Friday, September 19, 2008

Julius Caesar revises his classical remark




Timecop gave the grand tour of Washington DC to Julius Caesar. When resting at a Borders bookstore, Timecop gave Caesar three books to browse: "Cliff's Notes on Shakespeare's Julius Caesar", "World History for Dummies" and "Cliff's AP United States History".



Timecop said, "These three books will give you a good idea what went on in the last 2,000 years after you laid the very foundation of western civilization as we know it today. Please consider staying back in this era. I think you'll find the US to be the most suitable empire to rule. It has a senate just like yours, the president is not the emperor, which is what you insisted upon in your time, and their standard emblem is the eagle, same as yours."


Julius Caesar quickly browsed through the books, interjecting with phrases like "Wow! Cleopatra made off with Mark Anthony!" and "So that what is my nephew Octavian did?"


Timcop asked Julius Caesar after he had finished, "There is so much written about you. Veni, Vici, Vidi: what a classic quote of yours! I came, I saw, I conquered. What do you think of this modern civilization as a tourist from history?"


Julius caesar said, "Veni, Vici."


Timecop said, "You came to this era, you saw this era. That is all? How about some sprited modern Vidi conquering? I had told you all about the troubles we are having with the middle-eastern provinces around Egypt. You could easily settle this matter. Come on, you must do a Veni, Vici, Vidi in this era too."


Julius Caesar said, "No Vidi now. Perhaps later. Right now, I want to do the Veni, Vici, Vade Retro."


Timecop said, "Vade Retro? Step back? How could Caesar ever step back?"


Julius Caesar said, "Yes, Vade Retro, take me back to my era. I have to take care of a few things with some of my senators. This CliffsNotes Shakespeare character of yours deserves credit for bringing this new development of senatorial gang-backstabbing to my attention. Et tu, Brute? We shall see about that. Then I have to revise my classical remark to my scribe Cicero as: Veni, Vici, Vidi; Veni Borders, Vici CliffsNotes, Vade Retro, Vidi Senatorii."





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