 | The False One |  |
138
Actus Quintus
Scena Prima.
Enter Cæsar, Antony, Dollabella.Ant.
The tumult still encreases.
Cæsar.
O my fortune!
My lustfull folly rather! but 'tis well,
And worthily I am made a bondmans prey,
That after all my glorious victoryes,
In which I pass'd so many seas of dangers:
When all the Elements conspir'd against me,
Would yeild up the dominion of this head
To any mortall power; so blinde and stupid:
To trust these base Egyptians, that proclaim'd
Their periuries, in noble Pompeys death,
And yet that could not warn me.
Dol.
Be still, Cæsar,
Who ever lov'd to exercise his fate,
Where danger look't most dreadfull.
Ant.
If you fall,
Fall not alone: let the King and his Sister
Be buried in your ruines: on my life
They both are guilty: reason may assure you
Photinus nor Achillas durst attempt you,
Or shake one Dart, or Sword, aim'd at your safety,
Without their warrant.
Cæsar.
For the young King I know not
How he may be misled; but for his Sister
(Unequall'd Cleopatra) 'twere a kinde
Of blasphemy to doubt her: ougly treason
Durst never dwell in such a glorious building,
Nor can so cleare and great a spirit, as hers is,
Admit of falsehood.
Ant.
Let us seize on him then:
And leave her to her fortune.
Dol.
If he have power
Use it to your security, and let
His honesty acquit him; if he be fase,
It is too great an honour he should dye
By your victorious hand.
Cæsar.
He comes: and I
Shall do as I finde cause.
Enter Ptolomy, Achoreus, Apollodorus.
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 gaine you safety: that this is not faign'd,
The boldnesse of my innocence may confirme you:
Had I bin privy to their bloody plot,
I now had led them on, and given faire glosse
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 uncompell'd
With such as have not yet shooke off obedience,
I yeild my selfe to you, and will take part
In all your dangers.
Cæsar.
This pleades your excuse,
And I receive it.
Ach.
If they have any touch,
Of justice, or religion, I will use
The athority of our Gods, to call them back,
From their bad purpose.
Ap.
This part of the pallace,
Is yet defensible: we may make it good,
Till your powers rescue us.
Cæsar.
Cæsar beseig'd?
Ostaine to my great actions: 'twas my custome
An Army routed, as my feete had wings
To be first in the chase: nor walls, nor Bulworkes
Could guard those that escap'd the Battailes fury
From this strong Arme, and I to be enclos'd
My heart! my hart! but 'tis necessity,
To which the Gods must yeild, and I obey,
'Till I redeeme it, by some glorious way.
Exeunt.
Scena Secunda.
Enter Photinus, Achillas, Septinius, Souldiers.Pho.
Ther's no retiring now, we are broke in:
The deed past hope of pardon: if we prosper
A will be stilde lawfull, and we shall give lawes
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
Betweene the King, and subject, Cæsars Motto,
Aut Cæsar aut Nihil, each of us must claime,
And use it as our owne.
Achil.
The deed is bloody
If we conclude in Ptolomies death.
Pho.
The better
The globe of Empire must be so manur.
Sep.
Rome, that from Romulus first tooke her name
Had her walls watered with a Crymson showr
Draind 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 narrow bounds
By the Sack of Neighbour Cities, were made hers
Till they were Cemented with the Blood of those
That did possesse 'em: Cæsar, Ptolomy,
(Now I am steeld) to me are empty names
Esteem'd as Pompeys was.
Pho.
Well said Septinius,
Thou now art right againe.
Achil.
But what course take we
For the Princesse Cleopatra?
Pho.
Let her live
A while 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,
Shee beares her Brother company, that's my Province:
Leave me to work her.
Achil.
I will undertake
For Ptolomy.
Sep.
Cesar shall be my taske,
And as in Pompey I began a name,
I'le perfect it in Cæsar.
Enter (above) Cæsar, Ptolomy, Achoreus, Appollodorus, Anthony, Dollabella.
Pho.
'Tis resolv'd then
139
Achil.
See: they do appeare
As they desir'd a parley.
Pho.
I am proud yet
I have brought them to capitulate.
Ptol.
Now Photinus?
Pho.
Now Ptolomy?
Ptol.
No addition?
Pho.
We are equall,
Though Cæsars name were put into the scale,
In which our worth is weighd.
Cæsar.
Presumptuous Villaine,
Upon what grounds hast thou presum'd to raise
Thy servile hand against the King, or me,
That have a greater name?
Pho.
On those, by which
Thou didst presume to passe the Rubicon
Against the Laws of Rome; and at the name
Of traytor smile, as thou didst when Marcellus
The Consull, with the Senats full consent
Pronounc'd thee for an enemy to thy Country,
Yet thou wentst on, and thy rebellious Cause
Was crown'd with fair success: why should we fear then?
Think on that Cæsar.
Cæsar.
O the gods! be brav'd thus?
And be compelld to beare this from a slave
That would not brooke great Pompey his Superiour?
Achil.
Thy glories now have touch'd the highest point,
And must descend.
Pho.
Despaire, and thinke we stand
The Champions of Rome, to wreak her wrongs
Upon whose liberty thou hast set thy foote.
Sep.
And that the ghosts of all those noble Romans
That by thy sword fell in this Civill warre,
Expect revenge.
Ant.
Dar'st thou speak, and remember
There was a Pompey?
Pho.
There is no hope to scape us:
If that against the odds we have upon you
You dare come forth and fight, receive the honour
To dye, like Romans, if ye faint, resolve
To starve, like wretches: I disdain to change
Exit.
Another syllable with you.
Ant.
Let us dye nobly:
And rather fall upon each others sword
Then come into these villains hands.
Cæsar.
That Fortune
Which to this howre 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 vowes, 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, & Rome acknowledgd
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 Pallace,
And the rich Magazines that neighbour it,
In which the wealth of Ægypt is contain'd:
Start not, it shall be so; that while the people
Labour in quenching the ensuing flames,
Like Cæsar, with this handfull of my friends
Through fire, and swords, I force a passage to
My conquering Legions. King, if thou darst 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.
Scena Tertia.
Enter Septinius.Sep.
I feele my resolution melts againe,
And that I am not knave alone, but foole
In all my purposes. This Devill Photinus
Employs me, as a property, and grown uselesse
Will shake me off againe: 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 owne ends,
Too great to be rewarded, or return'd
With deadly hate; I learnd this principle
In his own Schoole: yet still he fooles 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 Generall, and a Roman, one
To whom I owe all nourishments of life
Be true to an Ægyptian? to save Cæsar,
And turn Photinus 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, Dollabella. Achoreus, Appollodorus, Souldiers.
Cæsar.
The fire has tooke,
And shews the City, like a second Troy,
The Navy too is scorch'd, the people greedy
To save their wealth, and houses, while their souldiers
Make spoile of all: only Achillas troops
Make good their guard: break through them, we are safe:
I'le lead you like a Thunder-bolt.
Sep.
Stay Cæsar.
Cæsar.
Who's this? the dog Septinius?
Ant.
Cut his throat.
Dol.
You barkt but now, fawne you so soone?
Sep.
O heare me,
What I'le deliver is for Cæsars safety,
For all your good.
Ant.
Good from a moneth like thine,
That never belch'd but blasphemy & treason, on Festivall dayes
Sep.
I am an altered man: altered indeed,
And I will give you cause to say I am a Roman.
Dol.
Rogue, I grant thee.
Sep.
Trust me, I'le make the passage smooth and easy,
For your escape.
Ant.
I'le trust the Devill sooner,
And make a safer bargaine.
Sep.
I am trusted,
With all Photinus secrets.
Ant.
There's no doubt then,
Thou wilt be false.
Sep.
Still to be true to you.
Dol.
And very likely.
Cæsar.
Be breife, the meanes?
Sep.
Thus Cæsar:
To me alone, but bound by terrible oathes
Not to discover it, he hath reveal'd
A dismall vault, whose dreadfull mouth do's open
A mile beyond the Citty: in this cave
Lye but two houres conceal'd.
Ant.
If you believe him,
Hee'le bury us alive.
Dol.
I'le fly in the ayre first.
Sep.
Then in the dead of night, I'le bring you backe.
Into a private roome, where you shall finde
140
Of their Commanders, close at Counsell.
Cæsar.
Good: what followes?
Sep.
Fall me fairly on their throates,
Their heads cut off and shorn, the multitude
Will easily disperse.
Cæsar.
O Devill! away with him:
Nor true to friend nor enemy? Cæsar scornes
To find his safety, or revenge his wrongs
So base a way: or owe the meanes of life
To such a leaprous Traytor. I have towr'd
For victory like a Faulcon in the clouds,
Not dig'd for't like a Moale: our Swords, and Cause
Make way for us; and that it may appeare
We tooke a noble course, and hate base Treason,
Some souldiers, that would merit Cæsars favour,
Hang him on yonder turret, and then follow
The lane, this sword makes for you.
Exit.
1 Sold.
Here's a Belt,
Though I dye for it I'le use it.
2 Sold.
Tis too good
To trusse a Cur in.
Sep.
Save me, here's gold.
1 Sold.
If Rome
Were offered for thy ransome, it could not help thee.
2 Sold.
Hang not an arse.
1 Sold.
Goad him on with thy sword:
Thou dost deserve a worser end; and may
All such conclude so, that their friends betray.
Exeunt.
Scena Quarta.
Enter (severally) Arsino, Eros, Cleopatra.Ar.
We are lost.
Eros.
Undon.
Ar.
Confusion, Fire, and Swords,
And fury in the souldiers face, more horrid
Circle us round.
Eros.
The Kings command they laugh at,
And jeere at Cæsars threats.
Ars.
My brother seizd on
By the Roman, as thought guilty of the tumult,
And forc'd to beare him company, as mark'd out
For his protection, or revenge.
Eros.
They have broke
Into my Cabinet: my Trunks are ransak'd.
Ar.
I have lost my Jewels too; but thats the least:
The barbarous Rascalls, against all humanity,
Or sense of pity, have kill'd my little dog,
And broke my monkeys chaine.
Eros.
They rufled me:
But that I could endure, and tire 'em too,
Would they proceed no further.
Ar.
O my sister!
Eros.
My Queen, my Mistresse!
Ar.
Can you stand unmov'd
When an Earth-quake of rebellion shakes the City?
And the Court trembles?
Cleo.
Yes Arsino,
And with a masculine constancy deride
Fortunes worst malice, as a servant to
My Vertues, not a Mistress: then we forsake
The strong fort of our selves, when we once yield,
Or shrink at her assaults; I am still my selfe,
And though dis-roab'd of Soveraignty, and ravisht
Of ceremonious duty, that attends it,
Nay, grant they had slav'd my body, my free mind
Like to the Palm-tree, walling fruitfull Nyle,
Shall grow up straighter, and enlarge it selfe
Spight of the envious weight that loads it with:
Think of thy birth (Arsino) common burthens
Fit common shoulders: teach the multitude
By suffering nobly what they feare to touch at:
The greatnesse of thy mind does so are a pitch,
Their dim eyes (darkned by their narrow soules)
Cannot arrive at.
Ar.
I am new created,
And owe this second being to you (best sister)
For now I feele you have infus'd into me
Part of your fortitude.
Eros.
I still am fearfull:
I dare not tell a lye: you that were born
Daughters, and Sisters unto Kings, may nourish
Great thoughts, which I, that am your humble handmaid
Must not presume to ryvall.
Cleo.
Yet (my Eros)
Though thou hast profited nothing, by observing
The whole course of my life, learn in my death,
Though not to equall, yet to imitate
Thy fearlesse Mistresse.
Enter Photinus.
Eros.
O, a man in armes?
His weapon drawn too?
Cleo.
Though upon the point
Death sate, I'le meete it, and out-dare the danger.
Pho.
Keep the watch strong, and guard the passage sure
That leads unto the Sea.
Cleo.
What sea of rudenesse
Breaks in upon us? or what Subjects breath
Dare raise a storme, when we command a calm?
Are duty, and obedience fled to heaven,
And in their roome, ambition and pride
Sent into Ægyt? that face speaks thee Photinus,
A thing thy Mother brought into the world:
My Brothers, and my Slave: but thy behaviour,
Oppos'd to that an insolent Intruder
Upon that Soveraignty thou shouldst bow to,
If in the gulph of base ingratitude,
All loyalty to Ptolomy the King
Be swallowed up, remember who I am,
Whose Daughter, and whose Sister: or suppose
That is forgot too; let the name of Cæsar
Which Nations quake at, stop the desperate madnesse
From running headlong on to thy confusion.
Throw from thee quickly those rebellious armes,
And let me read submission in thine eyes,
Ahy wrongs to us, we will not only pardon,
But be a ready advocate, to plead for thee
To Cæsar, and my Brother.
Pho.
Plead my pardon?
To you I bow, but scorn as much to stoop thus
To Ptolomy, to Cæsar, Nay the gods,
As to put off the figure of a man,
And change my Essence, with a sensuall beast:
All my designes, my counsels, and dark ends
Were aym'd to purchase you.
Cleo.
How durst thou, being
The scorne of basenesse, nourish such a thought?
141
They that have power are royall: and those base
That live at the devotion of an other,
What birth gave Ptolomy, or fortune Cæsar,
By Engines fashiond in this Protean Anvill
I have made mine: and onely stoop at you,
Whom I would still preserve free to command me;
For Cæsars frownes, they are below my thoughts,
And but in these faire eyes, I still have read
The story of a supreame Monarchy,
To which all hearts with mine, gladly pay tribute,
Photinus name, had long since bin as great
As Ptolomies ere was, or Cæsars is,
This made me as a weaker tye to unloose
The knot of loyalty, that chain'd my freedom;
And slight the feare that Cæsars threats might cause,
That I and they might see no Sun appeare.
But Cleopatra, in th'Egyptian Spheare.
Cleo.
O giantlike Ambition! married to
Cymerian darknesse! in considerate foole,
(Though flatter'd with selve love) could'st thou beleeve,
Were all Crownes on the earth, made into one,
And that (by Kings) set on thy head: all Scepters,
Within thy graspe, and laid downe at my feete,
I would vouchsafe a kisse to a no-man?
A guelded Evenuch?
Phot.
Fairest, that makes for me:
And shewes it is no sensuall appetite,
But true love to the greatnesse of thy spirit,
That when that you are mine shall yeild me pleasures:
Hymen, though blessing a new married paire
Shall blush to thinke on, and our certaine Issue,
The glorious splendour of dread Majesty:
Whose beames shall dazell Rome, and awe the world:
My wants in that kinde, others shall supply,
And I give way to it.
Cleo.
Baser then thy birth:
Can there be Gods, and heare this, and no thunder,
Ram thee into the earth?
Pho.
They are a sleepe,
And cannot heare thee:
Or with open eyes,
Did Jove looke on us, I would laugh and sweare
That his artillary is cloid by me:
Or if that they have power to hurt, his Bolts
Are in my hand.
Cleo.
Most impious!
Pho.
They are dreames,
Religious fooles shake at: yet to assure thee,
If Nemesis, that scourges pride, and scorne,
Be any thing but a name she lives in me:
For by my selfe (an oath to me more dreadfull
Then Stix is to your Gods) weake Ptolomy dead,
And Cœsar (both being in my toile) remov'd
The poorest Rascalls, that are in my Camp
Shall, in my presence, quench their lustfull heate
In thee, and young Arsinoe; while I laugh
To heare you howle in vaine:
I deride those Gods,
That you thinke can protect you,
Cleo.
To prevent thee,
In that I am the Mistress of my fate:
So hope I, of my Sister, to confirme it,
I spit at thee, and scorne thee.
Pho.
I will tame,
That haughty courage, and make it stoop too.
Cleo.
Never:
I was borne to command and I will dye so.
Enter Achillas and Souldiers, with the body of Ptolomy.
Pho.
The King dead? this is a faire entrance to,
Our future happinesse.
Ar.
O my Deare Brother?
Cleo.
Weepe not Arsinoe, common women do soe,
Nor loose a teare for him, it cannot helpe him:
But study to dye nobly.
Pho.
Cæsar fled?
'Tis deadly aconite to my cold heart:
It choakes my vitall spirits: where was your care?
Did the guardes sleepe?
Achil.
He rowz'd them with his sword:
We talke of Mars, but I am sure his courage
Admits of no comparison but it selfe,
And (as inspir'd by him) his following friends
With such a confidence, as you Eagletss prey
Under the large wing of their feircer dam,
Brake through our troopes, and scatterd 'em, he went on:
But still pursude by us: when on the sudaine,
He turn'd his head, and from his eyes flew terrour;
Which strooke in us no lesse feare, and amazement,
Then if we had encounter'd with the lightning,
Hurld from Joves clowdy brow.
Cleo.
'Twas like my Cæsar.
Achil.
We falne back, he made on, and as our feare
Had parted from us, with his dreadfull lookes,
Againe we follow'd: but got neare the sea:
On which his navy anchord; in one hand
Holding a scroll he had, above the waves,
And in the other grasping fast his sword
As it had bin a trident, forg'd by Uulcan,
To calme the raging Ocean, he made away
As if he had bin Neptune: his friends like
So many Tritons follow'd their bold showts,
Yeilding a chearefull musique; we showr'd darts,
Upon them but in vaine, they reach'd their ships,
And in their safety we are sunck; for Cæsar
Prepares for war.
Pho.
How fell the King?
Achil.
Unable,
To follow Cæsar, he was trod to death
By the pursuers, and with him the Priest,
Of Isis good Achoreus.
Ar.
May the Earth,
Lye gently on their ashes.
Pho.
I feele now,
That there are powers above us: and that 'tis not
Within the searching policies of man,
To alter their decrees.
Cleo.
I laugh at thee:
Where are thy threates now, (foole) thy scoffs, and scornes
Against the Gods? I see calamity
Is the best Mistris of Religion,
And can convert an Atheist.
Showt within.
Pho.
O they come,
Mountaines fall on me! O, for him to dye
That plac'd his heaven on earth, is an assurance
Of his descent to hell; where shall I hide me?
The greatest daring to a man dishonest,
Is but a bastard courage, ever fainting.
Exit.
142
Cæsar.
Looke on your Cæsar; banish feare (my fairest)
You now are safe.
Sce.
By Uenus, not a kisse
Till our worke be done: the Traitors once dispatch'd
To it, and wee'le cry aime.
Cæsar.
I will be speedy.
Exeunt.
Cleo.
Farewell againe Arsinoe; how now Eros,
Ever faint-harted?
Eros.
But that I am assur'd,
Your excellency can command the Generall,
I feare the Souldiers, for they looke as if
They would be nibling too.
Cleo.
He is all honour,
Nor do I now repent me of my favours;
Nor can I thinke nature e're made a woman,
That in her prime deserv'd him.
Enter Cæsar, Sceva, Antony, Dollabella, Souldiers, With the beads.
Ars.
He's come backe,
Pursue no farther; curb the Souldiers fury.
See (beauteous Mistris) their accursed heads,
That did conspire against us.
Sceva.
Furies plague 'em,
They had too faire an end, to dye like Souldiers,
Pompey fell by the sword; the crosse, or halter
Should have dispatch'd them.
Cæsar.
All is but death (good Sceva)
Be therefore satisfied, and now (my dearest)
Looke up on Cæsar, as he still appear'd
A Conquerour, and this unfortunate King
Entomb'd with honour, wee'le for Rome, where Cæsar
Will shew he can give Kingdomes: for the Senate,
(Thy brother dead) shall willingly decree
The Crowne of Egypt, (that was his) to thee.
Exeunt omnes.
| The False One | |