Note 127 — Chapter XXV · THE CLOSING SCENES OF CÆSAR’S LIFE

[On this much discussed question of Cæsar and Cleopatra it is interesting to quote Froude’s opinion from his Cæsar: “Cleopatra is said to have joined Cæsar at Rome after his return from Spain, and to have resided openly with him as his mistress. Supposing that she did come to Rome, it is still certain that Calpurnia was in Cæsar’s house when he was killed. Cleopatra must have been Calpurnia’s guest as well as her husband’s; and her presence, however commented upon in society, could not possibly have borne the avowed complexion which tradition assigned to it. On the other hand, it is quite intelligible that the young queen of Egypt, who owed her position to Cæsar, might have come, as other princes came, on a visit of courtesy, and that Cæsar, after their acquaintance at Alexandria, should have invited her to stay with him. But was Cleopatra at Rome at all? The only real evidence for her presence there is to be found in a few words of Cicero: ‘Reginæ fuga mihi non molesta.’ (‘I am not sorry to hear of the flight of the queen.’) There is nothing to show that the ‘queen’ was the Egyptian queen. Granting that the word Egyptian is to be understood, Cicero may have referred to Arsinoe, who was called queen as well as her sister, and had been sent to Rome to be shown at Cæsar’s triumph.”]