the gods. Besides, there was no time: all was over in a moment.
The attack came just where we least expected it.

BELZANOR. That shows that the Romans are cowards.

BEL AFFRIS. They care nothing about cowardice, these Romans: they
fight to win. The pride and honor of war are nothing to them.

PERSIAN. Tell us the tale of the battle. What befell?

THE GUARDSMEN (gathering eagerly round Bel Afris). Ay: the tale
of the battle.

BEL AFFRIS. Know then, that I am a novice in the guard of the
temple of Ra in Memphis, serving neither Cleopatra nor her
brother Ptolemy, but only the high gods. We went a journey to
inquire of Ptolemy why he had driven Cleopatra into Syria, and
how we of Egypt should deal with the Roman Pompey, newly come to
our shores after his defeat by Caesar at Pharsalia. What, think
ye, did we learn? Even that Caesar is coming also in hot pursuit
of his foe, and that Ptolemy has slain Pompey, whose severed head
he holds in readiness to present to the conqueror. (Sensation
among the guardsmen.) Nay, more: we found that Caesar is already
come; for we had not made half a day's journey on our way back
when we came upon a city rabble flying from his legions, whose
landing they had gone out to withstand.

BELZANOR. And ye, the temple guard! Did you not withstand these
legions?