BELZANOR. Why not kill them?

PERSIAN. Because we should have to pay blood money for some of
them. Better let the Romans kill them: it is cheaper.

BELZANOR (awestruck at his brain power). O subtle one! O
serpent!

BEL AFFRIS. But your Queen?

BELZANOR. True: we must carry off Cleopatra.

BEL AFFRIS. Will ye not await her command?

BELZANOR. Command! A girl of sixteen! Not we. At Memphis ye deem
her a Queen: here we know better. I will take her on the crupper
of my horse. When we soldiers have carried her out of Caesar's
reach, then the priests and the nurses and the rest of them can
pretend she is a queen again, and put their commands into her
mouth.

PERSIAN. Listen to me, Belzanor.

BELZANOR. Speak, O subtle beyond thy years.

THE PERSIAN. Cleopatra's brother Ptolemy is at war with her. Let
us sell her to him.

THE GUARDSMEN. O subtle one! O serpent!