_Aeci._ Were it fire; And that fire certain to consume this body, If _Cæsar_ sent, I would goe; never fear man, If he take me, he takes his arms away, I am too plain and true to be suspected. _Max._ Then I have dealt unwisely. _Aeci._ If the Emperour, Because he meerely may, will have my life, That's all he has to work on, and all shall have: Let him, he loves me better: here I wither, And happily may live, till ignorantly I run into a fault worth death: nay more, dishonour. Now all my sins, I dare say those of duty Are printed here, and if I fall so happy, I bless the grave I lye in, and the gods Equal, as dying on the Enemy, Must take me up a Sacrifice. _Max._ Goe on then, And I'le goe with ye. _Aeci._ No, ye may not friend. _Max._ He cannot be a friend, bars me _Aecius_, Shall I forsake ye in my doubts? _Aeci._ Ye must. _Max._ I must not, nor I will not; have I liv'd Only to be a Carpet friend for pleasure? I can endure a death as well as _Cato_. _Aeci._ There is no death nor danger in my going, Nor none must goe along. _Max._ I have a sword too, And once I could have us'd it for my friend. _Aeci._ I need no sword, nor friend in this, pray leave me; And as ye love me, do not overlove me; I am commanded none shall come: at supper I'le meet ye, and weel drink a cup or two, Ye need good Wine, ye have been sad: Farewel. _Max._ Farewel my noble friend, let me embrace ye E're ye depart; it may be one of us Shall never do the like again. _Aeci._ Yes often. _Max._ Farewel good dear _Aecius_. _Aeci._ Farewel _Maximus_ Till night: indeed you doubt too much.-- [_Exit._ _Max._ I do not: Goe worthy innocent, and make the number Of _Cæsars_ sins so great, Heaven may want mercy: I'le hover hereabout to know what passes: And if he be so devilish to destroy thee, In thy bloud shall begin his Tragedy.-- [_Exit._ SCENE III. _Enter_ Proculus, _and_ Pontius. _Pro._ Besides this, if you do it, you enjoy The noble name _Patrician_: more than that too, The friend of _Cæsar_ ye are stil'd: there's nothing Within the hopes of _Rome_, or present being, But you may safely say is yours. _Pon._ Pray stay Sir; What has _Aecius_ done to be destroy'd? At least I would have a colour. _Pro._ Ye have more, Nay all that may be given, he is a Traitor, One, any man would strike that were a subject. _Pon._ Is he so foul? _Pro._ Yes, a most fearfull Traytor. _Pon._ A fearfull plague upon thee, for thou lyest; I ever thought the Souldier would undoe him With his too much affection. _Pro._ Ye have hit it, They have brought him to ambition. _Pon._ Then he is gone. _Pro._ The Emperour out of a foolish pitie, Would save him yet.