CLEOPATRA (_with flaming cheeks_). Take your throne: I don't want it. (_She flings away from the chair, and approaches Ptolemy, who shrinks from her._) Go this instant and sit down in your place. CAESAR. Go, Ptolemy. Always take a throne when it is offered to you. RUFIO. I hope you will have the good sense to follow your own advice when we return to Rome, Caesar. _Ptolemy slowly goes back to the throne, giving Cleopatra a wide berth, in evident fear of her hands. She takes his place beside Caesar._ CAESAR. Pothinus---- CLEOPATRA (_interrupting him_). Are you not going to speak to me? CAESAR. Be quiet. Open your mouth again before I give you leave; and you shall be eaten. CLEOPATRA. I am not afraid. A queen must not be afraid. Eat my husband there, if you like: _he_ is afraid. CAESAR (_starting_). Your husband! What do you mean? CLEOPATRA (_pointing to Ptolemy_). That little thing. _The two Romans and the Briton stare at one another in amazement._ THEODOTUS. Caesar: you are a stranger here, and not conversant with 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. BRITANNUS (_shocked_). Caesar: this is not proper. THEODOTUS (_outraged_). How! CAESAR (_recovering his self-possession_). Pardon him, Theodotus: he is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature. BRITANNUS. On the contrary, Caesar, it is these Egyptians who are barbarians; and you do wrong to encourage them. I say it is a scandal. CAESAR. Scandal or not, my friend, it opens the gate of peace. (_He rises and addresses Pothinus seriously._) Pothinus: hear what I propose. RUFIO. Hear Caesar there. CAESAR. Ptolemy and Cleopatra shall reign jointly in Egypt. ACHILLAS. What of the King's younger brother and Cleopatra's younger sister? RUFIO (_explaining_). There is another little Ptolemy, Caesar: so they tell me. CAESAR. Well, the little Ptolemy can marry the other sister; and we will make them both a present of Cyprus. POTHINUS (_impatiently_). Cyprus is of no use to anybody. CAESAR. No matter: you shall have it for the sake of peace. BRITANNUS (_unconsciously anticipating a later statesman_). Peace with honor, Pothinus. POTHINUS (_mutinously_). Caesar: be honest. The money you demand is the price of our freedom. Take it; and leave us to settle our own affairs. THE BOLDER COURTIERS (_encouraged by Pothinus's tone and Caesar's quietness_). Yes, yes. Egypt for the Egyptians! _The conference now becomes an altercation, the Egyptians becoming more and more heated. Caesar remains unruffled; but Rufio grows fiercer and doggeder, and Britannus haughtily indignant._ RUFIO (_contemptuously_). 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?