_Sce._ O spare me, good Tigellinus! Spare me, I pray, kind Tigellinus, spare me! _Tig._ Shall I? and if I do, what is it worth? Hast thou two thousand sesters? _Sce._ Oh, my lord, I have not the tenth of it. _Tig._ (_calling_). Guards! _Sce._ I swear I have not. (_Enter Guards._) _Tig._ Get up, that is the price.—Guards, take him off.— I’ll make good use of thee. _Sce._ Sir, I might find it. _Tig._ (_motioning Guards back_). Hark, thou canst raise the money, and mayst write From prison to thy friends: and if ’tis paid To me to-night, I will respect thy wish.— Guards, take this prisoner to the outer cell; Let him there write what missives he desires, And see they be delivered in the city. [_Exeunt severally._ SCENE ·• 2 _A room in the house of Piso._ _Enter FLAVUS and PISO, meeting._ _FLAVUS._ My lord, I come from Rufus. _PISO._ Give thy message. _Fla._ Natalis and Scevinus both are taken. All must be known; and your complicity The first: meanwhile Rufus is unsuspected; Cæsar hath summoned him to sit as judge In trial of the accused this afternoon. He has therefore this last hope, but only this, That you with all your friends proceed at once To the fort of the guard: he will proclaim you there, Relying on the people, who well know Your prudence, and may passively accept The revolution as a thing accomplished. Seeing you countenance it, and have your title Supported by the guards. _Pis._ Calls he this hope? ’Tis the forlorn hope. _Fla._ Desperation, my lord, Is not despair. I venture it with gladness. _Pis._ So do not I. I am no doubt betrayed Already and watched. _Fla._ Rufus may still be clear: The informers will not name him while the guards Remain their last resource. _Pis._ Bid him act quickly, And for himself. _Fla._ My lord, he looks to you. Unless you appear we cannot gain the people. Consider how we have all trusted our lives To your concerted action: now stand forth And help us as you can.