Octavian.
Why not? It seems to me an excellent arrangement. Very thoughtful of her. Very thoughtful and considerate.
Agrippa.
But we want her for that Triumph of yours.
Octavian.
Never mind. After all, what is a Triumph? Disagreeable for her. A bore for us. Let her die now, by all means, if she prefers it.
[Impatiently.] Don’t you try and be magnanimous too. Leave that to your uncle. He did it better.
Octavian.
[Wearily.] My dear Agrippa, how stupid you are! What possible use can a quite plain and middle-aged lady be in a triumphal procession? If Cleopatra were still attractive I should say, “Save her, by all means.” As she isn’t, [yawning] I think we may let her die her own way without being charged with excessive magnanimity.