Act IV - Page 2

always Ftatateeta. Some new tale to set me against her.

IRAS
No: this time Ftatateeta has been virtuous. (All the ladies laugh--not the slaves.) Pothinus has been trying to bribe her to let him speak with you.

CLEOPATRA (wrathfully).
Ha! You all sell audiences with me, as if I saw whom you please, and not whom I please. I should like to know how much of her gold piece that harp girl will have to give up before she leaves the palace.

IRAS
We can easily find out that for you.

The ladies laugh.

CLEOPATRA (frowning).
You laugh; but take care, take care. I will find out some day how to make myself served as Caesar is served.

CHARMIAN
Old hooknose! (They laugh again.)

CLEOPATRA (revolted).
Silence. Charmian: do not you be a silly little Egyptian fool. Do you know why I allow you all to chatter impertinently just as you please, instead of treating you as Ftatateeta would treat you if she were Queen?

CHARMIAN
Because you try to imitate Caesar in everything; and he lets everybody say what they please to him.

CLEOPATRA
No; but because I asked him one day why he did so; and he said "Let your women talk; and you will learn something from them." What have I to learn from them? I said. "What they ARE," said he; and oh! you should have seen his eye as he said it. You would have curled up, you shallow things. (They laugh. She turns fiercely on Iras) At whom are you laughing--at me or at Caesar?

IRAS
At Caesar.

CLEOPATRA
If you were not a fool, you would laugh at me; and if you were not a coward you would not be afraid to tell me so. (Ftatateeta returns.) Ftatateeta: they tell me that Pothinus has offered you a bribe to admit him to my presence.

FTATATEETA (protesting).
Now by my father's gods--

CLEOPATRA (cutting her short despotically).
Have I not told you not to deny things? You would spend the day calling your father's gods to witness to your virtues if I let you. Go take the bribe; and bring in Pothinus. (Ftatateeta is about to reply.) Don't answer me. Go.

Ftatateeta goes out; and Cleopatra rises and begins to prowl to and fro between her chair and the door, meditating. All rise and stand.

IRAS (as she reluctantly rises).
Heigho! I wish Caesar were back in Rome.

CLEOPATRA (threateningly).
It will be a bad day for you all when he goes. Oh, if I were not ashamed to let him see that I am as cruel at heart as my father, I would make you repent that speech! Why do you wish him away?

CHARMIAN
He makes you so terribly prosy and serious and learned and philosophical. It is worse than being religious, at OUR ages. (The ladies laugh.)

CLEOPATRA
Cease that endless cackling, will you. Hold your tongues.

CHARMIAN (with mock resignation).
Well, well: we must try to