ngetorix
basely strangled in a vault beneath the Capitol, were (with shuddering
satire) a wise severity, a necessary protection to the commonwealth,
a duty of statesmanship--follies and fictions ten times bloodier than
honest vengeance! What a fool was I then! To think that men's lives
should be at the mercy of such fools! (Humbly) Lucius Septimius, pardon
me: why should the slayer of Vercingetorix rebuke the slayer of Pompey?
You are free to go with the rest. Or stay if you will: I will find a
place for you in my service.

LUCIUS. The odds are against you, Caesar. I go. (He turns to go out
through the loggia.)

RUFIO (full of wrath at seeing his prey escaping). That means that he is
a Republican.

LUCIUS (turning defiantly on the loggia steps). And what are you?

RUFIO. A Caesarian, like all Caesar's soldiers.

CAESAR (courteously). Lucius: believe me, Caesar is no Caesarian. Were
Rome a true republic, then were Caesar the first of Republicans. But you
have made your choice. Farewell.

LUCIUS. Farewell. Come, Achillas, whilst there is yet time.

Caesar, seeing that Rufio's temper threatens to get the worse of him,
puts his hand on his shoulder and brings him down the hall out of harm's
way, Britannus accompanying them and posting himself on Caesar's right
hand. This movement brings the three in a little group to the place
occupied by Achillas, who moves haughtily away and joins Theodotus on
the other side. Lucius Septimius goes out through the soldiers in the
loggia. Pothinus, Theodotus and Achillas follow him with the courtiers,
very mistrustful of the soldiers, who close up in their rear and go out
after them, keeping them moving without much ceremony. The King is
left in his chair, piteous, obstinate, with twitching face and fingers.
During these movements Rufio maintains an energetic grumbling, as
follows:--

RUFIO (as Lucius departs). Do you suppose he would let us go if he had
our heads in his hands?

CAESAR. I have no right to suppose that his ways are any baser than
mine.

RUFIO. Psha!

CAESAR. Rufio: if I take Lucius Septimius for my model, and become
exactly like him, ceasing to be Caesar, will you serve me still?

BRITANNUS. Caesar: this is not good sense. Your duty to Rome demands
that her enemies should be prevented from doing further mischief.
(Caesar, whose delight in the moral eye-to-business of his British
secretary is inexhaustible, smiles intelligently.)

RUFIO. It is no use talking