CAESAR (_gravely_). Cleopatra: when that trumpet sounds, we must take every man his life in his hand, and throw it in the face of Death. And of my soldiers who have trusted me there is not one whose hand I shall not hold more sacred than your head. (_Cleopatra is overwhelmed. Her eyes fill with tears._) Apollodorus: you must take her back to the palace. APOLLODORUS. Am I a dolphin, Caesar, to cross the seas with young ladies on my back? My boat is sunk: all yours are either at the barricade or have returned to the city. I will hail one if I can: that is all I can do. (_He goes back to the causeway._) CLEOPATRA (_struggling with her tears_). It does not matter. I will not go back. Nobody cares for me. CAESAR. Cleopatra---- CLEOPATRA. You want me to be killed. CAESAR (_still more gravely_). My poor child: your life matters little here to anyone but yourself. (_She gives way altogether at this, casting herself down on the faggots weeping. Suddenly a great tumult is heard in the distance, bucinas and trumpets sounding through a storm of shouting. Britannus rushes to the parapet and looks along the mole. Caesar and Rufio turn to one another with quick intelligence._) CAESAR. Come, Rufio. CLEOPATRA (_scrambling to her knees and clinging to him_). No, no. Do not leave me, Caesar. (_He snatches his skirt from her clutch._) Oh! BRITANNUS (_from the parapet_). Caesar: we are cut off. The Egyptians have landed from the west harbor between us and the barricade!!! RUFIO (_running to see_). Curses! It is true. We are caught like rats in a trap. CAESAR (_ruthfully_). Rufio, Rufio: my men at the barricade are between the sea party and the shore party. I have murdered them. RUFIO (_coming back from the parapet to Caesar's right hand_). Ay: that comes of fooling with this girl here. APOLLODORUS (_coming up quickly from the causeway_). Look over the parapet, Caesar. CAESAR. We have looked, my friend. We must defend ourselves here. APOLLODORUS. I have thrown the ladder into the sea. They cannot get in without it. RUFIO. Ay; and we cannot get out. Have you thought of that? APOLLODORUS. Not get out! Why not? You have ships in the east harbor. BRITANNUS (_hopefully, at the parapet_). The Rhodian galleys are standing in towards us already. (_Caesar quickly joins Britannus at the parapet._) RUFIO (_to Apollodorus, impatiently_). And by what road are we to walk to the galleys, pray? APOLLODORUS (_with gay, defiant rhetoric_). By the road that leads everywhere--the diamond path of the sun and moon. Have you never seen the child's shadow play of The Broken Bridge? "Ducks and geese with ease get over"--eh? (_He throws away his cloak and cap, and binds his sword on his back._) RUFIO. What are you talking about? APOLLODORUS. I will shew you. (_Calling to Britannus_) How far off is the nearest galley? BRITANNUS. Fifty fathom.