Cleopatra professes her admiration for Caesar's wisdom, and claims
that she has learned to behave like him. She summons Pothinus, who had
sought an audience. She divines that Pothinus had planned to deceive
her with a plan, believing her a foolish child, but she convinces him
that she has seen through him and that his plan is smashed before it
has begun. He admits as much. She reveals that she has her own plan:
Caesar will defeat her Achillas and Pothinus' army and kill her
brother, and then he will control Egypt, but then he will go home to
Rome, leaving her to rule. She dismisses Pothinus, who rages.
Caesar holds a "birthday" party on the roof of the palace, at which
Apollodorus, Rufio, and Cleopatra are present. Before Cleopatra's
arrival, Rufio persuades Caesar to see Pothinus, who has come to
denounce the queen. Pothinus hems and haws, Cleopatra arrives, and he
is unwilling to speak in front of her. Caesar tells him that he is
free to go and orders Rufio to pass him through the guards. Pothinus
desperately denounces Cleopatra to Caesar, telling him her plans, but
she denies it. Caesar, of course, is not surprised, and sends Pothinus
away. While Caesar is talking with Rufio and Pothinus, Cleopatra
orders Ftateeta to kill Pothinus. Ftateeta slips away, and as Caesar,
Rufio, Apollodorus, and Cleopatra are eating and discussing a
frivolous plan to search for the source of the Nile, they hear several
cries from below. Caesar sends to find out what has happened, and
Rufio returns with Lucius (the slayer of Pompey), who informs Caesar
that Pothinus has been murdered. They hear a commotion below, as a mob
begins attacking the palace in rage at the murder, and Caesar hears
from everyone that the killing of Pothinus was justified and wise. He,
however, realizes that it was stupid, and it was contrary to his honor
and his wishes. He had given his protection, and his clemency had been
responsible for their safety. Now the mob is enraged, and Caesar's
small force cannot hope to win if the whole Egyptian state rises
against him.
Lucius then makes an offer to change sides, and Caesar guesses
correctly that he would not do so without some hope of success. He
correctly surmises that the relief army of Mithridates has arrived.
Lucius confirms the surmise and tells him that Mithridates has been
victorious at Pelusium. Caesar then sets about rallying his soldiers
and marching to meet Mithridates, since all of the Egyptian army would
have left the city to fight Mithridates. Rufio warns Cleopatra that
her plot has failed, and that her man, the assassin, bungled the job
on Pothinus, allowing him to cry out. Cleopatra hints that the
assassin was none other than Ftateeta, and Rufio quietly slits
Ftateeta's throat.
End of Act IV
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