The False One | Page 8

amongst ye: if I knew What to send you for a present, King of Egypt, (I mean a head of equal reputation And that you lov'd) though it were your brightest Sisters, (But her you hate) I would not be behind ye.
Ptol. Hear me, (Great C?sar.)
C?s. I have heard too much, And study not with smooth shews to invade My noble Mind as you have done my Conquest. Ye are poor and open: I must tell ye roundly, That Man that could not recompence the Benefits, The great and bounteous services of Pompey, Can never dote upon the Name of C?sar; Though I had hated Pompey, and allow'd his ruine, [I gave you no commission to performe it:] Hasty to please in Blood are seldome trusty; And but I stand inviron'd with my Victories, My Fortune never failing to befriend me, My noble strengths, and friends about my Person, I durst not try ye, nor expect: a Courtesie, Above the pious love you shew'd to Pompey. You have found me merciful in arguing with you; Swords, Hangmen, Fires, Destructions of all natures, Demolishments of Kingdoms, and whole Ruines Are wont to be my Orators; turn to tears, You wretched and poor seeds of Sun-burnt Egypt, And now you have found the nature of a Conquerour, That you cannot decline with all your flatteries, That where the day gives light will be himself still, Know how to meet his Worth with humane Courtesies, Go, and embalm those bones of that great Souldier; Howl round about his Pile, fling on your Spices, Make a Sab?an Bed, and place this Phoenix Where the hot Sun may emulate his Vertues, And draw another Pompey from his ashes Divinely great, and fix him 'mongst the Worthies.
Ptol. We will do all.
C?s. You have rob'd him of those tears His Kindred and his Friends kept sacred for him; The Virgins of their Funeral Lamentations: And that kind Earth that thought to cover him, (His Countries Earth) will cry out 'gainst your Cruelty, And weep unto the Ocean for revenge, Till Nilus raise his seven heads and devour ye; My grief has stopt the rest: when Pompey liv'd He us'd you nobly, now he is dead use him so. [Exit.
Ptol. Now, where's your confidence? your aim (Photinus) The Oracles, and fair Favours from the Conquerour You rung into mine Ears? how stand I now? You see the tempest of his stern displeasure, The death of him you urged a Sacrifice To stop his Rage, presaging a full ruine; Where are your Counsels now?
Acho. I told you, Sir, (And told the truth) what danger would flye after; And though an Enemy, I satisfied you He was a Roman, and the top of Honour; And howsoever this might please Great C?sar, I told ye that the foulness of his Death, The impious baseness--
Pho. Peace, you are a Fool, Men of deep ends must tread as deep ways to 'em; C?sar I know is pleas'd, and for all his sorrows (Which are put on for forms and meer dissemblings) I am confident he's glad; to have told ye so, And thank ye outwardly, had been too open, And taken from the Wisedom of a Conquerour. Be confident and proud ye have done this service; Ye have deserv'd, and ye will find it highly: Make bold use of this benefit, and be sure You keep your Sister, (the high-soul'd Cleopatra) Both close and short enough, she may not see him; The rest, if I may counsel, Sir--
Ptol. Do all; For in thy faithful service rests my safety. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.
Enter Septimius.
Sept. Here's a strange alteration in the Court; Mens Faces are of other setts and motions, Their minds of subtler stuff; I pass by now As though I were a Rascal, no man knows me, No Eye looks after; as I were a Plague Their doors shut close against me; and I wondred at Because I have done a meritorious Murther; Because I have pleas'd the Time, does the Time plague me? I have known the day they would have hug'd me for it, For a less stroke than this have done me Reverence; Open'd their Hearts and secret Closets to me, Their Purses, and their Pleasures, and bid me wallow. I now perceive the great Thieves eat the less, And the huge Leviathans of Villany Sup up the merits, nay the men and all That do them service, and spowt 'em out again Into the air, as thin and unregarded As drops of Water that are lost i'th' Ocean: I was lov'd once for swearing, and for drinking, And for other principal Qualities that became me, Now a foolish unthankful Murther has undone me, If my Lord Photinus be not merciful
Enter Photinus.
That set me on; And he comes, now Fortune.
Pho. C?sars unthankfulness