The False One Part 4

_Pho._ Or to betray a n.o.ble Friend?

_Sept._ 'Tis all one.

_Pho._ I know thou wilt stir for Gold.

_Sept._ 'Tis all my motion.

_Pho._ There, take that for thy service, and farewel; I have greater business now.

_Sept._ I am still your own, Sir.

_Pho._ One thing I charge thee, see me no more, _Septimius_, Unless I send. [_Exit._

_Sept._ I shall observe your hour.

So, this brings something in the mouth, some savour; This is the Lord I serve, the Power I wors.h.i.+p, My Friends, Allies, and here lies my Allegiance.

Let People talk as they please of my rudeness, And shun me for my deed; bring but this to 'em, (Let me be d.a.m.n'd for blood) yet still I am honourable, This G.o.d creates new tongues, and new affections; And though I had kill'd my Father, give me Gold I'll make men swear I have done a pious Sacrifice; Now I will out-brave all; make all my Servants, And my brave deed shall be writ in Wine, for vertuous. [_Exit._

SCENE III.

_Enter_ Caesar, Antony, Dolabella, Sceva.

_Caes._ Keep strong Guards, and with wary eyes (my friends) There is no trusting to these base _Egyptians_; They that are false to pious benefits, And make compell'd necessities their faiths Are Traitors to the G.o.ds.

_Ant._ We'll call ash.o.r.e A Legion of the best.

_Caes._ Not a Man, _Antony_, That were to shew our fears, and dim our greatness: No, 'tis enough my Name's ash.o.r.e.

_Sce._ Too much too, A sleeping _Caesar_ is enough to shake them; There are some two or three malicious Rascals Train'd up in Villany, besides that _Cerberus_ That _Roman_ Dog, that lick'd the blood of _Pompey_.

_Dol._ 'Tis strange, a _Roman_ Souldier?

_Sce._ You are cozen'd, There be of us as be of all other Nations, Villains, and Knaves; 'tis not the name contains him, But the obedience; when that's once forgotten, And Duty flung away, then welcome Devil.

_Photinus_ and _Achillas_, and this Vermine That's now become a natural Crocodile Must be with care observ'd.

_Ant._ And 'tis well counsel'd No Confidence, nor trust--

_Sce._ I'll trust the Sea first, When with her hollow murmurs she invites me, And clutches in her storms, as politick Lions Conceal their Claws; I'll trust the Devil first.

_Caes._ Go to your rests, and follow your own Wisedoms, And leave me to my thoughts: pray no more complement, Once more strong Watches.

_Dol._ All shall be observ'd, Sir. [_Exit._

_Caes._ I am dull and heavy, yet I cannot sleep, How happy was I in my lawful Wars, In _Germany_, and _Gaul_, and _Britanny_ When every night with pleasure I set down What the day ministred! The sleep came sweetly: But since I undertook this home-division, This civil War, and past the _Rubicon_; What have I done that speaks an ancient _Roman_?

A good, great man? I have enter'd _Rome_ by force, And on her tender Womb (that gave me life) Let my insulting Souldiers rudely trample, The dear Veins of my Country I have open'd, And sail'd upon the torrents that flow'd from her, The b.l.o.o.d.y streams that in their confluence Carried before 'em thousand desolations; I rob'd the Treasury, and at one gripe s.n.a.t.c.h'd all the wealth, so many worthy triumphs Plac'd there as sacred to the Peace of _Rome_; I raz'd _Ma.s.silia_, in my wanton anger: _Petreius_ and _Afranius_ I defeated: _Pompey_ I overthrew: what did that get me?

The slubber'd Name of an authoriz'd Enemy. [_Noise within._ I hear some Noise; they are the Watches sure.

What Friends have I ty'd fast by these ambitions?

_Cato_, the Lover of his Countries freedom, Is now past into _Africk_ to affront me, _Fuba_ (that kill'd my friend) is up in Arms too; The Sons of _Pompey_ are Masters of the Sea, And from the reliques of their scatter'd faction, A new head's sprung; Say I defeat all these too; I come home crown'd an honourable Rebel.

I hear the Noise still, and it still comes nearer; Are the Guards fast? Who waits there?

_Enter_ Sceva _with a Packet_, Cleopatra _in it._

_Sce._ Are ye awake Sir?

_Caes._ I'th' name of Wonder.

_Sce._ Nay, I am a Porter, A strong one too, or else my sides would crack, Sir, And my sins were as weighty, I should scarce walk with 'em.

_Caes._ What hast thou there?

_Sce._ Ask them which stay without, And brought it hither, your Presence I deny'd 'em, And put 'em by; took up the load my self, They say 'tis rich, and valu'd at the Kingdome, I am sure 'tis heavy; if you like to see it You may: if not, I'll give it back.

_Caes._ Stay _Sceva_, I would fain see it.

_Sce._ I'll begin to work then; No doubt, to flatter ye they have sent ye something, Of a rich value, Jewels, or some rich Treasure; May be a Rogue within to do a mischief; I pray you stand farther off, if there be villany, Better my danger first; he shall 'scape hard too, Ha! what art thou?

_Caes._ Stand farther off, good _Sceva_, What heavenly Vision! do I wake or slumber?

Farther off that hand, Friend.

_Sce._ What Apparition?

What Spirit have I rais'd? sure 'tis a Woman, She looks like one; now she begins to move too: A tempting Devil, o' my life; go off, _Caesar_, Bless thy self, off: a Bawd grown in mine old days?

Bawdry advanc'd upon my back? 'tis n.o.ble: Sir, if you be a Souldier come no nearer, She is sent to dispossess you of your honour, A Spunge, a Spunge to wipe away your Victories: And she would be cool'd, Sir, let the Souldiers trim her!

They'll give her that she came for, and dispatch her; Be loyal to your self. Thou d.a.m.ned Woman, Dost thou come hither with thy flourishes, Thy flaunts, and faces to abuse mens manners?

And am I made the instrument of Bawdry?

I'll find a Lover for ye, one that shall hug ye.

_Caes._ Hold, on thy life, and be more temperate, Thou Beast.

_Sce._ Thou Beast?

_Caes._ Could'st thou be so inhumane, So far from n.o.ble Men, to draw thy Weapon Upon a thing divine?

_Sce._ Divine, or humane, They are never better pleas'd, nor more at hearts ease, Than when we draw with full intent upon 'em.

_Caes._ Move this way (Lady) 'Pray ye let me speak to ye.

_Sce._ And Woman, you had best stand.

_Caes._ By the G.o.ds, But that I see her here, and hope her mortal, I should imagine some celestial sweetness, The treasure of soft love.

_Sce._ Oh, this sounds mangily, Poorly, and scurvily in a Souldiers mouth: You had best be troubled with the Tooth-ach too, For Lovers ever are, and let your Nose drop That your celestial Beauty may befriend ye; At these years do you learn to be fantastical?

After so many b.l.o.o.d.y fields, a Fool?

She brings her Bed along too, she'll lose no time, Carries her Litter to lye soft, do you see that?

Invites ye like a Gamester: note that impudence, For shame reflect upon your self, your honour, Look back into your n.o.ble parts, and blush: Let not the dear sweat of the hot _Pharsalia_, Mingle with base _Embraces_; am I he That have receiv'd so many wounds for _Caesar_?

Upon my Target groves of darts still growing?

Have I endur'd all hungers, colds, distresses, And (as I had been bred that Iron that arm'd me) Stood out all weathers, now to curse my fortune?

To ban the blood I lost for such a General?