Act Three
Scene Twelve
Sub-Scene One
Rules are set by the victor.
The word of the victory
reached the mansion. It was a celebration for Caesar when he returned. He
brought Agrippa and two others to the library for a discussion.
“Call in Antony's messenger.
Do you know him, Dolabella?” Caesar enquired.
“Caesar, it is his
children's tutor. It is a sign that Antony is in bad shape that he sends such a
lowly person here as his messenger. Not long ago, he had so many lieutenants in
his power that he could afford to send them as messengers.” Dolabella is a loyal
lieutenant of Caesar assigned to guard the mansion. He saw no action there and
was eagerly awaiting Caesar.
The tutor soon arrived. An
old man was once on the academic team at the university and was lured by money
or threats to be the tutor for the children.
“Come forward and speak,
tutor. That is your line now.” Caesar said.
“I am a lowly person to
greet you, Caesar, but my call came from Antony. Lately, I have been as
insignificant and useless to him as a drop of morning dew on a myrtle leaf
would be to the large sea. He is only a tutor to his children in math and other
subjects.”
“Put that aside. Tell us
what you came here for.” Caesar was not keen to listen to the rabbling of an
old tutor.
“Mark Antony salutes you;
you now have control over his fate, and he asks to be allowed to live in Egypt.
If you do not grant this request, he asks for a smaller favour and asks you to
let him live out his remaining days as a private citizen in Athens. These are
his requests.” The tutor said.
“Next, Queen Cleop
acknowledges your greatness, submits herself to your power, and asks that the
kingdom of Egypt, which is now at your mercy, might be given to her children.”
“For Antony, I will not
listen to his requests. The Queen will get to meet me and get what she wants,
so long as she drives her completely disgraced lover out of Egypt or else kills
him there. If she does this, her requests will not go unheard. Tell this to
them. Now be gone.” Caesar dismissed the tutor.
“May you have good fortune,
Caesar.”
“Now it is time to see what
your eloquence can accomplish, Thidias. Get going.”
“I am...” Thidias was to say
before he cut off.
“Win over Cleopatra from
Antony. Promise her in my name that she will be given what she asks
for. Promise her more than that, whatever you can think of. Women cannot
stick to their word even at the best of times, but when they are in need, even
the most devout virgin will break her vows. See
what your cunning can accomplish, Thidias. Decide what reward you would like
for your trouble, and I will supply it as if commanded by Rome’s law.”
“Caesar, I will go.” Thidias
bowed to Caesar.
“And observe how Antony
reacts to his disgrace, and tell me what you think his actions reveal about him
in every move that he makes.” Caesar told the other. “I do not trust him.”
“Caesar, I will.”
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