The False One Part 13

_Achil._ Yes: and is honour'd for it; Nay call'd the honour'd _Caesar_, so maist thou be: Thou wert born as near a Crown as he.

_Sep._ He was poor.

_Pho._ And desperate b.l.o.o.d.y tricks got him this credit.

_Sep._ I am afraid you will once more--

_Pho._ Help to raise thee: Off with thy pining black, it dulls a Souldier, And put on resolution like a man, A n.o.ble Fate waits on thee.

_Sep._ I now feel My self returning Rascal speedily.

O that I had the power--

_Achil._ Thou shalt have all: And do all through thy power, men shall admire thee, And the vices of _Septimius_ shall turn vertues.

_Sep._ Off: off: thou must off: off my cowardize, Puling repentance off.

_Pho._ Now thou speakst n.o.bly.

_Sep._ Off my dejected looks: and welcom impudence: My daring shall be Deity, to save me: Give me instructions, and put action on me: A glorious cause upon my swords point, Gentlemen, And let my wit, and valour work: you will raise me, And make me out-dare all my miseries?

_Pho._ All this, and all thy wishes.

_Sep._ Use me then, Womanish fear farewell: I'le never melt more, Lead on, to some great thing, to wake my spirit: I cut the Cedar _Pompey_, and I'le fell This huge Oak _Caesar_ too.

_Pho._ Now thou singst sweetly: And _Ptolomy_ shall crown thee for thy service.

_Achil._ He's well wrought: put him on apace for cooling.

[_Exeunt._

_ACTUS QUINTUS. SCENA PRIMA._

_Enter_ Caesar, Antony, Dolabella.

_Ant._ The tumult still encreases.

_Caesar_. O my fortune!

My l.u.s.tfull folly rather! but 'tis well, And worthily I am made a bondsmans prey, That after all my glorious victories, In which I pa.s.s'd so many Seas of dangers, When all the Elements conspir'd against me, Would yield up the dominion of this head To any mortal power: so blind and stupid, To trust these base _Egyptians_, that proclaim'd Their perjuries, in n.o.ble _Pompeys_ death, And yet that could not warn me.

_Dol._ Be still _Caesar_, Who ever lov'd to exercise his fate, Where danger look't most dreadful.

_Ant._ If you fall, Fall not alone: let the King and his Sister Be buried in your ruines: on my life They both are guilty: reason may a.s.sure you _Photinus_ nor _Achillas_ durst attempt you, Or shake one Dart, or sword, aim'd at your safety, Without their warrant.

_Caesar_. For the young King I know not How he may be misled; but for his Sister (Unequall'd _Cleopatra_) 'twere a kind Of blasphemy to doubt her: ugly treason Durst never dwell in such a glorious building, Nor can so clear and great a spirit, as hers is, Admit of falsehood.

_Ant._ Let us seize on him then: And leave her to her fortune.

_Dol._ If he have power Use it to your security, and let His honesty acquit him: if he be false It is too great an honour he should dye By your victorious hand.

_Caesar_. He comes: and I Shall do as I find cause.

_Enter_ Ptolomy, Ach.o.r.eus, Apollodorus.

_Ptol._ Let not great _Caesar_ Impute the breach of hospitality, To you (my guest) to me; I am contemn'd, And my rebellious subjects lift their hands Against my head: and would they aim'd no farther, Provided that I fell a sacrifice To gain you safety: that this is not feign'd, The boldness of my innocence may confirm you: Had I been privy to their b.l.o.o.d.y plot, I now had led them on, and given fair gloss To their bad cause, by being present with them: But I that yet taste of the punishment, In being false to _Pompey_, will not make A second fault to _Caesar_ uncompel'd With such as have not yet shook off obedience, I yield my self to you, and will take part In all your dangers.

_Caesar_. This pleads your excuse, And I receive it.

_Ach._ If they have any touch Of justice, or religion, I will use The authority of our G.o.ds, to call them back From their bad purpose.

_Apo._ This part of the palace Is yet defensible: we may make it good, Till your powers rescue us.

_Caesar_. _Caesar_ besieg'd?

O stain to my great actions: 'twas my custom, An Army routed, as my feet had wings To be first in the chase: nor walls, nor Bulworks Could guard those that escap'd the Battels fury From this strong Arm; and I to be enclos'd?

My heart! my heart! but 'tis necessity, To which the G.o.ds must yield, and I obey, 'Till I redeem it by some glorious way. [_Exeunt._

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, _Caesars Motto_, _Aut Caesar aut Nihil_, each of us must claim, And use it as our own.

_Achil._ The deed is b.l.o.o.d.y 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 [n]arrow bounds By the Sack of Neighbour Cities, not made hers Till they were Cemented with the Blood of those That did possess 'em: _Caesar, 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._ _Caesar_ shall be my task, And as in _Pompey_ I began a name I'le perfect it in _Caesar_.

_Enter (above)_ Caesar, Ptolomy, Ach.o.r.eus, Apollodorus, Antony, Dolabella.

_Pho._ 'Tis resolv'd then, We'll force our pa.s.sage.

_Achil._ See, they do appear As they desir'd a Parley.

_Pho._ I am proud yet I have brought 'em to capitulate.