Random Quote
"Time is just something that we assign. You know, past, present, it's just all arbitrary. Most Native Americans, they don't think of time as linear; in time, out of time, I never have enough time, circular time, the Stevens wheel. All moments are happening all the time."
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Act III - Page 2
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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
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