Actus Quintus. Scena Prima.

Ant. The tumult still encreases. Cæsar. O my fortune! My lustfull folly rather! but 'tis well, And worthily I am made a bondsmans prey, That after all my glorious victories, In which I pass'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 noble Pompeys death, And yet that could not warn me. Dol. Be still Cæsar, 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 assure you Photinus nor Achillas durst attempt you, Or shake one Dart, or sword, aim'd at your safety, Without their warrant. Cæsar. 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. Cæsar. He comes: and I Shall do as I find cause.

Ptol. Let not great Cæsar 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 bloody 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 Cæsar 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. Cæsar. 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 Gods, 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. Cæsar. Cæsar 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 Gods must yield, and I obey, 'Till I redeem it by some glorious way. [Exeunt.

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.

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.