POTHINUS (_astonished_). Natural! Then you do not resent treachery?
CAESAR. Resent! O thou foolish Egyptian, what have I to do with resentment? Do I resent the wind when it chills me, or the night when it makes me stumble in the darkness? Shall I resent youth when it turns from age, and ambition when it turns from servitude? To tell me such a story as this is but to tell me that the sun will rise to-morrow.
CLEOPATRA (_unable to contain herself_). But it is false--false. I swear it.
CAESAR. It is true, though you swore it a thousand times, and believed all you swore. (_She is convulsed with emotion. To screen her, he rises and takes Pothinus to Rufio, saying_) Come, Rufio: let us see Pothinus past the guard. I have a word to say to him. (_Aside to them_) We must give the Queen a moment to recover herself. (_Aloud_) Come. (_He takes Pothinus and Rufio out with him, conversing with them meanwhile._) Tell your friends, Pothinus, that they must not think I am opposed to a reasonable settlement of the country's affairs-- (_They pass out of hearing._)
CLEOPATRA (_in a stifled whisper_). Ftatateeta, Ftatateeta.
FTATATEETA (_hurrying to her from the table and petting her_). Peace, child: be comforted----
CLEOPATRA (_interrupting her_). Can they hear us?
CLEOPATRA. Listen to me. If he leaves the Palace alive, never see my face again.
CLEOPATRA (_striking her on the mouth_). Strike his life out as I strike his name from your lips. Dash him down from the wall. Break him on the stones. Kill, kill, _kill_ him.
FTATATEETA (_shewing all her teeth_). The dog shall perish.
CLEOPATRA. Fail in this, and you go out from before me forever.
FTATATEETA (_resolutely_). So be it. You shall not see my face until his eyes are darkened.
_Caesar comes back, with Apollodorus, exquisitely dressed, and Rufio._
CLEOPATRA (_to Ftatateeta_). Come soon--soon. (_Ftatateeta turns her meaning eyes for a moment on her mistress; then goes grimly away past Ra and out. Cleopatra runs like a gazelle to Caesar._) So you have come back to me, Caesar. (_Caressingly_) I thought you were angry. Welcome, Apollodorus. (_She gives him her hand to kiss, with her other arm about Caesar._)
APOLLODORUS. Cleopatra grows more womanly beautiful from week to week.