shes on
their heads and their gods in their hands. They placed the gods at his
feet. The only one that was worth looking at was Apis: a miracle of gold
and ivory work. By my advice he offered the chief priest two talents for
it.

BELZANOR (appalled). Apis the all-knowing for two talents! What said the
chief priest?

APOLLODORUS. He invoked the mercy of Apis, and asked for five.

BELZANOR. There will be famine and tempest in the land for this.

PERSIAN. Pooh! Why did not Apis cause Caesar to be vanquished by
Achillas? Any fresh news from the war, Apollodorus?

APOLLODORUS. The little King Ptolemy was drowned.

BELZANOR. Drowned! How?

APOLLODORUS. With the rest of them. Caesar attacked them from three sides
at once and swept them into the Nile. Ptolemy's barge sank.

BELZANOR. A marvelous man, this Caesar! Will he come soon, think you?

APOLLODORUS. He was settling the Jewish question when I left.

A flourish of trumpets from the north, and commotion among the
townsfolk, announces the approach of Caesar.

PERSIAN. He has made short work of them. Here he comes. (He hurries to
his post in front of the Egyptian lines.)

BELZANOR (following him). Ho there! Caesar comes.

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.

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 (kis