o
control his temper. He has fine tawny hair, like fur. Ptolemy, the King,
looks much older than an English boy of ten; but he has the childish
air, the habit of being in leading strings, the mixture of impotence
and petulance, the appearance of being excessively washed, combed and
dressed by other hands, which is exhibited by court-bred princes of all
ages.

All receive the King with reverences. He comes down the steps to a chair
of state which stands a little to his right, the only seat in the hall.
Taking his place before it, he looks nervously for instructions to
Pothinus, who places himself at his left hand.

POTHINUS. The King of Egypt has a word to speak.

THEODOTUS (in a squeak which he makes impressive by sheer
self-opinionativeness). Peace for the King's word!

PTOLEMY (without any vocal inflexions: he is evidently repeating a
lesson). Take notice of this all of you. I am the firstborn son of
Auletes the Flute Blower who was your King. My sister Berenice drove him
from his throne and reigned in his stead but--but (he hesitates)--

POTHINUS (stealthily prompting).--but the gods would not suffer--

PTOLEMY. Yes--the gods would not suffer--not suffer (he stops; then,
crestfallen) I forget what the gods would not suffer.

THEODOTUS. Let Pothinus, the King's guardian, speak for the King.

POTHINUS (suppressing his impatience with difficulty). The King wished
to say that the gods would not suffer the impiety of his sister to go
unpunished.

PTOLEMY (hastily). Yes: I remember the rest of it. (He resumes his
monotone). Therefore the gods sent a stranger, one Mark Antony, a Roman
captain of horsemen, across the sands of the desert and he set my father
again upon the throne. And my father took Berenice my sister and
struck her head off. And now that my father is dead yet another of his
daughters, my sister Cleopatra, would snatch the kingdom from me and
reign in my place. But the gods would not suffer (Pothinus coughs
admonitorily)--the gods--the gods would not suffer--

POTHINUS (prompting).--will not maintain--

PTOLEMY. Oh yes--will not maintain such iniquity, they will give her
head to the axe even as her sister's. But with the help of the witch
Ftatateeta she hath cast a spell on the Roman Julius Caesar to make him
uphold her false pretence to rule in Egypt. Take notice then that I will
not suffer--that I will not suffer--(pettishly, to Pothinus)--What is it
that I will not suffer?

POTHINUS (suddenl