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civilization is to Tottenham Court Road。
The young king Ptolemy Dionysus （aged ten） is at the top of the
steps； on his way in through the loggia； led by his guardian
Pothinus； who has him by the hand。 The court is assembled to
receive him。 It is made up of men and women （some of the women
being officials） of various complexions and races； mostly
Egyptian； some of them； comparatively fair； from lower Egypt；
some； much darker； from upper Egypt； with a few Greeks and Jews。
Prominent in a group on Ptolemy's right hand is Theodotus；
Ptolemy's tutor。 Another group； on Ptolemy's left； is headed by
Achillas； the general of Ptolemy's troops。 Theodotus is a little
old man； whose features are as cramped and wizened as his limbs；
except his tall straight forehead； which occupies more space than
all the rest of his face。 He maintains an air of magpie keenness
and profundity； listening to what the others say with the
sarcastic vigilance of a philosopher listening to the exercises
of his disciples。 Achillas is a tall handsome man of thirty…five；
with a fine black beard curled like the coat of a poodle。
Apparently not a clever man； but distinguished and dignified。
Pothinus is a vigorous man of fifty； a eunuch； passionate；
energetic and quick witted； but of common mind and character；
impatient and unable to 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 butbut （he
hesitates）
POTHINUS （stealthily prompting）。but the gods would not suffer
PTOLEMY。 Yesthe gods would not suffernot 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 yeswill 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 sufferthat I will not suffer
（pettishly； to Pothinus）What is it that I will not suffer？
POTHINUS （suddenly exploding with all the force and emphasis of
political passion）。 The King will not suffer a foreigner to take
from him the throne of our Egypt。 （A shout of applause。） Tell the
King； Achillas； how many soldiers and horsemen follow the Roman？
THEODOTUS。 Let the King's general speak！
ACHILLAS。 But two Roman legions； O King。 Three thousand soldiers
and scarce a thousand horsemen。
The court breaks into derisive laughter； and a great chattering
begins； amid which Rufio； a Roman officer； appears in the loggia。
He is a burly； black…bearded man of middle age； very blunt；
prompt and rough； with small clear eyes； and plump nose and
cheeks； which； however； like the rest of his flesh； are in
ironhard condition。
RUFIO （from the steps）。 Peace； ho！ （The laughter and chatter
cease abruptly。） Caesar approaches。
THEODOTUS （with much presence of mind）。 The King permits the
Roman commander to enter！
Caesar； plainly dressed； but； wearing an oak wreath to conceal
his baldness； enters from； the loggia； attended by Britannus； his
secretary； a Briton； about forty； tall； solemn； and already
slightly bald； with a heavy； drooping； hazel…colored moustache
trained so as to lose its ends in a pair of trim whiskers。 He
is carefully dressed in blue； with portfolio； inkhorn； and reed
pen at his girdle。 His serious air and sense of the importance
of the business in hand is in marked contrast to the kindly
interest of Caesar； who looks at the scene； which is new to him；
with the frank curiosity of a child； and then turns to the King's
chair： Britannus and Rufio posting themselves near the steps at
the other side。
CAESAR （looking at Pothinus and Ptolemy）。 Which is the King？ The
man or the boy？
POTHINUS。 I am Pothinus； the guardian of my lord the King。
Caesar （patting Ptolemy kindly on the shoulder）。 So you are the
King。 Dull work at your age； eh？ （To Pothinus） your servant；
Pothinus。 （He turns away unconcernedly and comes slowly along the
middle of the hall； looking from side to side at the courtiers
until he reaches Achillas。） And this gentleman？
THEODOTUS。 Achillas； the King's general。
CAESAR （to Achillas； very friendly）。 A general； eh？ I am a
general myself。 But I began too old； too old。 Health and many
victories； Achillas！
ACHILLAS。 As the gods will； Caesar。
CAESAR （turning to Theodotus）。 And you； sir； are？
THEODOTUS。 Theodotus； the King's tutor。
CAESAR。 You teach men how to be kings； Theodotus。 That is very
clever of you。 （Looking at the gods on the walls as he turns away
from Theodotus and goes up again to Pothinus。） And this place？
POTHINUS。 The council chamber of the chancellors of the King's
treasury； Caesar。
CAESAR。 Ah！ That reminds me。 I want some money。
POTHINUS。 The King's treasury is poor； Caesar。
CAESAR。 Yes： I notice that there is but one chair in it。
RUFIO （shouting gruffly）。 Bring a chair there； some of you； for
Caesar。
PTOLEMY （rising shyly to offer his chair）。 Caesar
CAESAR （kindly）。 No； no； my boy： that is your chair of state。 Sit
down。
He makes Ptolemy sit down again。 Meanwhile Rufio； looking about
him； sees in the nearest corner an image of the god Ra；
represented as a seated man with the head of a hawk。 Before
the image is a bronze tripod； about as large as a three…legged
stool； with a stick of incense burning on it。 Rufio； with Roman
resourcefulness and indifference to foreign superstitions；
promptly