_Cleopatra is rent by a struggle between her newly-acquired dignity as a queen, and a strong impulse to put out her tongue at him. She takes no part in the scene which follows, but watches it with curiosity and wonder, fidgeting with the restlessness of a child, and sitting down on Caesar's tripod when he rises._ POTHINUS. Caesar: if you attempt to detain us---- RUFIO. He will succeed, Egyptian: make up your mind to that. We hold the palace, the beach, and the eastern harbor. The road to Rome is open; and you shall travel it if Caesar chooses. CAESAR (_courteously_). I could do no less, Pothinus, to secure the retreat of my own soldiers. I am accountable for every life among them. But you are free to go. So are all here, and in the palace. RUFIO (_aghast at this clemency_). What! Renegades and all? CAESAR (_softening the expression_). Roman army of occupation and all, Rufio. POTHINUS (_desperately_). Then I make a last appeal to Caesar's justice. I shall call a witness to prove that but for us, the Roman army of occupation, led by the greatest soldier in the world, would now have Caesar at its mercy. (_Calling through the loggia_) Ho, there, Lucius Septimius (_Caesar starts, deeply moved_): if my voice can reach you, come forth and testify before Caesar. CAESAR (_shrinking_). No, no. THEODOTUS. Yes, I say. Let the military tribune bear witness. _Lucius Septimius, a clean shaven, trim athlete of about 40, with symmetrical features, resolute mouth, and handsome, thin Roman nose, in the dress of a Roman officer, comes in through the loggia and confronts Caesar, who hides his face with his robe for a moment; then, mastering himself, drops it, and confronts the tribune with dignity._ POTHINUS. Bear witness, Lucius Septimius. Caesar came hither in pursuit of his foe. Did we shelter his foe? LUCIUS. As Pompey's foot touched the Egyptian shore, his head fell by the stroke of my sword. THEODOTUS (_with viperish relish_). Under the eyes of his wife and child! Remember that, Caesar! They saw it from the ship he had just left. We have given you a full and sweet measure of vengeance. CAESAR (_with horror_). Vengeance! POTHINUS. Our first gift to you, as your galley came into the roadstead, was the head of your rival for the empire of the world. Bear witness, Lucius Septimius: is it not so? LUCIUS. It is so. With this hand, that slew Pompey, I placed his head at the feet of Caesar. CAESAR. Murderer! So would you have slain Caesar, had Pompey been victorious at Pharsalia. LUCIUS. Woe to the vanquished, Caesar! When I served Pompey, I slew as good men as he, only because he conquered them. His turn came at last. THEODOTUS (_flatteringly_). The deed was not yours, Caesar, but ours--nay, mine; for it was done by my counsel. Thanks to us, you keep your reputation for clemency, and have your vengeance too.