_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._ SCENA II. _Enter_ Photinus, Achillas, Septimius, _Souldiers._ _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 [n]arrow 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.