every man of them is set upon clearing out
this nest of assassins--for such we are and no more. Take courage then;
and sharpen your sword. Pompey's head has fallen; and Caesar's head is
ripe.

APOLLODORUS. Does Caesar despair?

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