Piso.

Give thy message.

Fla. Natalis and Scevinus both are taken. All must be known; and your complicity The first: meanwhile Rufus is unsuspected; Cæsar hath summoned him to sit as judge In trial of the accused this afternoon. He has therefore this last hope, but only this, That you with all your friends proceed at once To the fort of the guard: he will proclaim you there, Relying on the people, who well know Your prudence, and may passively accept The revolution as a thing accomplished. Seeing you countenance it, and have your title Supported by the guards.

Pis. Calls he this hope? ’Tis the forlorn hope.

Fla. Desperation, my lord, Is not despair. I venture it with gladness.

Pis. So do not I. I am no doubt betrayed Already and watched.

Fla. Rufus may still be clear: The informers will not name him while the guards Remain their last resource.

Pis. Bid him act quickly, And for himself.

Fla. My lord, he looks to you. Unless you appear we cannot gain the people. Consider how we have all trusted our lives To your concerted action: now stand forth And help us as you can.

Pis. Stay, man; consider How I have trusted my life to your action; And what ye have done with it: my stake in this Compares no more with thine than does my prize In the success with thine: I should be Cæsar, Thou Flavus still: so, if we fail, I suffer In like degree, my family dishonoured, My rich estates cónfiscate, my innocent, Honest dependants, whom I count by thousands, All plunged in misery: to them my duties Forbid this reckless hazard.—Return to Rufus, And say so much. I utter no reproach ’Gainst thee nor any other; I forgive What reproach thou didst hint. I know thou’rt brave; Thou hast wished well, and I with thee; but now Our ill-built ship founders. I am your captain; My word is each man for himself: my part I shall act no less bravely, that I see All goes to the bottom.

Fla. Defer, my lord, to the last. I’ll save you if I may. I will go armed To the trial.

Pis. Act for thyself; think not of me. Now bear my word to Rufus. Go this way.

[Exit, showing Flavus out.