Ken Duken: Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa

Augustus: The First Emperor

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa

Octavius: [to Agrippa] The Egyptian relgion declares that to die of a snake bite will secure immortality. Did you know that, Agrippa?
Maecenas: Never mind that! History... History will never forget this moment. At last, every legion in Rome listens to the command of a single man. The peace of Rome is assured, to the one, absolute ruler of the Roman Empire.
Agrippa: [In disgust] So, that was you plan all along, Octavius? To wear a crown on your head!
Maecenas: In order to keep the nobles from tearing Rome apart he must be king. He will be declared..."Augustus"!

[to Octavius]
Agrippa: If you send your legions against Antony, you'll start another civil war.
Maecenas: Do you want him to ignore the betrayal of his sister? Ignore this?
Agrippa: Do you want him to be the one who bring Roman against Roman again?
Maecenas: Don't go in there without a plan, country boy!

Maecenas: Declare war against Cleopatra...
Agrippa: Of course, and Mark Antony will lead his armies against us to protect her.
Maecenas: Clever boy! Is a politician born?

[Octavius has broken his ribs]
Agrippa: Lie down! If you take a direct hit, you're dead!
Maecenas: He can't stay in the tent.
Agrippa: What would you know? You never leave this tent!
Maecenas: *I* am not Caesar's nephew - he just has to make an appearance, appearance is everything.
Agrippa: You're right.
Maecenas: [sarcastically] Am I really? Oh, high praise from the great warrior!

Maecenas: Dear soldiers! I have prepared us all drinks and space to rest after our long weary day of fighting...
Agrippa: We? What did you do all day? Sleep?

Maecenas: We are three kings. Octavius, the leader. Agrippa, the soldier, and Maecenas, the...
Agrippa: Mouth?
Maecenas: - Maecenas, the politician.
[Indicates a rise to Octavius and Agrippa]
Maecenas: A rise. Let us all promise now: that we will let nothing never destroy this friendship!
Maecenas, Agrippa, Octavius: Never!

[about Agrippa's aqueducts]
Agrippa: This spring will quench the thirst of 50,000 or more Romans everyday and water the fields streching for miles around Rome.
[Hands cups of water to Octavius. Maecenas refuses his cup]
Maecenas: No, thanks. I prefer to have something a little more lively.
Octavius: [Toasts] To furture harvests.
Agrippa: Now no one can bribe Rome again by cutting off it's food supply.
Maecenas: It's all very lovely, Agrippa. At least we'll be able to get some lovely fountains out of it.

Agrippa: Politicians are run by swords, legions - that is the only language Rome understands!
Maecenas: You know nothing of Rome, country boy.
Agrippa: And you know nothing of life.

Agrippa: We've become the thing we hate, or does killing starving civilians make us heroes?