_Tig._ (_looking up_). Order! who speaks? _Ner. whispers to Tigellinus, who sets two Guards before Nero’s seat._ _Ruf._ (_to Flav._). See, fool; he hath smelt thee. _Tig._ I’ll ask Natalis further if he knew Of any other chief man in the state Cognizant of this plot, or joined therein. _Nat._ Calpurnius Piso was the chief, my lord. _Tig._ No other? and I have here thy writing! _Fla._ (_aside to Rufus_). Now, General, thy turn is come. _Ruf._ (_to Natalis_). Speak, sir! _Nat._ I pray, Rufus, to urge not this: nay, from my heart I say ... _Tig._ ’Tis written here. _Ruf._ This witness, Cæsar, I do not trust. _Tig._ Carry Natalis out To torture. _Nat._ I will speak. _Tig._ Then name, sir, name! _Nat._ Seneca. _Ruf._ Seneca! _Tig._ Yes, Seneca. Let Seneca be arrested. Judge, what sayst thou? _Ruf._ Let Seneca be arrested. _Fla._ (_to Ruf._). Villain thou art! _Ner._ (_to Tigell. who has whispered to him_). Leave Seneca to me. 2270 _Tig._ These are the heads. Now will I read three names: Tell me, Scevinus, if I read aright: Quintian, Senecio, Lucan. _Sce._ I denounce them. _Ner._ Three hypocritical and fawning curs, The lap-dogs of the palace. Where áre they? _Tig._ They are here, Cæsar.—Quintian, stánd forth. _QUINTIAN._ Here, My lord. _Tig._ Dost thou confess? _Qu._ I give Scevinus The lie direct. _Ner._ We found thee in his company, The hour of his arrest. _Qu._ Cæsar, I knew Of nothing ’gainst thy life. ’Tis true that oft I have spoken against Vatinius; were he Cæsar, I should be guilty: but yourself have loved To prick me to it; and so, maybe, my tongue Hath given Scevinus undeserved occasion To think me of his party. _Ner._ Rufus, judge! _Ruf._ I look for evidence. _Tig._ Dost thou?—Then, Quintian, To save thy life wilt thou inform? _Qu._ I will. _Tig._ Then was not Lucan with you? _Qu._ He was. _Ner._ O Quintian, Quintian! if I forgave thee for thy treason, I could not for thy folly. Arrest him. _Ruf._ Arrest Quintian. The next? _Tig._ Senecio, General, hath confessed. His evidence we will take later. Where is Lucan? _Luc._ I am here, my lord, ready to answer. _Ruf._ Then let us hear thine answer.