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 Cæsar 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 Cæsar,
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 Cæsar,
How's he got off?
Enter Cæsar, Ptolomy, Antony, Dolabella, Achoreus, Apollodorus, Souldiers.
Cæs. 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, Cæsar.
Cæs. 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 Cæsars 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 passage 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.
Cæs. Be brief, the means?
Sept. Thus, Cæsar,
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.
Cæs. Good, what follows?
Sept. Fall me fairly on their throats,
Their heads cut off and shorn, the multitude
Will easily disperse.
Cæs. O Devil! away with him;
Nor true to Friend nor Enemy? Cæsar 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 noble Course, and hate base Treason,
Some Souldiers that would merit Cæsar'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 arse.
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.