SCENE II. Enter PHOTINUS, ACHILLAS, SEPTIMIUS, and Soldiers. Pho. There's no retiring now; we are broke in; The deed past hope of pardon. If we prosper, To dare, and power to do, gave the first difference Achil. The deed is bloody, If we conclude in Ptolomy's death. The globe of empire must be so manured. name, Had her walls watered with a crimson shower, Drained from a brother's heart; nor was she raised To this prodigious height, that overlooks Pho. Well said, Septimius! Thou now art right again. Achil. But what course take we For the princess Cleopatra ? Pho. Let her live A while, to make us sport; she shall authorize Leave me to work her. Achil. I will undertake For Ptolomy. Sept. Cæsar shall be my task; And as in Pompey I began a name, Enter above, CESAR, PTOLOMY, ACHOREUS, We'll force our passage. As they desired a parley. Pho. I am proud yet I have brought them to capitulate. Ptol. Now, Photinus? Pho. Now, Ptolomy! Pho. We are equal, Though Cæsar's name were put into the scale, In which our worth is weighed. Casar. Presumptuous villain! Upon what grounds hast thou presumed to raise Pho. On those, by which Thou didst presume to pass the Rubicon Think on that, Cæsar! Casar. Oh, the gods! be braved thus? And be compelled to bear this from a slave, That would not brook great Pompey his superior! Achil. Thy glories now have touched 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 noble That by thy sword fell in this civil war, Ant. Darest thou speak, and remember Pho. There's no hope to 'scape us! If that, against the odds we have upon you, Ant. Let us die nobly; [Exeunt PHO. ACHIL. SEPT And rather fall upon each other's sword, Than come into these villains' hands. Casar. That fortune, Which to this hour hath been a friend to Cæsar, Though for a while she cloathe her brow with frowns, Will smile again upon me: Who will pay her Her sovereign lord, to end ingloriously low, Sept. I feel my resolution melts again, And that I am not knave alone, but fool, In all my purposes. This devil Photinus Employs me as a property, and, grown useless, Will shake me off again: He told me so, When I killed Pompey; nor can I hope better, When Cæsar is dispatched. Services done For such as only study their own ends, Too great to be rewarded, are returned With deadly hate: I learned this principle In his own school. Yet still he fools me; well; And yet he trusts me: Since I in my nature Was fashioned to be false, wherefore should I, That killed my general, and a Roman, one To whom I owed all nourishments of life, Be true to an Egyptian? To save Cæsar, And turn Photinus' plots on his own head, (As it is in my power) redeem my credit, And live, to lie, and swear again in fashion, Oh, 'twere a master-piece! Ha! curse me! Cæsar? How's he got off? Enter CESAR, PTOLOMY, ANTONY, DOLABELLA, ACHOREUS, APOLLODORUS, and Soldiers. Casar. The fire has took, And shews the city like a second Troy; Make spoil of all: Only Achillas' troops I'll lead you like a thunderbolt! Sept. Stay, Cæsar. Casar. Who's this? the dog Septimius? Dol. You barked but now; fawn you so soon? What I'll deliver is for Cæsar's safety, Ant. Good from a mouth like thine, That never belched but blasphemy and treason, On festival days! Sept. I'm an altered man, Altered indeed; and I will give you cause To say I am a Roman. Dol. Rogue, I grant thee. Sept. Fall me fairly on their throats: Their heads cut off and shorn, the multitude Will easily disperse. Cæsar. Oh, devil! away with him! Make way for us: And that it may appear 1 Sold. Here's a belt; Though I die for it, I'll use it. 2 Sold. 'Tis too good To truss a cur in. Sept. Save me! here is gold. [Exit. Sept. Trust me, I'll make the passage smooth And fury in the soldiers' face more horrid, and easy, For your escape. Ant. I'll trust the devil sooner, And make a safer bargain. Sept. I am trusted With all Photinus' secrets. Ant. There's no doubt then, Sept. Still to be true to you. Circle us round! Enter PHOTINUS. Eros. Oh, a man in arms! His weapon drawn too! Cleo. Though upon the point Death sat, I'll meet it, and out-dare the danger. Pho. Keep the watch strong; and guard the passage sure, That leads unto the sea. Cleo. What sea of rudeness Breaks in upon us? or what subject's breath Be swallowed up, remember who I am, ness From running headlong on to thy confusion. Pho. Plead my pardon! To you I bow; but scorn as much to stoop thus And change my essence with a sensual beast: Cleo. How durst thou, being The scorn of baseness, nourish such a thought! Pho. They, that have power, are royal; and those base, That live at the devotion of another. To which all hearts, with mine, gladly pay tri bute, Photinus' name had long since been as great And cannot hear thee: Or, with open eyes Did Jove look on us, I would laugh and swear That his artillery is cloyed by me: Or, if that they have power to hurt, his bolts Are in my hand. Cleo. Most impious! Pho. They are dreams, Religious fools shake at. Yet to assure thee, Cleo. To prevent thee, In that I am the mistress of my fate, So hope I of my sister: to confirm it, I spit at thee, and scorn thee! Pho. I will tame 'Tis deadly aconite to my cold heart; It choaks my vital spirits! Where was your care? Did the guards sleep? Achil. He roused them with his sword; (We talk of Mars, but I am sure his courage Admits of no comparison but itself!) And, as inspired by him, his following friends, With such a confidence as young eaglets prey, Under the large wing of their fiercer dam, Brake through our troops, and scattered them. He went on, But still pursued by us: When, on the sudden, He turned his head, and from his eyes flew terror,| Which struck in us no less fear and amazement, Than if we had encounter'd with the lightning, Hurled from Jove's cloudy brow. Cleo. 'Twas like my Cæsar! Achil. We fallen back, he made on; and, as Had parted from us with his dreadful looks, Mountains fall on me! Oh, for him to die, BELLA. [Exit. Casar. Look on your Cæsar! banish fear, my fairest ; You now are safe! Sce. By Venus, not a kiss 'Till our work be done! The traitors once dispatched, To it, and we'll cry aim. Casar. I will be speedy. [Exeunt CESAR and train. Cleo. Farewell again!-Arsinoe! How now, Eros. But that I am assured Cleo. He is all honour; Nor do I now repent me of my favours, Enter CÆSAR, SCEVA, ANTONY, Dolabella, and Soldiers, with the heads. Ars. He's come back. Casar. Pursue no further; curb the soldiers' fury! See, beauteous mistress, their accursed heads, That did conspire against us. Sce. Furies plague them! They had too fair an end, to die like soldiers: Pompey fell by the sword; the cross or halter Should have dispatched them. Casar. All's but death, good Sceva; Be therefore satisfied. And now, my dearest, Look upon Cæsar, as he still appeared, |