Quintian.

Here, My lord.

Tig. Dost thou confess?

Qu. I give Scevinus The lie direct.

Ner. We found thee in his company, The hour of his arrest.

Qu. Cæsar, I knew Of nothing ’gainst thy life. ’Tis true that oft I have spoken against Vatinius; were he Cæsar, I should be guilty: but yourself have loved To prick me to it; and so, maybe, my tongue Hath given Scevinus undeserved occasion To think me of his party.

Ner. Rufus, judge!

Ruf. I look for evidence.

Tig. Dost thou?—Then, Quintian, To save thy life wilt thou inform?

Qu. I will.

Tig. Then was not Lucan with you?

Qu. He was.

Ner. O Quintian, Quintian! if I forgave thee for thy treason, I could not for thy folly. Arrest him.

Ruf. Arrest Quintian. The next?

Tig. Senecio, General, hath confessed. His evidence we will take later. Where is Lucan?

Luc. I am here, my lord, ready to answer.

Ruf. Then let us hear thine answer.

Luc. I deny The charge of treason: but so far confess My intimacy with the accused, that oft My zeal for senatorial forms hath led me To listen to them, when the words that passed Might tell against me: and if I was betrayed By antiquarian taste, to trust these men Against advice and warning ...

Ner. Ah! thou sayest Against advice. Who warned thee?

Luc. Cæsar, I said ...

Ner. Sir, I will know who warned thee of this plot, And warned not me.

Luc. Sire, I meant not so much.

Tig. We heard thee.

Luc. I make appeal to Rufus, whether I must betray the innocent.

Ner. If thou look For thine own pardon.

Tig. We can make thee speak.

Ruf. Tell us, sir, who these wondrous patriots were, Who set thy private safety above Cæsar’s.

Luc. If Cæsar bids me speak, I may hide nothing. I will confess it was my mother, Atilia, Who warned me against these men. Punish not her For not betraying her son.

Ner. Nay, sir, but thee Who in this bungle of prevarication Betrayest thine own mother. Judge!

Ruf. Arrest him.

Luc. I am arrested, Cæsar, not condemned.

Ner. Thou’lt see. Stand by!—(To Tigell.) Another woman! why Comes not Epicharis?

Tig. I know no cause For the delay. I’ll send again.

Ner. Do so. (To Scevinus.) Go on, sir: who is next?

Sce. Plautius Lateranus.

Ner. Plautius Lateranus! Have more care Whom thou accusest. This is one bounden to me By special favours: from disgrace I raised him To sit among the senate, and now he is chosen Consul.

Tig. Dost thou denounce him?

Sce. I do, my lord.

Ner. Whom then can Cæsar trust? Judge, Rufus, judge!

Tig. Judge!

Ruf. Let him be arrested.

Ner. Send to his house.

Enter an Officer.