_The soldiers stand at attention, and dress their lines. Apollodorus goes to the Egyptian line._ CENTURION (_hurrying to the gangway guard_). Attention there! Caesar comes. _Caesar arrives in state with Rufio: Britannus following. The soldiers receive him with enthusiastic shouting._ CAESAR. I see my ship awaits me. The hour of Caesar's farewell to Egypt has arrived. And now, Rufio, what remains to be done before I go? RUFIO (_at his left hand_). You have not yet appointed a Roman governor for this province. CAESAR (_Looking whimsically at him, but speaking with perfect gravity_). What say you to Mithridates of Pergamos, my reliever and rescuer, the great son of Eupator? RUFIO. Why, that you will want him elsewhere. Do you forget that you have some three or four armies to conquer on your way home? CAESAR. Indeed! Well, what say you to yourself? RUFIO (_incredulously_). I! I a governor! What are you dreaming of? Do you not know that I am only the son of a freedman? CAESAR (_affectionately_). Has not Caesar called you his son? (_Calling to the whole assembly_) Peace awhile there; and hear me. THE ROMAN SOLDIERS. Hear Caesar. CAESAR. Hear the service, quality, rank and name of the Roman governor. By service, Caesar's shield; by quality, Caesar's friend; by rank, a Roman soldier. (_The Roman soldiers give a triumphant shout._) By name, Rufio. (_They shout again._) RUFIO (_kissing Caesar's hand_). Ay: I am Caesar's shield; but of what use shall I be when I am no longer on Caesar's arm? Well, no matter-- (_He becomes husky, and turns away to recover himself._) CAESAR. Where is that British Islander of mine? BRITANNUS (_coming forward on Caesar's right hand_). Here, Caesar. CAESAR. Who bade you, pray, thrust yourself into the battle of the Delta, uttering the barbarous cries of your native land, and affirming yourself a match for any four of the Egyptians, to whom you applied unseemly epithets? BRITANNUS. Caesar: I ask you to excuse the language that escaped me in the heat of the moment. CAESAR. And how did you, who cannot swim, cross the canal with us when we stormed the camp? BRITANNUS. Caesar: I clung to the tail of your horse. CAESAR. These are not the deeds of a slave, Britannicus, but of a free man. BRITANNUS. Caesar: I was born free. CAESAR. But they call you Caesar's slave. BRITANNUS. Only as Caesar's slave have I found real freedom. CAESAR (_moved_). Well said. Ungrateful that I am, I was about to set you free; but now I will not part from you for a million talents. (_He claps him friendly on the shoulder. Britannus, gratified, but a trifle shamefaced, takes his hand and kisses it sheepishly._) BELZANOR (_to the Persian_). This Roman knows how to make men serve him. PERSIAN. Ay: men too humble to become dangerous rivals to him. BELZANOR. O subtle one! O cynic!