SCENA II.
Enter Photinus, Achillas, Septimius, Souldiers.
Pho. There's no retiring now, we are broke in:
The deed past hope of pardon: if we prosper
'Twill be stil'd lawful!, and we shall give laws
To those that now command us: stop not at
Or loyalty, or duty: bold ambition,
To dare and power to do, gave the first difference
Between the King, and subject, Cæsars Motto,
Aut Cæsar aut Nihil, each of us must claim,
And use it as our own.
Achil. The deed is bloody
If we conclude in Ptolomies death.
Pho. The better,
The globe of Empire must be so manur'd.
Sep. Rome, that from Romulus first took her name,
Had her walls water'd with a Crimson showr
Drain'd from a Brothers heart: nor was she rais'd
To this prodigious height, that overlooks
Three full parts of the Earth, that pay her tribute,
But by enlarging of her narrow bounds
By the Sack of Neighbour Cities, not made hers
Till they were Cemented with the Blood of those
That did possess 'em: Cæsar, Ptolomy,
(Now I am steel'd) to me are empty names
Esteem'd as Pompeys was.
Pho. Well said Septimius,
Thou now art right again.
Achil. But what course take we
For the Princess Cleopatra?
Pho. Let her live
Awhile to make us sport: she shall authorize
Our undertakings to the ignorant people,
As if what we do were by her command:
But our triumvirat Government once confirm'd,
She bears her Brother company, that's my Province:
Leave me to work her.
Achil. I will undertake
For Ptolomy.
Sep. Cæsar shall be my task,
And as in Pompey I began a name
I'le perfect it in Cæsar.
Enter (above) Cæsar, Ptolomy, Achoreus, Apollodorus, Antony, Dolabella.
Pho. 'Tis resolv'd then,
We'll force our passage.
Achil. See, they do appear
As they desir'd a Parley.
Pho. I am proud yet
I have brought 'em to capitulate.
Ptol. Now, Photinus?
Pho. Now, Ptolomy?
Ptol. No addition?
Pho. We are equal,
Though Cæsars name were put into the scale,
In which our worth is weigh'd.
Cæs. 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 pass 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
Pronounc'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, Cæsar.
Cæs. O the gods! 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 noble 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 nobly;
And rather fall upon each others Sword
Than come into these Villains hands.
Cæs. That Fortune,
Which to this hour hath been a Friend to Cæsar,
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 Cæsar, with this handful of my friends
Through Fire, and Swords I force a passage to
My conquering Legions. King, if thou dar'd follow
Where Cæsar 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.