CLEOPATRA (_violently--rising_). He was slain by order of the Queen of Egypt. I am not Julius Caesar the dreamer, who allows every slave to insult him. Rufio has said I did well: now the others shall judge me too. (_She turns to the others._) This Pothinus sought to make me conspire with him to betray Caesar to Achillas and Ptolemy. I refused; and he cursed me and came privily to Caesar to accuse me of his own treachery. I caught him in the act; and he insulted me--_me_, the Queen! to my face. Caesar would not avenge me: he spoke him fair and set him free. Was I right to avenge myself? Speak, Lucius. LUCIUS. I do not gainsay it. But you will get little thanks from Caesar for it. CLEOPATRA. Speak, Apollodorus. Was I wrong? APOLLODORUS. I have only one word of blame, most beautiful. You should have called upon me, your knight; and in fair duel I should have slain the slanderer. CLEOPATRA (_passionately_). I will be judged by your very slave, Caesar. Britannus: speak. Was I wrong? BRITANNUS. Were treachery, falsehood, and disloyalty left unpunished, society must become like an arena full of wild beasts, tearing one another to pieces. Caesar is in the wrong. CAESAR (_with quiet bitterness_). And so the verdict is against me, it seems. CLEOPATRA (_vehemently_). Listen to me, Caesar. If one man in all Alexandria can be found to say that I did wrong, I swear to have myself crucified on the door of the palace by my own slaves. CAESAR. If one man in all the world can be found, now or forever, to _know_ that you did wrong, that man will have either to conquer the world as I have, or be crucified by it. (_The uproar in the streets again reaches them._) Do you hear? These knockers at your gate are also believers in vengeance and in stabbing. You have slain their leader: it is right that they shall slay you. If you doubt it, ask your four counselors here. And then in the name of that _right_ (_He emphasizes the word with great scorn._) shall I not slay them for murdering their Queen, and be slain in my turn by their countrymen as the invader of their fatherland? Can Rome do less then than slay these slayers too, to shew the world how Rome avenges her sons and her honor? And so, to the end of history, murder shall breed murder, always in the name of right and honor and peace, until the gods are tired of blood and create a race that can understand. (_Fierce uproar. Cleopatra becomes white with terror._) Hearken, you who must not be insulted. Go near enough to catch their words: you will find them bitterer than the tongue of Pothinus. (_Loftily wrapping himself up in an impenetrable dignity._) Let the Queen of Egypt now give her orders for vengeance, and take her measures for defence; for she has renounced Caesar. (_He turns to go._) CLEOPATRA (_terrified, running to him and falling on her knees_). You will not desert me, Caesar. You will defend the palace. CAESAR. You have taken the powers of life and death upon you. I am only a dreamer.