_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._