POTHINUS. And a talent is worth a racehorse. I say it is impossible. We have been at strife here, because the King's sister Cleopatra falsely claims his throne. The King's taxes have not been collected for a whole year. CAESAR. Yes they have, Pothinus. My officers have been collecting them all the morning. (_Renewed whisper and sensation, not without some stifled laughter, among the courtiers._) RUFIO (_bluntly_). You must pay, Pothinus. Why waste words? You are getting off cheaply enough. POTHINUS (_bitterly_). Is it possible that Caesar, the conqueror of the world, has time to occupy himself with such a trifle as our taxes? CAESAR. My friend: taxes are the chief business of a conqueror of the world. POTHINUS. Then take warning, Caesar. This day, the treasures of the temples and the gold of the King's treasury will be sent to the mint to be melted down for our ransom in the sight of the people. They shall see us sitting under bare walls and drinking from wooden cups. And their wrath be on your head, Caesar, if you force us to this sacrilege! CAESAR. Do not fear, Pothinus: the people know how well wine tastes in wooden cups. In return for your bounty, I will settle this dispute about the throne for you, if you will. What say you? POTHINUS. If I say no, will that hinder you? RUFIO (_defiantly_). No. CAESAR. You say the matter has been at issue for a year, Pothinus. May I have ten minutes at it? POTHINUS. You will do your pleasure, doubtless. CAESAR. Good! But first, let us have Cleopatra here. THEODOTUS. She is not in Alexandria: she is fled into Syria. CAESAR. I think not. (_To Rufio_) Call Totateeta. RUFIO (_calling_). Ho there, Teetatota. _Ftatateeta enters the loggia, and stands arrogantly at the top of the steps._ FTATATEETA. Who pronounces the name of Ftatateeta, the Queen's chief nurse? CAESAR. Nobody can pronounce it, Tota, except yourself. Where is your mistress? _Cleopatra, who is hiding behind Ftafateeta, peeps out at them, laughing. Caesar rises._ CAESAR. Will the Queen favor us with her presence for a moment? CLEOPATRA (_pushing Ftatateeta aside and standing haughtily on the brink of the steps_). Am I to behave like a Queen? CAESAR. Yes. _Cleopatra immediately comes down to the chair of state; seizes Ptolemy and drags him out of his seat; then takes his place in the chair. Ftatateeta seats herself on the step of the loggia, and sits there, watching the scene with sybilline intensity._ PTOLEMY (_mortified, and struggling with his tears_). Caesar: this is how she treats me always. If I am a King why is she allowed to take everything from me? CLEOPATRA. You are not to be King, you little cry-baby. You are to be eaten by the Romans. CAESAR (_touched by Ptolemy's distress_). Come here, my boy, and stand by me. _Ptolemy goes over to Caesar, who, resuming his seat on the tripod, takes the boy's hand to encourage him. Cleopatra, furiously jealous, rises and glares at them._