CAESAR (_going briskly up the middle of the hall to the loggia steps_). Ho, Britannus. (_He is startled by the entry of a wounded Roman soldier, who confronts him from the upper step._) What now? SOLDIER (_pointing to his bandaged head_). This, Caesar; and two of my comrades killed in the market place. CAESAR (_quiet but attending_). Ay. Why? SOLDIER. There is an army come to Alexandria, calling itself the Roman army. CAESAR. The Roman army of occupation. Ay? SOLDIER. Commanded by one Achillas. CAESAR. Well? SOLDIER. The citizens rose against us when the army entered the gates. I was with two others in the market place when the news came. They set upon us. I cut my way out; and here I am. CAESAR. Good. I am glad to see you alive. (_Rufio enters the loggia hastily, passing behind the soldier to look out through one of the arches at the quay beneath._) Rufio, we are besieged. RUFIO. What! Already? CAESAR. Now or to-morrow: what does it matter? We _shall_ be besieged. _Britannus runs in._ BRITANNUS. Caesar---- CAESAR (_anticipating him_). Yes: I know. (_Rufio and Britannus come down the hall from the loggia at opposite sides, past Caesar, who waits for a moment near the step to say to the soldier._) Comrade: give the word to turn out on the beach and stand by the boats. Get your wound attended to. Go. (_The soldier hurries out. Caesar comes down the hall between Rufio and Britannus_) Rufio: we have some ships in the west harbor. Burn them. RUFIO (_staring_). Burn them!! CAESAR. Take every boat we have in the east harbor, and seize the Pharos--that island with the lighthouse. Leave half our men behind to hold the beach and the quay outside this palace: that is the way home. RUFIO (_disapproving strongly_). Are we to give up the city? CAESAR. We have not got it, Rufio. This palace we have; and--what is that building next door? RUFIO. The theatre. CAESAR. We will have that too: it commands the strand. For the rest, Egypt for the Egyptians! RUFIO. Well, you know best, I suppose. Is that all? CAESAR. That is all. Are those ships burnt yet? RUFIO. Be easy: I shall waste no more time. (_He runs out._) BRITANNUS. Caesar: Pothinus demands speech of you. It's my opinion he needs a lesson. His manner is most insolent. CAESAR. Where is he? BRITANNUS. He waits without. CAESAR. Ho there! Admit Pothinus. _Pothinus appears in the loggia, and comes down the hall very haughtily to Caesar's left hand._ CAESAR. Well, Pothinus? POTHINUS. I have brought you our ultimatum, Caesar. CAESAR. Ultimatum! The door was open: you should have gone out through it before you declared war. You are my prisoner now. (_He goes to the chair and loosens his toga._) POTHINUS (_scornfully_). I _your_ prisoner! Do you know that you are in Alexandria, and that King Ptolemy, with an army outnumbering your little troop a hundred to one, is in possession of Alexandria?