and sweet measure of vengeance.

Vengeance!

Oh, if I could stoop to vengeance,

what would I not exact from you as the price of this murdered man's blood.

Was he not my son-in-law, my ancient friend,

Am I Julius Caesar, or am I a wild beast,

that you fling to me the grey head of the old soldier,

the laurelled conqueror, and then claim my gratitude for it!

Begone: you fill me with horror.

Pshaw! You have seen severed heads before, Caesar,

and severed right hands too, I think;

some thousands of them, after you vanquished the king of the Gauls.

Did you spare him, with all your clemency?

Was that vengeance?

Would that it had been!

Vengeance at least is human.

No, by the gods,

those severed right hands, and the brave king of Gauls basely strangled

in a vault beneath the Capitol, were a wise severity,

a necessary protection to the commonwealth,

a duty of statesmanship--

follies and fictions ten times bloodier than honest vengeance!

What a fool was I then!

To think that men's lives should be at the mercy of such fools!

Lucius Septimius, pardon me:

why should the slayer of the king of the Gauls rebuke the slayer of Pompey?

You are free to go. All here in this palace.

Free?

Achillas army, renegades and all?

Free, Rufio.

Lucius Septimius, You are free to go with the rest. Or stay if you will:

I will find a place for you in my service.

The odds are against you, Caesar.

I go.

Farewell.

Come, Pothinus, Achillas, whilst there is yet time.

Do you suppose he would let us go if he had our heads in his hands?

Caesar: this is not good sense.

Your duty to Rome demands that her enemies should be prevented from doing further mischief.

It is no use talking to him, Britannus: you may save your breath to cool your porridge.

But mark this, Caesar. Clemency is very well for you;

but what is it for your soldiers, who have to fight tomorrow the men

you spared yesterday?

You may give what orders you please; but I, for one, will take no prisoners.

I will kill my enemies in the field;

I shall never have to fight them again.

And now, with your leave, I will see these gentry off the premises.

What!

Have they left the boy alone!

Oh shame, shame!

Come, your majesty!

Is he...

Is he turning me out of my palace?

You are welcome to stay if you wish.

Go, my boy. I will not harm you; but you will be safer away, among your friends.

Here you are in the lion's mouth.

It is not the lion I fear, but the jackal.

Brave boy!

Little silly. You think that very clever.

Britannus: Attend the King.

Give him in charge to that Pothinus fellow.

And this piece of goods?

What is to be done with HER?

However, I suppose I may leave that to you.

Did you mean me to go with the rest?

You are free to do just as you please, Cleopatra.

Then you do not care whether I stay or not?

Of course I had rather you stayed.

Much, MUCH rather?

Much,

much rather.

Then I consent to stay, because I am asked.

But I do not want to, mind.

That is quite understood.

Totateeta.

Her name is not Totateeta: it is Ftatateeta.

Ftatateeta will forgive the erring tongue of a Roman.

Tota: the Queen will hold her state here in Alexandria.

Engage women to attend upon her; and do all that is needful.

Am I then the mistress of the Queen's household?

No:

I am the mistress of the Queen's household.

Go and do as you are told,

or I will have you thrown into the Nile this very afternoon,

to poison the poor crocodiles.

Oh no, no, no.

Oh yes, yes, yes.

You are very sentimental, Caesar;

but you are clever; and if you do as

as I tell you, you will soon learn how to govern.

Pothinus!

Achillas!

Lucius Septimius!

Egypt for egyptians!

Your barley water, Caesar.

Ftatateeta!

Ftatateeta!

Get up, child, you must be bathed this morning.

No!

I had my month bath a day before yesterday.

In future you must have a bath every day.

No, no, I should die.

You must!

Your life is changed.

You are still my child,

but for all others you are grown woman and a queen.

Yes, I am a queen.

Ftata, what will Caesar do with me?

Ask rather what you will do with him.

My child, you have charmed him.

You are safe, you are powerful.

I will guide you until you learn how to guide yourself.

Fear nothing.

Who can fear Caesar?

He is not great and terrible, he is a near elderly gentleman

rather sad looking and wrinkled but very kind.

He is a magician, and magicians can change their shapes, as they please.

Everything about him is magical.

He would not sleep in a golden chamber,

permitted soldiers bring a bare stretcher from the cabin, put it in his study.

Even then he did not sleep in it

and sat up working like a slave all night.

Everyone obeys him as if he were a god

I think he is a god in disguise, for he's changed your nature, as not.

Yes he has, this is truth.

Ftatatita, before he came I was afraid of you more than anybody else on earth.

And now I am not afraid of you at all.

Tell me what what I must begin with now that I am really a queen.

You must begin by having a bath, every day.

Come child, get it over, you will soon get used to it and love.

Never. It is too dreadful.

If I must to wash again, Ftatateeta let it be a scented bath.

Have you scented it?

No, Caesar hates perfumes.

And if you redden your lips he will not kiss you.

Come on.

He must indeed be a god.

Only a god could be so not like a man.

No!

Cleopatra, I really think I must eat you, after all.

You must not talk to me now as if I were a child.

You have been growing up since the Sphinx introduced us that night;

and you think you know more than I do already.

No: that would be very silly of me: of course I know that. But,

are you angry with me?

No.

Then why are you so thoughtful?

I have work to do.

Work! What a nonsense!

You must remember that you are a King now:

I have made you one.

Kings don't work.

Oh! Who told you that, little kitten? Eh?

My father was King of Egypt; and he never worked.

But he lost his throne.

how did he get his throne back again?

I will tell you.

A beautiful young man, with strong round arms,

came over the desert with many horsemen, and gave my father back his throne.

I was only twelve then. Oh, I wish

he would come again, now that I am a Queen.

I would make him my husband.

It might be managed, perhaps; for it was I who sent

that beautiful young man to help your father.

You know him! Has he come with you?

Oh, I wish he had,

I wish he had.

He is many, MANY years younger than you, is he not?

Yes, he is somewhat younger.

Would he be my husband, do you think, if I asked him?

Very likely.

But I should not like to ask him.

Could you...

Could you not persuade him to ask me-- without knowing

that I wanted him to?

My poor child!

Why do you say that as if you were sorry for me?

Does he love anyone else? I am afraid so.

Then I shall not be his first love.

Not quite the first.

He is greatly admired by women.

I wish I could be the first.

But if he loves me, I will make him kill all the rest.

Tell me: is he still beautiful?

Do his strong round arms shine in the sun like marble?

He is in excellent condition-- considering how much he eats and drinks.

Oh, you must not say common, earthly things about him;

for I love him.

He is a god.

What is his name?

His name is Mark Antony.

Mark Antony,

Mark Antony,

Mark Antony!

What a beautiful name!

Oh, how I love you for sending him to help my father!

You must run away for a little and send my secretary to me.

No, no, no: I want to stay and hear you talk about Mark Antony.

But if I do not get to work,

Pothinus and the rest of them will cut us off from the harbor; and then the way from Rome will be blocked.

No matter: I don't want you to go back to Rome.

But you want Mark Antony to come from it.

Oh yes, yes, yes: I forgot.

Go quickly, Caesar;

and keep the way over the sea open for my Mark Antony.

What now?

This, Caesar; and two of my comrades killed in the market place.

Ay. Why?

There is an army come to Alexandria, calling itself the Roman army.

The Roman army of occupation. Ay?

Commanded by one Achillas.

Well?

The citizens rose against us when the army entered the gates. They set upon us.

I cut my way out.

Good. I am glad to see you alive. Rufio,

we are besieged. What! Already?

Caesar, Caesar! Yes, yes: I know.

Comrade: give the word to turn out on the beach and stand by the boats. Get your wound attended to.

Britannus, go with him.

Rufio:

we have some ships in the west harbor. Burn them.

Burn them!!

Take every boat we have in the east harbor, and seize the Pharos--that island with the lighthouse.

Leave half our men behind to hold the beach and the quay outside this palace:

that is the way on the Rome.

For the rest, Egypt for the Egyptians!

Well, you know best, I suppose. Is that all?

That is all. Are those ships burnt yet?

Be easy: I shall waste no more time.

Caesar: Pothinus wants to meet you.

Where is he? Waits in the council chamber.

It's my opinion he needs a lesson. His manner is most insolent.

Well, Pothinus?

I have brought you our ultimatum, Caesar.

Ultimatum!

The door was open: you should have gone out through it before you declared war.

You are my prisoner now. I YOUR prisoner!

Do you know that King Ptolemy, with an army

outnumbering your little troop a hundred to one, is in possession of Alexandria?

Well, my friend, get out if you can. And tell your friends

not to kill any more Romans in the market place. Otherwise my soldiers,

who do not share my celebrated clemency,

will probably kill you.

Pass the word to the guard; Pothinus is now prisoner.

Britannus, fetch my armor.

Caesar! Caesar!

What?

The ships ablaze already!

Impossible!

The egyptians have saved me the trouble. They have captured the west harbor.

And the east harbor? The lighthouse, Rufio?

Can I embark a legion in five minutes?

The first cohort is already on the quay.

If you want faster work, come and do it yourself?

Patience, Rufio, patience.

Patience!

Who is impatient herehere, you or I?

Forgive me, Rufio; and hurry them as much as you can.

Help, help, help, help!

Woe, alas!

Woe, alas.

Help, help!

Who is slain? Slain!

Oh, worse than the death of ten thousand men!

Loss irreparable to mankind!

What has happened, man?

The fire has spread from your ships. The library of Alexandria

is in flames.

Is that all? Rufio, is Britannus asleep?

I sent him for my armor an hour ago.

Britannus, Britannikus!

Caesar: will you go down to posterity as a barbarous soldier

too ignorant to know the value of books?

Theodotus: I am an author myself;

Good.

What is burning there is the memory of mankind.

A shameful memory. Let it burn.

Will you destroy the past?

Ay, and build the future with its ruins.

Harken to me, Theodotus, teacher of kings:

I cannot spare you a man or a bucket of water just now;

but you shall pass freely out of the palace.

Now, away with you to Achillas; and borrow his legions to put out the fire.

Caesar, posterity will bless you.

Will you stay to talk whilst the memory of mankind is burning?

Sentinel, pass Theodotus out.

Away with you. Away with you.

I must save the library.

What's this!

Have you let them go? Is this more clemency?

I have let him go to save the library.

We must respect literature, Rufio.

Folly on folly's head!

Besides, my friend: every Egyptian we imprison

means imprisoning two good Roman soldiers to guard him. Eh?

Agh! I might have known there was some fox's trick behind your fine talking.

All ready, there? All ready.

We wait for Caesar. Tell them Caesar is coming--

the rogues!

Caesar's guard there. Push off, all except the longboat. Stand by it to embark

I am going to dress you, Caesar. Sit down.

Caesar, this is not proper.

These Roman helmets are so becoming!

What are you laughing at?

You're bald! Cleopatra!

So that is why you wear the wreath--

to hide it.

Peace, Egyptian: they are the bays of the conqueror.

Peace, thou: islander!

You should rub your head with strong spirits of sugar, Caesar. That will make it grow.

Cleopatra: do you like to be reminded that you are very young?

No.

No do I like to be reminded that I am--middle aged.

Now.

Oh! how nice!

You look only about 50 in it!

You must not speak in this manner to Caesar.

Is it true that when Caesar caught you on that island,

you were painted all over blue?

Blue is the color worn by all Britons of good standing.

In war we stain our bodies blue;

so that though our enemies may strip us of our clothes and our lives,

they cannot strip us of our respectability.

Let me hang this on.

Now

you look splendid.

Now Caesar:

have you done talking?

The longboat waits for you. The others race to the lighthouse.

Is this well set today, Britannicus?

At Pharsalia it was as blunt as a barrel-hoop.

It will split one of the Egyptian's hairs to-day, Caesar.

I have set it myself.

Oh, you are not really going into battle to be killed?

No, Cleopatra. No man goes to battle to be killed.

But they DO get killed.

My sister's husband was killed in battle.

You must not go.

Let HIM go.

Oh please, PLEASE don't go.

What will happen to ME if you never come back?

Are you afraid? No.

Come to the balcony; and you shall see us take the Pharos.

You must learn to look on battles.

Then take me with you.

Take me to come with you to Pharos.

No, no, my child, you must stay here till my return.

That is well.

Now, Rufio. March.

Oh, you will not be able to go!

Why? What now?

They are drying up the harbor with buckets-- a multitude of soldiers--over there--

they are dipping up the water.

This is your accursed clemency, Caesar.

Theodotus has brought them.

I meant him to, Rufio.

They have come to put out the fire.

The library will keep them busy whilst we seize the lighthouse. Eh?

More foxing!

Caesar!

Cleopatra, if all goes well I shall be back this evening.

All aboard.

Goodbye!

Goodbye!

Hail, Caesar!

Give way there.

Goodbye, my Caesar. Come back safe.

Goodbye!

What's this? Stand.

Who are you?

Centurion, I am Apollodorus the Sicilian.

My calling is to choose beautiful things for beautiful queens.

Carpets for the Queen's apartments in the palace.

The Queen?

Yes, yes: 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.

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?

We are not here to watch the land but the sea.

Who is this piece of Egyptian crockery?

Apollodorus: rebuke this Roman dog; and bid him

bridle his tongue in the presence of the mistress of the Queen's household.

This is a great lady, who stands high with Caesar.

Ftatateeta!

What are you dreaming of?

Ftatateeta!

No, no, you must not come out. There are men here.

Oh that ever I was born!

Ftatateeta: I have thought of something.

I want a boat--at once.

A boat! No, no: you cannot.

Apollodorus: speak to the Queen.

Beautiful Queen: I am Apollodorus the Sicilian, your servant, from the bazaar.

I have no time for carpets to-day. Get me a boat.

You cannot go on the water except in the royal barge.

Royalty, Ftatateeta, lies not in the barge but in the Queen.

The touch of your majesty's foot

on the meanest boat in the harbor will make it royal.

Apollodorus: you are my perfect knight;

and I will always buy my carpets through you.

Can you row?

My oars shall be your majesty's wings.

Ho there, boatman!

Whither shall I row my Queen?

To the lighthouse. Come.

Stand. You cannot pass.

How dare you?

Do you know that I am the Queen?

I have my orders.

You cannot pass.

Ftatateeta: strangle him.

Keep off there.

Pass in the palace and take the Queen with him.

And how if I do neither?

Then I will drive this pilum through you.

At your service, my friend.

Help him, help him!

I shall not need help, lady.

What's your mean: sword against pilum, or sword against sword?

Roman against Sicilian,

curse you.

Help! Help!

Thrust your knife into the dog's throat, Apollodorus.

Curse on you!

Let me go. Ho there, guard, help, help.

Stab the little Roman reptile. Spit him on your sword.

What is all this? Make your report, soldier.

This old woman is dangerous: she is as strong as three men.

Centurion, he would have slain the queen.

I would, sooner than let her pass.

Cleopatra: I am loath to offend you; but without Caesar's express order

we dare not let you pass beyond the Roman lines.

You must withdraw into the palace and examine your carpets there.

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?

I do my duty. That is enough for me.

Majesty: when a stupid man is doing something

he is ashamed of, he always declares that it is his duty.

As for you, Apollodorus, you may thank the gods

that you are not nailed to the palace door with a pilum for your meddling.

Is the woman your wife?

Jupiter, no!

Not that the lady is not a striking figure in her own way.

But she is NOT my wife.

Roman: I am Ftatateeta, the mistress of the Queen's household.

Keep your hands off our men, mistress; or I will have you pitched into the harbor, though you were as strong as ten men

We shall see whom Isis loves best:

her servant Ftatateeta or a dog of a Roman.

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 -- kill him.

Get about your business.

Yes: you ought to know better. Off with you.

Do not tantalize a poor man.

Pearl of Queens: the Centurion is at hand;

and the Roman soldier is incorruptible when his officer is looking.

I shall carry your word to Caesar.

Are these carpets very heavy?

It matters not how heavy. There are plenty of porters.

How do they put them into the boats? Do they - throw them down?

Not into small boats, majesty. It would sink them.

Not into that man's boat, for instance?

No, no. Too small.

But you can take a carpet to Caesar in it if I send one?

Assuredly.

And you will have it carried gently down the steps and take great care of it? Great, GREAT care?

More than of my own body.

Good. Come, Ftatateeta.

No, Apollodorus, you must not come. I will choose a carpet for myself. You must wait here.

Follow this lady and obey her.

This way.

And take your shoes off before you put your feet on those stairs.

Listen: were you set here to watch me, or to watch the Egyptians?

We know our duty.

Then why don't you do it? Look!

The Egyptians are moving. They are going to recapture the Pharos.

They will attack by sea and land: by land along the great mole;

Stir yourselves: the hunt is up.

Centurion, enforce the produce on the mole.

Yes, sir.

Rufio: this has been a mad expedition.

We shall be beaten.

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.

An hour ago you were all for victory.

Yes: I was a fool,

rash, Rufio, boyish.

Boyish! Not a bit of it. Here.

What are these for?

Eat.

That's what's the matter with you.

When a man comes to your age, he runs down before the midday meal.

Eat and drink;

and take another look at our chances.

My age! Yes, I am an old man