_Cæs._ That Fortune, Which to this hour hath been a Friend to _Cæsar_, Though for a while she cloath her Brow with frowns, Will smile again upon me: who will pay her, Or sacrifice, or Vows, if she forsake Her best of works in me? or suffer him, Whom with a strong hand she hath led triumphant Through the whole western world, and _Rome_ acknowledg'd Her Soveraign Lord, to end in-gloriously A life admir'd by all? The threatned danger Must by a way more horrid be avoided, And I will run the hazard; Fire the Palace, And the rich Magazines that neighbour it, In which the Wealth of _Egypt_ is contain'd: Start not, it shall be so; that while the people Labour in quenching the ensuing flames, Like Cæsar, with this handful of my friends Through Fire, and Swords I force a passage to My conquering Legions. King, if thou dar'd follow Where _Cæsar_ leads, or live or dye a Free-man; If not, stay here a Bond-man to thy Slave, And dead, be thought unworthy of a Grave. [_Exeunt._ SCENE III. _Enter_ Septimius. _Sept._ I feel my resolution melts again And that I am not Knave alone, but fool, In all my purposes. The Devil, _Photinus_, Employs me as a Property, and grown useless Will shake me off again; he told me so When I kill'd _Pompey_; nor can I hope better, When _Cæsar_ is dispatch'd; Services done For such as only study their own ends, Too great to be rewarded, are return'd With deadly hate; I learn'd this Principle In his own School, yet still he fools me, well; And yet he trusts me: Since I in my nature Was fashion'd to be false, wherefore should I That kill'd my General, and a _Roman_, one To whom I ow'd all nourishments of life, Be true to an _Egyptian_? To save _Cæsar_, And turn _Photinus's_ plots on his own head, As it is in my power, redeem my credit, And live to lye and swear again in fashion, Oh, 'twere a master-piece! ha!--me _Cæsar_, How's he got off? _Enter_ Cæsar, Ptolomy, Antony, Dolabella, Achoreus, Apollodorus, _Souldiers._ _Cæs._ The fire has took, And shews the City like a second _Troy_, The Navy too is scorch'd, the people greedy To save their Wealth and Houses, whilst their Souldiers Make spoil of all; only _Achillas's_ Troops Make good their Guard, break through them, we are safe; I'll lead you like a Thunder-bolt. _Sept._ Stay, _Cæsar_. _Cæs._ Who's this? the Dog, _Septimius_? _Ant._ Cut his throat. _Dol._ You bark'd but now, fawn you so soon? _Sept._ O hear me, What I'll deliver is for _Cæsars_ safety, For all your good. _Ant._ Good from a mouth like thine, That never belch'd but blasphemy, and treason on Festival days! _Sept._ I am an altered man, altered indeed, And will give you cause to say I am a _Roman_. _Dol._ Rogue, I grant thee. _Sept._ Trust me, I'll make the passage smooth, and easie For your escape.