Act
Two
Scene
Two
Sub-Scene
Two
Rome
needed the bosses.
The
Romans sat at the library, Caesar was behind the desk, and Mark Antony sat
opposite Caesar. Enobarbus and Lepidus stood at the fireplace. Maecenas was
there, but he stood by himself at the other corner. No wine or cigars were
offered, but an expressionless stare took place. There was another who remained
inconspicuous in the other corner, named Agrippa.
“I
hear that you take things as offensive that are not intended to be... or if
they are offensive, they have nothing to do with you.” Caesar spoke then.
“Lucius and Fulvia were on their own. “
“If
I had not retaliated, I would make myself a laughingstock, nor was I offended
over nothing or over a small matter, and most of all, not in dealings with you.
I would deserve even greater mockery if I spoke badly of you once, when it is
no business of mine to speak about you at all.”
“What
concern is it of yours if I am in Egypt? You did send me there as your
emissary.” Mark said the first words, then.
“No
more than you are living here in Rome or Egypt. If you had plotted against
me while you were there, I would have taken the needed caution there.”
“Did
I plot?" Mark Antony was on the offensive.
“Your
wife and brother waged war against me, and they intended for you to join them.
They fought in your name.” Cesar looked at Mark.
“You
are mistaken about what happened. I learned the truth from reliable sources
that they were on their own. Lucius undermined my authority as well as yours,
and his fight was against me, too, since I was on your side. I told you all
this in my letters earlier. If you want to pick a fight, even if you have
enough other reasons to fight with me, it cannot be about this.” Mark was
agitated.
“Do
not try to make yourself look better by saying I was right, but you are coming
up with poor excuses for yourself. And for Fulvia. She had disliked me.”
Caesar looked at Mark.
“It
is not true. I am with the new Triumvirate, as I was with Julius and Crassus.
We are for Rome. Lucius envied us and was the reason his sister fought. Cicero
did him injustice also. Your aides could have told you that.” Mark looked at
Caesar. “As for Fulvia, I wish you could find a spirit like hers in another
woman. She saw my banishment. Yes, it was a banishment to her. Her husband was sent
away by Caesar: The Romans holds more than half of the city. The other bosses
feared you. Your words were a command to them. If you want to, you can subdue
it easily, but you could not so easily subdue a woman like Fulvia. She wanted
me back, even if she was to wage war.”
“I
wish my wives were like Fulvia, so that men could go to battle accompanied by
women! And not tailoring at holes.” Enobarbus said, but he was ignored.
“Fulvia
was difficult to restrain, Caesar. She waged battles out of boredom or love,
but not entirely without good strategy. She knew her influence and how to do
it. I may be the leader at times, but compared to her, I am just the soldier. I
do apologetically admit that she caused you too much disturbance. In return,
you must admit that I could not prevent it.”
“I
wrote to you while you were entertaining yourself in Egypt. I sent messengers.
You ignored my letters and taunted my messengers.”
“Caesar,
your messengers arrived and were met. Their timing was poor. I was at banquets
with other dignitaries or bosses, whatever you may name them. I was building
bridges with them for us. They came, waited, and left with pleasant feelings
that we are not a threat to them. Jeeves was the last, and he waited to tell me
of Fulvia. I had just been at dinner with ....... others, and I was not feeling
quite myself in the morning. But the next day I explained my situation to him,
which was as good as asking him to pardon me. Do not let this person add to our
quarrels. If we are going to fight, keep him out of it.”
Caesar
knew those were lies.
“I
…… No, you have broken the terms of your promise, and that is something you
will never be able to accuse me of being upset.” Caesar looked at Mark. “I am
Caesar and yet you……”
“Hold
on, Caesar.” Lepidus cut in.
“No,
Lepidus, let him speak. Caesar is speaking about my honour now, and my honour
is sacred, even if he thinks that I lack it.” Mark stopped Lepidus.
“As
a member of the Triumvirate, you were to lend me weapons and help when I needed
them, both of which you denied to me.” Caesar spat it out.
“I
did not deny it; I just neglected to do it ……. and that was only when an
illness kept me from thinking clearly. I will apologize to you as much as I
can, but my honesty in this matter does not diminish my greatness towards Rome,
and I will never use my power without honesty.” Mark explained himself. “It is
true that Fulvia went to war here to draw me away from Egypt. I was to join her
but did not. I …… stayed away. For that, I am to be blamed. I seek your
forgiveness, just because it is fitting for my honour to humble myself in a
situation like this. You are still Caesar.”
“Nobly
said and done.” Lepidus smiled.
“If
we all agreed to stop fighting about your past grievances, then forgetting
those grievances entirely would be a good way of remembering that you ought to
be friends in this current crisis.” Maecenas said.
“Well
said, Maecenas.” Lepidus smiled.
“Let
us be friends then. We have a war now. Once we defeat Pompey Jr …... the new
Pompey, we can resume here again. There may be nothing to argue about then.”
Enobarbus added his line of wisdom.
“All
of you are lieutenants. Do not speak or interrupt here.” Mark cautioned the
others. “This is between me and Caesar.”
“Our
strength is often composed of the weakness that we are damned if we're going to
show.” (Mignon McLaughlin) Enobarbus muttered.
“Fine,
then. I will be silent and obedient as a stone.” Enobarbus spoke out clearly
for all to hear.
“I
can accept those words from them. No matter how they may say it, it is
impossible for us to remain friends since our temperaments differ and affect
how we act. But if I knew of something that would keep us strong allies, I
would pursue it from one end of the world to the other." Caesar said.
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