CAESAR (_with infinite pride_). He who has never hoped can never despair. Caesar, in good or bad fortune, looks his fate in the face. LUCIUS. Look it in the face, then; and it will smile as it always has on Caesar. CAESAR (_with involuntary haughtiness_). Do you presume to encourage me? LUCIUS. I offer you my services. I will change sides if you will have me. CAESAR (_suddenly coming down to earth again, and looking sharply at him, divining that there is something behind the offer_). What! At this point? LUCIUS (_firmly_). At this point. RUFIO. Do you suppose Caesar is mad, to trust you? LUCIUS. I do not ask him to trust me until he is victorious. I ask for my life, and for a command in Caesar's army. And since Caesar is a fair dealer, I will pay in advance. CAESAR. Pay! How? LUCIUS. With a piece of good news for you. _Caesar divines the news in a flash._ RUFIO. What news? CAESAR (_with an elate and buoyant energy which makes Cleopatra sit up and stare_). What news! What news, did you say, my son Rufio? The relief has arrived: what other news remains for us? Is it not so, Lucius Septimius? Mithridates of Pergamos is on the march. LUCIUS. He has taken Pelusium. CAESAR (_delighted_). Lucius Septimius: you are henceforth my officer. Rufio: the Egyptians must have sent every soldier from the city to prevent Mithridates crossing the Nile. There is nothing in the streets now but mob--mob! LUCIUS. It is so. Mithridates is marching by the great road to Memphis to cross above the Delta. Achillas will fight him there. CAESAR (_all audacity_). Achillas shall fight Caesar there. See, Rufio. (_He runs to the table; snatches a napkin; and draws a plan on it with his finger dipped in wine, whilst Rufio and Lucius Septimius crowd about him to watch, all looking closely, for the light is now almost gone._) Here is the palace (_pointing to his plan_): here is the theatre. You (_to Rufio_) take twenty men and pretend to go by _that_ street (_pointing it out_); and whilst they are stoning you, out go the cohorts by this and this. My streets are right, are they, Lucius? LUCIUS. Ay, that is the fig market---- CAESAR (_too much excited to listen to him_). I saw them the day we arrived. Good! (_He throws the napkin on the table and comes down again into the colonnade._) Away, Britannus: tell Petronius that within an hour half our forces must take ship for the western lake. See to my horse and armor. (_Britannus runs out._) With the rest, _I_ shall march round the lake and up the Nile to meet Mithridates. Away, Lucius; and give the word. _Lucius hurries out after Britannus._ RUFIO. Come: this is something like business.