Sejanus his FALL. A Tragedy. Acted, in the year 1603. By the K. majesties SERVANTS.  
The Author B. I.  MART. 
Non hîc Centauros, non Gorgonas, Harpyiasque  
invenies: Hominem pagmanostra sapit.  
LONDON, Printed by WILLIAM STANSBY,  
MDCXVI XVI.   

TO THE NO LESS NOBLE, BY virtue, THEN blood: Esme L. AUBIGNY.  
MY LORD,  
IF ever any ruin were so great, as to survive; I think this be one I send you: the Fall of Sejanus. It is a poem, that (if I well remember) in your Lo. sight, suffered no less violence from our people here, than the subject of it did from the rage of the people of Rome; but, with a different fate, as (I hope) merit: For this hath outlived their malice, and begot itself a greater favour than he lost, the love of good men. Amongst whom, if I make your Lo. the first it thanks, it is not without a just confession of the bond your benefits have, and ever shall hold upon me.  
Your Lo. most faithful honourer, BEN JONSON.   

The Argument.  
AELius Sejanus, son to Seius Strabo, a gentleman of Rome, and borne at Vulsinium, after his long service in court: first, under Augustus, afterward, Tiberius: grew into that favour with the latter, and won him by those arts, as there wanted nothing, but the name, to make him a copartner of the Empire. Which greatness of his, Drusus, the Emperor's son not brooking, after many smothered dislikes, it one day breaking out, the Prince struck him publicly on the face. To revenge which disgrace, Livia, the wife of Drusus (being before corrupted by him to her dishonour, and the discovery of her husband's councils) Sejanus practiseth with, together with her Physician, called Eudemus, and one, an Eunuch, to poison Drusus. This their inhuman act having successful, and unsuspected passage, it emboldeneth Sejanus to farther, & more insolent projects, even the ambition of the Empire: where finding the lets, he must encounter, to be many, & hard, in respect of the issue of Germanicus (who were next in hope for the succession) he deviseth to make Tiberius' self, his means: & instills into his ears many doubts, and suspicions, both against the Princes, and their mother Agrippina: which Caesar jealously hearkening to, as covetously consenteth to their ruin, and their friends. In this time, the better to mature and strengthen his design, he labours to marry Livia, and worketh (with all his engine) to remove Tiberius from the knowledge of public business, with allurements of a quiet and retired life: the latter of which, Tiberius (out of a proneness to lust, and a desire to hide those unnatural pleasures, which he could not so publicly practise) embraceth: the former enkindleth his fears, and there gives him first cause of doubt, or suspect toward Sejanus. Against whom, he raiseth (in private) a new instrument, one Sertorius Macro, and by him underworketh, discovers the others counsels, his means, his ends, sounds the affections of the Senators, divides, distracts them: at last, when Sejanus least looketh, and is most secure (with pretext of doing him an unwonted honour in the Senate) he trains him from his guards, with one letter, and in one day, hath him suspected, accused, condemned, and torn in pieces, by the rage of the people,   

The Persons of the Play.  

Tiberius.  
Drusus se.  
NERO.  
Drusus iu.  
Caligula.  
Arruntius.  
Silius.  
Sabinus.  
Lepidus.  
CORDUS.  
Gallus.  
Regulus.  
Terentius.  
LACO.  
EUDEMUS.  
Rufus.  
Sejanus.  
LATIARIS.  
VARRO.  
MACRO.  
COTTA.  
AFER.  
HATERIUS.  
Sanquinius.  
Pomponius.  
POSTHUMUS.  
TRIO.  
Minutius.  
SATRIUS.  
NATTA.  
Opsius.   

TRIBUNI.  
AGRIPPINA. 

LIVIA.  
SOSIA.    
PRAECONES.  
FLAMEN.  
TUBICINES.  
NVNTIVS.  
LICTORES.  
MINISTRI.  
TIBICINES.  
servus.   
THE SCENE.  
ROME.   

Sejanus.  
Act. I.  

Sabinus, Silius, NATTA, LATIARIS, CORDUS, SATRIUS, Arruntius, EUDEMUS, HATERIUS, etc.  
hail, CAIUS Silius.  SIL. 
TITIUS Sabinus, hail.  
You're rarely met in court!  SAB. 
Therefore, well met.  SIL. 
'Tis true: Indeed, this place is not our sphere.  SAB. 
No, Silius, we are no good engineers;  
We want the fine arts, & their thriving use,  
Should make us graced, or favoured of the times:  
We have no shift of faces, no cleft tongues,  
No soft, and glutinous bodies, that can stick,  
Like snails, on painted walls; or, on our breasts,  
Creep up, to fall, from that proud height, to which  
We did by slavery, not by service, clime.  
We are no guilty men, and then no great;  
We have nor place in court, office in state,  
That we can say, we owe unto our crimes:  
We burn with no black secrets, which can make  
Us dear to the pale authors; or live feared  
Of their still waking jealousies, to raise  
ourselves a fortune, by subverting theirs.  
We stand not in the lines, that do advance  
To that so courted point.  SIL. 
But yonder lean  
A pair that do. (SAB. Good cousin LATIARIS.)  SIL. 
SATRIUS SECVNDVS, and PINNARIUS NATTA,  
The great Sejanus clients: There be two,  
Know more, then honest councils: whose close breasts  
Were they ripped up to light, it would be found  
A poor, and idle sin, to which their trunks  
Had not been made fit organs. These can lie,  
Flatter, and swear, forswear, deprave, inform,  
Smile, and betray; make guilty men; then beg  
The forfeit lives, to get the livings; cut  
Men's throats with whisperings; sell to gaping suitors  
The empty smoke, that flies about the Palace;  
Laugh, when their patron laughs; sweat, when he sweats;  
Be hot, and cold with him; change every mood,  
Habit, and garb, as often as he varies;  
Observe him, as his watch observes his clock;  
And true, as turquois in the dear lords ring,  
Look well, or ill with him: ready to praise  
His lordship, if he spit, or but piss fair,  
have an indifferent stool, or break wind well,  
Nothing can scape their catch.  SAB. 
Alas! these things  
Deserve no note, conferred with other vile,  
And filthier flatteries, that corrupt the times:  
When, not alone our gentries chief are feign  
To make their safety from such sordid acts,  
But all our Consuls, and no little part  
Of such as have been Praetors, yea, the most  
Of Senators (that else not use their voices) Fedarij.  
Start up in public Senate, and there strive  
Who shall propound most abject things, and base,  
So much, as oft Tiberius hath been heard,  
Leaving the court, to cry O race of men,  
Prepared for servitude! which show'd, that, he  
Who lest the public liberty could like,  
As loathly brooked their flat servility.  SIL. 
Well, all is worthy of us, were it more,  
Who with our riots, pride, and civil hate,  
have so provoked the justice of the gods.  
We, that (within these fourscore years) were borne  
Free, equal lords of the triumphed world,  
And knew no masters, but affections,  
To which betraying first our liberties,  
We since became the slaves to one man's lusts;  
And now to many: every ministering spy  
That will accuse, and swear, is lord of you,  
Of me, of all, our fortunes, and our lives.  
Our looks are called to question, and our words,  
How innocent soever, are made crimes;  
We shall not shortly dare to tell our dreams,  
Or think, but 'twill be reason.  SAB. 
" tyrants arts  
" Are to give flatterers, grace; accusers, power;  
" That those may seem to kill whom they devour.  
Now good CREMUTIUS CORDUS.  COR. 
Hail, to your lordship.  NAT. 
They whisper. Who's that salutes your cousin?  LAT. 
'Tis one CORDUS,  
A gentleman of Rome: one, that has writ  
annals of late, they say, and very well.  NAT. 
annals? of what times?  LAT. 
I think of POMPEI'S,  
And CAIUS Caesar's; and so down to these.  NAT. 
How stands h'affected to the present state?  
Is he or Drusian? or Germanican?  
Or ours or neutral?  LAT. 
I know him not so far.  NAT. 
Those times are somewhat queasy to be touched.  
have you or seen or heard part of his work?  LAT. 
Not I, he means they shall be public shortly.  NAT. 
O. CORDUS do you call him?  LAT. 
I.  SAB. 
But these our times  
Are not the same, Arruntius.  ARR. 
Times? the men,  
The men are not the same: 'tis we are base,  
Poor, and degenerate from th'exalted strain  
Of our great fathers. Where is now the soul  
Of godlike CATO? he, that durst be good,  
When CAESAR durst be evil; and had power,  
As not to live his slave, to die his master.  
Or where the constant BRUTUS, that (being proof  
Against all charm of benefits) did strike  
So brave a blow into the monster's heart  
That sought unkindly to captive his country?  
O, they are fled the light. Those mighty spirits  
Lie raked up, with their ashes in their urns,  
And not a spark of their eternal fire  
Glows in a present bosom. All's but blaze,  
Flashes, and smoke, wherewith we labour so,  
There's nothing Roman in us; nothing good,  
Gallant, or great: 'Tis true, that CORDUS says,  
Brave CASSIUS was the last of all that race.  SAB. 
Drusus passeth by. Stand by, lord Drusus.  HAT. 
Th'emperor's son, give place.  SIL. 
I like the prince well.  ARR. 
A riotous youth,  
There's little hope of him.  SAB. 
That fault his age  
Will, as it grows, correct. methinks, he bears  
Himself, each day, more nobly than other:  
And wins no less on men's affections,  
Then doth his father lose. Believe me, I love him;  
And chiefly for opposing to Sejanus.  SIL. 
And I, for gracing his young kinsmen so,  
The sons of Prince Germanicus: It shows  
A gallant clearness in him, a straight mind,  
That envies not, in them, their father's name.  ARR. 
His name was, while he lived, above all envy;  
And being dead, without it. O, that man!  
If there were seeds of the old virtue left,  
They lived in him.  SIL. 
He had the fruits, Arruntius,  
More than the seeds: Sabinus, and myself  
Had means to know him, within; and can report him.  
We were his followers, (he would call us friends.)  
He was a man most like to virtue; In all,  
And every action, nearer to the gods,  
Than men, in nature; of a body as fair  
As was his mind; and no less reverend  
In face, than fame: He could so use his state,  
Tempering his greatness, with his gravity,  
As it avoided all self-love in him,  
And spite in others. What his funerals lacked  
In images, and pomp, they had supplied  
With honourable sorrow, soldiers sadness,  
A kind of silent mourning, such, as men  
(Who know no tears, but from their captives) use  
To show in so great losses.  COR. 
I thought once,  
Considering their forms, age, manner of deaths,  
The nearness of the places, where they fell,  
T'have paralleled him with great ALEXANDER:  
For both were of best feature, of high race,  
Yeared but to thirty, and, in foreign lands,  
By their own people, alike made away.  SAB. 
I know not, for his death, how you might wrest it:  
But, for his life, it did as much disdain  
Comparison, with that voluptuous, rash,  
Giddy, and drunken Macedon's, as mine  
Doth with my bondman's. All the good, in him,  
(His valour, and his fortune) he made his;  
But he had other touches of late Romans,  
That more did speak him: POMPEI'S dignity,  
The innocence of CATO, CAESAR'S spirit,  
Wise Brutus' temperance, and every virtue,  
Which, parted unto others, gave them name,  
Flowed mixed in him. He was the soul of goodness:  
And all our praises of him are like streams  
Drawn from a spring, that still rise full, and leave  
The part remaining greatest.  ARR. 
I am sure  
He was too great for us, and that they knew  
Who did remove him hence.  SAB. 
When men grow fast  
Honoured, and loved, there is a trick in state  
(Which jealous princes never fail to use)  
How to decline that growth, with fair pretext,  
And honourable colours of employment,  
Either by embassy, the war, or such,  
To shift them forth into another air,  
Where they may purge, and lessen; so was he:  
And had his seconds there, sent by Tiberius,  
And his more subtle dam, to discontent him;  
To breed, and cherish mutinies; detract  
His greatest actions; give audacious check  
To his commands; and work to put him out  
In open act of treason. All which snares  
When his wise cares prevented, a fine poison  
Was thought on, to mature their practices.  COR. 
Here comes Sejanus.  SIL. 
Now observe the stoops,  
The bendings, and the falls.  ARR. 
Most creeping base!   

Sejanus, SATRIUS, Terentius, etc.  They pass over the stage. 
I Note 'em well: No more. Say you.  SAT. 
My lord,  
There is a gentleman of Rome would buy—  SEI. 
How call you him you talked with?  SAT. 
Please your lordship,  
It is EUDEMUS, the physician  
To LIVIA, Drusus' wife.  SEI. 
On with your suit.  
Would buy, you said—  SAT. 
A Tribunes place, my lord.  SEI. 
What will he give?  SAT. 
fifty sestertia.  SEI. 
LIVIA'S physician, say you, is that fellow?  SAT. 
It is, my lord; your lordship's answer?  SEI. 
To what?  SAT. 
The place, my lord. 'Tis for a gentleman,  
Your lordship will well like off, when you see him;  
And one, you may make yours, by the grant.  SEI. 
Well, let him bring his money, and his name.  SAT. 
Thank your lordship. He shall, my lord.  SEI. 
Come hither.  
Know you this same EUDEMUS? Is he learned?  SAT. 
Reputed so, my lord: and of deep practice.  SEI. 
Bring him in, to me, in the gallery;  
And take you cause, to leave us there, together:  
I would confer with him, about a grief.— On.  ARR. 
So, yet! another? yet? O desperate state  
Of grovelling honour! Seest thou this, O sun,  
And do we see thee after? methinks, day  
Should lose his light, when men do lose their shames,  
And, for the empty circumstance of life,  
Betray their cause of living.  SIL. 
Nothing so.  
Sejanus can repair, if JOVE should ruin.  
He is the now court-god; And well applied  
With sacrifice of knees, of crooks, and cringe,  
He will do more than all the house of heaven  
Can, for a thousand hecatombs. 'Tis he  
Makes us our day, or night; Hell, and Elysium  
Are in his look: We talk of RHADAMANTH,  
Furies, and firebrands; But 'tis his frown  
That is all these, where, on the adverse part,  
His smile is more, then ere (yet) poets' feigned  
Of bliss, and shades, nectar—  ARR. 
A serving boy?  
I knew him, at CAIUS trencher, when for hire,  
He prostituted his abused body  
To that great gourmand, fat APICIUS;  
And was the noted pathic of the time.  SAB. 
And, now, the second face of the whole world.  
The partner of the empire, hath his image  
Reared equal with Tiberius, borne in ensigns,  
commands, disposes every dignity,  
Centurions, Tribunes, Heads of provinces,  
Praetors, and Consuls, all that heretofore  
Rome's general suffrage gave, is now his sale.  
The gain, or rather spoil, of all the earth,  
One, and his house, receives.  SIL. 
He hath of late  
Made him a strength too, strangely, by reducing  
All the Praetorian bands into one camp,  
Which he commands: pretending, that the soldier  
By living loose, and scattered, fell to riot;  
And that if any sudden enterprise  
Should be attempted, their united strength  
Would be far more, then severed; and their life  
More strict, if from the city more removed.  SAB. 
Where, now, he builds, what kind of fort's he please,  
Is hard to court the soldier, by his name,  
woos, feasts the chiefest men of action,  
Whose wants, not loves, compel them to be his.  
And, though he ne'er were liberal by kind,  
Yet, to his own dark ends, he's most profuse,  
Lavish, and letting fly, he cares not what  
To his ambition.  ARR. 
Yet, hath he ambition?  
Is there that step in state can make him higher?  
Or more? or any thing he is, but less?  SIL. 
Nothing, but Emperor.  ARR. 
The name Tiberius  
I hope, will keep; howe'er he hath foregone  
The dignity, and power.  SIL. 
Sure, while he lives.  ARR. 
And dead, it comes to Drusus. Should he fail,  
To the brave issue of Germanicus;  
And they are three: Too many (ha?) for him  
To have a plot upon?  SAB. 
I do not know  
The heart of his designs; but, sure, their face  
Looks farther than the present.  ARR. 
By the gods,  
If I could guess he had but such a thought,  
My sword should cleave him down from head to heart,  
But I would find it out: and with my hand  
I'd hurl his panting brain about the air,  
In mites, as small as atomi, t'o undo  
The knotted bed—  SAB. 
You are observed, Arruntius.  ARR. 
He turns to Sejanus clients. Death! I dare tell him so; and all his spies:  
You, sir, I would, do you look? and you.  SAB. 
Forbear.   

SATRIUS, EUDEMUS, Sejanus.  
Here, he will instant be; Let's walk a turn.  
You're in a muse, EUDEMUS?  EVD. 
Not I, sir.  
I wonder he should mark me out so! well,  
JOVE, and APOLLO form it for the best.  SAT. 
Your fortune's made unto you now, EUDEMUS,  
If you can but lay hold upon the means;  
Do but observe his humour, and— believe it—  
He's the noblest Roman, where he takes—  
Here comes his lordship.  SEI. 
Now, good SATRIUS.  SAT. 
This is the gentleman, my lord.  SEI. 
Is this?  
give me your hand, we must be more acquainted.  
Report, sir, hath spoke out your art, and learning:  
And I am glad I have so needful cause,  
(however in itself painful, and hard)  
To make me known to so great virtue. Look,  
Who's that? SATRIUS— I have a grief, sir,  
That will desire your help. Your name's EUDEMUS?  EVD. 
Yes.  SEI. 
Sir?  EVD. 
It is, my lord.  SEI. 
I hear, you are Physician to LIVIA, the princess?  EVD. 
I minister unto her, my good lord.  SEI. 
You minister to a royal lady, then.  EVD. 
She is, my lord, and fair.  SEI. 
That's understood  
Of all their sex, who are, or would be so;  
And those, that would be, physic soon can make 'em:  
For those that are, their beauties fear no colours.  EVD. 
Your lordship is conceited.  SEI. 
Sir, you know it.  
And can (if need be) read a learned lecture,  
On this, and other secrets. Pray you tell me,  
What more of ladies, besides LIVIA,  
have you your patients?  EVD. 
Many, my good lord.  
The great AUGUSTA, Urgulana.  
MUTILIA PRISCA, and PLANCINA, divers—  SEI. 
And, all these tell you the particulars  
Of every several grief? how first it grew,  
And then increased, what action caused that;  
What passion that: and answer to each point  
That you will put 'em.  EVD. 
Else, my lord, we know not  
How to prescribe the remedies.  SEI. 
Go to,  
You're a subtle nation, you Physicians!  
And grown the only cabinets, in court,  
To ladies' privacies. Faith which of these  
Is the most pleasant lady, in her physic?  
Come, you are modest now.  EVD. 
'Tis fit, my lord.  SEI. 
Why, sir, I do not ask you of their urines,  
Whose smell's most violet? or whose siege is best?  
Or who makes hardest faces on her stool?  
Which lady sleeps with her own face, a-nights?  
Which puts her teeth off, with her clothes, in court?  
Or, which her hair? which her complexion?  
And, in which box she puts it? These were questions  
That might, perhaps, have put your gravity  
To some defence of blush. But, I inquired,  
Which was the wittiest? merriest? wantonest?  
Harmless intergatories, but conceits.  
methinks, AUGUSTA should be most perverse,  
And froward in her fit?  EVD. 
She's so, my lord.  SEI. 
I knew it. And MUTILIA the most jocund?  EVD. 
'Tis very true, my lord.  SEI. 
And why would you  
Conceal this from me, now? Come, what's LIVIA?  
I know, she's quick, and quaintly spirited,  
And will have strange thoughts, when she's at leisure;  
She tells 'em all to you?  EVD. 
My noblest lord,  
He breathes not in the empire, or on earth,  
Whom I would be ambitious to serve  
(In any act, that may preserve mine honour)  
Before your lordship.  SEI. 
Sir, you can lose no honour,  
By trusting aught to me. The coarsest act  
Done to my service, I can so requite,  
As all the world shall style it honourable:  
" Your idle, virtuous definitions  
" Keep honour poor, and are as scorned, as vain:  
" Those deeds breath honour, that do suck in gain.  EVD. 
But, good my lord, if I should thus betray  
The counsels of my patient, and a lady's  
Of her high place, and worth; what might your lordship,  
(Who presently are to trust me with your own)  
judge of my faith?  SEI. 
Only the best, I swear.  
Say now, that I should utter you my grief;  
And with it, the true cause; that it were love;  
And love to LIVIA: you should tell her this?  
Should she suspect your faith? I would you could  
Tell me as much, from her; see, if my brain  
Could be turned jealous.  EVD. 
Happily, my lord,  
I could, in time, tell you as much, and more;  
So I might safely promise but the first,  
To her, from you.  SEI. 
As safely, my EUDEMUS,  
(I now dare call thee so) as I have put  
The secret into thee.  EVD. 
My lord—  SEI. 
Protest not.  
Thy looks are vows to me, use only speed,  
And but affect her with Sejanus love,  
Thou art a man, made, to make Consuls. Go.  EVD. 
My lord, I'll promise you a private meeting  
This day, together.  SEI. 
Canst thou?  EVD. 
Yes.  SEI. 
The place?  EVD. 
My gardens, whither I shall fetch your lordship.  SEI. 
Let me adore my AESCULAPIUS.  
Why, this indeed is physic! and outspeaks  
The knowledge of cheap drugs, or any use  
Can be made out of it! more comforting  
Than all your opiates, juleps, apozemes,  
Magistral syrups, or— Be gone, my friend,  
Not barely styled, but created so;  
Expect things, greater than thy largest hopes,  
To overtake thee: Fortune, shall be taught  
To know how ill she hath deserved thus long,  
To come behind thy wishes. Go, and speed.  
" Ambition makes more trusty slaves, then need,  
These fellows, by the favour of their art,  
have, still, the means to tempt, oft-times, the power.  
If LIVIA will be now corrupted, than  
Thou hast the way, Sejanus, to work out  
His secrets, who (thou knowest) endures thee not,  
Her husband Drusus: and to work against them.  
Prosper it, PALLAS, thou, that better'st wit;  
For VENUS hath the smallest share in it.   

Tiberius, Sejanus, Drusus.  
we not endure these flatteries, One kneels to him. let him stand;  
Our empire, ensigns, axes, rods, and state  
Take not away our human nature from us:  
Look up, on us, and fall before the gods.  SEI. 
How like a god, speaks CAESAR!  ARR. 
There, observe!  
He can endure that second, that's no flattery.  
O, what is it, proud slime will not believe  
Of his own worth, to hear it equal praised  
Thus with the gods?  COR. 
He did not hear it, sir.  ARR. 
He did not? Tut, he must not, we think meanly.  
'Tis your most courtly, known confederacy,  
To have your private parasite redeem  
What he, in public subtlety, will lose  
To making him a name.  HAT. 
Right mighty lord—  TIB. 
We must make up our ears, 'gainst these assaults  
Of charming tongues; we pray you use, no more  
These contumelies to us: style not us  
Or lord, or mighty, who profess ourself  
The servant of the Senate, and are proud  
T'enjoy them our good, just, and favouring lords.  COR. 
Rarely dissembled.  ARR. 
Princelike, to the life.  SAB. 
" When power, that may command, so much descends,  
" Their bondage, whom it stoops to, it intends.  TIB. 
Whence are these letters?  HAT. 
From the Senate.  TIB. 
So.  
Whence these?  LA. 
From thence too.  TIB. 
Are they sitting, now?  LAT. 
They stay thy answer, CAESAR.  SIL. 
If this man  
Had but a mind allied unto his words,  
How blessed a fate were it to us, and Rome?  
We could not think that state, for which to change,  
Although the aim were our old liberty:  
The ghosts of those that fell for that, would grieve  
Their bodies lived not, now, again to serve.  
" Men are deceived, who think there can be thrall  
" Beneath a virtuous prince. Wished liberty  
" ne'er lovelier looks, then under such a crown.  
But, when his grace is merely but lip-good,  
And, that no longer, than he airs himself  
Abroad in public, there, to seem to shun  
The strokes, and stripes of flatterers, which within  
Are lechery unto him, and so feed  
His brutish sense with their afflicting sound,  
As (dead to virtue) he permits himself  
Be carried like a pitcher, by the ears,  
To every act of vice: this is a case  
Deserves our fear, and doth presage the nigh,  
And close approach of blood and tyranny.  
" Flattery is midwife unto PRINCE's rage:  
" And nothing sooner, doth help forth a tyrant,  
" Then that, and whisperers grace, who have the time,  
" The place, the power, to make all men offenders.  ARR. 
He should be told this; and be bid dissemble  
With fools, and blind men: We that know the evil,  
Should hunt the Palace-rats, or give them bane;  
Fright hence these worse than ravens, that devour  
The quick, where they but prey upon the dead:  
He shall be told it.  SAB. 
Stay, Arruntius,  
We must abide our opportunity:  
And practise what is fit, as what is needful.  
" It is not safe t'enforce a sovereign's ear:  
" Princes hear well, if they at all will hear.  ARR. 
Ha? Say you so? well. In the mean time, JOVE,  
(Say not, but I do call upon thee now.)  
Of all wild beasts, preserve me from a tyrant;  
And of all tame, a flatterer.  SIL. 
'Tis well prayed.  TIB. 
Return the lords this voice, we are their creature:  
And it is fit, a good, and honest prince,  
Whom they, out of their bounty, have instructed  
With so dilate, and absolute a power,  
Should owe the office of it, to their service;  
And good of all, and every citizen.  
Nor shall it e'er repent us, to have wished  
The Senate just, and favouring lords unto us,  
" Since their free loves do yield no less defence  
" T' a PRINCE's state, than his own innocence.  
Say then, there can be nothing in their thought  
Shall want to please us, that hath pleased them;  
Our suffrage rather shall prevent, then stay  
Behind their wills: 'tis empire, to obey  
Where such, so great, so grave, so good determine.  
Yet, for the suit of Spain, t'erect a temple  
In honour of our mother, and ourself,  
We must (with pardon of the Senate) not  
Assent thereto. Their lordships may object  
Our not denying the same late request  
Unto the Asian cities: We desire  
That our defence, for suffering that, be known  
In these brief reasons, with our after purpose.  
Since deified Augustus hindered not  
A temple to be built, at Pergamum,  
In honour of himself, and sacred Rome,  
We, that have all his deeds, and words observed  
Ever, in place of laws, the rather followed  
That pleasing precedent, because, with ours,  
The senate's reverence also, there, was joined.  
But, as, t'have once received it, may deserve  
The gain of pardon, so, to be adored  
With the continued style, and note of gods,  
Through all the provinces, were wild ambition,  
And no less pride: Yea, e'en Augustus name  
Would early vanish, should it be profaned  
With such promiscuous flatteries. For our part,  
We here protest it, and are covetous  
Posterity should know it, we are mortal;  
And can but deeds of men: 'twere glory enough,  
Could we be truly a prince. And, they shall add  
Abounding grace, unto our memory,  
That shall report us worthy our forefathers,  
Careful of your affairs, constant in dangers,  
And not afraid of any private frown  
For public good. These things shall be to us  
Temples, and statues, reared in your minds,  
The fairest, and most during imagery:  
For those of stone, or brass, if they become  
Odious in judgement of posterity,  
Are more contemned, as dying sepulchres,  
Then ta'en for living monuments. We then  
Make here our suit, alike to gods and men,  
The one, until the period of our race,  
T'inspire us with a free, and quiet mind,  
Discerning both divine, and human laws;  
The other, to vouchsafe us after death,  
An honourable mention, and fair praise,  
T'accompany our actions, and our name:  
The rest of greatness princes may command,  
And (therefore) may neglect, only, a long,  
A lasting, high, and happy memory  
They should, without being satisfied, pursue.  
Contempt of fame begets contempt of virtue.  NAT. 
Rare!  SAT. 
Most divine!  SEI. 
The Oracles are ceased,  
That only CAESAR, with their tongue, might speak.  ARR. 
Let me be gone, most felt, and open this!  COR. 
Stay.  ARR. 
What? to hear more cunning, and fine words,  
With their sound flattered, ere their sense be meant?  TIB. 
Their choice of Antium, thereto place the gift  
Vowed to the goddess, for our mother's health,  
Fortuna equestris. We will the Senate know, we fairly like;  
As also, of their grant to Lepidus,  
For his repairing the Aemilian place,  
And restoration of those monuments:  
Their grace too in consigning of SILANUS,  
To th'other isle Cythera, at the suit  
Of his religious sister, much commends  
Their policy, so tempered with their mercy.  
But, for the honours, which they have decreed  
To our Sejanus, to advance his statue  
In POMPEI'S theatre (whose ruining fire  
His vigilance, and labour kept restrained  
In that one loss) they have, therein, outgone  
Their own great wisdoms, by their skilful choice,  
And placing of their bounties, on a man,  
Whose merit more adorns the dignity,  
Then that can him: and gives a benefit,  
In taking, greater, than it can receive.  
Blush not, Sejanus, thou great aid of Rome,  
Associate of our labours our chief helper,  
Let us not force thy simple modesty  
With offering at thy praise, for more we cannot,  
Since there's no voice can take it. No man, here,  
Receive our speeches, as hyperboles;  
For we are far from flattering our friend,  
(Let envy know) as from the need to flatter.  
Nor let them ask the causes of our praise;  
Princes have still their grounds reared with themselves,  
Above the poor low flats of common men,  
And, who will search the reasons of their acts,  
Must stand on equal bases. Lead, away.  
Our loves unto the Senate.  ARR. 
Caesar.  SAB. 
Peace.  COR. 
Great POMPEI'S theatre was never ruined  
Till now, that proud Sejanus hath a statue  
Reared on his ashes.  ARR. 
Place the shame of soldiers,  
Above the best of generals? crack the world!  
And bruise the name of Romans into dust,  
Ere we behold it!  SIL. 
check your passion;  
Lord Drusus tarries.  DRV. 
Is my father mad?  
Weary of life, and rule, lords? thus to heave  
An idol up with praise! make him his mate!  
His rival in the empire!  ARR. 
O, good prince!  DRV. 
Allow him statues? titles? honours? such,  
As he himself refuseth?  ARR. 
Brave, brave Drusus!  DRV. 
The first ascents to sovereignty are hard  
But, entered once, there never wants or means,  
Or ministers, to help th'aspirer on.  ARR. 
True, gallant Drusus.  DRV. 
We must shortly pray  
To Modesty, that he will rest contented—  ARR. 
ay, where he is, and not write emperor.   

Sejanus, Drusus, Arruntius, etc.  He enters, followed with clients. 
THere is your bill, and yours; Bring you your man:  
I have moved for you, too, LATIARIS.  DRV. 
What?  
Is your vast greatness grown so blindly bold,  
That you will over us?  SEI. 
Why, then give way.  DRV. 
give way, Colossus? Do you lift? Advance you?  
Take that. Drusus strikes him.  ARR. 
Good! brave! excellent brave prince!  DRV. 
Nay, come, approach. What? stand you off? at gaze?  
It looks too full of death, for thy cold spirits.  
Avoid mine eye, dull camel, or my sword  
Shall make thy bravery fitter for a grave,  
Then for a triumph. I'll advance a statue,  
O'your own bulk; but 't shall be on the cross:  
Where I will nail your pride, at breadth, and length,  
And crack those sinews, which are yet but stretched  
With your swollen fortunes rage.  ARR. 
A noble prince!  ALL. 
A CASTOR, a CASTOR, a CASTOR, a CASTOR!  Sejanus. 
HE that, with such wrong moved, can bear it through  
With patience, and an even mind, knows how  
To turn it back. Wrath, covered, carries fate:  
Revenge is lost, if I profess my hate.  
What was my practice late, I'll now pursue  
As my fell justice. This hath styled it new.   
CHORUS— Of Musicians.   

Act. II.  

Sejanus, LIVIA, EUDEMUS.  
physician, thou art worthy of a province,  
For the great favours done unto our loves;  
And, but that greatest LIVIA bears a part  
In the requital of thy services,  
I should alone, despair of aught, like means,  
To give them worthy satisfaction.  LIV. 
EUDEMUS, (I will see it) shall receive  
A fit, and full reward, for his large merit.  
But for this potion, we intend to Drusus,  
(No more our husband, now) whom shall we choose  
As the most apt, and abled instrument,  
To minister it to him?  EVD. 
I say, LYGDUS.  SEI. 
LYGDUS? what's he?  LIV. 
An Eunuch Drusus loves.  EVD. 
ay, and his cupbearer.  SEI. 
Name not a second.  
If Drusus love him, and he have that place,  
We cannot think a sitter.  EVD. 
True, my lord,  
For free access, and trust, are two main aides.  SEI. 
Skilful physician!  LIV. 
But he must be wrought  
To th'undertaking, with some laboured art.  SEI. 
Is he ambitious?  LIV. 
No.  SEI. 
Or covetous?  LIV. 
Neither.  EVD. 
Yet, gold is a good general charm.  SEI. 
What is he then?  LIV. 
Faith, only wanton, light.  SEI. 
How! Is he young? and fair?  EVD. 
A delicate youth.  SEI. 
Send him to me, I'll work him. Royal lady,  
Though I have loved you long, and with that height  
Of zeal, and duty, (like the fire, which more  
It mounts, it trembles) thinking nought could add  
Unto the fervour, which your eye had kindled;  
Yet, now I see your wisdom, judgement, strength,  
Quickness, and will, to apprehend the means  
To your own good, and greatness, I protest  
myself through rarefied, and turned all flame  
In your affection: Such a spirit as yours,  
Was not created for the idle second  
To a poor flash, as Drusus; but to shine  
Bright, as the Moon, among the lesser lights,  
And share the sovereignty of all the world.  
Then LIVIA triumphs in her proper sphere,  
When she, and her Sejanus shall divide  
The name of CAESAR; and AUGUSTA'S star  
Be dimmed with glory of a brighter beam:  
When AGRIPPINA'S fires are quite extinct,  
And the scarce-seen Tiberius borrows all  
His little light from us, whose folded arms  
Shall make one perfect or be. Who's that? EUDEMUS,  
Look, 'tis not Drusus? Lady, do not fear.  LIV. 
Not I, my Lord. My fear, and love of him  
Left me at once.  SEI. 
illustrious lady! stay—  EVD. 
I'll tell his lordship.  SEI. 
Who is't, EUDEMUS?  EVD. 
One of your lordship's servants, brings you word  
The Emperor hath sent for you.  SEI. 
O! where is he?  
With your fair leave, He goes out. dear Princess. I'll but ask  
A question, and return.  EVD. 
Fortunate Princess!  
How are you blessed in the fruition  
Of this unequalled man, this soul of Rome,  
The empire's life, and voice of Caesar's world!  LIV. 
So blessed, my EUDEMUS, as to know  
The bliss I have, with what I ought to owe  
The means that wrought it. How do 'I look today?  EVD. 
Excellent clear, believe it. This same fucus  
Was well laid on.  LIV. 
methinks, 'tis here not white.  EVD. 
Lend me your scarlet, lady. 'Tis the sun  
Hath given some little taint unto the ceruse,  
You should have used of the white oil I gave you.  
Sejanus, for your love! his very name  
Commandeth above CUPID, or his shafts—  (LIV. 
Nay, now yo'haue made it worse.  EVD. 
I'll help it straight.)  
And, but pronounced, is a sufficient charm  
Against all rumour; and of absolute power  
To satisfy for any lady's honour.  (LIV. 
What do you now, EUDEMUS?  EVD. 
Make a light fucus,  
To touch you over withal.) Honoured Sejanus!  
What act (though ne'er so strange, and insolent)  
But that addition will at least bear out,  
If 't do not expiate?  LIV. 
Here, good physician.  EVD. 
I like this study to preserve the love  
Of such a man, that comes not every hour  
To greet the world. ('Tis now well, lady, you should  
Use of the dentifrice, I prescribed you, too,  
To clear your teeth, and the prepared pomatum,  
To smooth the skin:) A lady cannot be  
Too curious of her form, that still would hold  
The heart of such a person, made her captive,  
As you have his: who, to endear him more  
In your clear eye, hath put away his wife,  
The trouble of his bed, and your delights,  
Fair Apicata, and made spacious room  
To your new pleasures.  LIV. 
have not we returned  
That, with our hate of Drusus, and discovery  
Of all his counsels?  EVD. 
Yes, and wisely, lady,  
The ages that succeed, and stand far off  
To gaze at your high prudence, shall admire  
And reckon it an act, without your sex:  
It hath that rare appearance. Some will think  
Your fortune could not yield a deeper sound,  
Then mixed with Drusus; But, when they shall hear  
That, and the thunder of Sejanus meet,  
Sejanus, whose high name doth strike the stars,  
And rings about the concave, great Sejanus,  
Whose glories, style, and titles are himself,  
The often iterating of Sejanus:  
They then will lose their thoughts, and be ashamed  
To take acquaintance of them.  SEI. 
I must make  
A rude departure, lady. CAESAR sends  
With all his haste both of command, and prayer.  
Be resolute in our plot; you have my soul,  
As certain yours, as it is my bodies.  
And, wise physician, so prepare the poison  
As you may lay the subtle operation  
Upon some natural disease of his.  
Your eunuch send to me. I kiss your hands,  
Glory of ladies, and commend my love  
To your best faith, and memory.  LIV. 
My lord,  
I shall but change your words. Farewell. Yet, this  
Remember for your heed, he loves you not;  
You know, what I have told you: His designs  
Are full of grudge, and danger: we must use  
More than a common speed.  SEI. 
Excellent lady,  
How you do fire my blood!  LIV. 
Well, you must go?  
The thoughts be best, are least set forth to show.  EVD. 
When will you take some physic, lady?  LIV. 
When  
I shall, EUDEMUS: But let Drusus drug  
Be first prepared.  EVD. 
Were LYGDUS made, that's done;  
I have it ready. And tomorrow-morning,  
I'll send you a perfume, first to resolve,  
And procure sweat, and then prepare a bath  
To cleanse, and clear the cutis; against when,  
I'll have an excellent new fucus made,  
Resistive 'gainst the sun, the rain, or wind,  
Which you shall lay on with a breath, or oil,  
As you best like, and last some fourteen hours.  
This change came timely, lady, for your health;  
And the restoring your complexion,  
Which Drusus choler had almost burnt up:  
Wherein your fortune hath prescribed you better  
Than art could do.  LIV. 
Thanks, good physician,  
I'll use my fortune (you shall see) with reverence.  
Is my coach ready?  EVD. 
It attends your highness.   

Sejanus.  
IF this be not revenge, when I have done  
And made it perfect, let Egyptian slaves,  
Parthians, and barefoot Hebrews brand my face,  
And print my body full of injuries.  
Thou lost thyself, child Drusus, when thou thought'st  
Thou couldst out-skip my vengeance: or outstand  
The power I had to crush thee into air.  
Thy follies now shall taste what kind of man  
They have provoked, and this thy father's house  
Crack in the flame of my incensed rage,  
Whose fury shall admit no shame, or mean.  
Adultery? it is the lightest ill,  
I will commit. A race of wicked acts  
Shall flow out of my anger, and o'erspread  
The world's wide face, which no posterity  
Shall e'er approve, nor yet keep silent: Things,  
That for their cunning, close, and cruel mark,  
Thy father would wish his; and shall (perhaps)  
Carry the empty name, but we the prize.  
On then, my soul, and start not in thy course;  
Though heaven drop sulphur, and hell belch out fire,  
Laugh at the idle terrors: Tell proud JOVE,  
Between his power, and thine, there is no odds.  
'Twas only fear, first, in the world made gods.   

Tiberius, Sejanus.  
IS yet Sejanus come?  SEI. 
He's here, dread CAESAR.  TIB. 
Let all depart that chamber, and the next:  
Sit down, my comfort. When the master-prince  
Of all the world, Sejanus, saith, he fears;  
Is it not fatal?  SEI. 
Yes, to those are feared.  TIB. 
And not to him?  SEI. 
Not, if he wisely turn  
That part of fate he holdeth, first on them.  TIB. 
That nature, blood, and laws of kind forbid.  SEI. 
Do policy, and state forbid it?  TIB. 
No.  SEI. 
The rest of poor respects, then, let go by:  
State is enough to make th'act just, them guilty.  TIB. 
Long hate pursues such acts.  SEI. 
Whom hatred frights,  
Let him not dream on sovereignty.  TIB. 
Are rites  
Of faith, love, piety, to be trod down?  
Forgotten? and made vain?  SEI. 
All for a crown.  
The prince, who shames a tyrants name to bear,  
Shall never dare do any thing, but fear;  
All the command of sceptres quite doth perish  
If it begin religious thoughts to cherish:  
Whole Empires fall, swayed by those nice respects.  
It is the licence of dark deeds protects  
e'en states most hated: when no laws resist  
The sword, but that it acteth what it list.  TIB. 
Yet so, we may do all things cruelly,  
Not safely:  SEI. 
Yes, and do them thoroughly.  TIB. 
Knows yet, Sejanus, whom we point at?  SEI. 
ay,  
Or else my thought, my sense, or both do err:  
'Tis AGRIPPINA?  TIB. 
She; and her proud race.  SEI. 
Proud? dangerous,  CAESAR. 
For in them apace  
The father's spirit shoots up. Germanicus  
Lives in their looks, their gate, their form, t'upbraid us  
With his close death, if not revenge the same.  TIB. 
The act's not known.  SEI. 
Not proved. But whispering fame  
Knowledge, and proof doth to the jealous give,  
Who, than to fail, would their own thought believe.  
It is not safe, the children draw long breath,  
That are provoked by a parent's death.  TIB. 
It is a dangerous, to make them hence,  
If nothing but their birth be their offence.  SEI. 
Stay, till they strike at CAESAR: than their crime  
Will be enough, but late, and out of time  
For him to punish.  TIB. 
Do they purpose it?  SEI. 
You know, sir, thunder speaks not till it hit.  
Be not secure: none swiftlier are oppressed,  
Than they, whom confidence betrays to rest.  
Let not your daring make your danger such:  
All power's to be feared, where 'tis too much.  
The youths are (of themselves) hight, violent,  
Full of great thought; and that male-spirited dame,  
Their mother, slacks no means to put them on,  
By large allowance, popular presentings,  
Increase of train, and state, suing for titles,  
Hath them commended with like prayers, like vows,  
To the same Gods, with CAESAR: days and nights  
She spends in banquets, and ambitious feasts  
For the Nobility; where CAIUS Silius,  
TITIUS Sabinus, old Arruntius,  
ASINIUS Gallus, Furnius, Regulus,  
And others, of that discontented list,  
Are the prime guests. There, and to these, she tells  
Whose niece she was, whose daughter, and whose wife,  
And then must they compare her with AUGUSTA,  
ay, and prefer her too, commend her form,  
Extol her fruitfulness; at which a shower  
Falls for the memory of Germanicus,  
Which they blow over straight, with windy praise,  
And puffing hopes of her aspiring sons:  
Who, with these hourly ticklings, grow so pleased,  
And wanton conceited of themselves,  
As now, they stick not to believe they're such,  
As these do give 'em out: and would be thought  
(More than competitors) immediate heirs.  
Whilst to their thirst of rule they win the rout  
(That's still the friend of novelty) with hope  
Of future freedom, which on every change,  
That greedily, though emptily, expects.  
CAESAR, 'tis age in all things breeds neglects,  
And princes that will keep old dignity,  
Must not admit too youthful heirs stand by;  
Not their own issue: but so darkly set  
As shadows are in picture, to give height,  
And lustre to themselves.  TIB. 
We will command  
Their rank thoughts down, and with a stricter hand  
Than we have yet put forth, their trains must bate,  
Their titles, feasts and factions.  SEI. 
Or your state.  
But how sir, will you work?  TIB. 
Confine 'em,  SEI. 
No.  
They are too great, and that too faint a blow,  
To give them now: it would have served at first,  
When, with the weakest touch, their knot had burst.  
But, now, your care must be, not to detect  
The smallest cord, or line of your suspect,  
For such, who know the weight of princes fear,  
Will, when they find themselves discovered, rear  
Their forces, like seen snakes, that else would lie  
Rolled in their circles, close: Nought is more high,  
Daring, or desperate, than offenders found;  
Where guilt is, rage, and courage doth abound.  
The course must be, to let 'em still swell up,  
Riot, and surfeit on blind fortune's cup;  
give 'em more place, more dignities, more style,  
Call 'em to court, to senate: in the while,  
Take from their strength some one or twain, or more  
Of the main Fautors; (It will fright the store)  
And, by some by-occasion. Thus, with slight  
You shall disarm first, and they (in night  
Of their ambition) not perceive the train,  
Till, in the engine, they are caught, and slain.  TIB. 
We would not kill, if we knew how to save;  
Yet, than a throne, 'tis cheaper give a grave.  
Is there no way to bind them by deserts?  SEI. 
Sir, wolves do change their hair, but not their hearts.  
While thus your thought unto a mean is tied,  
You neither dare enough, nor do provide.  
All modesty is fond; and chiefly where  
The subject is no less compelled to bear,  
Then praise his sovereigns acts.  TIB. 
We can no longer  
Keep on our mask to thee, our dear Sejanus;  
Thy thoughts are ours, in all, and we but proved  
Their voice, in our designs, which by assenting  
Hath more confirmed us, than if heartening JOVE  
Had, from his hundred statues, bid us strike,  
And at the stroke clicked all his marble thumbs.  
But, who shall first be struck?  SEI. 
First, CAIUS Silius;  
He is the most of mark, and most of danger:  
In power, and reputation equal strong,  
Having commanded an imperial army  
Seven years together, vanquished SACROVIR  
In germany, and thence obtained to wear  
The ornaments triumphal. His steep fall,  
By how much it doth give the weightier crack,  
Will send more wounding terror to the rest,  
Command them stand aloof, and give more way  
To our surprising of the principal.  TIB. 
But what, Sabinus?  SEI. 
Let him grow awhile,  
His fate is not yet ripe: we must not pluck  
At all together, lest we catch ourselves.  
And there's Arruntius too, he only talks.  
But SOSIA, Silius wife, would be wound in  
Now, for she hath a fury in her breast  
More, than hell ever knew; and would be sent  
Thither in time. Then, is there one CREMUTIUS  
CORDUS, a writing fellow, they have got  
To gather notes of the precedent times,  
And make them into annals; a most tart  
And bitter spirit (I hear) who, under colour  
Of praising those, doth tax the present state,  
Censures the men, the actions, leaves no trick,  
No practice unexamined, parallels  
The times, the governments, a professed champion,  
For the old liberty—  TIB. 
A perishing wretch.  
As if there were that chaos bred in things,  
The laws, and liberty would not rather choose  
To be quite broken, and ta'en hence by us,  
Then have the stain to be preserved by such.  
have we the means, to make these guilty, first?  SEI. 
Trust that to me: let CAESAR, by his power,  
But cause a formal meeting of the Senate,  
I will have matter, and accusers ready.  TIB. 
But how? let us consult.  SEI. 
we shall misspend  
The time of action. Counsels are unfit  
In business, where all rest is more pernicious  
Than rashness can be. Acts of this close kind  
Thrive more by execution, than advice.  
There is no lingering in that work begun,  
Which cannot praised be, until through done.  TIB. 
Our edict shall, forthwith, command a court.  
While I can live, I will prevent earth's fury:  
Ἐμοῦ θανόντος γαῖα μιχθήτω πυρί.   

POSTHUMUS, Sejanus.  
MY Lord Sejanus—  SEI. 
JULIUS POSTHUMUS,  
Come with my wish! what news from AGRIPPINA'S?  POS. 
Faith none. They all lock up themselves o'late;  
Or talk in character: I have not seen  
A company changed. Except they had  
Intelligence by augury of our practice.  SEI. 
When were you there?  POS. 
Last night.  SEI. 
And what guests found you?  POS. 
Sabinus, Silius, (the old list,) Arruntius,  
Furnius, and Gallus.  SEI. 
Would not these talk?  POS. 
Little.  
And yet we offered choice of argument.  
SATRIUS was with me.  SEI. 
Well: 'tis guilt enough  
Their often meeting. You forgot t'extol  
The hospitable lady?  POS. 
No, that trick  
Was well put home, and had succeeded too,  
But that Sabinus catch a caution out;  
For she began to swell:  SEI. 
And may she burst.  
JULIUS, Mutilia Prisca. I would have you go instantly,  
Unto the palace of the great AUGUSTA,  
And, (by your kindest friend,) get swift access;  
Acquaint her, with these meetings: Tell the words  
You brought me, (th'other day) of Silius,  
Add somewhat to 'em. Make her understand  
The danger of Sabinus, and the times,  
Out of his closeness. give Arruntius words  
Of malice against CAESAR; so, to Gallus:  
But (above all) to AGRIPPINA. Say,  
(As you may truly) that her infinite pride,  
Propped with the hopes of her too fruitful womb,  
With popular studies gapes for sovereignty;  
And threatens CAESAR. Pray AUGUSTA then,  
That for her own, great Caesar's, and the public  
safety, she be pleased to urge these dangers.  
CAESAR is too secure (he must be told,  
And best he'll take it from a mother's tongue.)  
Alas! what is 't for us to sound, t' explore,  
To watch, oppose, plot, practice, or prevent,  
If he, for whom it is so strongly laboured,  
Shall, out of greatness, and free spirit, be  
Supinely negligent? Our city's now  
Divided as in time o'th' civil war,  
And men forbear not to declare themselves  
Of AGRIPPINA'S party. Every day,  
The faction multiplies; and will do more  
If not resisted: you can best enlarge it  
As you find audience. Noble POSTHUMUS,  
Commend me to your PRISCA: and pray her,  
She will solicit this great business  
To earnest, and most present execution,  
With all her utmost credit with AUGUSTA.  POS. 
I shall not fail in my instructions.  SEI. 
This second (from his mother) will well urge  
Our late design, and spur on Caesar's rage:  
Which else might grow remiss. The way, to put  
A prince in blood, is to present the shapes  
Of dangers, greater than they are (like late,  
Or early shadows) and, sometimes, to feign  
Where there are none, only, to make him fear;  
His fear will make him cruel: And once entered,  
He doth not easily learn to stop, or spare  
Where he may doubt. This have I made my rule,  
To thrust Tiberius into tyranny,  
And make him toil, to turn aside those blocks,  
Which I alone, could not remove with safety.  
Drusus once gone, Germanicus three sons  
Would clog my way; whose guards have too much faith  
To be corrupted: and their mother known  
Of too-too unreproved a chastity,  
To be attempted, as light LIVIA was.  
Work then, my art, on CAESAR'S fears, as they  
On those they fear, till all my bets be cleared:  
And he in ruins of his house, and hate  
Of all his subjects, bury his own state:  
When, with my peace, and safety, I will rise,  
By making him the public sacrifice.   

SATRIUS, NATTA.  
theyare grown exceeding circumspect, and wary.  NAT. 
They have us in the wind: And yet, Arruntius  
Cannot contain himself.  SAT. 
Tut, he's not yet  
Looked after, there are others more desired,  
That are more silent.  NAT. 
Here he comes. Away.   

Sabinus, Arruntius, CORDUS.  
HOw is it, that these beagles haunt the house  
Of AGRIPPINA?  ARR. 
O, they hunt, they hunt.  
There is some game here lodged, which they must rouse,  
To make the great-ones sport.  COR. 
Did you observe  
How they inveighed 'gainst CAESAR?  ARR. 
ay, baits, baits,  
For us to bite at: would I have my flesh  
Torn by the public hook, these qualified hangmen  
Should be my company.  COR. 
Here comes another.  ARR. 
ay, there's a man, AFER the orator!  
One, that hath phrases, figures, and fine flowers,  
To strew his rhetoric with, and doth make haste  
To get him note, or name, by any offer  
Where blood, or gain be objects; steeps his words,  
When he would kill, in artificial tears:  
The Crocodile of Tiber! him I love,  
That man is mine. He hath my heart, and voice,  
When I would curse, he, he.  SAB. 
Contemn the slaves,  
Their present lives will be their future graves.   

Silius, AGRIPPINA, NERO, SOSIA.  
MAy't please your highness not forget yourself,  
I dare not, with my manners, to attempt  
Your trouble farther.  AGR. 
Farewell, noble Silius.  SIL. 
Most royal princess.  AGR. 
SOSIA stays with us?  SIL. 
she is your servant, and doth owe your grace  
An honest, but unprofitable love.  AGR. 
How can that be, when there's no gain, but virtuous?  SIL. 
You take the moral, not the politic sense.  
I meant, as she is bold, and free of speech,  
Earnest to utter what her zealous thought  
Travails withal, in honour of your house;  
Which act, as it is simply borne in her,  
Partakes of love, and honesty, but may,  
By th'over-often, and unseasoned use,  
Turn to your loss, and danger: For your state  
Is waited on by envies, as by eyes;  
And every second guest your tables take,  
Is a feed spy, t'observe who goes, who comes,  
What conference you have, with whom, where, when,  
What the discourse is, what the looks, the thoughts  
Of every person there, they do extract,  
And make into a substance.  ARR. 
Hear me, Silius,  
Were all Tiberius body stuck with eyes,  
And every wall, and hanging in my house  
Transparent, as this lawn I wear, or air;  
Yea, had Sejanus both his ears as long  
As to my inmost closet: I would hate  
To whisper any thought, or change an act,  
To be made JUNO'S rival. virtues forces  
Show ever noblest in conspicuous courses.  SIL. 
'Tis great, and bravely spoken, like the spirit  
Of AGRIPPINA: yet, your highness knows,  
There is nor loss, nor shame in providence:  
Few can, what all should do, beware enough.  
You may perceive with what officious face,  
SATRIUS, and NATTA, AFER, and the rest  
Visit your house, of late, t'inquire the secrets;  
And with what bold, and privileged art, they rail  
Against AUGUSTA: yea, and at Tiberius,  
Tell tricks of LIVIA, and Sejanus, all  
T'excite, and call your indignation on,  
That they might hear it at more liberty.  AGR. 
You're too suspicious, Silius.  SIL. 
Pray the gods,  
I be so AGRIPPINA: But I fear  
Some subtle practice. They, that durst to strike  
At so examp-lesse, and unblamed a life,  
As, that of the renowned Germanicus,  
Will not sit down, with that exploit alone:  
" He threatens many, that hath injured one.  NER. 
'Twere best rip forth their tongues, sear out their eyes,  
When next they come.  SOS. 
A fit reward for spies.   

Drusus in: AGRIPPINA, NERO, Silius.  
Hear you the rumour?  AGR. 
What?  DRV. 
Drusus is dying.  AGR. 
Dying?  NER. 
That's strange!  AGR. 
you werewere with him, yesternight.  DRV. 
One met EUDEMUS, the Physician,  
Sent for, but now: who thinks he cannot live.  SIL. 
Thinks? if't be arrived at that, he knows,  
Or none.  AGR. 
This's quick! what should be his disease?  SIL. 
Poison. Poison—  AGR. 
How, Silius!  NER. 
What's that?  SIL. 
Nay, nothing. There was (late) a certain blow  
Given o' the face.  NER. 
ay, to Sejanus?  SIL. 
True.  DRV. 
And, what of that?  SIL. 
I'm glad I gave it not.  NER. 
But, there is somewhat else?  SIL. 
Yes, private meetings,  
With a great lady, at a physician's,  
And, a wife turned away—  NER. 
Ha!  SIL. 
Toys, mere toys:  
What wisdom's now i'th' streets? i'th' common mouth?  DRV. 
Fears, whisperings, tumults, noise, I know not what:  
They say, the Senate sit.  SIL. 
I'll thither, straight;  
And see what's in the forge.  AGR. 
Good Silius do.  
SOSIA, and I will in.  SIL. 
Haste you, my lords,  
To visit the sick prince: tender your loves,  
And sorrows to the people. This Sejanus  
(Trust my divining soul) hath plots on all:  
No tree, that stops his prospect, but must fall.   

CHORUS— Of Musicians.    

Act III. THE SENATE.  

Sejanus, VARRO, LATIARIS. COTTA, AFER. Gallus, Lepidus, Arruntius. PRAECONES, LICTORES.  
'tIs only you must urge against him, VARRO,  
Nor I, nor CAESAR may appear therein,  
Except in your defence, who are the Consul:  
And, under colour of late enmity  
Between your father, and his, may better do it,  
As free from all suspicion of a practice.  
Here be your notes, what points to touch at; read:  
be cunning in them. AFER has them too.  VAR. 
But is he summoned?  SEI. 
No. It was debated  
By CAESAR, and concluded as most fit  
To him take unprepared.  AFE. 
And prosecute  
All under name of treason.  VAR. 
I conceive.  SAB. 
Drusus being dead, CAESAR will not be here.  GAL. 
What should the business of this Senate be?  ARR. 
That can my subtle whisperers tell you: We,  
That are the good dull-noble lookers on,  
Are only called to keep the marble warm.  
What should we do with those deep mysteries,  
Proper to these fine heads? let them alone.  
Our ignorance may, perchance, help us be saved  
From whips, and furies.  GAL. 
See, see, see, their action!  ARR. 
ay, now their heads do travail, now they work;  
Their faces run like shittles, they are weaving  
Some curious cobweb to catch flies.  SAB. 
Observe,  
They take their places.  ARR. 
What so low?  GAL. 
O yes,  
They must be seen to flatter Caesar's grief  
Though but in sitting.  VAR. 
Bid us silence.  PRAE. 
Silence.  VAR. 
Fathers Conscript, may this our present meeting  
Turn fair, and fortunate to the Commonwealth.   

Silius, SENATE.  
SEe, Silius enters.  SIL. 
Hail grave Fathers.  LIC. 
Stand.  
Silius, forbear thy place.  SEN. 
How!  PRAE. 
Silius stand forth,  
The Consul hath to charge thee.  LIC. 
Room for CAESAR.  ARR. 
Is he come too? nay then expect a trick.  SAB. 
Silius accused? sure he will answer nobly.   

Tiberius, SENATE.  
WE stand amazed, Fathers, to behold  
This general dejection. Wherefore sit  
Rome's Consuls thus dissolved, as they had lost  
All the remembrance both of style, and place?  
It not becomes. No woes are of fit weight,  
To make the honour of the empire stoop:  
Though I, in my peculiar self, may meet  
Just reprehension, that so suddenly,  
And, in so fresh a grief, would greet the Senate,  
When private tongues, of kinsmen, and allies,  
(Inspired with comforts) loathly are endured,  
The face of men not seen, and scarce the day,  
To thousands, that communicate our loss.  
Nor can I argue these of weakness; since  
They take but natural ways: yet I must seek  
For stronger aides, and those fair helps draw out  
From warm embraces of the commonwealth.  
Our mother, great AUGUSTA, is struck with time,  
ourself impressed with aged characters,  
Drusus is gone, his children young, and babes,  
Our aims must now reflect on those, that may  
give timely succour to these present ills,  
And are our only glad-surviving hopes,  
The noble issue of Germanicus,  
NERO, and Drusus: might it please the Consul  
Honour them in, (they both attend without.)  
I would present them to the senate's care,  
And raise those suns of joy, that should drink up  
These floods of sorrow, in your drowned eyes.  ARR. 
By JOVE, I am not OEDIPUS enough,  
To understand this Sphinx.  SAB. 
The princes come.   

Tiberius, NERO, Drusus junior.  
Approach you noble NERO, noble Drusus,  
These princes, Fathers, when their parent died,  
I gave unto their uncle, with this prayer,  
That, though h' had proper issue of his own,  
He would no less bring up, and foster these,  
Than that self-blood; and by that act confirm  
Their worths to him, and to posterity.  
DRUSUS ta'en hence, I turn my prayers to you,  
And, 'fore our country, and our gods, beseech  
You take, and rule Augustus nephews sons,  
Sprung of the noblest ancestors; and so  
Accomplish both my duty, and your own.  
NERO, and Drusus, (these shall be to you  
In place of parents, these your fathers, these,  
And not unfitly: For you are so borne,  
As all your good, or ill's the commonwealths.  
Receive them, you strong guardians; and blessed gods  
Make all their actions answer to their bloods:  
Let their great titles find increase by them,  
Not they by titles. Set them, as in place,  
So in example, above all the Romans:  
And may they know no rivals, but themselves.  
Let fortune give them nothing; but attend  
Upon their virtue: and that still come forth  
Greater than hope, and better than their fame.  
Relieve me, Fathers, with your general voice.  SEN. 
May all the gods consent to CAESAR'S wish,  
A form of speaking they had. And add to any honours, that may crown  
The hopeful issue of Germanicus.  TIB. 
We thank you, reverend Fathers, in their right.  ARR. 
If this were true now! but the space, the space  
Between the breast, and lips— Tiberius heart  
Lies a thought farther, than another man's.  TIB. 
My comforts are so flowing in my joys,  
As, in them, all my streams of grief are lost,  
No less than are land-waters in the sea,  
Or showers in rivers; though their cause was such,  
As might have sprinkled e'en the gods with tears:  
Yet since the greater doth embrace the less,  
We covetously obey.  (ARR. 
Well acted, CAESAR.)  TIB. 
And, now I am the happy witness made  
Of your so much desired affections,  
To this great issue, I could wish, the fates  
Would here set peaceful period to my days;  
however, to my labours, I entreat  
(And beg it of this Senate) some fit ease.  (ARR. 
Laugh, Fathers, laugh: Ha' you no spleens about you?)  TIB. 
The burden is too heavy, I sustain  
On my unwilling shoulders; and I pray  
It may be taken off, and reconferred  
Upon the Consuls, or some other Roman,  
More able, and more worthy.  (ARR. 
Laugh on, still.)  SAB. 
Why, this doth render all the rest suspected!  GAL. 
It poisons all.  ARR. 
O, do you taste it then?  SAB. 
It takes away my faith to any thing  
He shall hereafter speak.  ARR. 
ay, to pray that,  
Which would be to his head as hot as thunder,  
A wreath of laurel. (Gainest which he wears that charm) should but the court  
Receive him at his word  GAL. 
Hear.  TIB. 
For myself,  
I know my weakness, and so little covet  
(Like some gone past) the weight that will oppress me,  
As my ambition is the counterpoint.  (ARR. 
Finely maintained; good still.)  SEI. 
But Rome, whose blood,  
Whose nerves, whose life, whose very frame relies  
On CAESAR'S strength, no less than heaven on ATLAS,  
Cannot admit it but with general ruin.  (ARR. 
Ah! are you there, to bring him of?)  SEI. 
Let CAESAR  
No more than urge a point so contrary  
To Caesar's greatness, the grieved senate's vows,  
Or Rome's necessity.  (GAL. 
He comes about.  ARR. 
More nimbly than VERTUMNUS.)  TIB. 
For the public,  
I may be drawn, to show, I can neglect  
All private aims; though I affect my rest:  
But, if the Senate still command me serve,  
I must be glad to practise my obedience.  (ARR. 
You must, and will, sir. We do know it.)  SEN. 
CAESAR,  
live long, Another form. and happy, great, and royal CAESAR,  
The gods preserve thee, and thy modesty,  
Thy wisdom, and thy innocence.  (ARR. 
Where is't?  
The prayer's made before the subject.)  SEN. 
Guard  
His meekness, JOVE, his piety, his care,  
His bounty—  ARR. 
And his subtlety, I'll put in:  
Yet he'll keep that himself, without the gods.  
All prayers are vain for him.  TIB. 
We will not hold  
Your patience, Fathers, with long answer; but  
Shall still contend to be, what you desire,  
And work to satisfy so great a hope:  
Proceed to your affairs.  ARR. 
Now, Silius, guard thee;  
The curtain's drawing.  AFER 
advanceth.  PRAE. 
Silence.  AFE. 
Cite CAIUS, Silius.  PRAE. 
CAIUS Silius.  SIL. 
Here.  AFE. 
The triumph that thou hadst in germany  
For thy late victory on SACROVIR,  
Thou hast enjoyed so freely, CAIUS Silius,  
As no man it envied thee; nor would CAESAR,  
Or Rome admit, that thou wert then defrauded  
Of any honours, thy deserts could claim,  
In the fair service of the commonwealth:  
But now, if, after all their loves, and graces,  
(Thy actions, and their courses being discovered)  
It shall appear to CAESAR, and this Senate,  
Thou hast defiled those glories, with thy crimes—  SIL. 
Crimes?  AFE. 
Patience, Silius.  SIL. 
Tell thy moil of patience,  
I am a Roman. What are my crimes? Proclaim them.  
Am I too rich? too honest for the times?  
have I or treasure, jewels, land, or houses  
That some informer gapes for? Is my strength  
Too much to be admitted? Or my knowledge?  
These now are crimes.  AFE. 
Nay, Silius, if the name  
Of crime so touch thee, with what impotence  
Wilt thou endure the matter to be searched?  SIL. 
I tell thee, AFER, with more scorn, than fear:  
Employ your mercenary tongue, and art.  
Where's my accuser?  VAR. 
Here.  ARR. 
VARRO? The Consul?  
Is he thrust in?  VAR. 
'Tis I accuse thee, Silius.  
Against the majesty of Rome, and CAESAR,  
I do pronounce thee here a guilty cause,  
First, of beginning, and occasioning,  
Next, drawing out the war in Gallia,  
For which thou late triumphest; dissembling long  
That SACROVIR to be an enemy,  
Only to make thy entertainment more,  
Whilst thou, and thy wife SOSIA polled the province;  
Wherein, with sordid-base desire of gain,  
Thou hast discredited thy actions worth  
And been a traitor to the state.  SIL. 
Thou liest.  ARR. 
I thank thee, Silius, speak so still, and often.  VAR. 
If I not prove it, CAESAR, but injustly  
have called him into trial, here I bind  
myself to suffer, what I claim 'gainst him;  
And yield, to have what I have spoke, confirmed  
By judgement of the court, and all good men.  SIL. 
CAESAR, I crave to have my cause deferred,  
Till this man's Consulship be out.  TIB. 
We cannot,  
Nor may we grant it.  SIL. 
Why? shall he design  
My day of trial? is he my accuser?  
And must he be my judge?  TIB. 
It hath been usual,  
And is a right, that custom hath allowed  
The magistrate, to call forth private men;  
And to appoint their day: Which privilege  
We may not in the Consul see infringed,  
By whose deep watches, and industrious care  
It is so laboured, as the commonwealth  
Receive no loss, by any oblique course.  SIL. 
CAESAR, thy fraud is worse than violence.  TIB. 
Silius, mistake us not, we dare not use  
The credit of the Consul, to thy wrong,  
But only do preserve his place, and power,  
So far as it concerns the dignity,  
And honour of the state.  ARR. 
Believe him, Silius.  COT. 
Why, so he may, Arruntius.  ARR. 
I say so.  
And he may choose too.  TIB. 
By the capitol,  
And all our gods, but that the dear republic,  
Our sacred laws, and just authority  
Are interested therein, I should be silent.  AFE. 
Please CAESAR to give way unto his trial.  
He shall have justice.  SIL. 
Nay, I shall have law;  
Shall I not AFER? speak.  AFE. 
Would you have 〈◊〉  SIL. 
No, my wellspoken man, I would no more;  
Nor less: might I enjoy it natural,  
Not taught to speak unto your present ends,  
Free from thine, his, and all your unkind handling,  
Furious enforcing, most unjust presuming,  
Malicious, and manifold applying,  
Foul wresting, and impossible construction.  AFE. 
He raves, he raves.  SIL. 
Thou durst not tell me so,  
Hadst thou not Caesar's warrant. I can see  
Whose power condemns me.  VAR. 
This betrays his spirit.  
This doth enough declare him what he is.  SIL. 
What am I? speak.  VAR. 
An enemy to the state.  SIL. 
Because I am an enemy to thee,  
And such corrupted ministers o' the state,  
That here art made a present instrument  
To gratify it with thine own disgrace.  SEI. 
This, to the Consul, is most insolent!  
And impious!  SIL. 
ay, take part. reveal yourselves.  
Alas, I sent not your confederacies?  
Your plots, and combinations? I not know  
Minion Sejanus hates me; and that all  
This boast of law, and law, is but a form,  
A net of Vulcan's filing, a mere engine,  
To take that life by a pretext of justice,  
Which you pursue in malice? I want brain,  
Or nostril to persuade me, that your ends,  
And purposes are made to what they are,  
Before my answer? O, you equal gods,  
Whose justice not a world of wolf-turned men  
Shall make me to accuse (howe'er provoke)  
have I for this so oft engaged myself?  
Stood in the heat, and fervour of a fight,  
When Phoebus sooner hath forsook the day  
Then I the field? Against the blue-eyed Gaules?  
And crisped Germans? when our Roman Eagles  
have fanned the fire, with their labouring wings,  
And no blow dealt, that left not death behind it?  
When I have charged, alone, into the troops  
Of curled Sicambrians, routed them, and came  
Not off, with backward ensigns of a slave,  
But forward marks, wounds on my breast, and face,  
Were meant to thee, O CAESAR, and thy Rome?  
And have I this return? did I, for this,  
Perform so noble, and so brave defeat,  
On SACROVIR? (O JOVE, let it become me  
To boast my deeds, when he, whom they concern,  
Shall thus forget them.)  AFE. 
Silius, Silius,  
These are the common customs of thy blood,  
When it is high with wine, as now with rage:  
This well agrees, with that intemperate vaunt,  
Thou lately mad'st at AGRIPPINA'S table,  
That when all other of the troops were prone  
To fall into rebellion, only yours  
Remained in their obedience. You were he,  
That saved the empire; which had then been lost,  
Had but your legions, there, rebelled, or mutined.  
Your virtue met, and fronted every peril.  
You gave to CAESAR, and to Rome their surety.  
Their name, their strength, their spirit, and their state,  
Their being was a donative from you.  ARR. 
Well worded, and most like an Orator.  TIB. 
Is this true, Silius?  SIL. 
save thy question, CAESAR.  
Thy spy, of famous credit, hath affirmed it.  ARR. 
Excellent Roman!  SAB. 
He doth answer stoutly.  SEI. 
If this be so, there needs no farther cause  
Of crime against him.  VAR. 
What can more impeach  
The royal dignity, and state of CAESAR,  
Then to be urged with a benefit  
He cannot pay?  COT. 
In this, all Caesar's fortune  
Is made unequal to the courtesy.  LAT. 
His means are clean destroyed, that should requite.  GAL. 
Nothing is great enough for Silius merit.  ARR. 
Gallus on that side to?  SIL. 
Come, do not hunt,  
And labour so about for circumstance,  
To make him guilty, whom you have foredoomed:  
Take shorter ways, I'll meet your purposes.  
The words were mine, and more I now will say:  
Since I have done thee that great service, CAESAR,  
Thou still hast feared me; and, in place of grace,  
Returned me hatred: so soon, all best turns,  
With doubtful Princes, turn deep injuries  
In estimation, when they greater rise,  
Then can be answered. Benefits, with you,  
Are of no longer pleasure, than you can  
With ease restore them; that transcended once,  
Your studies are not how to thank, but kill.  
It is your nature, to have all men slaves  
To you, but you acknowledging to none.  
The means that makes your greatness, must not come  
In mention of it; if it do, it takes  
So much away, you think: and that, which helped,  
Shall soonest perish, if it stand in eye,  
Where it may front, or but upbraid the high.  COT. 
Suffer him speak no more.  VAR. 
Note but his spirit.  AFE. 
This shows him in the rest.  LAT. 
Let him be censured.  SEI. 
He hath spoke enough to prove him Caesar's foe.  COT. 
His thoughts look through his words.  SEI. 
A censure.  SIL. 
Stay,  
Stay, most officious Senate, I shall straight  
Delude thy fury. Silius hath not placed  
His guards within him, against fortune's spite,  
So weakly, but he can escape your gripe  
That are but hands of fortune: She herself  
When virtue doth oppose, must lose her threats.  
All that can happen in humanity,  
The frown of CAESAR, proud Sejanus hatred,  
Base VARRO'S spleen, and Afer's bloodying tongue,  
The senate's servile flattery, and these  
Mustered to kill, I'm fortified against;  
And can look down upon: they are beneath me.  
It is not life whereof I stand enamoured:  
Nor shall my end make me accuse my fate.  
The coward, and the valiant man must fall,  
Only the cause, and manner how, discerns them:  
Which then are gladdest, when they cost us dearest.  
Romans, if any here be in this Senate,  
Would know to mock Tiberius tyranny,  
Look upon Silius, and so learn to die.  VAR. 
O, desperate act!  ARR. 
An honourable hand!  TIB. 
Look, is he dead?  SAB. 
'Twas nobly struck, and home.  ARR. 
My thought did prompt him to it. Farewell, Silius.  
Be famous ever for thy great example.  TIB. 
We are not pleased, in this sad accident,  
That thus hath stalled, and abused our mercy,  
Intended to preserve thee, noble Roman:  
And to prevent thy hopes.  ARR. 
Excellent wolf!  
Now he is full, he howls.  SEI. 
CAESAR doth wrong  
His dignity, and safety, thus to mourn  
The deserved end of so professed a traitor,  
And doth, by this his lenity, instruct  
Others as factious, to the like offence.  TIB. 
The confiscation merely of his state  
Had been enough.  ARR. 
O, that was gaped for then?  VAR. 
Remove the body.  SEI. 
Let citation  
Go out for SOSIA.  GAL. 
Let her be proscribed.  
And for the goods, I think it fit that half  
Go to the treasure, half unto the children.  LEP. 
With leave of CAESAR, I would think, that fourth  
Part, which the law doth cast on the informers,  
Should be enough; the rest go to the children:  
Wherein the Prince shall show humanity,  
And bounty, not to force them by their want  
(Which in their parents' trespass they deserved)  
To take ill courses.  TIB. 
It shall please us.  ARR. 
ay,  
Out of necessity. This Lepidus  
Is grave and honest, and I have observed  
A moderation still in all his censures.  SAB. 
And bending to the better— Stay, who's this?  
CREMUTIUS CORDUS? what? is he brought in?  ARR. 
More blood unto the banquet? Noble CORDUS,  
I wish thee good: Be as thy writings, free,  
And honest.  TIB. 
What is he?  SEI. 
For th'Annal's, CAESAR.   

PRAECO, CORDUS, SATRIUS, NATTA.  
CREMUTIUS CORDus.  COR. 
Here.  PRAE. 
SATRIUS SECVNDus,  
PINNARIUS NATTA, you are his accusers.  ARR. 
Two of Sejanus bloodhounds, whom he breeds  
With human flesh, to bay at citizens.  AFE. 
Stand forth before the Senate, and confront him.  SAT. 
I do accuse thee here, CREMUTIUS CORDUS,  
To be a man factious, and dangerous,  
A sower of sedition in the state,  
A turbulent, and discontented spirit,  
Which I will prove from thine own writings, here,  
The annals thou hast published; where thou bit'st  
The present age, and with a viper's tooth,  
Being a member of it, dar'st that ill  
Which never yet degenerous bastard did  
Upon his parent.  NAT. 
To this, I subscribe;  
And, forth a world of more particulars,  
Instance in only one: Comparing men,  
And times, thou praisest BRUTUS, and affirmest  
That CASSIUS was the last of all the Romans.  COT. 
How! what are we then?  VAR. 
What is CAESAR? nothing?  AFE. 
My lords, this strikes at every Romans private,  
In whom reigns gentry, and estate of spirit,  
To have a BRUTUS brought in parallel,  
A parricide, an enemy of his country,  
Ranked, and preferred to any real worth  
That Rome now holds. This is most strangely invective.  
Most full of spite, and insolent upbraiding.  
Nor is't the time alone is here dizprized,  
But the whole man of time, yea CAESAR'S self  
Brought in disvalue; and he aimed at most  
By oblique glance of his licentious pen.  
CAESAR, if CASSIUS were the last of Romans,  
Thou hast no name.  TIB. 
Let's hear him answer. Silence.  COR. 
So innocent I am of fact, my lords,  
As but my words are argued; yet those words  
Not reaching either prince, or PRINCE's parent:  
The which your law of treason comprehends.  
BRUTUS, and CASSIUS, I am charged, t' have praised:  
Whose deeds, when many more, besides myself,  
have writ, not one hath mentioned without honour.  
Great TITUS LIVIUS, great for eloquence,  
And faith, amongst us, in his history,  
With so great praises POMPEY did extol,  
As oft Augustus called him a POMPEIAN:  
Yet this not hurt their friendship. In his book  
He often names SCIPIO, AFRANIUS,  
Yea, the same CASSIUS, and this BRUTUS too,  
As worthiest men; not thieves, and parricides,  
Which notes, upon their fames, are now imposed.  
ASINIUS POLLIO'S writings quite throughout  
give them a noble memory; SO MESSALLA  
Renowned his general CASSIUS: yet both these  
Lived with Augustus, full of wealth, and honours.  
To CICERO'S book, where CATO was heaved up  
Equal with heaven, what else did CAESAR answer,  
Being then Dictator, but with a penned oration,  
As if before the judges? Do but see  
antonius' letters; read but Brutus' pleadings:  
What vile reproach they hold against Augustus,  
False I confess, but with much bitterness.  
The epigrams of BIBACULUS, and CATULLUS,  
Are read, full stuffed with spite of both the CAESARS;  
Yet deified JULIUS, and no less Augustus!  
Both bore them, and contemned them: (I not know  
Promptly to speak it, whether done with more  
Temper, or wisdom) for such obloquies  
If they despised be, they die suppressed,  
But, if with rage acknowledged, they are confessed.  
The Greeks I slip, whose licence not alone,  
But also lust did scape unpunished:  
Or where some one (by chance) exception took,  
He words with words revenged. But, in my work,  
What could be aimed more free, or farther of  
From the Time's scandal, than to write of those,  
Whom death from grace, or hatred had exempted?  
Did I, with BRUTUS, and with CASSIUS,  
Armed, and possessed of the PHILIPPI fields,  
Incense the people in the civil cause,  
With dangerous speeches? or do they, being slain  
seventy years since, as by their images  
(Which not the conqueror hath defaced) appears,  
Retain that guilty memory with writers?  
postery pays every man his honour.  
Nor shall there want, though I condemned am,  
That will not only CASSIUS well approve,  
And of great Brutus' honour mindful be,  
But that will, also, mention make of me.  ARR. 
Freely, and nobly spoken.  SAB. 
With good temper,  
I like him, that he is not moved with passion.  ARR. 
He puts 'em to their whisper.  TIB. 
Take him hence,  
We shall determine of him at next sitting.  COT. 
Mean time, give order, that his books be burnt,  
To the Aediles.  SEI. 
You have well advised.  AFE. 
It fits not such licentious things should live  
T' upbraid the age.  ARR. 
If th' age were good, they might.  LAT. 
Let 'em be burnt.  GAL. 
All sought, and burnt, today.  PRAE. 
The court is up, Lictors, resume the fasces.   

Arruntius, Sabinus, Lepidus.  
LEt 'em be burnt! O, how ridiculous  
Appears the Senate's brainless diligence,  
Who think they can, with present power, extinguish  
The memory of all succeeding times!  SAB. 
'Tis true when (contrary) the punishment  
Of wit, doth make th' authority increase.  
Nor do they ought, that use this cruelty  
Of interdiction, and this rage of burning;  
But purchase to themselves rebuke, and shame,  
And to the writers an eternal name.  LEP. 
It is an argument the times are sore,  
When virtue cannot safely be advanced;  
Nor vice reproved.  ARR. 
ay, noble Lepidus,  
Augustus well foresaw, what we should suffer,  
Under Tiberius, when he did pronounce  
The Roman race most wretched, that should live  
Between so slow jaws, and so long a bruising.   

Tiberius, Sejanus.  
THis business hath succeeded well, Sejanus:  
And quite removed all jealousy of practice  
'Gainst AGRIPPINA, and our nephews. Now,  
We must bethink us how to plant our engines  
For th' other pair, Sabinus, and Arruntius,  
And Gallus too (howe'er he flatter us,)  
His heart we know.  SEI. 
give it some respite, CAESAR.  
Time shall mature, and bring to perfect crown,  
What we, with so good vultures, have begun:  
Sabinus shall be next.  TIB. 
Rather Arruntius.  SEI. 
By any means, preserve him. His frank tongue  
Being lent the reins, will take away all thought  
Of malice, in your course against the rest.  
We must keep him to stalk with.  TIB. 
Dearest head,  
To thy most fortunate design I yield it.  SEI. 
Sir— I have been so long trained up in grace,  
First, with your father, great Augustus, since,  
With your most happy bounties so familiar,  
As I not sooner would commit my hopes  
Or wishes to the gods, then to your ears.  
Nor have I ever, yet, been covetous  
Of overbright, and dazzling honours: rather  
To watch, and travail in great CAESAR'S safety,  
With the most common soldier.  TIB. 
'Tis confessed.  SEI. 
The only gain, and which I count most fair  
Of all my fortunes, His daughter was betrothed to Claudius, his son. is that mighty CAESAR  
Hath thought me worthy his alliance. Hence  
Begin my hopes.  TIB. 
H'mh?  SEI. 
I have heard, Augustus  
In the bestowing of his daughter, thought  
But even of gentlemen of Rome: If so,  
(I know not how to hope so great a favour)  
But if a husband should be sought for LIVIA,  
And I be had in mind, as Caesar's friend,  
I would but use the glory of the kindred.  
It should not make me slothful, or less caring  
For Caesar's state; it were enough to me  
It did confirm, and strengthen my weak house,  
Against the-now-unequal opposition  
Of AGRIPPINA; and for dear regard  
Unto my children, this I wish: myself  
have no ambition farther, than to end  
My days in service of so dear a master.  TIB. 
We cannot but commend thy piety  
Most-loved Sejanus, in acknowledging  
Those bounties; which we faintly, such, remember.  
But to thy suit. The rest of mortal men,  
In all their drifts, and counsels, pursue profit:  
Princes, alone, are of a different sort,  
Directing their main actions still to fame.  
We therefore will take time to think, and answer.  
For LIVIA, she can best, herself, resolve  
If she will marry after Drusus, or  
Continue in the family; besides  
She hath a mother, and a grandam yet,  
Whose nearer counsels she may guide her by:  
But I will simply deal. That enmity,  
Thou fear'st in AGRIPPINA, would burn more,  
If Livia's marriage should (as 'twere in parts)  
Divide th' imperial house; an emulation  
Between the women might break forth; and discord  
Ruin the sons, and nephews, on both hands.  
What if it cause some present difference?  
Thou art not safe, Sejanus, if thou prove it.  
Canst thou believe, that LIVIA who was wife  
To CAIUS CAESAR, then to Drusus, now  
Will be contented to grow old with thee,  
Borne but a private gentleman of Rome?  
And raise thee with her loss, if not her shame?  
Or say, that I should wish it, canst thou think  
The Senate, or the people (who have seen  
Her brother, father, and our ancestors,  
In highest place of empire) will endure it?  
The state thou hold'st already, is in talk;  
Men murmur at thy greatness; and the nobles  
Stick not, in public, to upbraid thy climbing  
Above our father's favours, or thy scale:  
And dare accuse me, from their hate to thee.  
Be wise, dear friend. We would not hide these things  
For friendships dear respect. Nor will we stand  
Adverse to thine, or LIVIA'S designments.  
What we had purposed to thee, in our thought,  
And with what near degrees of love to bind thee,  
And make thee equal to us, for the present,  
We will forbear to speak. Only thus much  
Believe our loved Sejanus, we not know  
That height in blood, or honour, which thy virtue,  
And mind to us, may not aspire with merit;  
And this we'll publish, on all watched occasion  
The Senate, or the people shall present.  SEI. 
I am restored, and to my sense again,  
Which I had lost in this so blinding suit.  
CAESAR hath taught me better to refuse,  
Than I knew how to ask. How pleaseth CAESAR  
T' embrace my late advice, for leaving Rome?  TIB. 
We are resolved.  SEI. 
Here are some motives more  
Which I have thought on since, may more confirm.  TIB. 
Careful Sejanus! we will straight peruse them:  
Go forward in our main design, and prosper.   

Sejanus.  
IF those but take, I shall. Dull, heavy CAESAR!  
Wouldst thou tell me, thy favours were made crimes?  
And that my fortunes were esteemed thy faults?  
That thou, for me, wert hated? and not think  
I would with winged haste prevent that change,  
When thou might'st win all to thyself again,  
By forfeiture of me? Did those fond words  
Fly swifter from thy lips, than this my brain,  
This sparkling forge, created me an armour  
T' encounter chance, and thee? Well, read my charms,  
And may they lay that hold upon thy senses,  
As thou hadst snuffed up hemlock, or ta'en down  
The juice of poppy, and of mandrakes. Sleep,  
Voluptuous CAESAR, and security  
Seize on thy stupid powers, and leave them dead  
To public cares, awake but to thy lusts.  
The strength of which makes thy libidinous soul  
Itch to leave Rome; and I have thrust it on:  
With blaming of the city business,  
The multitude of suits, the confluence  
Of suitors, than their importunacies,  
The manifold distractions he must suffer,  
Besides ill rumours, envies, and reproaches,  
All which, a quiet and retired life,  
(Larded with ease, and pleasure) did avoid;  
And yet, for any weighty, and great affair,  
The fittest place to give the soundest counsels.  
By this, shall I remove him both from thought,  
And knowledge of his own most dear affairs;  
Draw all dispatches through my private hands;  
Know his designments, and pursue mine own;  
Make mine own strengths, by giving suits, and places;  
Conferring dignities, and offices:  
And these that hate me now, wanting access  
To him, will make their envy none, or less.  
For when they see me arbiter of all,  
They must observe: or else, with CAESAR fall.   

Tiberius, SERVUS.  
TO marry LIVIA? will no less, Sejanus,  
Content thy aims? no lower object? well!  
Thou know'st how thou art wrought into our trust;  
Woven in our design; and think'st, we must  
Now use thee, whatsoe'er thy projects are:  
'Tis true. But yet with caution, and fit care.  
And, now we better think— who's there, within?  SER. 
CAESAR?  TIB. 
To leave our journey off, were sin  
'Gainst our decreed delights; and would appear  
Doubt: or (what less becomes a prince) low fear.  
Yet, doubt hath law, and fears have their excuse,  
Where princes states plead necessary use;  
As ours doth now: more in Sejanus pride,  
Than all fell AGRIPPINA'S hates beside.  
Those are the dreadful enemies, we raise  
With favours, and make dangerous, with praise;  
The injured by us may have will alike,  
But 'tis the favourite hath the power, to strike:  
And fury ever boils more high, and strong,  
Heat with ambition, than revenge of wrong.  
'Tis then a part of supreme skill, to grace  
No man too much; but hold a certain space  
Between th' ascenders rise, and thine own flat,  
Lest, when all rounds be reached, his aim be that.  
'Tis thought— IS MACRO in the palace? See:  
If not go, seek him, to come to us— He  
Must be the organ, we must work by now;  
Though none less apt for trust: Need doth allow  
What choice would not. I have heard, that aconite  
Being timely taken, hath a healing might  
Against the scorpions stroke; the proof we'll give:  
That, while two poisons wrestle, we may live.  
He hath a spirit too working, to be used  
But to th' encounter of his like; excused  
Are wiser sovereigns then, that raise one ill  
Against another, and both safely kill:  
The prince, that feeds great natures, they will sway him;  
Who nourisheth a lion, must obey him.  Tiberius, MACRO. 
MAcro, we sent for you.  MAC. 
I heard so, CAESAR.  TIB. 
(Leave us awhile.) When you shall know, good MACRO,  
The causes of our sending, and the ends;  
You then will hearken nearer: and be pleased  
You stand so high, both in our choice, and trust.  MAC. 
The humblest place in Caesar's choice, or trust,  
May make glad MACRO proud; without ambition:  
save to do CAESAR service.  TIB. 
Leave our courtings.  
We are in purpose, MACRO, to depart  
The city for a time, and see Campania;  
Not for our pleasures, but to dedicate  
A pair of temples, one, to JUPITER  
At Capua, th'other at Nola, to Augustus:  
In which great work, perhaps, our stay will be  
Beyond our will produc't. Now, since we are  
Not ignorant what danger may be borne  
Out of our shortest absence, in a state  
So subject unto envy, and embroiled  
With hate, and faction; we have thought on thee,  
(Amongst a field of Romans,) worthiest MACRO,  
To be our eye, and ear, to keep strict watch  
On AGRIPPINA, NERO, Drusus, ay,  
And on Sejanus: Not, that we distrust  
His loyalty, or do repent one grace,  
Of all that heap, we have conferred on him.  
(For that were to disparaged our election,  
And call that judgement now in doubt, which then  
Seemed as unquestioned as an oracle,)  
But, greatness hath his cankers. Worms, and moths  
Breed out of too fit matter, in the things  
Which after they consume, transferring quite  
The substance of their makers, int'themselves.  
MACRO is sharp, and apprehends. Besides,  
I know him subtle, close, wise, and well-read  
In man, and his large nature. He hath studied  
Affections, passions, knows their springs, their ends,  
Which way, and whether they will work: 'tis proof  
Enough, of his great merit, that we trust him.  
Then, to a point; (because our conference  
Cannot be long without suspicion)  
Here, MACRO, we assign thee, both to spy,  
Inform, and chastise; think, and use thy means,  
Thy ministers, what, where, on whom thou wilt;  
Explore, plot, practice: All thou dost in this,  
Shall be, as if the Senate, or the Laws  
Had given it privilege, and thou thence styled  
The saviour both of CAESAR, and of Rome.  
We will not take thy answer, but in act:  
Whereto, as thou proceedest, we hope to hear  
By trusted messengers. If't be inquired,  
Wherefore we called you, say, you have in charge  
To see our chariots ready, and our horse:  
Be still our loved, and (shortly) honoured MACRO.   

MACRO.  
I Will not ask, why CAESAR bids do this:  
But joy, that he bids me. It is the bliss  
Of courts, to be employed; no matter, how:  
A PRINCE's power makes all his actions virtue.  
We, whom he works by, are dumb instruments,  
To do, but not inquire: His great intents  
Are to be served, not searched. Yet, as that bow  
Is most in hand, whose owner best doth know  
T'affect his aims, so let that statesman hope  
Most use, most price, can hit his PRINCE's scope.  
Nor must he look at what, or whom to strike,  
But lose at all; each mark must be alike.  
Were it to plot against the fame, the life  
Of one, with whom I twined; remove a wife  
From my warm side, as loved, as is the air;  
practice away each parent; draw mine heir  
In compass, though but one; work all my kin  
To swift perdition; leave no untrained engine,  
For friendship, or for innocence; nay, make  
The gods all guilty: I would undertake  
This, being imposed me, both with gain, and ease.  
The way to rise, is to obey, and please.  
He that will thrive in state, he must neglect  
The trodden paths, that truth and right respect;  
And prove new, wilder ways: for virtue, there,  
Is not that narrow thing, she is elsewhere.  
men's fortune there is virtue; reason, their will:  
Their licence, law; and their observance, skill.  
Occasion, is their foil; conscience, their stain;  
Profit, their lustre: and what else is, vain.  
If then it be the lust of Caesar's power,  
T'have raised Sejanus up, and in an hour  
o'erturn him, tumbling, down, from height of all;  
We are his ready engine: and his fall  
May be our rise. It is no uncouth thing  
To see fresh buildings from old ruins spring.   
CHORUS— Of Musicians.   

Act IIII.  

Gallus, AGRIPPINA, NERO, Drusus, Caligula.  
YOu must have patience, royal AGRIPPINA.  AGR. 
I must have vengeance, first: and that were nectar  
Unto my famished spirits. O, my fortune,  
Let it be sudden thou prepar'st against me;  
Strike all my powers of understanding blind,  
And ignorant of destiny to come:  
Let me not fear, that cannot hope.  GAL. 
Dear Princess,  
These tyrannies, on yourself, are worse then CAESAR'S.  AGR. 
Is this the happiness of being borne great?  
Still to be aimed at? still to be suspected?  
To live the subject of all jealousies?  
At least the colour made, if not the ground  
To every painted danger? who would not  
Choose once to fall, then thus to hang for ever?  GAL. 
You might be safe, if you would—  AGR. 
What, my Gallus?  
Be lewd Sejanus strumpet? Or the bawd  
To CAESARS lusts, he now is gone to practise?  
Not these are safe, where nothing is. yourself,  
While thus you stand but by me, are not safe.  
Was Silius safe? or the good SOSIA safe?  
Or was my niece, dear Claudia Pulchra safe?  
Or innocent Furnius? They, that latest have  
(By being made guilty) added reputation  
To AFERS eloquence? O, foolish friends,  
Could not so fresh example warn your loves,  
But you must buy my favours, with that loss  
Unto yourselves: and, when you might perceive  
That CAESARS cause of raging must forsake him,  
Before his will? Away, good Gallus, leave me.  
Here to be seen, is danger; to speak, treason:  
To do me least observance, is called faction.  
You are unhappy in me, and I in all.  
Where are my sons? NERO? and Drusus? We  
Are they, be shot at; Let us fall apart:  
Not, in our ruins, sepulchre our friends.  
Or shall we do some action, like offence,  
To mock their studies, that would make us faulty?  
And frustrate practice, by preventing it?  
The danger's like: for, what they can contrive,  
They will make good. No innocence is safe,  
When power contests. Nor can they trespass more,  
Whose only being was all crime, before.  NER. 
You hear, Sejanus is come back from CAESAR?  GAL. 
No. How? Disgraced?  DRV. 
More graced now, then ever.  GAL. 
By what mischance?  CAL. 
A fortune, like enough  
Once to be bad.  DRV. 
But turned too good, to both.  GAL. 
What was't?  NER. 
Tiberius sitting at his meat,  
In a farm house, they call Spelunca, sited  
By the seaside, among the Fundane hills,  
Within a natural cave, part of the grot  
(About the entry) fell, and over-whelm'd  
Some of the waiters; others ran away:  
Only Sejanus, with his knees, hands, face,  
O'erhanging CAESAR, did oppose himself  
To the remaining ruins, and was found  
In that so labouring posture, by the soldiers  
That came to succour him. With which adventure,  
He hath so sixth himself in CAESAR'S trust,  
As thunder cannot move him, and is come  
With all the height of CAESARS praise, to Rome.  AGR. 
And power, to turn those ruins all on us;  
And bury whole posterities beneath them.  
NERO, and Drusus, and Caligula,  
Your places are the next, and therefore most  
In their offence. think on your birth, and blood,  
Awake your spirits, meet their violence,  
'Tis princely, when a tyrant doth oppose;  
And is a fortune sent to exercise  
Your virtue, as the wind doth try strong trees:  
Who by vexation grow more sound, and firm.  
After your father's fall, and uncles fate,  
What can you hope, but all the change of stroke  
That force, or slight can give? then stand upright;  
And though you do not act, yet suffer nobly:  
Be worthy of my womb, and take strong cheer;  
What we do know will come, we should not fear.   

MACRO.  
Returned so soon? renewed in trust, and grace?  
Is CAESAR then so weak? or hath the place  
But wrought this alteration, with the air;  
And he, on next remove, will all repair?  
MACRO, thou art engaged: and what before  
Was public; now, must be thy private, more.  
The weal of CAESAR, fitness did imply;  
But thine own fate confers necessity  
On thy employment: and the thoughts borne nearest  
Unto ourselves, move swiftest still, and dearest.  
If he recover, thou art lost: yea, all  
The weight of preparation to his fall  
Will turn on thee, and crush thee. Therefore, strike  
Before he settle, to prevent the like  
Upon thyself. He doth his vantage know,  
That makes it home, and gives the foremost blow.   

LATIARIS, Rufus, Opsius.  
IT is a service, great Sejanus will  
See well requited, and accept of nobly.  
Here place yourselves, between the roof, and seeling,  
And when I bring him to his words of danger,  
reveal yourselves, and take him.  RVF. 
Is he come?  LAT. 
I'll now go fetch him.  OPS. 
With good speed. I long  
To merit from the state, in such an action.  RVF. 
I hope, it will obtain the Consul-ship  
For one of us.  OPS. 
We cannot think of less,  
To bring in one, so dangerous as Sabinus.  RVF. 
He was a follower of Germanicus,  
And still is an observer of his wife,  
And children, though they be declined in grace;  
A daily visitant, keeps them company  
In private, and in public; and is noted  
To be the only client, of the house:  
Pray IOVE, he will be free to LATIARIS.  OPS. 
he's allied to him, and doth trust him well.  RVF. 
And he'll requite his trust?  OPS. 
To do an office  
So grateful to the state, I know no man  
But would strain nearer bands, then kindred—  RVF. 
List,  
I hear them come.  OPS. 
Shift to our holes, with silence.   

LATIARIS, Sabinus.  
IT is a noble constancy you show  
To this afflicted house: that not like others,  
(The friends of season) you do follow fortune,  
And in the winter of their fate, forsake  
The place, whose glories warmed you. You are just,  
And worthy such a princely patrons love,  
As was the worlds-renowned Germanicus:  
Whose ample merit when I call to thought,  
And see his wife and issue, objects made  
To so much envy, jealousy, and hate,  
It makes me ready to accuse the gods  
Of negligence, as men of tyranny.  SAB. 
They must be patient, so must we.  LAT. 
O IOVE.  
What will become of us, or of the times,  
When, to be high, or noble, are made crimes?  
When land, and treasure are most dangerous faults?  SAB. 
Nay, when our table, yea our bed assaults  
Our peace, and safety? when our writings are,  
By any envious instruments (that dare  
Apply them to the guilty) made to speak  
What they will have, to fit their tyrannous wreak?  
When ignorance is scarcely innocence:  
And knowledge made a capital offence?  
When not so much, but the bare empty shade  
Of liberty, is reft us? and we made,  
The prey to greedy Vultures, and vile spies,  
That first transfix us with their murdering eyes?  LAT. 
methinks, the Genius of the Roman race  
Should not be so extinct, but that bright flame  
Of liberty might be reviv'd again,  
(Which no good man but with his life, should lose)  
And we not sit like spent, and patient fools  
Still puffing in the dark, at one poor coal,  
Held on by hope, till the last spark is out.  
The cause is public, and the honour, name,  
The immortality of every soul  
That is not bastard, or a slave in Rome,  
Therein concerned: Whereto, if men would change  
The wearied arm, and for the weighty shield  
So long sustained, employ the facile sword,  
We might have some assurance of our vows.  
This asses fortitude doth tire us all.  
It must be active valour must redeem  
Our loss, or none. The rock, and our hard steel  
Should meet, t'enforce those glorious fires again,  
Whose splendour cheered the world, and heat gave life  
No less then doth the sun's.  SAB. 
'Twere better stay,  
In lasting darkness, and despair of day.  
No ill should force the subject undertake  
Against the sovereign; more then hell should make  
The gods do wrong. A good man should, and must  
Sit rather down with loss, then rise unjust.  
Though, when the Romanes first did yield themselves  
To one mans power, they did not mean their lives,  
Their fortunes, and their liberties, should be  
His absolute spoil, as purchased by the sword.  LAT. 
Why we are worse, if to be slaves, and bond  
To CAESARS slave, be such, the proud Sejanus?  
He that is all, do's all, gives CAESAR leave  
To hide his ulcerous, and anointed face,  
With his bald crown at Rhodes, while he here stalks  
Upon the heads of Romanes, and their Princes,  
Familiarly to Empire.  SAB. 
Now you touch  
A point indeed, wherein he shows his art,  
As well as power.  LAT. 
And villainy in both.  
do you observe where LIVIA lodges? How  
Drusus came dead? What men have been cut off?  SAB. 
Yes, those are things removed: I nearer look't,  
Into his later practice, where he stands  
Declared a master in his mystery.  
First, ere Tiberius went, he wrought his fear,  
To think that AGRIPPINA sought his death.  
Then put those doubts in her; sent her oft word,  
under the show of friendship, to beware  
Of CAESAR, for he laid to poison her:  
drove them to frowns, to mutual jealousies,  
Which, now, in visible hatred are burst out.  
Since, he hath had his hired instruments  
To work on NERO, and to heave him up;  
To tell him CAESAR'S old; That all the people,  
Yea, all the army have their eyes on him;  
That both do long to have him undertake  
Something of worth, to give the world a hope;  
Bids him to court their grace; the easy youth,  
Perhaps, gives ear, which straight he writes to CAESAR;  
And with this comment: See yond dangerous boy,  
Note but the practice of the mother, there,  
she's tying him, for purposes at hand,  
With men of sword. Here's CAESAR put in fright  
'Gainst son, and mother. Yet, he leaves not thus.  
The second brother Drusus (a fierce nature,  
And fitter for his snares, because ambitious,  
And full of envy) him he clasp's, and hugs,  
poisons with praise, tells him what hearts he wears,  
How bright he stands in popular expectance;  
That Rome doth suffer with him, in the wrong  
His mother does him, by preferring NERO:  
Thus sets he them asunder, each 'gainst other,  
projects the course, that serves him to condemn,  
keeps in opinion of a friend to all,  
And all drives on to ruin.  LAT. 
CAESAR sleeps,  
And nods at this?  SAB. 
Would he might ever sleep,  
Bogged in his filthy lusts.  OPS. 
Treason to CAESAR.  RVF. 
Lay hands vpon the traitor, LATIARIS,  
Or take the name thyself.  LAT. 
I am for CAESAR.  SAB. 
Am I then catched?  RVF. 
How think you, sir? you are.  SAB. 
Spies of this head! so white! so full of years!  
Well, my most reverend monsters, you may live  
To see yourselves thus snared.  OPS. 
Away with him.  LAT. 
Hale him away.  RVF. 
To be a spy for traitors,  
Is honourable vigilance.  SAB. 
You do well,  
My most officious instruments of state;  
Men of all uses: Drag me hence, away.  
The year is well begun, and I fall fit,  
To be an offering to Sejanus. Go.  OPS. 
Cover him with his garments, hide his face.  SAB. 
It shall not need. Forbear your rude assault,  
The fault's not shameful villainy makes a fault.   

MACRO, Caligula.  
SIr, but observe how thick your dangers meet  
In his clear drifts! Your mother, and your brothers,  
Now cited to the Senate! Their friend, Gallus,  
Feasted today by CAESAR, since committed!  
Sabinus, here we met, hurried to fetters!  
The Senators all struck with fear, and silence,  
save those, whose hopes depend not on good means,  
But force their private prey, from public spoil!  
And you must know, if here you stay, your state  
Is sure to be the subject of his hate,  
As now the object.  CAL. 
What would you advise me?  MAC. 
To go for Capreae presently: and there  
give up yourself, entirely, to your uncle.  
Tell CAESAR (since your mother is accused  
To fly for succours to Augustus statue,  
And to the army, with your brethren) you  
have rather chose, to place your aides in him,  
Then live suspected; or in hourly fear  
To be thrust out, by bold Seianus' plots:  
Which, you shall confidently vrge, to be  
Most full of peril to the state, and CAESAR,  
As being laid to his peculiar ends,  
And not to be let run, with common safety.  
All which (vpon the second) I'll make plain,  
So both shall love, and trust with CAESAR gain.  CAL. 
Away then, let's prepare us for our journey.   

Arruntius.  
STill, do'st thou suffer heaven? will no flame,  
No heat of sin make thy just wrath to boil  
In thy distemp'red bosom, and ore-flow  
The pitchy blazes of impiety,  
Kindled beneath thy throne? Still canst thou sleep,  
Patient, while vice doth make an antic face  
At thy drad power, and blow dust, and smoke  
Into thy nostrils? IOVE, will nothing wake thee?  
Must vile Sejanus pull thee by the beard,  
Ere thou wilt open thy black-lidded eye,  
And look him dead? Well! Snore on, dreaming gods:  
And let this last of that proud Giant-race,  
heave mountain vpon mountain, 'gainst your state—  
Be good unto me, fortune, and you powers,  
Whom I, expostulating, have profaned;  
I see (what's equal with a prodigy)  
A great, a noble Roman, and an honest,  
live an old man! O, Marcus Lepidus,  
When is our turn to bleed? thyself, and I  
(Without our boast) are a'most all the few  
Left, to be honest, in these impious times.   

Lepidus, Arruntius.  
WHat we are left to be, we will be, Lucius,  
Though tyranny did stare, as wide as death,  
To fright us from it.  ARR. 
'T hath so, on Sabinus.  LEP. 
I saw him now drawn from the Gemonies,  
And (what increased the direness of the fact)  
His faithful dog (upbraiding all us Romanes)  
never forsook the corp's, but, seeing it thrown  
Into the stream, leapt in, and drowned with it.  ARR. 
O act! to be envied him, of us men!  
We are the next, the hook lays hold on, Marcus:  
What are thy artes (good patriot, teach them me)  
That have preserved thy hairs, to this white die,  
And kept so reverend, and so dear a head,  
Safe, on his comely shoulders?  LEP. 
Arts, Arruntius?  
None, but the plain, and passive fortitude,  
To suffer, and be silent; never stretch  
These armes, against the torrent; live at home,  
With my own thoughts, and innocence about me,  
Not tempting the wolves jaws: these are my artes.  ARR. 
I would begin to study 'em, if I thought  
They would secure me. May I pray to IOVE,  
In secret, and be safe? I, or aloud?  
With open wishes? so I do not mention  
Tiberius, or Sejanus? yes, I must,  
If I speak out. 'Tis hard, that. May I think,  
And not be racked? What danger is't to dream?  
Talk in ones sleep? or cough? who knows the law?  
May I shake my head, without a comment? say  
It rains, or it holds up, and not be thrown  
Upon the Gemonies? These now are things,  
Whereon mens fortune, yea their fate depends.  
Nothing hath privilege 'gainst the violent ear.  
No place, no day, no hour (we see) is free.  
(Not our religious, and most sacred times)  
From some one kind of cruelty: all matter,  
Nay all occasion pleaseth. Mad-mens rage,  
The idleness of drunkards, women's nothing,  
jesters simplicity, all, all is good  
That can be catched at. Nor is now th'event  
Of any person, or for any crime,  
To be expected; for, 'tis always one:  
Death, with some little difference of place,  
Or time— what's this? Prince NERO? guarded?   

LACO, NERO, Lepidus, Arruntius.  
ON, Lictors, keep your way: My lords, forbear.  
On pain of CAESARS wrath, no man attempt  
Speech with the prisoner.  NER. 
Noble friends, be safe:  
To lose yourselves for words, were as vain hazard,  
As unto me small comfort: Fare you well.  
Would all Rome's sufferings in my fate did dwell.  LAC. 
Lictors, away.  LEP. 
Where goes he, LACO?  LAC. 
Sir,  
His banished into Pontia, by the Senate.  ARR. 
Do I see? and hear? and feel? May I trust sense?  
Or doth my phant'sy form it?  LEP. 
Where's his brother?  LAC. 
Drusus is prisoner in the palace.  ARR. 
Ha?  
I smell it now: 'tis rank. Where's AGRIPPINA?  LAC. 
The princess is confined, to Pandataria.  ARR. 
Bolts, VULCAN; bolts, for IOVE! Phoebus, thy bow;  
Sterne MARS, thy sword; and blue-eyed Maid, thy spear;  
Thy club, ALCIDES: all the armory  
Of heaven is too little!— Ha? to guard  
The gods, I meant. Fine, rare dispatch! This same  
Was swiftly borne! confined? imprisoned? banished?  
Most tripartite! The cause, sir?  LAC. 
Treason.  ARR. 
O?  
The complement of all accusings? that  
Will hit, when all else fails.  LEP. 
This turn is strange!  
But yesterday, the people would not hear  
far less objected, but cried, CAESARS letters  
Were false, and forged; that all these plots were malice:  
And that the ruin of the Princes house  
Was practised 'gainst his knowledge. Where are now  
Their voices? now, that they behold his heirs  
Locked up, disgraced, led into exile?  ARR. 
Hushed.  
Drowned in their bellies. Wild Sejanus breath  
Hath, like a whirlwind, scattered that poor dust,  
With this rude blast. He turns to Laco, and the rest. we'll talk no treason, sir,  
If that be it you stand for? Fare you well.  
We have no need of horseleeches. Good spy,  
Now you are spied, be gone.  LEP. 
I fear, you wrong him.  
He has the voice to be an honest Roman.  ARR. 
And trusted to this office? Lepidus,  
I'd sooner trust Greeke-SINON, then a man  
Our state employs. he's gone: and being gone,  
I dare tell you (whom I dare better trust)  
That our night-eyed Tiberius doth not see  
His minions drifts; or, if he do, he's not  
So errant subtle, as we fools do take him:  
To breed a apparel up, in his own house,  
With his own blood, and (if the good gods please)  
At his own throat, flesh him, to take a leap.  
I do not beg it, heaven: but, if the fates  
Grant it these eyes, they must not wink.  LEP. 
They must  
Not see it, Lucius.  ARR. 
Who should let 'em?  LEP. 
zeal,  
And duty; with the thought, he is our Prince.  ARR. 
He is our monster: forfeited to vice  
So far, as no racked virtue can redeem him.  
His lothed person fouler then all crimes:  
An emperor, only in his lusts. Retired  
(From all regard of his own fame, or Rome's)  
Into an obscure Island; where he lives  
(Acting his tragedies with a comic face)  
Amidst his rout of Chaldees: spending hours,  
Days, weeks, and months, in the unkind abuse  
Of grave astrology, to the bane of men,  
Casting the scope of mens nativities,  
And having found ought worthy in their fortune,  
Kill, or precipitate them in the sea,  
And boast, he can mock fate. Nay, muse not: these  
Are far from ends of evil, scarce degrees.  
He hath his slaughter-house, at Capreae;  
Where he doth study murder, as an art:  
And they are dearest in his grace, that can  
Devise the deepest tortures. Thither, too,  
He hath his boys, and beauteous girls ta'en up,  
Out of our noblest houses, the best formed,  
Best nurtured, and most modest: what's their good  
serves to provoke his bad. Some are allured,  
Some threatened; others (by their friends detained)  
Are ravished hence, like captives, and, in sight  
Of their most grieved parents, dealt away  
Unto his spintries, sellaries, and slaves,  
Masters of strange, and new-commented lusts,  
For which wise nature hath not left a name.  
To this (what most strikes us, and bleeding Rome,)  
He is, with all his craft, become the ward  
To his own vassal, a stale catamite:  
Whom he (vpon our low, and suffering necks)  
Hath raised, from excrement, to side the gods,  
And have his proper sacrifice in Rome:  
Which IOVE beholds, and yet will sooner rive  
A senseless oak with thunder, then his trunk.   

LACO, Pomponius, Minutius, Terentius.  To them. 
THese letters make men doubtful what t'expect,  
Whether his coming, or his death.  POM. 
Troth, both:  
And which comes soonest, thank the gods for.  (ARR. 
List,  
Their talk is CAESAR, I would hear all voices.)  MIN. 
One day, he's well; and will return to Rome:  
The next day, sick; and knows not when to hope it.  LAC. 
True, and today, one of Sejanus friends  
Honoured by special writ; and on the morrow  
Another punished—  POM. 
By more special writ.  MIN. 
This man receives his praises of Sejanus,  
A second, but slight mention; a third, none:  
A fourth, rebukes. And thus he leaves the Senate  
Divided, and suspended, all uncertain.  LAC. 
These forked tricks, I understand 'em not,  
Would he would tell us whom he loves, or hates,  
That we might follow, without fear, or doubt.  (ARR. 
Good HELIOTROPE! Is this your honest man?  
Let him be yours so still. He is my knave.)  POM. 
I cannot tell, Sejanus still goes on,  
And mounts, we see: New statues are advanced,  
Fresh leaves of titles, large inscriptions read,  
His fortune sworn by, himself new gone out  
Caesar's colleague, in the fifth Consulship,  
More altars smoke to him, then all the gods:  
What would we more?  (ARR. 
That the dear smoke would choke him,  
That would I more.  LEP. 
Peace, good Arruntius.)  LAC. 
But there are letters come (they say) eu'n now,  
Which do forbid that last.  MIN. 
do you hear so?  LAC. 
Yes.  POM. 
By Pollux, that's the worst.  (ARR. 
By HERCVLES, best.)  MIN. 
I did not like the sign, when Regulus,  
(Whom all we know no friend unto Sejanus)  
Did, by Tiberius so precise command,  
Succeed a fellow in the Consulship:  
It boded somewhat.  POM. 
Not a mote. His partner,  
Fulcinius TRIO, is his own, and sure.  
Here comes Terentius. They whisper with Terentius. He can give us more.  LEP. 
I'll ne'er believe, but CAESAR hath some sent  
Of bold Sejanus footing. These cross points  
Of varying letters, and opposing Consuls,  
Mingling his honours, and his punishments,  
feigning now ill, now well, raising Sejanus,  
And then depressing him, (as now of late  
In all reports we have it) cannot be  
empty of practice: 'Tis Tiberius art.  
For (having found his favourite grown too great,  
And, with his greatness, strong; that all the soldiers  
Are, with their leaders, made at his devotion;  
That almost all the Senate are his creatures,  
Or hold on him their main dependences,  
Either for benefit, or hope, or fear;  
And that himself hath lost much of his own,  
By parting unto him; and by th'increase  
Of his rank lusts, and rages, quite disarmed  
Himself of love, or other public means,  
To dare an open contestation)  
His subtlety hath chose this doubling line,  
To hold him even in: not so to fear him,  
As wholly put him out, and yet give check  
Unto his farther boldness. In mean time,  
By his employments, makes him odious  
Unto the staggering rout, whose aid (in fine)  
He hopes to use, as sure, who (when they sway)  
Bear down, o'erturn all objects in their way.  ARR 
You may be a LYNCEUS, Lepidus: yet, I  
See no such cause, but that a politic tyrant  
(who can so well disguise it) should have ta'en  
A nearer way: feigned honest, and come home  
To cut his throat, by Law.  LEP 
I, but his fear  
Would ne'er be masked, all-be his vices were.  POM 
His lordship then is still in grace?  TER 
Assure you,  
Never in more, either of grace, or power.  POM 
The gods are wise, and just.  ARR 
(The fiends they are.  
To suffer thee bely 'em?)  TER 
I have here  
His last, and present letters, where he writes him  
The Partner of his cares, and his Sejanus—  LAC 
But is that true, it 'tis prohibited,  
To sacrifice unto him?  TER 
Some such thing  
CAESAR makes scruple of, but forbids it not;  
No more then to himself: says, he could wish  
It were forborn to all.  LAC 
Is it no other?  TER 
No other, on my trust. For your more surety,  
Here is that letter too.  ARR 
(How easily,  
Do wretched men believe, what they would have!  
Looks this like plot?  LEP 
Noble Arruntius, stay.)  LAC 
He names him here without his titles.  LEP 
(Note.  ARR 
Yes, and come of your notable fool. I will.)  LAC 
No other, than Sejanus.  POM 
That's but haste  
In him that writes. Here he gives large amends.  MAR. 
And with his own hand written?  POM 
Yes.  LAC 
Indeed?  TER 
Believe it, gentlemen, Sejanus breast  
Never received more full contentments in,  
Then at this present.  POM 
Takes he well th'escape  
Of young Caligula, with MACRO?  TER 
Faith,  
At the first air, it somewhat troubled him.  LEP 
(Observe you?  ARR 
Nothing. Riddles. TIll I see  
Sejanus struck, no sound thereof strikes me.)  POM 
I like it not. I muse h' would not attempt  
Somewhat against him in the Consulship,  
Seeing the people 'gin to favour him.  TER 
He doth repent it, now; but h' has employed  
PAGONIANUS after him: and he holds  
That correspondence, there, with all that are  
near about CAESAR, as no thought can pass  
Without his knowledge, thence, in act to front him.  POM 
I gratulate the news.  MAC 
But, how comes MACRO  
So in trust, and favour, with Caligula?  POM 
O sir, he has a wife; and the young Prince  
An appetite: he can look up, and spy  
Flies in the roof, when there are fleas i' bed;  
And hath a learned nose t'o'assure his sleeps.  
Who, to be favoured of the rising sun,  
Would not lend little of his waning moon?  
'T is the safest ambition. Noble Terentius.  TER 
The night grows fast upon vs. At your service.   

CHORUS— Of Musicians.    

Act V.  
Sejanus. 
SWell, swell, my joys: and faint not to declare  
Yourselves, as ample, as your causes are.  
I did not live, till now; this my first hour:  
Wherein I see my thoughts reached by my power.  
But this, and gripe my wishes. Great, and high,  
The world knows only two, that's Rome, and I.  
My roof receives me not; 'tis air I tread:  
And, at each step, I feel my advanced head  
Knock out a star in heaven! Reared to this height,  
All my desires seem modest, poor, and sleight,  
That did before sound impudent: 'Tis place,  
Not blood, discerns the noble, and the base.  
Is there not something more, then to be CAESAR?  
Must we rest there? It irks, t' have come so far,  
To be so near a stay. Caligula,  
Would thou stoodst stiff, and many, in our way.  
Winds lose their strength, when they do empty fly,  
Unmet of woods or buildings; great fires die  
That want their matter to withstand them: so,  
It is our grief, and will be our loss, to know  
Our power shall want opposites; unless  
The gods, by mixing in the cause, would bless  
Our fortune, with their conquest. That were worth  
Sejanus strife: durst fates but bring it forth.   

Terentius, Sejanus.  
SAfety, to great Sejanus.  SEI. 
Now, Terentius?  TER. 
Hears not my lord the wonder?  SEI. 
Speak it, no.  TER. 
I meet it violent in the people's mouths,  
Who run, in routs, to POMPEY'S theatre,  
To view your statue: which, they say, sends forth  
A smoke, as from a furnace, black, and dreadful.  SEI. 
Some traitor hath put fire in: (you, go see.)  
And let the head be taken off, to look  
What 'tis— Some slave hath practised an imposture,  
To stir the people. How now? why return you?   

SATRIUS, NATTA.  
THe head, my lord, already is ta'en off,  
I saw it: and, at opening, there leapt out  
A great, and monstrous serpent!  SEI. 
Monstrous! why?  
Had it a beard? and horns? no heart? a tongue  
Forked as flattery? looked it of the hue,  
To such as live in great men's bosoms? was  
The spirit of it MACRO'S?  NAT. 
May it please  
The most divine Sejanus, in my days,  
(And by his sacred fortune, I affirm it)  
I have not seen a more extended, grown,  
Foul, spotted, venomous, ugly—  SEI. 
O, the fates!  
What a wild muster's here of attributes,  
T'express a worm, a snake?  TER. 
But how that should  
Come there, my lord!  SEI. 
What! and you too, Terentius?  
I think you mean to make 't a prodigy  
In your reporting?  TER. 
Can the wise Sejanus  
think heaven hath meant it less?  SEI. 
O, superstition!  
Why, than the falling of our bed, that broke  
This morning, burdened with the populous weight  
Of our expecting clients, to salute us;  
Or running of the cat, betwixt our legs,  
As we set forth unto the capitol,  
Were prodigies.  TER. 
I think them ominous!  
And, would they had not happened. As, today,  
The fate of some your servants! who, declining  
Their way, not able, for the throng, to follow,  
Slipped down the Gemonies, and broke their necks!  
Besides, in taking your last augury,  
No prosperous bird appeared, but croaking ravens  
Flagged up and down: and from the sacrifice  
Flew to the prison, where they sat, all night,  
Beating the air with their obstreperous beaks!  
I dare not counsel, but I could entreat  
That great Sejanus would attempt the gods,  
Once more, with sacrifice.  SEI. 
What excellent fools  
Religion makes of men? Believes Terentius,  
(If these were dangers, as I shame to think them)  
The gods could change the certain course of fate?  
Or, if they could, they would (now, in a moment)  
For a beeves fat, or less, be bribed t'invert  
Those long decrees? Then think the gods, like flies,  
Are to be taken with the steam of flesh,  
Or blood, diffused about their altars: think  
Their power as cheap, as I esteem it small.  
Of all the throng, that fill th'Olympian hall,  
And (without pity) lade poor Atlas' back,  
I know not that one deity, but Fortune;  
To whom, I would throw up, in begging smoke,  
One grain of incense: or whose ear I'd buy  
With thus much oil. Her, ay, indeed, adore;  
And keep her grateful image in my house,  
Sometimes belonging to a Roman king,  
But, now called mine, as by the better style:  
To her, I care not, if (for satisfying  
Your scrupulous fantasies) I go offer. Bid  
Our priest prepare us honey, milk, and poppy,  
His masculine odours, and night-vestments: say,  
Our rites are instant, which performed, you'll see  
How vain, and worthy laughter, your fears be.   

COTTA, Pomponius.  
Pomponius! whither in such speed?  POM. 
I go  
To give my lord Sejanus notice—  COT. 
What?  POM. 
Of MACRO.  COT. 
Is he come?  POM. 
Entered but now  
The house of Regulus.  COT. 
The opposite Consul?  POM. 
Some half hour since.  COT. 
And, by night too! stay, sir;  
I'll bear you company.  POM. 
Along, then—   

MACRO, Regulus, LACO.  
'tIs Caesar's will, to have a frequent Senate.  
And therefore must your edict lie deep mulct  
On such, as shall be absent.  REG. 
So it doth.  
Bear it my fellow Consul to ascribe.  MAC. 
And tell him it must early be proclaimed;  
The place, APOLLO'S temple.  REG. 
That's remembered.  MAC. 
And at what hour?  REG. 
Yes.  MAC. 
You do forget  
To send one for the Provost of the watch?  REG. 
I have not: here he comes.  MAC. 
GRACINUS LACO,  
You're a friend most welcome: by, and by,  
I'll speak with you. (You must procure this list  
Of the Praetorian cohorts, with the names  
Of the Centurions, and their Tribunes.  REG. 
I.)  MAC. 
I bring you letters, and a health from CAESAR—  LAC. 
Sir, both come well.  MAC. 
(And hear you, with your note,  
Which are the eminent men, and most of action.  REG. 
The Consul goes out. That shall be done you too.)  MAC. 
Most worthy LACO,  
CAESAR salutes you. (Consul! death, and furies!  
Gone now?) the argument will please you, sir.  
(Hough! Regulus? The anger of the gods  
Follow his diligent legs, and overtake 'em,  
Returns: In likeness of the gout.) O, good my lord,  
We lacked you present; I would pray you send  
Another to Fulcinius TRIO, straight,  
To tell him, you will come, and speak with him:  
(The matter we'll devise) to stay him, there,  
While I, with LACO, do survey the watch.  
Goes out again. What are your strengths, GRACINUS?  LAC. 
Seven cohorts.  MAC. 
You see, what CAESAR writes: and (— gone again?  
H'has sure a vein of mercury in his feet)  
Knew you, what store of the praetorian soldiers  
Sejanus holds, about him, for his guard?  LAC. 
I cannot the just number: but, I think,  
Three centuries.  MAC. 
Three? good.  LAC. 
At most, not four.  MAC. 
And who be those Centurions?  LAC. 
That the Consul  
Can best deliver you.  MAC. 
(When he's away:  
Spite, on his nimble industry.) GRACINUS,  
You find what place you hold, there, in the trust  
Of royal CAESAR?  LAC. 
ay, and I am—  MAC. 
Sir,  
The honours, there proposed, are but beginnings  
Of his great favours.  LAC. 
They are more—  MAC. 
I heard him  
When he did study, what to add—  LAC. 
My life,  
And all I hold—  MAC. 
You were his own first choice;  
Which doth confirm as much, as you can speak:  
And will (if we succeed) make more— Your guards  
Are seven cohorts, you say?  LAC. 
Yes.  MAC. 
Those we must  
Hold still in readiness, and undischarged.  LAC. 
I understand so much. But how it can—  MAC. 
Be done without suspicion, you'll object?  REG. 
What's that?  LAC. 
The keeping of the watch in arms, Returns.  
When morning comes.  MAC. 
The Senate shall be met, and set  
So early, in the temple, as all mark  
Of that will be avoided.  REG. 
If we need,  
We have commission, to possess the palace,  
Enlarge prince Drusus, and make him our chief.  MAC. 
(That secret would have burnt his reverend mouth,  
Had he not spit it out, now:) by the gods,  
You carry things too— let me borrow'a man,  
Or two, to bear these— That of freeing Drusus,  
CAESAR projected as the last, and utmost;  
Not else to be remembered.  REG. 
Here are servants.  MAC. 
These to Arruntius, these to Lepidus,  
This bear to COTTA, this to LATIARIS.  
If they demand you'of me: say, I have ta'en  
Fresh horse, and am departed. You (my lord)  
To your colleague, and be you sure, to hold him  
With long narration, of the new fresh favours,  
Meant to Sejanus, his great patron; ay,  
With trusted LACO, here, are for the guards:  
Then, to divide. For, night hath many eyes,  
Whereof, though most do sleep, yet some are spies.   

PRAECONES, FLAMEN, MINISTRI, Sejanus, Terentius, SATRIUS, etc.  
BE all profane far hence; Fly, fly far off:  
Be absent far. far hence be all profane.  FLA. 
We have been faulty, Tub. Tib. Sound, while the Flamen washeth. but repent us now,  
And bring pure hands, pure vestments, and pure minds.  MIN. 
Pure vessels.  MIN. 
And pure offerings.  MIN. 
Garlands pure.  FLA. 
Bestow your garlands: and (with reverence) place  
The vervin on the altar.  PRAE. 
Favour your tongues.  FLA. 
Great mother FORTUNE, Queen of human state,  
rectress of action, Arbitress of fate,  
To whom all sway, all power, all empire bows,  
Be present, and propitious to our vows.  PRAE. 
Favour it with your tongues.  MIN. 
Be present, and propitious to our vows.  
While they sound again, the Flamen takes of the honey, with his finger, & tastes, than ministers to all the rest: so of the milk, in an earthen vessel, he deals about; which done, he sprinkleth, upon the altar, milk; then imposeth the honey, and kindleth his gums, and after censing about the altar placeth his censer thereon, into which they put several branches of poppy, and the music ceasing, proceed. Accept our offering, and be pleased, great goddess.  TER. 
See, see, the image stirs!  SAT. 
And turns away!  NAT. 
Fortune averts her face!  FLA. 
Avert, you gods,  
The prodigy. Still! still! Some pious rite  
We have neglected. Yet! heaven, be appeased.  
And be all tokens false, or void, that speak  
Thy present wrath.  SEI. 
Be thou dumb, scrupulous priest:  
And gather up thyself, with these thy wares,  
Which I, in spite of thy blind mistress, or  
Thy juggling mystery, religion, throw  
Thus, scorned on the earth. Nay, hold thy look  
Averted, till I woo thee, turn again;  
And thou shalt stand, to all posterity,  
Th'eternal game, and laughter, with thy neck  
Writhed to thy tail, like a ridiculous cat.  
Avoid these fumes, these superstitious lights,  
And all these cozening ceremonies: you,  
Your pure, and spiced conscience. ay, the slave,  
And mock of fools, (scorn on my worthy head)  
That have been titled, and adored a god,  
Yea, sacrificed unto, myself, in Rome,  
No less than JOVE: and I be brought, to do  
A peevish giglet rites? Perhaps, the thought,  
And shame of that made Fortune turn her face,  
Knowing herself the lesser deity,  
And but my servant. Bashful queen, if so,  
Sejanus thanks thy modesty. Who's that?   

Pomponius, Sejanus, Minutius, etc.  
HIs fortune suffers, till he hears my news:  
I have waited here too long. MACRO, my lord—  SEI. 
Speak lower, & withdraw.  TER. 
Are these things true?  MIN. 
Thousands are gazing at it, in the streets.  SEI. 
What's that?  TER. 
Minutius tells us here, my lord,  
That, a new head being set upon your statue,  
A rope is since found wreathed about it! and,  
But now, a fiery meteor, in the form  
Of a great ball, was seen to roll along  
The troubled air, where yet it hangs, unperfect,  
The amazing wonder of the multitude!  SEI. 
No more. That macro's come, is more than all!  TER. 
Is MACRO come?  POM. 
I saw him.  TER. 
Where? with whom?  POM. 
With Regulus.  SEI. 
Terentius—  TER. 
My lord?  SEI. 
Send for the Tribunes, we will straight have up  
More of the soldiers, for our guard. Minutius,  
We pray you, go for COTTA, LATIARIS,  
TRIO the Consul, or what Senators  
You know are sure, and ours. You, my good NATTA,  
For LACO, Provost of the watch. Now, SATRIUS,  
The time of proof comes on. Arm all our servants,  
And without tumult. You, Pomponius,  
Hold some good correspondence, with the Consul,  
Attempt him, noble friend. These things begin  
To look like dangers, now, worthy my fates.  
Fortune, I see thy worst: Let doubtful states,  
And things uncertain hang upon thy will:  
Me surest death shall render certain still.  
Yet, why is, now, my thought turned toward death,  
Whom fates have let go on, so far, in breath,  
Unchecked, or unreproved? ay, that did help  
To fell the lofty Cedar of the world,  
Germanicus; that, at one stroke, cut down  
Drusus, that upright Elm; withered his vine;  
Laid Silius, and Sabinus, two strong Oaks,  
Flat on the earth; besides, those other shrubs,  
CORDUS, and SOSIA, Claudia Pulchra,  
Furnius, and Gallus, which I have grubbed up;  
And since, have set my axe so strong, and deep  
Into the root of spreading AGRIPPINE;  
Lopped off and scattered her proud branches, NERO,  
Drusus, and CAIUS too, although replanted;  
If you will, destinies, that, after all,  
I faint, now, ere I touch my period;  
You are but cruel: and I already have done  
Things great enough. All Rome hath been my slave;  
The Senate sat an idle looker on,  
And witness of my power; when I have blushed,  
More, to command, than it to suffer; all  
The Fathers have sat ready, and prepared,  
To give me empire, temples, or their throats,  
When I would ask 'em; and (what crowns the top)  
Rome, Senate, people, all the world have seen  
JOVE, but my equal: CAESAR, but my second.  
'Tis then your malice, fates, who (but your own)  
Envy, and fear, t'have any power long known.   

Terentius, TRIBUNES.  
STay here: I'll give his lordship, you are come.   

Minutius, COTTA, LATIARIS.  They confer their letters. 
Marcus, Terentius, pray you tell my lord,  
Here's COTTA, and LATIARIS.  TER. 
Sir, I shall.  COT. 
My letter is the very same with yours;  
Only requires me to be present there,  
And give my voice, to strengthen his design.  LAT. 
Names he not what it is?  COT. 
No, nor to you.  LAT. 
'Tis strange, and singular doubtful!  COT. 
So it is?  
It may be all is left to lord Sejanus.   

NATTA, LACO.  To them. 
GEntlemen, where's my lord?  TRI. 
we wait him here.  COT. 
The Provost LACO? what's the news?  LAT. 
My lord—   

To them. Sejanus.  
NOw, my right dear, noble, and trusted friends;  
How much I am a captive to your kindness!  
Most worthy COTTA, LATIARIS; LACO,  
Your valiant hand; and gentlemen, your loves.  
I wish I could divide myself unto you;  
Or that it lay, within our narrow powers,  
To satisfy for so enlarged bounty.  
GRACINUS, we must pray you, hold your guards  
Unquit, when morning comes. Saw you the Consul?  MIN. 
TRIO will presently be here, my lord.  COT. 
They are but giving order for the edict,  
To warn the Senate.  SEI. 
How! the Senate?  LAT. 
Yes.  
This morning, in APOLLO'S temple.  COT. 
We  
Are charged, by letter, to be there, my lord.  SEI. 
By letter? pray you let's see!  LAT. 
Knows not his lordship!  COT. 
It seems so!  SEI. 
A Senate warned? without my knowledge?  
And on this sudden? Senators by letters  
Required to be there! who brought these?  COT. 
MACRO.  SEI. 
Mine enemy! And when?  COT. 
This midnight.  SEI. 
Time,  
With every other circumstance, doth give  
It hath some strain of engine in't! How now?   

SATRIUS, Sejanus, etc.  
MY lord, SERTORIUS MACRO is without,  
Alone, and prays t' have private conference  
In business, of high nature, with your lordship,  
(He says to me) and which regards you much.  SEI. 
Let him come here.  SAT. 
Better, my lord, withdraw,  
You will betray what store, and strength of friends  
Are now about you; which he comes to spy.  SEI. 
Is he not armed?  SAT. 
we'll search him.  SEI. 
No, but take,  
And lead him to some room, where you, concealed,  
May keep a guard upon us. Noble LACO,  
You are our trust: and, till our own cohorts  
Can be brought up, your strengths must be our guard.  
Now, He salutes them humbly. good Minutius, honoured LATIARIS,  
Most worthy, and my most unwearied friends:  
I return instantly.  LAT. 
Most worthy lord!  COT. 
His lordship is turned instant kind, methinks,  
I have not observed it in him, heretofore.  TRI. 1. 
'Tis true, and it becomes him nobly.  MIN. 
I  
Am rapt withal.  TRI. 2. 
By MARS, he has my lives,  
(Were they a million) for this only grace.  LAC. 
ay, and to name a man!  LAT. 
As he did me!  MIN. 
And me!  LAT. 
Who would not spend his life and fortunes,  
To purchase but the look of such a lord?  LAC. 
He, that would nor be lords fool, nor the worlds.   

Sejanus, MACRO.  
MACRO! most welcome, as most coveted friend!  
Let me enjoy my longings. When arrived you?  MAC. 
About the noon of night.  SEI. 
SATRIUS, give leave.  MAC. 
I have been, since I came, with both the Consuls,  
On a particular design from CAESAR.  SEI. 
How fares it with our great, and royal master?  MAC. 
Right plentifully well; as, with a prince,  
That still holds out the great proportion  
Of his large favours, where his judgement hath  
Made once divine election: like the god,  
That wants not, nor is wearied to bestow  
Where merit meets his bounty, as it doth  
In you, already the most happy, and ere  
The sun shall climb the south, most high Sejanus.  
Let not my lord be amused. For, to this end  
Was I by CAESAR sent for, to the isle,  
With special caution to conceal my journey;  
And, thence, had my dispatch as privately  
Again to Rome; charged to come here by night;  
And, only to the Consuls, make narration  
Of his great purpose: that the benefit  
Might come more full, and striking, by how much  
It was less looked for, or aspired by you,  
Or least informed to the common thought.  SEI. 
What may this be? part of myself, dear MACRO!  
If good, speak out: and share with your Sejanus.  MAC. 
If bad, I should for ever loath myself,  
To be the messenger to so good a lord.  
I do exceed m' instructions, to acquaint  
Your lordship with thus much; but 'tis my venture  
On your retentive wisdom: and, because  
I would no jealous scruple should molest  
Or rack your peace of thought. For, I assure  
My noble lord, no Senator yet knows  
The business meant: though all, by several letters,  
Are warned to be there, and give their voices,  
Only to add unto the state, and grace  
Of what is purposed.  SEI. 
You take pleasure, MACRO,  
Like a coy wench, in torturing your lover.  
What can be worth this suffering?  MAC. 
That which follows,  
The tribunicial dignity, and power:  
Both which Sejanus is to have this day  
Conferred upon him, and by public Senate.  SEI. 
Fortune, be mine again; thou hast satisfied  
For thy suspected loyalty.  MAC. 
My lord,  
I have no longer time, the day approacheth,  
And I must back to CAESAR.  SEI. 
Where's Caligula?  MAC. 
That I forgot to tell your lordship. Why,  
He lingers yonder, about Capreae,  
Disgraced; Tiberius hath not seen him yet:  
He needs would thrust himself to go with me,  
Against my wish, or will, but I have quitted  
His forward trouble, with as tardy note  
As my neglect, or silence could afford him.  
Your lordship cannot now command me aught,  
Because, I take no knowledge that I saw you,  
But I shall boast to live to serve your lordship:  
And so take leave.  SEI. 
Honest, and worthy MACRO,  
Your love, and friendship. Who's there? SATRIUS,  
Attend my honourable friend forth. O!  
How vain, and vile a passion is this fear?  
What base, uncomely things it makes men do?  
Suspect their noblest friends, (as I did this)  
Flatter poor enemies, entreat their servants,  
Stoop, court, and catch at the benevolence  
Of creatures, unto whom (within this hour)  
I would not have vouchsafed a quarter-look,  
Or piece of face? By you, that fools call gods,  
Hang all the sky with your prodigious signs,  
Fill earth with monsters, drop the scorpion down,  
Out of the zodiac, or the fiercer lion,  
Shake off the loosened globe from her long hinge,  
Roll all the world in darkness, and let loose  
Th'Enraged winds to turn up groves and towns;  
When I do fear again, let me be struck  
With forked fire, and unpitied die:  
Who fears, is worthy of calamity.   

Pomponius, Regulus, TRIO.  To the rest. 
IS not my lord here?  TER. 
Sir, he will be straight.  COT. 
What news, Fulcinius TRIO?  TRI. 
Good, good tidings.  
(But, keep it to yourself) My lord Sejanus  
Is to receive this day, in open Senate,  
The tribunicial dignity.  COT. 
Is't true?  TRI. 
No words; not to your thought: but, sir, believe it.  LAT. 
What says the Consul?  COT. 
(Speak it not again,)  
He tells me, that today my lord Sejanus—  (TRI. 
I must entreat you COTTA, on your honour  
Not to reveal it.  COT. 
On my life, sir.)  LAT. 
Say.  COT. 
Is to receive the tribunicial power.  
But, as you are an honourable man,  
Let me conjure you, not to utter it:  
For it is trusted to me, with that bond.  LAT. 
I am HARPOCRATES.  TER. 
Can you assure it?  POM. 
The Consul told it me, but keep it close.  MIN. 
Lord LATIARIS, what's the news?  LAT. 
I'll tell you,  
But you must swear to keep it secret—   

Sejanus.  To them. 
I Knew the fates had on their distaff left  
More of our thread, than so.  REG. 
Hail, great Sejanus.  TRI. 
Hail, the most honoured.  COT. 
Happy.  LAT. 
High Sejanus.  SEI. 
Do you bring prodigies too?  TRI. 
May all presage  
Turn to those fair effects, whereof we bring  
Your lordship news.  REG. 
May 't please my lord withdraw.  SEI. 
To some that stand by. Yes (I will speak with you, anon.)  TER. 
My lord,  
What is your pleasure for the Tribunes?  SEI. 
Why,  
Let 'em be thanked, and sent away.  MIN. 
My lord—  LAC. 
willt please your lordship to command me—  SEI. 
No.  
You are troublesome.  MIN. 
The mood is changed.  TRI. 
Not speak?  TRI. 
Nor look?  LAC. 
I. He is wise, will make him friends  
Of such, who never love, but for their ends.   

Arruntius, Lepidus.  divers other Senators passing by them. 
ay, Go, make haste; take heed you be not last  
To tender your All hail, in the wide hall  
Of huge Sejanus: run, a lictor's pace;  
Stay not to put your robes on; but, away,  
With the pale troubled ensigns of great friendship  
Stamped i' your face! Now, Marcus Lepidus,  
You still believe your former augury?  
Sejanus must go downward? you perceive  
His wane approaching fast?  LEP. 
Believe me, Lucius,  
I wonder at this rising!  ARR. 
ay, and that we  
Must give our suffrage to it? you will say,  
It is to make his fall more steep, and grievous?  
It may be so. But think it, they that can  
With idle wishes assay to bring back time:  
In cases desperate, all hope is crime.  
See, see! what troops of his officious friends  
Flock to salute my lord! and start before  
My great, proud lord! to get a lordlike nod!  
Attend my lord, unto the Senate-house!  
Bring back my lord! like servile ushers, make  
Way for my lord! proclaim his idol lordship,  
More than ten criers, or six noise of trumpets!  
Make legs, kiss hands, and take a scattered hair  
From my lords eminent shoulder! See, Sanquinius!  
With his slow belly, and his dropsy! look,  
What toiling haste he makes! yet, here's another,  
Retarded with the gout, will be afore him!  
Get thee liburnian porters, thou gross fool,  
To bear thy obsequious fatness, like thy peers.  
They are met! The gout returns, and his great carriage.   

LICTORS, CONSULS, Sejanus, etc.  Pass over the stage. 
Give way, make place; room for the Consul.  SAN. 
Hail,  
hail, great Sejanus.  HAT. 
Hail, my honoured lord.  ARR. 
We shall be marked anon, for our not-hail.  LEP. 
That is already done.  ARR. 
It is a note  
Of upstart greatness, to observe, and watch  
For these poor trifles, which the noble mind  
Neglects, and scorns.  LEP. 
ay, and they think themselves  
Deeply dishonoured, where they are omitted,  
As if they were necessities, that helped  
To the perfection of their dignities:  
And hate the men, that but refrain 'em.  ARR. 
O!  
There is a farther cause of hate. Their breasts  
Are guilty, that we know their obscure springs,  
And base beginnings: thence the anger grows. On. Follow.   

MACRO, LACO.  
WHen all are entered, shut the temple doors;  
And bring your guards up to the gate.  LAC. 
I will.  MAC. 
If you shall hear commotion in the Senate,  
Present yourself: and charge on any man  
Shall offer to come forth.  LAC. 
I am instructed.   

THE SENATE.  HATERIUS, TRIO, SANQVINIUS, COTTA, Regulus, Sejanus, Pomponius, LATIARIS, Lepidus, Arruntius, PRAECONES, LICTORES. 
HOw well his lordship looks today!  TRI. 
As if  
He had been borne, or made for this hours state.  COT. 
Your fellow Consul's come about, methinks?  TRI. 
ay, he is wise.  SAN. 
Sejanus trusts him well.  TRI. 
Sejanus is a noble, bounteous lord.  HAT. 
He is so, and most valiant.  LAT. 
And most wise.  SEN. 
he's every thing.  LAT. 
Worthy of all, and more  
Than bounty can bestow.  TRI. 
This dignity  
Will make him worthy.  POM. 
Above CAESAR.  SAN. 
Tut,  
CAESAR is but the rector of an isle,  
He of the empire.  TRI. 
Now he will have power  
More to reward, than ever.  COT. 
Let us look  
We be not slack in giving him our voices.  LAT. 
Not I.  SAN. 
Nor I.  COT. 
The readier we seem  
To propagate his honours, will more bind  
His thought, to ours.  HAT. 
I think right, with your lordship.  
It is the way to have us hold our places.  SAN. 
ay, and get more.  LAT. 
More office, and more titles.  POM. 
I will not lose the part, I hope to share  
In these his fortunes, for my patrimony.  LAT. 
See, how Arruntius sits, and Lepidus.  TRI. 
Let 'em alone, they will be marked anon.  SEN. 
I'll do with others.  SEN. 
So will I.  SEN. 
And I.  
Men grow not in the state, but as they are planted  
Warm in his favours.  COT. 
Noble Sejanus!  HAT. 
Honoured Sejanus!  LAT. 
Worthy, and great Sejanus!  ARR. 
Gods! how the sponges open, and take in!  
And shut again! look, look! is not he blessed  
That gets a seat in eye-reach of him? more,  
That comes in ear, or tongue-reach? O, but most,  
Can claw his subtle elbow, or with a buzz  
Fly-blow his ears.  PRAET. 
Proclaim the senate's peace;  
And give last summons by the edict.  PRAE. 
Silence:  
In name of CAESAR, and the SENATE. Silence.  
MEMMIUS Regulus, and Fulcinius TRIO, consuls, these present kalends of june, with the first light, shall hold a senate, in the temple of APOLLO PALATINE, all that are Fathers, and are registered Fathers, that have right of entering the Senate, we warn, or command, you be frequently present, take knowledge the business is the commonwealths, whosoever is absent, his fine, or mulct, will be taken, his excuse will not be taken.  TRI. 
Note, who are absent, and record their names.  REG. 
Fathers Conscript. May, what I am to utter.  
Turn good, and happy, for the commonwealth.  
And thou APOLLO, in whose holy house  
We here are met, inspire us all, with truth,  
And liberty of censure, to our thought.  
The majesty of great Tiberius CAESAR  
Propounds to this grave Senate, the bestowing  
Upon the man he loves, honoured Sejanus,  
The tribunicial dignity, and power;  
Here are his letters, signed with his signet:  
What pleaseth now the Fathers to be done?  SEN. 
read, read 'em, open, publicly, read 'em.  COT. 
CAESAR hath honoured his own greatness much,  
In thinking of this act.  TRI. 
It was a thought  
Happy, and worthy CAESAR.  LAT. 
And the lord,  
As worthy it, on whom it is directed!  HAT. 
Most worthy!  SAN. 
Rome did never boast the virtue  
That could give envy bounds, but his: Sejanus—  SEN. 
Honoured, and noble!  SEN. 
Good, and great Sejanus!  ARR. 
O, most tame slavery, and fierce flattery!  PRAE. 
Silence.  REG. 
A guard on LATIARIS.  ARR. 
O, the spy!  
The reverend spy is caught, who pities him?  
Reward, sir, for your service: now, you ha' done  
Your property, you see what use is made?  
Hang up the instrument.  SEI. 
give leave.  LAC. 
Stand, stand,  
He comes upon his death, that doth advance  
An inch toward my point.  SEI. 
have we no friends here?  ARR. 
Hushed. Where now are all the hails, and acclamations?   

MACRO, SENATE.  
Hail, to the Consuls, and this noble Senate.  SEI. 
Is MACRO here? O, thou art lost, Sejanus.  MAC. 
Sit still, and unaffrighted, reverend Fathers.  
MACRO, by Caesar's grace, the new-made Provost,  
And now possessed of the praetorian bands,  
An honour late belonged to that proud man,  
Bids you, be safe: and to your constant doom  
Of his deservings, offers you the surety  
Of all the soldiers, tribunes, and centurions,  
Received in our command.  REG. 
Sejanus, Sejanus,  
Stand forth, Sejanus.  SEI. 
Am I called?  MAC. 
ay, thou,  
Thou insolent monster, art bid stand.  SEI. 
Why, MACRO,  
It hath been otherwise, between you, and I?  
This court, that knows us both, hath seen a difference,  
And can (if it be pleased to speak) confirm,  
Whose insolence is most.  MAC. 
Come down Typhoeus,  
If mine be most, lo, thus I make it more;  
Kick up thy heels in air, tear off thy rob,  
Play with thy beard, and nostrils. Thus 'tis fit,  
(And no man take compassion of thy state)  
To use th'ingrateful viper, tread his brains  
Into the earth.  REG. 
Forbear.  MAC. 
If I could lose  
All my humanity now, 'twere well to torture  
So meriting a traitor. Wherefore, Fathers,  
Sit you amazed, and silent? and not censure  
This wretch, who in the hour he first rebelled  
'Gainst Caesar's bounty, did condemn himself?  
Phlegrae, the field, where all the sons of earth  
Mustered against the gods, did ne'er acknowledge  
So proud, and huge a monster.  REG. 
Take him hence.  
And all the gods guard CAESAR.  TRI. 
Take him hence.  HAT. 
Hence.  COT. 
To the dungeon with him.  SAN. 
He deserves it.  SEN. 
Crown all our doors with bays.  SAN. 
And let an ox  
With gilded horns, and garlands, straight be led  
Unto the capitol.  HAT. 
And sacrificed  
To JOVE, for Caesar's safety.  TRI. 
All our gods  
Be present still to CAESAR.  COT. 
Phoebus.  SAN. 
MARS.  HAT. 
DIANA.  SAN. 
PALLAS.  SEN. 
JUNO, mercury,  
All guard him.  MAC. 
Forth, thou prodigy of men.  COT. 
Let all the traitors titles be defaced.  TRI. 
His images, and statues be pulled down.  HAT. 
His chariot-wheels be broken.  ARR. 
And the legs  
Of the poor horses, that deserved nought,  
Let them be broken too.  LEP. 
O, violent change,  
And whirl of men's affections!  ARR. 
Like, as both  
Their bulks and souls were bound on fortune's wheel,  
And must act only with her motion!   

Lepidus, Arruntius.  
WHo would depend upon the popular air,  
Or voice of men, that have today beheld  
(That which if all the gods had fore-declared,  
Would not have been believed) Sejanus fall?  
He, that this morn rose proudly, as the sun?  
And, breaking through a mist of client's breath,  
Came on as gazed at, and admired, as he  
When superstitious moors salute his light!  
That had our servile nobles waiting him  
As common grooms; and hanging on his look,  
No less than human life on destiny!  
That had men's knees as frequent, as the gods;  
And sacrifices, more, than Rome had altars:  
And this man fall! fall? ay, without a look,  
That durst appear his friend; or lend so much  
Of vain relief, to his changed state, as pity!  ARR. 
They, that before like gnats played in his beams,  
And thronged to circumscribe him, now not seen!  
Nor deign to hold a common seat with him!  
Others, that waited him unto the Senate,  
Now, inhumanly ravish him to prison!  
Whom (but this morn) they followed as their lord,  
Guard through the streets, bound like a fugitive!  
In stead of wreaths, give fetters; strokes, for stoops:  
Blind shame, for honours; and black taunts, for titles!  
Who would trust slippery chance?  LEP. 
They, that would make  
Themselves her spoil: and foolishly forget,  
When she doth flatter, that she comes to prey.  
Fortune, thou hadst no deity, if men  
Had wisdom: we have placed thee so high,  
By fond belief in thy felicity.  SEN. 
The God's guard CAESAR. Shout within. All the gods guard CAESAR.   

MACRO, Regulus, SENATORS.  
NOw great Sejanus, you that awed the state,  
And sought to bring the nobles to your whip,  
That would be Caesar's tutor, and dispose  
Of dignities, and offices! that had  
The public head still bare to your designs,  
And made the general voice to echo yours!  
That looked for salutations, twelve score off,  
And would have pyramids, yea, temples reared  
To your huge greatness! now, you lie as flat,  
As was your pride advanced.  REG. 
Thanks, to the gods.  SEN. 
And praise to MACRO, that hath saved Rome.  
Liberty, liberty, liberty. Lead on,  
And praise to MACRO, that hath saved Rome.   

Arruntius, Lepidus, Terentius.  
I Prophesy, out of this senate's flattery,  
That this new fellow, MACRO, will become  
A greater prodigy in Rome, than he  
That now is fallen.  TER. 
O you, whose minds are good,  
And have not forced all mankind, from your breasts;  
That yet have so much stock of virtue left,  
To pity guilty states, when they are wretched:  
Lend your soft ears to hear, and eyes to weep  
Deeds done by men, beyond the acts of furies.  
The eager multitude, (who never yet  
Knew why to love, or hate, but only pleased  
T'express their rage of power) no sooner heard  
The murmur of Sejanus in decline,  
But with that speed, and heat of appetite,  
With which they greedily devour the way  
To some great sports, or a new theatre;  
They filled the capitol, and POMPEI'S circ,  
Where, like so many mastiffs, biting stones,  
As if his statues now were sensitive  
Of their wild fury; first, they tear them down:  
Then fastening ropes, drag them along the streets,  
Crying in scorn, this, this was that rich head  
Was crowned with garlands, and with odours, this  
That was in Rome so reverenced. Now  
The furnace, and the bellows shall too work  
The great Sejanus crack, and piece, by piece,  
Drop i' the founder's pit.  LEP. 
O, popular rage!  TER. 
The whilst, the Senate, at the temple of Concord,  
Make haste to meet again, and thronging cry,  
Let us condemn him, tread him down in water,  
While he doth lie upon the bank; away:  
Where some, more tardy, cry unto their bearers,  
He will be censured ere we come, run knaves,  
And use that furious diligence, for fear  
Their bondmen should inform against their slackness,  
And bring their quaking flesh unto the hook:  
The rout, they follow with confused voice,  
Crying, theyare glad, say they could ne'er abide him;  
inquire, what man he was? what kind of face?  
What beard he had? what nose? what lips? protest,  
They ever did presage h' would come to this:  
They never thought him wise, nor valiant: Ask  
After his garments, when he dies? what death?  
And not a beast of all the herd demands,  
What was his crime? or, who were his accusers?  
Under what roof, or testimony, he fell?  
There came (says one) a huge, long, worded letter  
From Capreae against him. Did there so?  
O, they are satisfied, no more.  LEP. 
Alas!  
They follow fortune, and hate men condemned,  
Guilty, or not.  ARR. 
But, had Sejanus thrived  
In his design, and prosperously oppressed  
The old Tiberius, then, in that same minute  
These very rascals, that now rage like furies,  
Would have proclaimed Sejanus emperor.  LEP. 
But what hath followed?  TER. 
Sentence, by the Senate;  
To lose his head: which was no sooner off,  
But that, and th'unfortunate trunk were seized  
By the rude multitude; who not content  
With what the forward justice of the state,  
Officiously had done, with violent rage  
have rent it limb, from limb. A thousand heads,  
A thousand hands, ten thousand tongues, and voices,  
Employed at once in several acts of malice!  
Old men not stayed with age, virgins with shame,  
Late wives with loss of husbands, mothers of children,  
Losing all grief in joy of his sad fall,  
Run quite transported with their cruelty!  
These mounting at his head, these at his face,  
These digging out his eyes, those with his brain,  
Sprinkling themselves, their houses, and their friends;  
Others are met, have ravished thence an arm,  
And deal small pieces of the flesh for favours;  
These with a thigh; this hath cut off his hands;  
And this his feet; these fingers, and these toes;  
That hath his liver; he his heart: there wants  
Nothing but room for wrath, and place for hatred!  
What cannot oft be done, is now o'erdone.  
The whole, and all of what was great Sejanus,  
And next to CAESAR did possess the world,  
Now torn, and scattered, as he needs no grave,  
Each little dust covers a little part:  
So lies he nowhere, and yet often buried!   

Arruntius, NVNTIVS, Lepidus, Terentius.  
MOre of Sejanus?  Nun. 
Yes.  LEP. 
What can be added?  
We know him dead.  Nun. 
Then, there begin your pity.  
There is enough behind, to melt e'en Rome,  
And CAESAR into tears: (since never slave  
Could yet so highly offend, but tyranny,  
In torturing him, would make him worth lamenting.)  
A son, and daughter, to the dead Sejanus,  
(Of whom there is not now so much remaining  
As would give fastening to the hangman's hook)  
have they drawn forth for farther sacrifice;  
Whose tenderness of knowledge, unripe years,  
And childish silly innocence was such,  
As scarce would lend them feeling of their danger:  
The girl so simple, as she often asked,  
Where they would lead her? for what cause they dragged her?  
Cried, she would do no more. That she could take  
Warning with beating. And because our laws  
Admit no virgin immature to die,  
The wittily, and strangely-cruel MACRO,  
Delivered her to be deflowered, and spoiled,  
By the rude lust of the licentious hangman,  
Then, to be strangled with her harmless brother.  LEP. 
O, act, most worthy hell, and lasting night,  
To hide it from the world!  Nun. 
Their bodies thrown  
Into the Gemonies, (I know not how,  
Or by what accident returned) the mother,  
Th'expulsed APICATA, finds them there;  
Whom when she saw lie spread on the degrees,  
After a world of fury on herself,  
Tearing her hair, defacing of her face,  
Beating her breasts, and womb, kneeling amazed,  
Crying to heaven, then to them; at last,  
Her drowned voice gate up above her woes:  
And with such black, and bitter execrations,  
(As might affright the gods, and force the sun  
Run backward to the east, nay, make the old  
Deformed CITAOS rise again, t' o'erwhelm  
Them, us, and all the world) she fills the air;  
Upbraids the heavens with their partial dooms,  
Defies their tyrannous powers, and demands,  
What she, and those poor innocents have transgressed,  
That they must suffer such a share in vengeance,  
Whilst LIVIA, LYGDUS, and EUDEMUS live,  
Who, (as she says, and firmly vows, to prove it  
To CAESAR, and the Senate) poisoned Drusus?  LEP. 
Confederates with her husband?  Nun. 
I.  LEP. 
Strange act!  ARR. 
And strangely opened: what says now my monster,  
The multitude? they reel now? do they not?  Nun. 
Their gall is gone, and now they 'gin to weep  
The mischief they have done.  ARR. 
I thank 'em, rogues!  Nun. 
Part are so stupid, or so flexible,  
As they believe him innocent; all grieve:  
And some, whose hands yet reek with his warm blood,  
And gripe the part which they did tear of him,  
Wish him collected, and created new.  LEP. 
How fortune plies her sports, when she begins  
To practise 'em! pursues, continues, adds!  
Confounds, with varying her empassioned moods!  ARR. 
Dost thou hope fortune to redeem thy crimes?  
To make amends, for thy ill placed favours,  
With these strange punishments? Forbear, you things,  
That stand upon the pinnacles of state,  
To boast your slippery height; when you do fall,  
You pash yourselves in pieces, near to rise:  
And he that lends you pity, is not wise.  TER. 
Let this example move th'insolent man,  
Not to grow proud, and careless of the gods:  
It is an odious wisdom, to blaspheme,  
Much more to slighten, or deny their powers.  
For, whom the morning saw so great, and high,  
Thus low, and little, 'fore the even doth lie.   
THE END   

This Tragedy was first acted, in the year 1603.  
By the king's majesties SERVANTS.  
The principal Tragedians were, 

RIC. BURBADGE.  
AVG. PHILIPS.  
WILL. SLY..  
IOH. LOWIN.  
WILL. Shakespeare.  
IOH. HEMINGS.  
HEN. CONDEL.  
ALEX. Cook.    
With the allowance of the Master of revels.