The False One Part 14

_Ptol._ Now, _Photinus_?

_Pho._ Now, _Ptolomy_?

_Ptol._ No addition?

_Pho._ We are equal, Though _Caesars_ name were put into the scale, In which our worth is weigh'd.

_Caes._ Presumptuous Villain, Upon what grounds hast thou presum'd to raise Thy servile hand against the King, or me, That have a greater name?

_Pho._ On those, by which Thou didst presume to pa.s.s the _Rubicon_ Against the Laws of _Rome_; and at the name Of Traitor smile; as thou didst when _Marcellus_, The Consul, with the _Senates_ full consent p.r.o.nounc'd thee for an Enemy to thy Country, Yet thou wentst on, and thy rebellious Cause Was crown'd with fair success: Why should we fear then?

Think on that, _Caesar_.

_Caes._ O the G.o.ds! be brav'd thus, And be compell'd to bear this from a Slave That would not brook Great _Pompey_ his Superiour?

_Achil._ Thy glories now have toucht the highest point, And must descend.

_Pho._ Despair, and think we stand The Champions of _Rome_, to wreak her wrongs, Upon whose liberty thou hast set thy foot.

_Sept._ And that the Ghosts of all those n.o.ble _Romans_ That by thy Sword fell in this Civil War Expect revenge.

_Ant._ Dar'st thou speak, and remember There was a _Pompey_?

_Pho._ There is no hope to 'scape us: If that against the odds we have upon you You dare come forth, and fight, receive the honour To dye like _Romans_, if ye faint, resolve To starve like Wretches; I disdain to change Another syllable with you. [_Exeunt._

_Ant._ Let us dye n.o.bly; And rather fall upon each others Sword Than come into these Villains hands.

_Caes._ That Fortune, Which to this hour hath been a Friend to _Caesar_, Though for a while she cloath her Brow with frowns, Will smile again upon me: who will pay her, Or sacrifice, or Vows, if she forsake Her best of works in me? or suffer him, Whom with a strong hand she hath led triumphant Through the whole western world, and _Rome_ acknowledg'd Her Soveraign Lord, to end in-gloriously A life admir'd by all? The threatned danger Must by a way more horrid be avoided, And I will run the hazard; Fire the Palace, And the rich Magazines that neighbour it, In which the Wealth of _Egypt_ is contain'd: Start not, it shall be so; that while the people Labour in quenching the ensuing flames, Like Caesar, with this handful of my friends Through Fire, and Swords I force a pa.s.sage to My conquering Legions. King, if thou dar'd follow Where _Caesar_ leads, or live or dye a Free-man; If not, stay here a Bond-man to thy Slave, And dead, be thought unworthy of a Grave. [_Exeunt._

SCENE III.

_Enter_ Septimius.

_Sept._ I feel my resolution melts again And that I am not Knave alone, but fool, In all my purposes. The Devil, _Photinus_, Employs me as a Property, and grown useless Will shake me off again; he told me so When I kill'd _Pompey_; nor can I hope better, When _Caesar_ is dispatch'd; Services done For such as only study their own ends, Too great to be rewarded, are return'd With deadly hate; I learn'd this Principle In his own School, yet still he fools me, well; And yet he trusts me: Since I in my nature Was fashion'd to be false, wherefore should I That kill'd my General, and a _Roman_, one To whom I ow'd all nourishments of life, Be true to an _Egyptian_? To save _Caesar_, And turn _Photinus's_ plots on his own head, As it is in my power, redeem my credit, And live to lye and swear again in fashion, Oh, 'twere a master-piece! ha!--me _Caesar_, How's he got off?

_Enter_ Caesar, Ptolomy, Antony, Dolabella, Ach.o.r.eus, Apollodorus, _Souldiers._

_Caes._ The fire has took, And shews the City like a second _Troy_, The Navy too is scorch'd, the people greedy To save their Wealth and Houses, whilst their Souldiers Make spoil of all; only _Achillas's_ Troops Make good their Guard, break through them, we are safe; I'll lead you like a Thunder-bolt.

_Sept._ Stay, _Caesar_.

_Caes._ Who's this? the Dog, _Septimius_?

_Ant._ Cut his throat.

_Dol._ You bark'd but now, fawn you so soon?

_Sept._ O hear me, What I'll deliver is for _Caesars_ safety, For all your good.

_Ant._ Good from a mouth like thine, That never belch'd but blasphemy, and treason on Festival days!

_Sept._ I am an altered man, altered indeed, And will give you cause to say I am a _Roman_.

_Dol._ Rogue, I grant thee.

_Sept._ Trust me, I'll make the pa.s.sage smooth, and easie For your escape.

_Ant._ I'll trust the Devil sooner, And make a safer Bargain.

_Sept._ I am trusted With all _Photinus's_ secrets.

_Ant._ There's no doubt then Thou wilt be false.

_Sept._ Still to be true to you.

_Dol._ And very likely.

_Caes._ Be brief, the means?

_Sept._ Thus, _Caesar_, To me alone, but bound by terrible oaths Not to discover it, he hath reveal'd A dismal Vault, whose dreadful mouth does open A mile beyond the City: in this Cave Lye but two hours conceal'd.

_Ant._ If you believe him, He'll bury us alive.

_Dol._ I'll flye in the Air first.

_Sept._ Then in the dead of night I'll bring you back Into a private room, where you shall find _Photinus_, and _Achillas_, and the rest Of their Commanders close at Council.

_Caes._ Good, what follows?

_Sept._ Fall me fairly on their throats, Their heads cut off and shorn, the mult.i.tude Will easily disperse.

_Caes._ O Devil! away with him; Nor true to Friend nor Enemy? _Caesar_ scorns To find his safety, or revenge his wrongs So base a way; or owe the means of life To such a leprous Traytor, I have towr'd For Victory like a Faulcon in the Clouds, Nor dig'd for't like a Mole; our Swords and Cause Make way for us, and that it may appear We took a n.o.ble Course, and hate base Treason, Some Souldiers that would merit _Caesar's_ favour, Hang him on yonder Turret, and then follow The lane this Sword makes for you. [_Exit._

_1 Sold._ Here's a Belt, Though I dye for it I'll use it.

_2 Sold._ 'Tis too good To truss a Cur in.

_Sept._ Save me, here's Gold.

_1 Sold._ If _Rome_ Were offered for thy ransom, it could not help thee.

_2 Sold._ Hang not an a.r.s.e.

_1 Sold._ Goad him on with thy Sword; Thou dost deserve a worser end, and may All such conclude so, that their friends betray. [_Exeunt._

SCENE IV.