_Luc._ I deny The charge of treason: but so far confess My intimacy with the accused, that oft My zeal for senatorial forms hath led me To listen to them, when the words that passed Might tell against me: and if I was betrayed By antiquarian taste, to trust these men 2300 Against advice and warning ... _Ner._ Ah! thou sayest Against advice. Who warned thee? _Luc._ Cæsar, I said ... _Ner._ Sir, I will know who warned thee of this plot, And warned not me. _Luc._ Sire, I meant not so much. _Tig._ We heard thee. _Luc._ I make appeal to Rufus, whether I must betray the innocent. _Ner._ If thou look For thine own pardon. _Tig._ We can make thee speak. _Ruf._ Tell us, sir, who these wondrous patriots were, Who set thy private safety above Cæsar’s. _Luc._ If Cæsar bids me speak, I may hide nothing. I will confess it was my mother, Atilia, Who warned me against these men. Punish not her For not betraying her son. _Ner._ Nay, sir, but thee Who in this bungle of prevarication Betrayest thine own mother. Judge! _Ruf._ Arrest him. _Luc._ I am arrested, Cæsar, not condemned. _Ner._ Thou’lt see. Stand by!—(_To Tigell._) Another woman! why Comes not Epicharis? _Tig._ I know no cause For the delay. I’ll send again. _Ner._ Do so. (_To Scevinus._) Go on, sir: who is next? _Sce._ Plautius Lateranus. _Ner._ Plautius Lateranus! Have more care Whom thou accusest. This is one bounden to me By special favours: from disgrace I raised him To sit among the senate, and now he is chosen Consul. _Tig._ Dost thou denounce him? _Sce._ I do, my lord. 2325 _Ner._ Whom then can Cæsar trust? Judge, Rufus, judge! _Tig._ Judge! _Ruf._ Let him be arrested. _Ner._ Send to his house. _Enter an Officer._ _OFFICER._ Cæsar, being sent to arrest Calpurnius Piso, We found him dead. _Ruf._ Dead! how? _Ner._ Is Piso dead? _Fla._ (_to Rufus_). See how thou hast ruined all! _Ruf._ (_to Flavus_). Speak not to me! _Off._ He died by his own hand as we arrived. I viewed the body. _Tig._ He must have killed himself To escape the confiscation. _Ner._ Bah! he hath robbed The treasury. _Tig._ We shall have pickings yet. _Ruf._ Cæsar, the untimely suicide of the accused Confirms the charge against him in so far As he hath declined to meet it. But the trial Falls to the ground: we lose both the defence And the chief witness.