sejanus HIS FALL.  
Written by BEN. jonson.  
MART. Non hîc Centauros, non Gorgonas, Harpyasque  
invenies: Hominem pagina nostra sapit.  
AT LONDON Printed by G. Elld, for Thomas Thorpe. 1605.   

To the Readers.  
THe following, and voluntary Labours of my Friends, prefixed to my book, haue relieved me in much, whereat( without them) I should necessarily haue touchd: Now, I will onely use three or four short, and needful Notes, and so rest.  
First, if it be objected, that what I publish is no true poem; in the strict laws of Time. I confess it: as also in the want of a proper Chorus, whose habit, and moods are such, and so difficult, as not any, whom I haue seen since the Auntients,( no not they who haue most presently affencted laws) haue yet come in the way off. Nor is it needful, or almost possible, in these our Times, and to such Auditors, as commonly Things are presented, to observe the old state, and splendour of dramatic Poëmes, with preservation of any popular delight. But of this I shall take more seasonable cause to speak; in my observations vpon Horace his Art of Poetry, which( with the Text translated) I intend, shortly to publish. In the mean time, if in truth of Argument, dignity of Persons, gravity and height of Elocution, fullness and frequency of Sentence, I haue discharged the other offices of a tragic writer, let not the absence of these forms be imputed to me, wherein I shall give you occasion hereafter( and without my boast) to think I could b●●ter prescribe, then omit the due use, for want of a convenient knowledge.  
The next is least in some nice nostril, the Quotations might savour affencted, I do let you know, that I abhor nothing more; and haue onely done it to show my integrity in the Story, and save myself in those common Torturers, that bring all wit to the Rack: whose Noses are ever like Swine spoiling, and rooting up the Muses Gard●ns, and their whole Bodies, like Moles, as blindly working under Earth to cast any, the least, hills vpon virtue.  
Whereas, they are in latin and the work in English, it was presupposd, none but the Learned would take the pains to confer them, the Authors themselves being all in the learned Tongues, save one, with whose English side I haue had little to do▪ To which it may be required, since I haue quoted the page., to name what Editions I followed. Tacit. Lips. in 4o. Antuerp. edit. 600. Dio. Folio. Hen. Step 92. For the rest, as Sueton. Seneca. &c. the Chapter doth sufficiently direct, or the Edition is not varied.  
Lastly I would inform you, that this book, in all numbers, is not the same with that which was acted on the public Stage, wherein a second Pen had good share: in place of which I haue rather chosen, to put weaker( and no doubt less pleasing) of mine own, then to defraud so happy a Genius of his right, by my loathed usurpation.  
Fare you well. And if you red father of me, and like, I shall not be afraid of it though you praise me out.  Neque enim mihi cornea fibra est. 
But that I should plant my felicity, in your general saying Good, or Well, &c. were a weakness which the better sort of you might worthily coutenme, if not absolutely hate me for.  
BEN. jonson. and no such.  Quem Palma negata macrum, donata reducit opimum.  

In SEIANVM BEN. jonson I Et Musis, et sibi in Delicijs.  

SO brings the wealth-contracting jeweller  
pearls and dear Stones, from richest shores& streame●,  
As thy accomplished travail doth confer  
From skill-inriched souls, their wealthier Gems;  
So doth his hand enchase in ammeld gold,  
Cut, and adorned beyond their native Merits,  
His solid Flames, as thine hath here inrould  
In more then golden Verse, those bettered spirits;  
So he entreasures Princes Cabinets,  
As thy Wealth will their wished Libraries;  
So, on the throat of the rude Sea, he sets  
His venturous foot, for his illustrious Prise;  
And through wild deserts, armed with wilder Beasts,  
As thou aduenturst on the Multitude,  
Vpon the boggy, and engulfed breasts  
Of hirelings, sworn to find most Right, most rude:  
And he, in storms at Sea, doth not endure,  
Nor in vast deserts, amongst wolves, more danger;  
Then we, that would with virtue live secure,  
sustain for her in every Vices anger.  
Nor is this allegory unjustly racked,  
to this strange length; Onely that jewels are,  
In estimation merely, so exact:  
And thy work, in itself, is dear and Rare.  
Wherein Minerua had been vanquished,  
Had she, by it, her sacred looms aduanc't,  
And through thy subject woven her graphicke Thread,  
Contending therein, to be more entranc't;  
For, though thy hand was scarce addressed to draw  
The Semi-circle of sejanus life,  
Thy Muse yet makes it the whole sphere, and Lawe  
To all State lives: and bounds Ambitions strife.  
And as a little brook creeps from his Spring,  
With shallow tremblings, through the lowest Vales,  
As if he feared his stream abroad to bring,  
Least profane feet should wrong it, and rude Gales,  
But finding happy Channels, and supplies  
Of other Fordes mix with his modest course,  
He grows a goodly river, and descries  
The strength, that mannd him, since he left his Source;  
Then takes he in delight some meads, and groves,  
And, with his two-edged waters, flourishes  
Before great Palaces, and all Mens Loues  
Build by his shores, to greet his Passages:  
So thy chased Muse, by virtuous selfe-mistrust,  
Which is a true mark of the truest Merit,  
In Virgin fear of Mens illiterate Lust,  
Shut her soft wings, and durst not show her spirit;  
Till, nobly cherished, now thou lett'st her fly,  
Singing the sable Orgies of the Muses,  
And in the highest pitch of tragedy,  
makest her command, al things thy Ground produces.  
But, as it is a sign of Loues first firing,  
Not Pleasure by a lovely Presence taken,  
And boldness to attempt; but close Retiring,  
To places desolate, and Feuer-shaken;  
So, when the love of Knowledge first affects us,  
Our Tongues do falter, and the flamme doth rove  
Through our thin spirits, and of fear detects us  
Tattaine her Truth, whom we so truly love.  
Nor can( saith Aeschilus) a faire young Dame,  
Kept long without a Husband, more contain  
Her amorous eye, from breaking forth in flamme,  
When she beholds a Youth that fits her vain;  
Then any mans first taste of Knowledge truly  
Can bridle the affection she inspireth:  
But let it fly on Men, that most unduly  
Haunt her with hate, and all the Loues she fireth.  
If our Teeth, Head, or but our Finger ache,  
We strait seek the physician; If a fever,  
Or any curefull malady we take,  
The grave physician is desired ever:  
But if proud melancholy, lunacy,  
Or direct madness ouer-heate our brains,  
We Rage, Beate out, or the physician fly,  
losing with vehemence, even the sense of pains.  
So of Offenders, they are past recure,  
That with a tyrannous spleen, their stings extend  
'gainst their reprovers; They that will endure  
All discreet Discipline, are not said t' offend.  
Though Others qualified, then, with natural skill,  
( More sweet mouthd, and affecting shrewder wits)  
blanch coals, call illness, good, and goodness ill,  
Breath thou the fire, that true-spoke Knowledge fits.  
Thou canst not then be Great? yes. Who is he,  
( Said the good spartan King) greater then I,  
That is not likewise juster? No degree  
can boast of emminence, or empery,  
( As the great Stagerite held) in any One  
Beyond Another, whose soul farther sees,  
And in whose Life the Gods are better known:  
Degrees of Knowledge difference all Degrees.  
Thy poem, therefore, hath this due respect,  
That it lets pass nothing, without observing,  
Worthy Instruction; or that might correct  
Rude manners, and renown the well deserving:  
Performing such a lively evidence  
in thy Narrations, that thy Hearers still  
Thou turnst to thy Spectators; and the sense  
That thy Spectators haue of good or ill,  
Thou ini●ct'st jointly to thy Readers souls.  
So dear is held, so decked thy numerous task,  
As thou puttest handles to the Thespian Boules,  
Or stuckst rich Plumes in the Palladian cask.  
All thy worth, yet, thyself must patronize,  
By quaffing more of the Castalian Head;  
In expiscation of whose Mysteries,  
Our nets must still be clogd, with heavy led,  
To make them sink, and catch: For cheerful gold,  
Was never found in the Pierian streams,  
But Wants, and scorns, and Shames for silver sold.  
What, what shall we elect in these extremes?  
Now by the Shafts of the great CYRRHAN Poet,  
That bear all light, that is, about the world;  
I would haue all dull Poet-Haters know it,  
They shall be soule-bound, and in darkness hurled,  
A thousand yeares,( as satan was, their sire)  
Ere Any worthy, the poetic Name,  
( Might I, that warm but, at the Muses fire,  
Presume to guard it) should let deathless famed  
Light half a beam of all her hundred Eyes,  
At his dim Taper, in their memories.  
fly, fly, you are to near; so odorous Flowers  
being held too near the Sensor of our Sense,  
Render not pure, nor so sincere their powers,  
As being held a little distance thence;  
Because much troubled Earthy parts improve them:  
Which mixed with the odours we exhall,  
Do vitiate what we draw in. But remove them  
A little space, the Earthy parts do fall,  
And what is pure, and hote by his tenuitye,  
is to our powers of savour purely born.  
But fly, or stay: Use thou the assiduity,  
Fit for a true Contemner of their scorn.  
Our Phoebus may, with his exampling beams,  
burn out the webs from their Arachnean eyes,  
Whose Knowledge( Day-star to all Diadems,)  
Should banish knowledge-hating Policies:  
So others, great in the Scientiall grace,  
His chancellor, fautor of all human skills;  
His Treasurer, taking thèm into his Place,  
Northumber, that, with thèm, his Crescent fills,  
grave Worc'ster, in whose nerves they guard their fire,  
Northampton, that to all his height in blood,  
H●ightens his soul, with thèm, And devonshire,  
In whom their Streams, ebd to their Spring, are flood,  
Oraculous salisbury, whos● inspired voice,  
In State proportions, sings their mysteries,  
And( though last Namd) first, in whom They rejoice,  
To whose true worth, Th●y vow most obsequies,  
Most Noble suffolk, who by Nature Noble,  
And iudgement virtuous, cannot fall by Fortune,  
Who when our heard, came not to drink, but trouble  
The Muses waters, did a Wall importune,  
( Midst of assaults) about their sacred river;  
In whose behalfs, my poor soul,( consecrate  
To poorest Vertue) to the longest liver,  
His Name, in spite of Death, shall propagate.  
O could the World but feel how sweet a touch  
A good dead hath in one in love with goodness,  
( If poesy were not ravished so much,  
And her composde Rage, held the simplest woodness,  
Though of all heats, that temper human brains,  
Hers ever was most subtle, high, and holy,  
First binding savage lives, in civil chains:  
Solely religious, and adored solely,  
If men felt this) they would not think a love,  
That gives itself, in her, did vanities give;  
Who is( in Earth, though low) in Worth above,  
Most able t' honour Life, though least to live.  
And so good Friend, safe passage to thy fraught,  
To thee a long Peace, through a virtuous strife,  
In which, lets both contend to virtues height,  
Not making famed our object, but good life.   

COme forth sejanus, fall before this book,  
And of thy falls Reuiuer, ask forgiveness,  
That thy low Birth and Merits, durst to look  
A Fortune in the face, of such vneuennesse;  
For so his fervent love to virtue, hates,  
That her plucked plumes should wing 'vice to such calling,  
That he presents thee to all marking States,  
As if thou hadst been all this while in falling.  
His strong arm plucking, from the Midle-world,  
Fames Brazen House, and lays her tower as low,  
As HOMERS Barathrum; that, from heaven hurled,  
Thou mightst fall on it: and thy ruins grow  
To all Posterities, from his work, the Ground,  
And under heaven, nought but his Song might sound.   
Haec Commentatus est Georgius Chapmannus.   

For his worthy Friend, the Author.  
IN that, this book doth deign SEIANV'S name,  
Him unto more, then Caesars love, it brings:  
For, w●ere he could not with Ambition's wings,  
One Quill doth heave him to the height of famed.  
ye great-Ones though,( whose ends may be the same,)  
Know, that( how ever we do flatter Kings)  
Their favours( like themselves) are fading things,  
With no less envy had, then lost with shane.  
Nor make yourselves less honest then you are,  
To make our Author wiser then he is:  
Ne of such Crimes accuse him, which I dare  
By all his Muses swear, be none of his.  
The Men are not, some Faults may be these Times:  
He acts those Men, and they did act these Crimes.  
HVGH HOLLAND.   

To the deserving Author.  
WHen I respect thy argument, I see  
An Image of those Times: but when I view  
The wit, the workmanship, so rich, so true,  
The Times themselves do seem retriu'd to me.  
And as sejanus, in thy tragedy,  
Falleth from Caesars grace; even so the Crew  
Of common Play-wrights, whom Opinion blew  
Big with false greatness, are disgraced by thee.  
Thus, in one tragedy, thou makest twain:  
And, since faire works of Iustice fit the part  
Of tragic writers, Muses do ordain  
That all Tragedians, Maisters of their Arte,  
Who shall hereafter follow on this tract,  
In writing well, thy tragedy shall act.  
CYGNVS.   

To his learned, and beloved Friend, vpon his equal work.  
sejanus, great, and eminent in Rome,  
raised above all the Senate, both in grace  
Of Princes favour, authority, place,  
And popular dependence; yet, how soon,  
even with the instant of his overthrow,  
Is all this Pride and greatness now forgot,  
( Onely that in Former grace he stood not)  
By them which did his State, not Treason know!  
His very Flatterers, that did adorn  
Their necks with his rich Meddales, now in flamme  
Consume them, and would loose even his Name,  
Or else recite it with reproach, or scorn!  
This was his roman Fate. But now thy Muse  
To us that neither knew his Height, nor Fall,  
Hath raised him up with such memorial,  
All future States and Times his name shall use.  
What, not his Good, nor Ill could once extend  
To the next Age, thy Verse, industrious,  
And learned Friend, hath made illustrious  
To this. Nor shall his, or thy famed haue end.  
Th. R.   

Amicis, amici nostri dignissimi, dignissimis, Epigramma. D. johannes MARSTONIVS.  

ye ready friends, spare your vnneedfull bays,  
This work dispairefull envy must even praise:   

Phoebus hath voic'd it, loud, through echoing skies,  
sejanus FALL shall force thy Merit rise.   

For never English shall, or hath before  
spoke fuller graced. He could say much, not more.    

Vpon sejanus.  
HOw high a poor man shows in low estate  
Whose Base is firm, and whole Frame competent,  
That sees this Cedar, made the Shrub of Fate,  
Th'on●s little, lasting; Th'others confluence spent.  
And as the Lightning comes behind the Thunder  
From the torn Cloud, yet first inuades our Sense,  
So every violent Fortune, that to wonder  
Hoists men aloft, is a clear evidence  
Of a vaunt curring blow the Fates haue given  
To his forced state: swift Lightning blinds his eyes,  
While Thunder from comparison hating heaven  
Dischargeth on his height, and there it lies:  
If men will shun swollen Fortunes ruinous blasts,  
Let them use Temperance. Nothing violent lasts.  
William Strachey.   

To him that hath so excelled on this excellent subject.  
THy poem( pardon me) is mere deceat.  
Yet such deceate, as thou that dost beguile,  
Are juster far then they who use no wile:  
And they who are deceived by this feat,  
More wise ●h●● such who can eschew thy cheat.  
For thou hast given each parte so just a style,  
That Men suppose the Action now on file;  
( And Men suppose, who are of best conceat.)  
Yet some there be, that are not moved hereby,  
And others are so quick, that they will spy  
Where later Times are in some speech enweau'd;  
Those wary Simples, and these simplo Elfes:  
They are so dull, they cannot be deceived,  
These so unjust, they will decêaue themselves.  
{αβγδ}.   

To the most understanding Poet.  
when in the GLOBES faire Ring, our Worlds best Stage,  
I saw sejanus, set with that rich foil,  
I look't the Author should haue born the spoil  
Of conquest, from the Writers of the Age:  
But when I veiw'd the Peoples beastly rage,  
Bent to confounded thy grave, and learned toil,  
That cost thee so much sweat, and so much oil,  
My indignation I could hardly' assuage.  
And many there( in passion) scarce could tell  
Whether thy fault, or theirs deserved most blame;  
Thine, for so showing, theirs, to wrong the same:  
But both they left within that doubtful Hell.  
From whence, this Publication sets thee free:  
They, for their Ignorance, still damned bee.  
Ev. B.   

THE argument.  
AELIVS sejanus, son to Scius Strabo, a Gent●eman of Rome, and born at Vulfinium, after his long service in Court, first, vn●er Augustus; ●fterward, Tiberius: grew into that favour with the Latter, and won him by tho●e Artes, as there w●nted nothing but the Name to make him a Copartner of the Empire. Which greatness of his, Drusus the Emperours son not brooking, after many smotherd d●slikes, it one day breaking out; the Prince strok● 〈◇〉 publiqu●ly on ●he Face. To reuenge which disgrace,( Liuia, the wife of Drusus, being ●efore corrupted by him to her dishonour,& the d scouery of her husbands Councells) sejanus practiseth w●th, together w●th her physician, called Eudemus,& one Lygdus an Eunuch, to poison Drusus. This their inhuman Act having successful, and unsuspected passage, it emboldeneth S●ianus to farther, and more insolent projects, e●en the ambition of the Empire: where finding the Lets he must encounter to be many, and hard, in respe●t of the issue of Germanicus( who were next in hope) he deviseth to make Tibe●ius self, his means; and instill's in●o his ears many doubts, and suspicions both against the Princes, and their mother Agrippina: which Caesar iealously hearkening too, as covetously consenteth to their ruin, and their Friends, in this time, the better to mature and strengthen his design, he labours to mary Liuia, and worketh( withall his engine) to remove Tiberius from the knowledge of public business, with allurements of a quiet and separated Life; the latter of which Tiber●as,( out of a proneness to Lust and a desire to hid th●se unnatural Pleasures which he could not so publicly practise) embraceth: the former inkindleth his fears,& there gives him first cause of doubt, or suspect toward sejanus. Against whom, he raiseth( in priuat●) a new Instrument, one Sertorius Macro, and by him vnderwo●keth, discovers the others counsels, his Means, his Ends, sounds the Affections of the Scuators, deu●des, distracts them: at last, when sejanus lest looketh, and ●s most Secu●e( with pretext of doing him an vn-wonted honour in the Senat) he tr●ynes him from his guards; with one Letter,& in one Day, hath him suspected, accused, condemned, and torn in pieces, by the rage of the People.  
This do we advance as a mark of Terror to all Traytors,& Treasons; to show how just the Heauens are in powring and thundering down a weighty vengeance on their unnatural intents, even to the worst Princes: Much more to those, for guard of whose Piety and virtue, the Angels are in continual watch, and God himself miraculously working.   

The names of the Actors.  

tiberius.  
drusus. se.  
NERO.  
drusus. iu.  
CALIGVLA.  
arruntius.  
SILIVS.  
SABINVS.  
lepidus.  
CORDVS.  
GALLVS.  
regulus.  
terentius.  
LACO.  
eudemus.  
RVFVS.  
sejanus.  
LATIARIS.  
VARRO.  
MACRO.  
COTTA.  
AFER.  
HATERIVS.  
SANQVINIVS.  
pomponius.  
POSTVMVS.  
TRIO.  
MINVTIVS.  
satrius.  
NATTA.  
OPSIVS.   

TRIBVNI.  
AGRIPPINA. 

LIVIA.  
SOSIA.    
PRAECONES.  
FLAMEN.  
TVBICINES.  
NVNTIVS.  
LICTORES.  
MINISTRI.  
TIBICINES.  
SERWS.    

sejanus.  

actus PRIMVS.  SABINVS. SILIVS. NATTA. LATIARIS. CORDVS. satrius. arruntius. eudemus. HATERIVS. &c. SAB. 
hail 
De Calo Silio. vid. Tacit. Lips. edit. 4o. Anna. lib. 1. pag. 11. lib. 2. pag. 28.& 33.  Caius Silius.  SIL. 

De Titio Sabino. vid Tac. lib. 4. pag. 79.  Titius Sabinus, hail.  
Yo'are rarely met in Court!  SAB. 
Therfore, well met.  SIL. 
'tis true: Indeed, this Place is not our sphere.  SAB. 
No Silius, we are no good Inginers;  
We want the fine Artes, and their thriving use  
Should make us graced, or fauor'd of the Times:  
We haue 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 
Tac. Annal. lib 1. pag. 2.  slavery, not by service, climb.  
We are no guilty men, and then no Great;  
We haue nor place in Court, Office in state,  
That we 
funeral. Sat. 1. ver. 75.  can say, we owe unto our Crimes;  
We burn with no 
Et Sat. 3. ver. 49. &c.  black secrets, which can make  
us dear to the pale Authors; or live feared  
Of their still waking iealosies, 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 Cossen 
De Latiari, comes. Tac. Annal. lib. 4 pag. 94.& Dion. Step. edit. fol. lib. 58. pag. 711.  Latiaris.)  SIL. 

De Satrio Secundo,&  Satrius Secundus, and 
Pinnario Natta. Leg Tacit. Annal. lib. 4. pag. 83. Et de Satrio. cons. Senec. consol. ad Marciam.  Pinnarius Natta,  
The great sejanus Clients; There be two,  
Know more, then honest Councells: whose close breasts  
Were they rip'd up to light, it would be found  
A poor, and idle sin, to which their trunks  
Had not been made fit Organs: These can lye,  
Flatter, and swear, forswear, deprave, 
Vid. Sen. de Benef. lib. 3. cap. 26.  inform,  
Smile, and betray; make guilty men; then beg  
The forfeit lives, to get the livings; cut  
Mens throats with whisprings; sell to gaping Suitors  
The empty smoke, that flies about the palace;  
Laugh, when their Patron laughs; sweat, when he sweats;  
Be hot, and could with him; change every mood,  
Habit, and garb, as often as he varies;  
observe him, as his watch observes his clock;  
And true, as Turkise in the dear Lords ring,  
look 
funeral. Sat. 3. ver. 105.  well, or ill with him: Ready to praise  
His Lordship, if he spit, or but piss faire,  
Haue an indifferent stool, or break wind well,  
Nothing can scape their catch.  SAB, 
alas! these things  
deserve no note, conferred with other vile,  
And 
Vid. Tac. Ann. lib. 1. pag. 3.  filthier Flatteries, that corrupt the times:  
When, not alone our Gentries chief, are fain  
To make their safety from such sordid Acts,  
But 
Tac. Annal. lib 3. pag. 69.  all our Consuls, and no little part  
Of such as haue been Praetors, yea, the most  
Of 
Pedarij.  Senators, that else not use their voices,  
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, 
Ibid.  o Race of men,  
prepared for servitude! which shew'd, that He  
Who least 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,  
Haue so prouok'd the Iustice of the Gods  
We that( within these fourscore yeares) were born  
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 mans lusts;  
And now to many: 
Lege Tac. Ann. lib. 1. pag. 24. de Romano Hispane,& caeteris. ibid. et lib. 3. Ann. pag. 61.& 62. iwen. Sat. 10. ver. 87. Suet. Tib. cap. 61  every ministering spy  
That will accuse, and swear, is Lord of you,  
Of me, of all, our Fortunes, and our lives.  
Our 
Vid. Tac. Ann. 1. pag. 4.& lib. 3. pa. 62. Suet. Tib. cap. 61 Senec. de Benef. lib. 3. cap. 26.  loookes are called to question, and our words,  
How innocent so ever, are made Crimes;  
We shall not shortly dare to tell our dreams,  
Or think but 'twill be Treason.  SAB. 
" Tirannes Artes  
" Are to give Flatterers grace, Accusers power,  
" That those may seem to kill whom they devour.  
Now 
De Cremutio Cordo vid Tacit. Annal. lib. 4. pag. 83. 84. Senec. consol. ad Marciam. Dio. lib. 57. pag 710. Suet. Aug. ca. 35. lib. cap. 61. call cap. 16.  good Cremutius Cordus.  COR. 
hail to your Lordship.  NAT. 
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 Caesars; and 
Leg. Suet. Aug. ca. 35.  so down to these,  NAT. 
How stands h'affencted to the present state?  
Is he or 
Vid. de factio. Tac. Ann. lib. 2. pag. 39.& lib. 4. pa. 79  Drusian? or Germanican?  
Or ours? or neutral?  LAT. 
I know him not so far.  NAT. 
Those Times are somewhat queasy to be touched.  
Haue 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?  LA. 
I.  SAB. 
But these our times  
Are not the same Arruntius. 
De Lu. Aruntio isto, vid. Tac. Ann. lib. 1. pag. 6.& lib. 3. pag. 60.& Dion. Rom. Hist. lib. 58.   ARR. 
Times? the Men,  
The Men are not the same: 'tis wee are base,  
poor, and degenerate from th'exalted strain  
Of our great Fathers. Where is now the soul  
Of God-like 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 monsters 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 vrnes,  
And not a spark of their eternal fire  
Glowes in a present bosom: All's but blaze,  
Flashes, and smoke, wherewith we labour so,  
Ther'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. 
Stand by, Lord 
Lege de Dru●o. Tac. Anna. lib. 1 pag, 9. Suet Tib. cap. 52. Dio. Rom. hist lib. 57. pag. 699,  Drusus.  HAT. 
Th'emp'rours son, give place.  SIL. 
I like the Prince well.  ARR. 

Tacit. Ann. lib. 3. pag. 62.  A riotous youth,  
There's little hope of him.  SAB. 
That fault his Age  
Will, as it grows, correct. Me thinks, he bears  
himself, each day, more nobly then other:  
And wins no less on mens affections  
Then doth his Father loose. Beleeue me' I love him;  
And chiefly 
vid. Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 74.  for opposing to sejanus.  SIL. 
And I 
Ann. lib. 4 pag. 75. 76.  for gracing his young kinsman so,  
The 
Nero. Drusus. Calus, qui in castris geni●us, et Caligula nominatus. Tac an. l. 1.  sons of Prince 
De Germanico. cons. Tac. Anna. lib. 1. pag. 14. et Dion Hist. Rom. l. 57. p. 694.  Germanicus; It shows  
A gallant clearness in him, a streight mind,  
That envies not, in them, their Fathers 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 then the seeds: 
vid. Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 79.  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,  
Then Men, in nature; Of a body' as fair  
As was his mind; and no less reverend  
In face, then famed: 
Tac. An. l. 2. pag. 47 et Dion. his. Rom. lib. 57 pag. 705.  He could so use his state,  
Temp'ring his greatness, with his gravity,  
As it avoided all self-love in him,  
And spite in others. What his funerals lack'd  
In Images, and pomp, they had supplied  
With honourable sorrow, Souldiers 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'haue paralleled him with great Alexander:  
For both were of best feature, of high race,  
Year'd 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 Bondmans. 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: 
Vide. apud Vell. Patercul. lips. 4o. pag. 30. 33. 35. 47. istorum hominum Caracteres.  Pompei's dignity,  
The innocence of Cato, Caesar's spirit,  
Wise Brutus temp'rance, and every virtue,  
which, partend 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 to great for us, 
Vide Tac lib. 2. Annae. pag. 28.& pag. 34. Dio. Rom. hist. lib. 57. pag. 705. 706.  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; 
Con. Tac. Ann. l. 2. p. 39. de occultis mandatis Pisoni. et postea pag 42. 43 48. Oratio. Do. Celeris Est tibi Augustae consciencia, est Caesaris favor, said in occulto. &c Leg. Suet. Tib. cap. 52 Dio. p. 706  So was he:  
And had his Secon'ds there, sent by Tiberius,  
And his more subtle Damme, 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, 
vid. Tac. Annal. l. 2. pag. 46.& 47. lib. 3. p. 54. et Suet. Calig. cap. 1.& 2.  a fine poison  
Was thought on, to mature their practices.  COR. 
Here comes 
De Seiano. vid. Tacit. Annal. l. 1. pag. 9. l. 4. princip. et per tot. Suet. Tib. Dion. lib. 57.& 58. Plin. et Senec.  sejanus.  SIL. 
Now observe the stoupes,  
The bendings, and the falls.  ARR. 
Most creeping base!  sejanus. satrius. terentius. &c. SEI. 
I note 'hem well, No more. Say you.  SAT. 
My Lord,  
There is a Gentleman of Rome would buy—  SEI. 
How call you him you talked with?  SA. 
Please your Lordsh.  
It is 
De Eudemo. isto. vid. Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 74.  eudemus, the physician  
To Liuia, Drusu's wife.  SEI 
On with your svit.  
Would buy you said.  SAT. 
A Tribunes place, my Lord.  SEI. 
What will he give?  SAT. 

Monetae nostrae 375. li. vide Budaeum. de ass. lib. 2. pag. 64.  fifty Sestertia,  SEI. 
Liuia's physician say you, is that fellow?  SAT. 
It is my Lord; your Lordships 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 shal my Lord.  SEI. 
Come hither.  
Know you this same Eudemus? Is he learned?  SAT. 
Reputed so, my Lord: and of deep practise.  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 grou'ling Honor! Seest thou this, o sun,  
And do wee see thee after? Me thinks, day  
Should loose his light, when men do loose their shames,  
And, for the empty circumstance of life,  
Betray their cause of living.  SIL. 
Nothing so.  

De ingenio, moribus,& potentia, Seiani. l●g. Tac. Annal. lib. 4. pag. 74. Dio. Hist. Rom. l●b. 57. pag. 708.  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 then 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 fire-brands; 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 Caesar, divi Augusti nepos. cons. Tacit. Ann. lib. 4. pa. 74.  Caiu's trencher, when for hire,  
He 
Tac ibid.& Dion. hist. Rom. lib. 57. pag. 706.  prostituted his abused body  
To that great Gourmond, fat Apicius;  
And was the noted Pathike of the time.  SAB. 
And, now, 
inven. Sat. 10. vers. 63.  the second face of the whole world.  
The partner of the empire, hath his image  
reared equal with Tiberius, born in ensigns;  
commands, disposes every dignity, 
Tacit. ibid.   
Centurions, Tribunes, Heads of provinces,  
Praetors, and Consuls, all that heretofore  
Romes general suffrage gave, is now his sale.  
The gain, or rather spoil of all the earth  
One, and his house, receives. 
Dion. ibid.   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 seuer'd; and their life  
More, strict, if from the City more removed,  SAB. 
Where, now, he builds, what kind of Fort's he please, 
Tacit. ibid.   
Is hard to court the soldier, by his name,  
Woes, feasts the chiefest men of Action,  
Whose wants, not loues, compel them to be his. 
Ibid.   
And, though he nere were liberal by kind,  
Yet, to his own dark ends, he's most profuse, 
Et Dion. ibid.   
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; how ere he hath fore-gone  
The dignity, and power.  SIL. 
Sure, while he lives.  ARR. 
And dead, it comes to Drusus. should he sail,  
To the brave Issue of Germanicus;  
And 
Nero. Drusus. Caligula.  they are three; To many( ha?) for him  
To haue a plot vpon?  SAB. 
I do not know  
The heart of his disseignes; but, sure, their face  
looks farther then the present.  ARR 
By the Gods, 
Tacit. ibid.   
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, to'undo  
The knotted bed—  SAB. 
You'are observed, Arruntius.  ARR. 
Death! I dare tell him so; and all his Spies:  
You Sir, I would, do you look? and you.  SAB. 
forbear.  satrius. eudemus. sejanus. SAT. 
Here, he will instant be; let's walk a turn.  
Yo'are 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. 

Leg. Terentij defensionem. Tac. Annal. li. 6. pag. 102.  Your Fortune's made unto you now, Eudemus,  
If you can but lay hold vpon the means;  
Do but observe his humour, and— beleeue it—  
He' is 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 spoken out your art, and learning:  
And I am glad I haue so needful cause,  
( How ever in itself painful, and hard)  
To make me known to so great virtue. look,  
Who's that? Satrius— I haue a grief, Sir  
That will desire your help. Your name Eudemus?  EVD. 
Yes.  SEI. 
Sir?  EVD. 
It is my Lord.  SEI. 
I hear, you are  
physician to 
Germanici soror, uxor Drusi. vid. Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 74.  Liuia, the princess?  EVD. 
I minister unto her, my good Lord.  SEI. 
You minister to a royal Lady, then.  EVD. 
She is, my Lord; and faire.  SEI. 
That's understood  
Of all their sex, who are, or would be so;  
And those, that would be, physic soon can make 'hem:  
For those that are, their Beauties fear no coullors.  EVD. 
Your Lordship is conceited.  SEI. 
Sir you know it.  
And can( if need be) red a learned Lecture,  
On this, and other secrets. Pray you tell me,  
What more of Ladies, besides Liuia,  
Haue you your Patients?  EVD. 
Many, my good Lord.  
The great 
matter Tiberii. vid. Tac. Annal. lib. 1. 2. 3. 4. moritur. 5. Suet. Tib. Dio. Hist. Rom. lib. 57. 58.  Augusta, 
Delicium Augustae. Tac. Ann. lib. 2.& 4.  Urgulania,  
Mutilia 
Adultera julij Postumi. Tacit. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 77.  Prisca, and 
Pisonis uxor. Tac. Ann. lib. 2. 3.& 4.  Plancina, diuers—  SEI. 
And, all these tell you the particulars  
Of every several grief? how first it grew,  
And then encreasd, what Action caused that;  
What Passion that: and answer to each point  
That you will put' hem?  EVD. 
Else, my Lord, we know not  
How to prescribe the Remedies.  SEI. 
go to,  
Yo'are a subtle Nation, you Physitians!  
And grown the 
Vid. Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 74.& Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. 29. cap. 1.  only Cabinets, in Court,  
To Ladies priuacies. 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 smells most violet? or whose siege is best?  
Or who makes hardest faces on the stool?  
Which Lady sleeps with her own face a nights?  
Which puts her teeth of, 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, haue put your gravity  
To some defence of blushy. But I enquired,  
Which was the wittiest? meriest? wantonnest?  
harmless Intergatories, but conceits.  
Me thinks, Augusta should be most perverse,  
And froward in her fit?  EVD. 
Shee' is 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 Liuia?  
I know, shee's quick, and quaintly spirited,  
And will haue strange thoughts, when sh'is at leisure;  
Shee tells 'hem all to you?  EVD. 
My noblest Lord,  
He breaths not in the Empire, or the Earth,  
Whom I would be ambitious to serve  
( In any act, that may preserve mine honor)  
Before your Lord-ship.  SEI. 
Sir you can loose no honor,  
By trusting ought to me. The coursest Act  
Done to my service, I can so requited,  
As all the world shall style it honourable:  
" Your idle, virtuous Definitions  
" keep honor poor, and are as scorned, as vain:  
" Those deeds breath honor, that do suck in gain.  EVD. 
But, good my Lord, if I should thus betray  
The councils of my Patient, and a ladies  
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 
Cons. Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 74.  love to Liuia: 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 haue put  
The secret into thee.  EVD. 
My Lord—  SEI. 
Protest not.  
Thy looks are vows to me, use onely speed,  
And but affect her with 
Tac. ibid.  sejanus love,  
Thou art a man, made, to make Consuls. go.  EVD. 
My Lord, Ile promise you a private meeting  
This day, together.  SEI. 
Canst thou?  EVD. 
Yes.  SEI. 
The place?  EVD. 
My Gardens. whether I shall fetch your Lordship.  SEI. 
Let me adore my Aesculapius.  
Why, this indeed is physic: and out speaks  
The knowledge of cheap drugs, or any use  
Can be made out of it, more comforting  
Then all your Opiates, Iulebes, Apozemes,  
Magistrall Sirrupes, or— Be gone, my Friend,  
Not barely styled, but created so;  
Expect things, greater then thy largest hopes,  
To overtake thee. Fo●tune, shall be taught  
To know how ill she hath deserved thus long,  
To come behind thy wishes. go, and speed;  
" Ambition makes more trusly slaves, then Need.  
These 
Eud. specie art● frequés secretis. Tacit. ibid. vid. Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. 29. cap. 1. in criminat. Medicorum.  fellowes, by the favor of their Arte,  
Haue, still, the means to tempt, oftimes, the power;  
If Liuia will be now corrupted, then  
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 betterst wit;  
For Venus hath the smallest share in it.  tiberius. sejanus. drusus. TIB. 

De initio Tiberij Principatus vid. Tac. Ann. lib. 1. pag. 23. lib. 4. pag. 75. et Suet. Tib. cap. 27. De Haterio. vid. Tacit. Ann. lib. 1. pag. 6.  We not endure these flatteries; 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, thats no flattery.  
O what is it, proud Slime will not beleeue  
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 confederacie,  
To haue your private Parasite redeem  
What he, in public subtlety, will loose  
To making him a name.  HAT. 
Right mighty Lord.  TIB. 

Cons. Tac. Anna. lib. 2. pag. 50. Et Suet. Tib. cap. 27.& 29.  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 seruant of the Senate, and are proud  
T'enjoy them, our good, just, and favouring Lords.  COR. 

Nullam aequè Tiberius, ex virtutibus suis quàm dissimulationem dilig●bat. Tac. Annal. lib. 4. pag. 95.  Rarely dissembled.  ARR. 
Princelike, to the life.  " SAB. 
When power, that may command, so much descends,  
" Their bondage, whom it stoupes to, it intends.  TIB. 
Whence are these Letters?  HAT 
From the Senate.  TIB. 
So.  
Whence these?  LA. 
From thence too.  TI. 
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 where it to us, and Rome?  
We could not think that state, for which to change,  
Although the aim were our old Liberty:  
The Ghosts 
Bruti, Cassit, Catonis. &c.  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  
" Nere louelier looks, then under such a crown.  
But, 
Vid. Dio hist. Rō. lib. 57. de moribus T●● erij. p. 690  when his Grace is merely but lip-good,  
And, that no longer, then 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 
Tyrannis fear oritur ex nimiâ procerum ad●●atione, in principem. Arist. Pol. lib. 5. ca. 10 11. et Delatorum auctoritate. Lege Tac. Dio. Suet. Tib. per totum. Sub quo decreta accusatoribus praecipua praemia. Vid. Suet. Tib. cap. 61& Sen. Benefi. lib. 3. cap. 26.  Midwife unto Princes rage:  
" And nothing sooner, doth help forth a tyrant,  
" Then that, and whisperers grace, who haue the time,  
" The place, the power, to make all men Offenders.  ARR. 
He should be  told this; and be bid dissemble  
With fools, and blindmen: We that know the evil,  
Should hunt the 
Tineas, Soricesque Palatij vocat istos sixth. Aurel Victor. et Tac. hist. li. 1. pag. 233 qui secretis criminationibus infamant ignarum,& quò incautior deciperetur, palam laudatum. &c.  Pallace-rattes, or give them bane;  
Fright hence these worse then ravens, that devour  
The quick, where they but pray vpon 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 Soueraigne'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 vpon 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 
Vid. Suet. Tib. ca. 29 et Dio. hist. Rom. lib. 57. pa. 696  they, out of their bounty, haue 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 ere repent us, to haue wished  
The Senate just, and fauo'ring Lords unto us,  
" Since their free loues do yield no less defence  
" To'a Princes state, then 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 
Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 84.& 85.  suit of spain, t'erect a Temple  
In honour of our Mother, and ourself,  
Wee 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, 
Cons. Strab. lib. 6 de Tib.  that haue all his deeds, and words observed  
ever, in place of laws, the rather followed  
That pleasing precedent, because, with ours,  
The Senates reverence also, there, was joined.  
But, as t'haue once received it, may deserve  
The gain of pardon, so, to be adored  
With the continew'd style, and note of Gods,  
Through all the provinces, were wild ambition,  
And no less pride: Yea, eu'n Augustus Name  
Would early vanish, should it be profaned  
With such promiscuous flatteries. For our part,  
Wee here protest it, and are covetous  
Posterity should know it, we are mortal;  
And can but deeds of men: 'twere glory' enough,  
Could wee be truly a Prince. And they shall add  
Abounding grace, unto our memory,  
That shall report us worthy our Fore-fathers,  
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 mindes,  
The fairest, and most during Imag'rie;  
For those of ston, or brass, if they become  
Odious in iudgement of posterity,  
Are more contemned, as dying sepulchres,  
Then tâne for living moniments. We then  
Make here our suite, 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 famed begets contempt of virtue.  NAT. 
Rare!  SAT. 
most divine.  SEI. 
The Oracles are ceased,  
That onely Caesar, with their tongue, might speak.  ARR. 
Let me be gone, most felt,& open this!  COR. 
Stay.  ARR. 
What? to hear more cunning, and fine words,  
with their sound flattered, ere their sense be meant?  TIB. 
Their 
Tac. lib. 3. pag. 71.  choice of Antium, there to place the gift  
vowed to the 
Fortuna equestris. ibid.  Goddesse, for our Mothers health,  
We will the Senate know, wee fairly like;  
As also of their 
Tac. ibid.  grant to Lepidus,  
For his repairing the Aemilian place,  
And restauration of those Monuments;  
Their Grace too 
Tac. Ann. lib 3. pa. 70.  in confining of Silanus,  
to th'other Is'le Cithera. at the suit  
Of his 
Torquata virgo vestalis, cuius memoriam scruat marmor Romae. vid. Lip. comment. in Tacit.  religious Sister, much commends  
Their policy, so tempered with their mercy.  
But, 
Tac. Ann. lib. 3. pa. 71.  for the honors, which they haue 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 haue there●n out-gone  
Their own great wisedoms, 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 then it can receive.  
blushy not, sejanus, 
Tacit. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 74. 76.  thou great aid of Rome,  
Associate of our labours, our chief Helper,  
Let us not force thy simplo modesty  
With offering at thy praise, for more we cannot,  
Since ther'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 haue still their grounds reared with themselves,  
" Abo●e the poor low flats of common men,  
" And, who will search the reasons of their Acts,  
" Must stand on equal bases. led, away.  
Our loues unto the Senate.  ARR. 
Caesar.  SAB. 
Peace.  COR. 

Vid. Sen. cons. ad Marc. cap. 22.  Great Pompei's Theatre was never ruined  
Till now, that proud sejanus hath a statue  
reared on his ashes.  ARR. 
Place the shane of Souldiers,  
above the best of Generalls? crack the world:  
And bruise the name of romans into dust,  
Ere we behold it.  SIL. 
Check your passion;  
Lord Drusus tarries.  DRV. 

Tacit. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 74. 76.  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. 

Tac. ibid.  Allow him statues? titles? honors? such  
As he himself refuseth?  ARR. 
brave, brave Drusus!  " DRV. 
The first ascents to sovereignty are hard  
" But, entred 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. 
I, where he is, and not writ emperor.  sejanus. &c. SEI. 
There is your Bill, and yours; Bring you your man:  
I haue 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 
Tac sequimur, Ann. lib. 4. pag. 74. quanquam apud Dionē,& Zonaram, aliter legitur.  that.  ARR. 
Good! brave! Excellent brave Prince!  DRV. 
Nay come, approach. What? stand you of? at gaze?  
It looks too full of death, for thy could spirit.  
avoid mine eye, dull camel, or my sword  
Shall make thy brau'ry fitter for a grave,  
Then for a triumph. Ile advance a statue  
O'your own bulk; but 't shall be on the 
servile( apud Romanos) et ignominiosi●simum mortis g●nus erat supplicium Crucis, vt ex Liu. ipso Tac. Dio.& omnibus ferè antiquis, praes●rtim historicis constet. vid. Plaut. in mill. Amph. Aulu. Horat. lib. 1. Ser. 3. Petr. in Satyrico.& Iuu. Sat. 6. Pone cruce servo, &c  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 
Sic Drusus ob violetiam cognominatus. vid. Dio. Hist. Rom. lib. 57. pag. 701.  Castor, a Castor, a Castor, &c.  sejanus. SEI 
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:  
" Reuenge is lost, if I profess my hate.  
What was my practise late, I'll now pursue  
As my fell Iustice; This hath stilled it new. MV. chorus.   

actus SECVNDVS.  sejanus. LIVIA. eudemus. SEI. 
physician, thou art worthy of a province,  
For the great favours done unto our loues;  
And, but that greatest Liuia bears a part  
In the requital of thy services,  
I should alone, despair of ought, 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 
Vid. Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 74. 76.  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, 
Tac. ibid.  Lygdus:  SEI. 
Lygdus? what's he?  LIV. 
An Eunuch Drusus loues.  EVD. 
I, and his Cup-bearer.  SEI. 
Name not a second.  
If Drusus love him, and he haue that place,  
We cannot think a fitter.  EVD. 
True, my Lord,  
For free access, and Trust are two main aids.  SEI, 
skilful physician!  LIV. 
But he must be wrought  
To th'undertaking, with some laboured Arte.  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 faire?  EVD. 
A delicate youth.  SEI. 

Spadonis animum stupro deuinxit. Tac. ibid.  sand him to me, I'll work him. royal Lady,  
Though I haue loved you long, and with that height  
Of zeal, and duty,( like the Fire, which more  
It mountes, it trembles) thinking nought could add  
unto the fervour, which your eye had kindled;  
Yet, now I see your wisdom, iudgement, strength,  
quickness, and will, to apprehended the means  
To your own good, and greatness, I protest  
myself through rarefied, and turned all flamme  
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 sou'raignty of all the world.  
Then Liuia triumphs in her proper sphere,  
When she, and her sejanus shall divide  
The name of Caesar, and d Augusta's star  
Be dimmed with glory of a brighter beam;  
When 
Germanici uxor.  Aggrippina's fires are quiter extinct,  
And the scarce-seene Tiberius borrows all  
His little light from us, whose folded arms  
Shall make one perfect orb. 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. 
Ile tell his Lordship.  SEI. 
Who is't, Eudemus?  EVD. 
One of your Lordships seruants, brings you word  
The emperor hath sent for you.  SEI. 
o! where is he?  
With your faire leave, dear princess. Ile but ask  
A question, and return.  EVD. 
Fortunate princess!  
How are you blessed in the fruition  
Of this vnaequald man, this soul of Rome,  
The Empires life, and voice of Caesars world!  LIV. 
So blessed, my Eudemus, as to know  
The bliss I haue, with what I ought to owe  
The means that wrought it. How do'I look to day?  EVD 
Excellent clear, beleeue it. This same Fucus  
Was well laid on.  LIV. 
Me thinks, 'tis here not white.  EVD. 
Lend me your Scarlet, Lady. 'tis the sun  
Hath given some little taint unto the 
Cerussa( apud Romanos) inter fictitios colores erat, et quae solem ob calorem timebat. vid. Mar. lib. 2. Epig. 41. Qua cretata timet Fabul●a nimbum, Cerussata timet Sabella solem.  Ceruse,  
You should haue 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.  EV. 
I'll help it strait.)  
And, but pronounced, is a sufficient charm  
Against all rumour; and of absolute power  
To satisfy for any ladies honor,  ( LIV. 
What do you now, Eudemus?  EVD. 
Make a light Fucus,  
To touch you ôre withall.) honoured sejanus!  
What Act( though nêre 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 haue his: who to endear him more  
In your clear eye, hath 
Ex qu● trees liber●● genuerat, ut pellici suspectaretur. Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 74.  put away his Wife,  
The Trouble of his bed, and your delights,  
fair Apicata, and made spacious room  
To your new pleasures.  LIV. 
Haue not we return'd  
That, with our hate of Drusus, and 
Leg. Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 76.  discovery  
Of all his councils?  EVD. 
Yes, and wisely, Lady,  
The ages that succeed, and stand far of  
To gaze at your high prudence, shall admire  
And reckon it an act, without your sex,  
It hath that rare apparance. 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 loose their thoughts, and be ashamed  
To take acquaintance of them.  SEI. 
I must make  
A rude departure, Lady. Caesar sends  
With all his hast both of command, and prayer.  
Be resolute in our plot; you haue my soul,  
As certain yours, as it is my bodies.  
And wise physician, 
Tac. ibid. Et Dion. Hist. Rom. lib. 57. pag. 709.  so prepare the poison  
As you may lay the subtle operation  
vpon some natural disease of his.  
Your Eunuch sand 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 loues you not;  
You know what I haue  told you? His designs  
Are full of grudge, and danger: we must use  
More then 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 haue it ready. And to morrow morning,  
I'll sand you a perfume, first to resolve  
And procure sweat, and then prepare a Bath  
To cleanse, and clear the Cutis; against when,  
I'll haue an excellent new Fucus made,  
Resistiue '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 praescrib'd you better  
Then Art could do.  LIV. 
Thankes good physician,  
Ile use my fortune( you shall see) with reverence.  
Is my coach ready?  EVD. 
It attends your highnesse.  sejanus. SEI. 
If this be not Reuenge, when I haue done  
And made it perfect, let 
Hi apud Romanos barbari,& vilissimi aestimab. iwen. Marti. &c.  egyptian slaves,  
Parthians, and barefoot Hebrewes 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 out-stand  
The power I had to crush thee into air:  
Thy Follies now shall taste what kind of man  
They haue prouok'd, and this thy Fathers house  
Crack in the flamme of my incensed rage  
Whose fury shall admit no shane, or mean.  
Adultery? It is the lightest Ill,  
I will commit. A race of wicked acts  
Shall flow out of my anger, and ore-spread  
The worlds wide face, which no posterity  
Shall ere 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 prise.  
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 
Jdem& Petro. Arbiter. Saty.& Statius. lib. 3.  only fear, first, in the world made Gods.  tiberius. sejanus. TIB. 
Is yet sejanus come?  SEI. 
H'is here dreâd Caesar.  TIB. 
Let all depart that chamber, and the next:  
Sit down my Comfort. 
De hac consultatione. vid. Suet. Tib. cap. 55.  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 sou'raignty.  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 swans name to bear,  
" Shall never dare do any thing, but fear;  
" All the Command of Sceptres quiter 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  
" Eu'n 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. 
I,  
Or else my thought, my sense, or both do err:  
'tis 
De Agrip. vid. Dio. Hist. Rom. lib. 57. pag. 694.  Agrippina?  TIB. 
She; and her proud race.  SEI. 
Proud? 
De Seiani consil. in Agrip. l●g. Tacit. Ann. l●b. 1. pag. 23.& lib. 4. pag. 77. 79. de Tib. susp. lib 3 pa. 52.  dangerous, Caesar. For in them apace  
The fathers spirit shoots up. Germanicus  
lives in their looks, their gate, their form, 
Gnaris omnibus laetam Tiberio Germ●nici mortem malè dissimula●i. Tac. lib. 3. ibid. Huc confer Taciti narrat. de morte Pisonis. pag. 55.& lib. 4. pag. 74. Germanici mor●e inter prospera ducebat.  t'upbraid us  
With his close death, if not reuenge the same.  TI. 
The act's not known.  SE. 
Not proved." But whispering famed  
" Knowledge, and proof doth to the jealous give,  
" Who, then to fail, would their own thought beleeue:  
" It is not safe, the Children draw long breath,  
" That are provoked by a Parents death.  " TIB. 
It is as daungerous, to make them hence,  
" If nothing but their birth be their offence.  SEI. 
Stay, till they strike at Caesar: then their crime  
Will be enough, but late, and out of time  
For him to punish.  TIB. 
Do they purpose it?  SIE. 
You know sir." Thunder speaks not till it hit.  
" Be not secure: None swiftlier are oppressed,  
" Then they, whom confidence betrays to rest:  
" Let not your daring make your danger such,  
" All power's to be feared, where 'tis to much.  
The youths are( of themselves) hot, violent,  
full of great thought; and that 
De any. viri●i Agrip. consul. Tacit. Ann. lib. 1. pag. 12.& 22. lib. 2. pa. 47.  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 
●a●. Ann. li●. 4. pa. 79.  them commended with like prayers, like vows,  
To the same Gods, with Caesar: Daies 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 
Erat enim Neptis Augusti. Agrippae,& Iuliae filia, Germanici uxor, Suet. Aug. cap. 64.  Niece she was, whose Daughter, and whose Wife,  
And then must they compare her with Augusta,  
I and prefer her too, commend her form,  
extol her 
De faecunditate eius. vid. Tacit. Ann. lib. 2. pag. 39.& lib. 4. pa. 77.  fruictfulnesse; at which a shower  
Falls for the memory of Germanicus,  
Which they blow over strait, with windy praise,  
And puffing hopes of her aspiring sons;  
Who, with these hourly ticklings, grow so pleased,  
And wantonly conceited of themselves,  
As, now, they stick not to beleeue they're such,  
As these do give'hem out: and would be thought  
( More then competitors) immediate heirs.  
Whilst to their thirst of rule they win the Rout  
( That's still the friend of novelty) 
Displicere regnantibus ciuilia filiorum ingenia: neque ob aliud interceptos, quàm quia Pop. Rom. aequo jure complecti, redditâ libertate, agitauerint. Not. Tacit. lib 2. Ann. pag 49.  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. 

Vid. Suet. Tib cap. 54  We will command  
Their rank thoughts down, and with a stricter hand  
Then we haue yet put forth, their trains must bait,  
Their titles, feasts, and factions.  SEI. 
Or your State,  
But how Sr. will you work?  TIB. 
Confine 'hem,  SEI. 
No.  
They are to great, and that too faint a blow,  
To give them now: it would haue served at first,  
When, with the weakest touch, their knot had burst.  
But, now, your care must bee, not to detect  
The smallest chord, 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 lye  
Rould in their circles close:" Nought is more high,  
" Daring, or desperate, then Offenders found;  
" Where guilt is, rage, and courage both abound.  
The course must bee, to let 'hem still swell up,  
Riot, and surfet on blind Fortunes cup;  
give 'hem more place, more dignities, more style, 
Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 76.79.   
Call 'hem 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 them 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, then 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 Sou'raignes Acts.  TIB. 

Tiberium varijs artibus deuin●it adeo ( sejanus) vt obscurum adversum alios, sibi uni incautum, intect●que efficeret. Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pa. 74. vid. Dio. Hist. Rom. lib. 57. pag. 707.  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, then if heartening jove  
Had, from his hundred statues, bid us strike,  
And at the stroke 
Premere pollicem, apud Romā. maximi fauoris erat Signum. Hor. epist. ad Lollium. Fautor vtroque tuum laudabit policy ludum. Et Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. 28. cap. 2. Pollices, cum faucamus, premere etiam prouerbio iubemur. De interp. loci. vid. Ang. Pol. Miscell. cap. xlii. et Turn. Aduer. lib. xi. cap. vi.  clickt all his marble Thumb's.  
burr, who shall first be strooke?  SEI. 
first, Caius Silius;  
He is the most of mark, and most of danger:  
In power, and reputation equal strong,  
having 
Tac. lib. Ann. 3. pag. 63.& lib. 4. pag. 79.  commanded an imperial army  
seven yeares 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 sand more wounding terror to the rest,  
Command them stand aloof, and give more way  
To our surprising of the principal.  TIB. 
But what 
Tac. ibid.  Sabinus?  SEI. 
Let him grow a while,  
His fate is not yet ripe: we must not pluck  
At all together, least we catch ourselves.  
And ther's Arruntius too, he only talks.  
But 
Tac. ibid.  Sosia, Silius wife, would be wound in  
Now, for she hath a Fury in her breast  
More, then Hell ever knew; and would be sent  
Thither in time. Then is there one 
Vid. Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 83. Dio. Hist. Rom. lib. 57. pag. 710. et Sen. co●s. ad Mar. cap. 1. et fus●●●. cap. 12.  Cremutius  
Cordus, a writing fellow, they haue 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 practise vn-examind, parallels  
The times, the governments; a professed Champion  
For the old liberty:  TIB. 
A perishing wretch.  
As if there were that Chaos bread in things,  
That laws, and Liberty would not rather choose  
To be quiter broken, and tâne hence by us,  
Then haue the stain to be preserved by such.  
Haue 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 haue matter, and Accusers ready.  TIB. 
But how? let us consult.  SEI. 
We shall misspend  
The time of action." Councells are unfit  
" In business, where all rest is more pernicious  
" Then rashness can be. Acts of this close kind  
" thrive more by execution, then aduise:  
" There is no lingering in that work begun,  
" Which cannot praised be, until through donne.  TIB. 

Edicto vt plurimum Senatores in curiam vocatos constat. Tacit. Ann. lib. 1. pag. 3.  Our Edict shall forthwith, command a Court.  
While I can live, I will prevent Earths fury;  
{αβγδ}.  POSTVMVS. sejanus. POS. 
My Lord sejanus?  SEI. 

Vulgaris quidā versus, quem saepe Tiber. recitasse memoratur. Dion. Hist. Rom. lib. 58. 729.  Iulius Postumus,  
Come with my wish! what news from Agrippina's,  POS. 
Faith none. They all lock up themselves, a'late;  
Or talk in character: 
De julio Postumo. vid. Tacit. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 77.  I haue not seen  
A company so changed. Except they had  
Intelligence by Augury' of our practise.  SE. 
When were you there?  PO. 
Last night.  SE. 
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 
Proximi Agrip. in li●ieban●ur pra ●s sermonibus tumidos spiritus perstimulare. Tacit. ibid.  t'extol  
The hospitable Lady?  POS. 
No, that trick  
Was well put home, and had succeeded too,  
But that Sabinus cought a caution out;  
For she began to swell:  SEI. 
And, may shee burst.  
Iulius, I would haue you go instantly,  
unto the palace of the great Augusta,  
And, by 
Mut●lia Prisca, quae in an●●●m Augustae vali●a. Tac. ib●d.  your kindest friend, get swift access;  
Acquaint her, with these meetings. Tell 
Verba Silij immodice iactata vid. apud Tac. Ann. l b. 4. pa. 79.  the words  
You brought me( th'other day) of Silius,  
add somewhat to' hem. 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) 
Tacit. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 77.  that her infinite Pride,  
propped with the hopes of her too-fruictfull womb,  
With popular studies gapes for sou'raigntie;  
And threatens Caesar. Pray Augusta, then,  
That for her own, great Caesars, and the pub-  
Lique safety, she bee pleas d to urge these dangers.  
caesar is too secure,( he must be  told,  
And best he'll take it from a Mothers tongue.)  
alas! What is't for us to sound, t' explore,  
To watch, oppose, plot, practise, or prevent,  
If he, for whom it is so strongly laboured,  
Shall, out of greatness, and free spirit, bee  
Supinely negligent? 
Haec apud Tac. lege. lib. 4. Ann. pag. 79.  Our Citty'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 Postumus,  
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 Caesars rage:  
Which else might grow remiss." The way, to put  
" A Prince in blood, is to present the shapes  
" Of dangers, greater then they are( like late,  
" Or early shadows) and, sometimes, to fain  
" Where there are none, onely, to make him fear;  
" His fear will make him cruel: And once entred,  
" He doth not easily learn to stop, or spare  
" Where he may doubt. This haue 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, 
Quorum non dubia successio, neque spargi venenum in trees poterat▪ &c. Vid. Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 77.  Germanicus three sons  
Would clog my way; whose guards haue too much faith  
To be corrupted: and their Mother known  
Of too-too vnreproou'd a chastity,  
To be attempted, as light Liuia was.  
work then my Art on Caesar's fears, as they  
On those they fear, till all my lets be cleared:  
And he in ruins of his House, and hate  
Of all his Subiects, bury his own state:  
When, with my peace, and safety, I will rise,  
By making him the public Sacrifice.  satrius NATTA. SAT. 
They' are grown exceeding circumspectly, and wary.  NAT. 
They haue us in the wind: And yet, Arruntius  
Cannot contain himself.  SAT. 
Tut. he's not yet  
looked after, 
Silins. Sabinus. de quibus suprà.  there are others more desired,  
That are more silent.  NAT. 
Here he comes. Away.  SABINVS. ARRWNTIVS. CORDVS. SAB. 
How is it, that these Beagles haunt the house  
Of Agrippina?  ARR. 
O 
Tib. Tempor. Delatores genus hominum publico exitio repertum,& poenis quide nunquam satis coërcitum, per praemia eliciebantur. Tac. Annal. lib. 4 pa. 82.  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 inueigh'd 'gainst Caesar?  ARR. 
I, baits, baits,  
For us to bite at, would I haue my flesh  
torn by the public hook, these qualified Hangmen  
Should be my company.  COR 
Here comes another.  ARR. 
I, ther's a man, 
De Domit. Af. vid. Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 89. 93.  After the orator,  
One, that hath phrases, figures, and fine flowers,  
To strew his Rethorique with, and 
Quoquo facinore properus clarescere. Tacit. ibid.& infra. prosperiore eloquentiae quàm morum famá fuit. et pag. 93. diu egens, et parto nuper praemio malè vsus, plura ad flagitia accingeretur.  doth make hast  
To get him note; or name, by any offer  
Where blood, or gain be objects; steepes 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 could curse, he, he.  SAB. 
contemn the slaves,  
" Their present lives will be their future graues.  SILIVS. AGRIPPINA. NERO. SOSIA. SIL. 
May't please your Highnes not forget yourself,  
I dare not, with my manners, to attempt  
Your trouble father.  AGR. 
Farewell. noble Silius.  SIL, 
Most royal princess.  AGR. 
Sosia stays with us?  SIL. 
Shee is your seruant, and doth owe your grace  
An honest, but unprofitable love.  AGR. 
How can that be, when ther's no gain, but vertu's?  SIL. 
You take the moral, not the politic sense.  
I meant, as shee is bold, and free of speech,  
Earnest 
Vid. Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 79.  to utter what her zealous thought  
travails withall, in honour of your house;  
Which Act, as it is simply born in her,  
partakes of love, and honesty, but may,  
By th'ouer-often and vnseason'd use,  
turn to your loss, and danger: 
Tac. lib. 4. Annal. pag. 77.  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 haue, 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 Iuno's rival." virtues forces  
" show ever noblest in conspicuous courses.  SIL. 
'tis great, and bravely spoken, like the spirit  
Of Agrippina: yet your Highnesse knows,  
" There is nor loss, nor shane in providence:  
" Few can, what all should do, beware enough.  
You may perceive 
Tac. ibid.& pag. 90.& 92.  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 priuiledg'd arte, they rail  
Against Augusta, yea, and at Tiberius,  
Tell tricks of Iiuia, and sejanus, all  
T'excite, and call your indignation on,  
That they might hear it at more liberty.  AG. 
Yo'are too suspicious, Silius.  SIL. 
Pray the Gods  
I be so Agrippina: But I fear  
Some subtle practise. 
Suet. Tib. cap. 2. Dion. Rom. Hist. lib. 57. pag. 705.  They, that durst to strike  
At so examplêsse, and vn-blam'd a life,  
As, that of the renowned Germanicus,  
Will not sit down, with that exploit alone:  
" He threatents many, that hath iniurd one.  NER. 
'twere best ripp forth their tongues, fear out their eyes,  
When next they come.  SOS. 
A fit reward for spies.  drusus in: AGRIPPINA, &c. DRV. 
hear you the rumour?  AG. 
What?  DRV. 

Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 74. 75. 76. 77.  Drusus is dying:  AG. 
dying?  NE. 
That's strange!  AG. 
yo'were 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. 

Tacit. ibid.  Poison. poison.  AGR. 
How, Silius!  NER. 
What's that?  SIL. 
Nay, nothing. There was( late) a certain blow  
given o'the face.  NER. 
I, to sejanus?  SIL. 
True.  DRV. 
And what of that?  SIL. 
I'am glad I gave it not.  NER. 
But, there is somewhat else?  SIL. 
Yes, private meetings,  
With a great Lady, at a Phisitians,  
And, a Wife turned away.  NER. 
Ha!  SIL. 
toys, mere toys:  
What wisdom's now i'th' streets? i'th' common mouth?  DRV. 
fears, whisp'rings, tumults, noise, I know not what:  
They say, 
Vid. Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 76.  the Senate sit.  SIL. 
I'll thether, strait;  
And see what's in the Forge.  AGR. 
Good Silius do.  
Sosia, and I will in.  SIL. 
hast you, my Lords,  
To visit the sick Prince: Tender your loues,  
And sorrows to the people. This sejanus  
( Trust my divining soul) hath plots on all:  
" No three, that stops his prospect, but must fall.  MV. chorus.  

actus TERTIVS. THE SENATE.  PRAECONES. LICTORES. VARRO. sejanus. LATIARIS. COTTA. AFER. GALLVS. lepidus. arruntius. SEI. 

Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 79.  'tis only a 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 practise.  
Here be your Notes, what points to touch at; red:  
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 take him vnprepar'd.  AFE. 
And prosecute  
All 
Tac. ibid. said cuncta question maiestatis exercita.  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. 
I, 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 
Tac. eod. lib. pag. 76. Consulesque seed vulgari per speciem maestitiae sedentes.  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. 

Praefatio solennis Consulùm Rom. vid. Bar. Briss. de for. lib. 2.  FATHERS CONSCRIPT may this our present meeting  
turn faire, and fortunate to the COMMON WEALTH.  SILIVS, &c. SEI. 
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 accusd? sure he will answer nobly.  tiberius. &c. TIB. 
We stand amazed, Fathers, to behold  
This general dejection. 
Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pa. 76.  Wherefore sit  
ROMES 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 honor of the Empire stoupe:  
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 aids, and those faire helps draw out  
From warm embraces of the Common-wealth.  
Our mother, great Augusta,' is strooke 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-suruiuing hopes,  
The noble issue of Germanicus,  
Nero, and Drusus: Might it please the Consul  
Honor them in,( They both attend without.)  
I would present them to the Senates care;  
And raise those springs of ioy, that should exhaust  
These floods of sorrow, in your drowned eyes.  ARR. 
By jove, I am not Oedipus enough,  
To understand this sphinx.  SAB. 
The Princes come.  NERO. drusus. iu. TIB. 
Approach you noble Nero, noble Drusus,  
These Princes Fathers, when their Parent died,  
I gave unto their uncle, with this prayer,  
That, though he had proper Issue of his own,  
He would no less bring up, and foster these,  
Then that selfe-bloud; and by that act confirm  
Their worths to him, and to posterity:  
Drusus tâne hence, I turn my prayers to you,  
And, before 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, 
Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pa. ●6  these shal be to you  
In place of Parents, these your Fathers, These,  
And not unfitly: For you are so born,  
As all your Good, or Ill's the Common-wealths.  
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  
Vpon their virtue: and that still come forth  
Greater then Hope, and better then their famed.  
relieve me, Fathers, with your general voice.  SEN. 
May all the Gods consent to Caesar's wish,  
And add to any honors, 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 father then another Mans.  TIB. 
My Comforts are so flowing in my joys,  
As, in them, all my streams of grief are lost,  
No less then are Land-waters in the Sea,  
Or showers in Riuers; though their Cause was such,  
As might haue sprinkled eu'n the Gods with tears:  
Yet since the greater doth embrace the less  
We coueteously 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 dayes;  
How ever, to my Labours, I entreat  
( And beg it of this Senate) some fit ease:  ( ARR. 

Tac. ibid. Ad vana& toties inrisa reuolutus, de reddendâ Rep. vtque consuls, seu quis alius regimen susciperent.  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 of, and re-confer'd  
Vpon 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. 
I, to pray that,  
Which would be to his head as hot as Thunder,  
( Gayn'st which he wears 
Tonitrua praeter modum e●●autsce●at:& tu batiore coelo nunquam no coronam lauream capite gest●uit, quòd fulmine afflari negetur id genus frondis. Suet. Tib. cap. 69. vid. Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. 15. cap. 30.  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 counter-poynt.  ( ARR 
Finely mainteind; good still.)  SEI. 
But Rome, whose blood,  
whose nerves, whose life, whose very frame relies  
On Caesar's strength, no less then heaven on Atlas.  
Cannot admit it but with general ruin.  ( ARR. 
Ah! are you there, to bring him of?)  SEI. 
Let Caesar,  
No more then urge a point so contrary  
To Caesars greatness, the greiu'd Senates vows,  
Or Romes necessity.  ( GAL. 
He comes about.  ARR. 
More nimbly then 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 
Semper perplexa& obscura. Orat. Tib. vid. Tacit. Ann. lib. 1. pag. 5.  be glad to practise my obedience.  ( ARR. 
You must, and will Sir. We do know it.)  SEN. 
Caesar.  
live long, and happy, great, and royal Caesar,  
The Gods preserve thee, and thy Modesty,  
Thy wisdom, and thy Innnocence.  ( ARR. 
where is't?  
The Prayer's made before the subject.)  SEN. 
Guard  
His meekness, love, 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 Curtin's drawing. Afer advanceth.  PRAE, 
Silence.  AFE. 
city Caius Silius.  PRAE. 

Citabatur reus è tribunalis voice praconis. Vid. Bar. Briflon lib. 5. de for.  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 enuy'd thee; nor would Caesar,  
Or Rome admit, that thou wert then defrauded  
Of any honours, thy deserts could claim▪  
In the faire service of the Common wealth:  
But now, if, after all their Loues, 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?  of. 
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?  
Haue I or Treasure, jewels, Land, or houses  
That some Informer gapes for? Is my strength  
Too much to be admitted? Or my knowledge?  
These 
Vid. Suet. Tiber. Tac. Dio. Senec.  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, then 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, 
Tac. lib. 4. pag. 79. Conscientiâ belly, sacrovir diu dissimulatus, victoria per auaritiam faedata,& uxor Sosia arguebantur.  of beginning, and occasioning,  
Next, drawing out the war in 
Bellum Sacrouirianum in gull. erat. Triumph. in Germ. vid. Tac. Ann. lib. 3. pag. 63.  Gallia,  
For which thou late triumph'st; dissembling long  
That sacrovir to be an enemy,  
Onely to make thy Entertainment more,  
Whilst thou, and thy wife Sosia polled the province;  
Wherein, with sordide-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. 

Vid. accusandi formulam apud. Be●ssō. lib. 5. de For.  If I not prove it Caesar, but injustly  
Haue called him into trial, here I bind  
myself to suffer, what I claim 'gainst him;  
And yield, to haue what I haue spoken, confirmed  
By iudgement of the Court, and all good men.  SIL. 
Caesar, I crave to haue my cause deferred,  
Till this mans Consul-ship 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 
Tac. Annal. lib. 4. pa. 79. Aduersatus est Caesar: solitum quip Magistratibus, die privatis dicere, nec infringendum Consulis ius, cuius vigilijs, &c.  b 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 Common-wealth  
receive no loss, by any obliqne course.  SIL. 
Caesar, thy fraud is worse then violence.  TIB. 
Silius mistake us not, we dare not use  
The credit of the Consul, to thy wrong,  
But onely do preserve his place, and power,  
So far as it concerns the dignity,  
And honour of the State.  ARR. 
Beleeue 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 haue iustice.  SIL. 
Nay, I shall haue Law;  
Shall I not Afer? speak.  AFE. 
Would you haue more?  SIL. 
No my well-spoken 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 raues, he raues.  SIL. 
Thou durst not tell me so,  
hadst thou not Caesars 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 of the State,  
That here art made a present instrument  
To 
Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pa. 79. Immissusque Varro Consul, qui paternas inimicitias obtendens, odijs Seiani per dedecus suum gratificabatur.  gratify it with thine own disgrace.  SEI. 
This, to the consul, is most insolent!  
And impious!  SEL. 
I, take part. reveal yourselves.  
alas, I sent not your confed'racies?  
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 Vulcanes filing, a more engine,  
To take that life by a pretext of Iustice,  
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 iustice not a world of wolfe-turnd men  
Shall make me to accuse,( how ere provoke)  
Haue 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 blew-ey'd Gaules?  
And crisped germans? when our Roman Eagles  
Haue fanned the fire, with their labouring wings,  
And no blow dealt, that left not death behind it:  
When I haue charged, alone, into the troops  
Of 
Popuii Germ. hody Geldii in Belgica sunt inter Mosam& Rhenum: quos celebrat Mart. Spect. 3. Crinibus in nodum tortis venêre Sicamb●●.  curled Sicambrians, routed them, and came  
Not of, 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 haue 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 
Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 79.  that intemperate vaunt,  
Thou lately mad'st at Agrippina's Table,  
That when all other of the troops were prove  
To fall into rebellion, onely thine  
remained in their Obedience. Thou wert he,  
That sau'dst the Empire; which had then been lost,  
Had but thy Legions, there, rebelled, or mutin'd.  
Thy virtue met, and fronted every peril.  
Thou gau'st to Caesar, and to Rome their surety.  
Their Name, their Strength, their Spirit, and their State,  
Their being was a donative from thee.  ARR. 
Well worded, and most like an Orator.  TIB. 
Is this true, Silius?  SIL. 
save thy question, Caesar.  
Thy spy, of famous credit, hath affirmd it.  ARR. 
Excellent roman!  SAB. 
He doth answer stoutly.  SEI. 
If this be so, there needs no father 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 Caesars fortune  
Is made unequal to the courtesy.  LAT. 
His means are clean destroyed, that should requited.  GAL. 
Nothing is great enough for Silius merit.  ARR. 
Gallus o' that side to?  SIL. 
Come, do not hunt,  
And labour so about for circumstance,  
To make him guilty, whom you haue fore-dom'd:  
Take shorter ways, Ile meet your purposes.  
The words were mine; and more I now will say:  
Since I haue done thee that great service, Caesar,  
Thou still hast feared me; and, in place of grace,  
Return'd me hatred: so soon, all best turns,  
With Princes, do convert to injuries  
In estimation, when they greater rise,  
Then can be answered: Benefits, with you,  
Are of no longer pleasure, then you can  
With ease restore them; that transcended once,  
Your studies are not how to thank, but kill.  
It is your nature, to haue all men slaves  
To you, but you acknowledging to none.  
The means that make 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 spoken enough to prove him Caesars foe.  COT. 
His thoughts look through his words.  SE. 
A Censure.  SIL. 
Stay,  
Stay most officious Senate, I shall streight,  
Delude thy fury. Silius hath not placed  
His guards within him, against Fortunes spite,  
So weakly, but he can escape your gripe  
That are but hands of Fortune: She herself  
When virtue doth oppose, must loose her threats.  
All that can happen in Humanity,  
The frown of Caesar, proud sejanus hatred,  
Base Varro's spleen, and Afers bloudying tongue,  
The Senates servile flattery, and these  
mustered to kill, I'am fortified against;  
And can look down vpon: 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,  
Onely 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 vpon Silius, and so learn to die.  VAR. 
O desperate Act!  ARR. 
An honourable hand! 
Tac. ibid▪   TIB. 
look, is he dead?  SAB. 
'twas nobly strooke, 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.  leap. 
With leave of Caesar, I would think, that Fourth  
The 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 vs.  ARR. 
I,  
Out of necessity. This Lepidus  

Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pa. 80.  Is grave and honest, and I haue 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. 

Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 83. 84. Dio. Hist. Rom. lib. 57 pag. 710.  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' annals, Caesar.  CORDVS. satrius. NATTA. PRAE. 
Cremutius Cordus.  COR. 
Here.  PRAE. 
Satrius Secundus,  
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 daungerous.  
A sour of sedition in the State,  
A turbulent, and discontented spirit,  
Which I will prove from thine own writings, here,  
The annals thou last published; where thou bit'st  
The present Age, and wtih a vipers tooth,  
Being a Member of it, worst that Ill  
Which never yet degenerous Bastard did  
Vpon 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 affirm'st  
That Cassius was the last of all the romans.  Cor. 
How! what are we then?  VAR. 
What is Caesar? nothing?  A●●. 
My Lords, this strikes at every Romans private,  
In whom reigns gentry, and estate of spirit,  
To haue 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 ist the Time alone is here dispris'd,  
But the whole man of Time, yea Caesar's self  
Brought in disualew; and he aimed at most  
By obliqne 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 Princes Parent,  
The which your Law of Treason comprehendes.  
Brutus, and Cassius, I am charged, t'haue praysd.  
Whose deeds, when many more, besides myself,  
Haue writ, not one hath mentioned without honor.  
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 worthi'st men; not Theeues, and Parricides,  
Which notes vpon their fames, are now imposd.  
Asinius Pollio's writings quiter throughout  

Septem dec lib. Hist. scripsi● vid. Suid. Suet.  give them a noble memory; So Messalla  
Renowm'd his general Cassius: yet both these  
lived with Augustus, full of wealth, and honors.  
To Cicero's book, where Cato was heau'd up  
equal with heaven, what else did Caesar answer,  
Being then dictatory, but with a penned Oration,  
As if before the Iudges? Do but see  
Antonius Letters; red but Brutus pleadings,  
What vile reproach they hold against Augustus,  
False I confess, but with much bitterness.  
The Epigram's of Bibaculus, and Catullus,  
Are red, full stuffed with spite of both the Caesars;  
Yet Deified Iulius, 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 obloquys  
" If they despised be, they die suppressed,  
" But, if with rage acknowledged, they are confessed.  
The Greekes I slip, whose licence not alone,  
But also Lust d●d 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 father of  
From the Times scandal, then to writ of those,  
Whom Death from grace, or hatred had exempted?  
Did I, with Brutus, and with Cassius,  
armed, and possessd of the Philippi fields,  
Incense the people in the civil cause,  
With dangerous speeches? Or do they, being slain  
seventy yeares since, as by their Images  
( Which not the conqueror hath defaced) appears,  
retain that guilty memory, with Writers?  
" Posterity pays every man his honour.  
Nor shall their want, though I condemned am,  
That will not only Cassius well approve,  
And of great Brutus honour mindful bee,  
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 'hem to their whisper.  TIB. 
Take 
Egressus dciu senatu, vitum absti nentiâ finiuit. Tac. ibid. Generosam eius morte vid. apud Sen. Cons. ad Mar. cap. 22.  him hence,  
We shall determine of him at next sitting.  COT. 
mean time, give order that his books be burned.  
To the' Aediles.  SEI. 
You haue well aduisd.  AFE. 
It fits not such licentious things should live  
T'upbraid the Age.  ARR. 
If th'Age were good, they might.  LAT. 
Let 'hem be burnt.  GAL. 
All sought, and burnt. To day.  PRAE. 
The Court is up, Lictors resume the Fasces.  arruntius. SABINNS. lepidus. ARR. 
Let 'hem 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 rebuk, and shane,  
And to the Writers an 
Manserunt eius libri occultati& editi. Tac. ibid. Scripserat hic Cremut. bella c●uilia,& res August. exstantque Fragmentae in Suasoriâ sextâ Senec.  eternal name.  leap. 
It is an argument the Times are sore,  
When virtue cannot safely be advanced;  
Nor 'vice reproou'd.  ARR. 
I, noble Lepidus.  
Augustus well foresaw what we should suffer,  
under Tiberius, when he did pronounce  
The 
Suet. Tib. cap. 21.  Roman race most wretched, that should live  
between so slow jaws, and so long a bruising.  tiberius. sejanus. TIB, 
This business hath succeeded well, sejanus:  
And quiter removed all iealousy of practise  
'Gainst Agrippina, and our nephews. Now,  
We must bethink us how to plant our engines  
For th'other pair, Sabinus, and Arruntius,  
And 
Vid. Tac. Ann. lib. 1. pag. 6. lib. 2. pag. 35.  Gallus too;( how ere 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 haue begun:  
Sabinus shall be next.  TIB. 
Rather Arruntius.  SEI. 
By any means, preserve him. His frank tongue  
Being lent the rains, 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. 

Tac. Ann. lib. 4. 85.  Sir— I haue been so long trained up in grace,  
First with your Father, great Augustus, since,  
To your most happy bounties so enured,  
As I not sooner would commit my hopes  
Or wishes to the Gods, then to your ears.  
Nor haue I ever, yet, been covetous▪  
Of over bright, and dazzling honors, rather  
To watch, and travell in great Caesar's safety,  
With the most common soldier.  TIB. 
Tis confessed.  SEI. 
The only gain, and which I count most faire  
Of all my fortunes, is that mighty Caesar  
Hath thought me 
Filia eius Claudij filio desponsa.  worthy his alliance. Hence  
begin my Hopes.  TIB. 
H'mh?  SEI. 
I haue 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 Liuia,  
And I be had in mind, as Caesars friend,  
I would but use the glory of the Kindred,  
It should not make me slothful, or less caring  
For Caesars state, it were enough to me  
It did confirm, and strengthen my weak house,  
Against the-now-vnaequall opposition  
Of Agrippina;' And for dear regard▪  
unto my children, this I wish: myself  
Haue no ambition father, then to end  
My dayes in service of so dear a Prince.  TIB. 
We cannot but commend thy piety  
Most-lou'd sejanus, in acknowledging  
Those, bounties; which we faintly, such, remember.  
But to thy suite. 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 famed.  
We therefore will take time to think, and answer.  
For Liuia, she can best, herself, resolve  
If she will mary after Drusus, or  
Continue in the family; besides  
She hath a Mother, and a grandam yet,  
Whose nearer councils she may guide her by:  
But I will simply deal. That Enmity,  
Thou fearest in Agrippina, would burn more,  
If Liuias marriage should( as 'twere in parts)  
divide th' imperial house; an emulation  
between the women might break forth;& Discord  
ruin the sons, and Nephues, on both hands.  
What if it cause some present difference?  
Thou art not safe, sejanus, if thou prove it.  
Canst thou beleeue, that Liuia, who was wife  
To 
August. Nepoti& M. V●psanij Agrippae fi●io ex ●ulia.  Caius Caesar, then to Drusus, now  
Will be contented to grow old with thee,  
born but a private Gentleman of Rome?  
And raise thee with her loss, if not her shane?  
Or say, that I should wish it, canst thou think  
The Senate, or the People( who haue 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 Fathers favours, or thy Scale:  
And dare accuse me, from their hate to thee.  
Be wise, dear Friend. We would not hid these things  
For Friendships dear respect. Nor will we stand  
adverse to thine, or Liuia'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  
Beleeue, 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 wee'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 suite.  
Caesar hath taught me better to refuse,  

Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pa. 85. Dio. lib. 58.  Then I knew how to ask. How pleaseth Caesar  
T'imbrace my late aduise, for leaving Rome?  TIB. 
We are resolved.  SEI. 
Here are some motives more  
Which I haue thought on since, may more confirm.  TIB. 
careful sejanus! we will strait peruse them:  
go forward in our main design, and prosper.  sejanus. SEI. 
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 hast prevent that change,  
When thou mightst win all to thyself again,  
By forfeiture of me? Did those fond words  
fly swifter from thy lips, then this my brain,  
This sparkling Forge, created me an armour  
T'encounter Chance, and thee? Well, red my charms,  
And may they lay that hold vpon thy senses,  
As thou hadst snuffed up hemlock, or tâne 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 haue thrust it on:  
With blaming of the city business,  
The multitude of suits, the confluence  
Of suitors, then their importunacies,  
The manifold distractions he must suffer,  
Besides ill rumors, envies, and reproaches,  
All which, a quiet and retired life,  
( Larded with ease, and pleasure) did avoid; 
Tac. ibid.   
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 giuing 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. SERWS. TIB. 
To mary Liuia? will no less, sejanus,  
Content thy aims? no lower object? well?  
Thou knowst how thou art wrought into our trust;  
woven in our design; and thinkest, we must  
Now use thee, whatsoêre 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 lean 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 haue their excuse,  
Where Princes states pled necessary use;  
As ours doth now: more in sejanus pride,  
Then all fell Agrippina's hates beside:  
" They are the dreadful Enemies, we raise  
" With favours, and make dangerous, with praise;  
" The Iniur'd by us may haue will alike,  
" But 'tis the favourite hath the power, to strike:  
" And fury ever boils more high, and strong,  
" Heat with Ambition, then Reuenge 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,  
" Least, when all Rounds be reached, his aim be that.  
Tis thought. Is 
De Macrone isto, vid. Dio. Rom. Hist. lib. 58 pag. 718.& Tac. Ann. lib. 6. pag. 109. 114. 115.  Macro in the palace? See:  
If not, go, seek him, to come to vs. he  
Must be the Organ, we must work by now;  
Though none less apt for trust:" need doth allow  
" What choice would not. I'haue heard, that Aconite  
Being timely taken, hath a healing might  
Against the Scorpions stroke; the proof wee'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 Sou'raignes 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. TIB. 
Macro, we sent for you.  MAC. 
I heard so, Caesar.  TIB. 
( leave us a while!) When you shall know, good Macro,  
The causes of our sending, and the ends;  
You then will harken nearer: and be pleased  
You stand so high, both in our choice, and trust.  MAC. 
The humblest place in Caesars 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 
Suet. Tib. cap. 4. Dio. Rom. Hist. lib. 58. pag. 711.  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: 
Suet. Tib. cap. 40. Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pa. 91   
In which great work, perhaps, our stay will be  
Beyond our will produced. Now, since we are  
Not ignorant, what danger may be born  
Out of our shortest absence, in a State  
So subject unto envy, and embroild  
With hate, and faction; we haue thought on thee,  
( Amongst a field of romans,) worthiest Macro,  
To be our Eye, and ear; to keep strict watch  
On Agrippina, Nero, Drusus; I,  
And on sejanus: Not, that we distrust  
His Loyalty, or do repent one Grace,  
Of all that heap, we haue conferred on him:  
( For that were to disparaged our Election,  
And call that Iudgement now in doubt, which then  
seemed as vnquestion'd as an Oracle,)  
" But, greatness hath his Cankers. worms, and moths,  
" Breed out of too much humour, in the things  
" Which after they consume, transferring quiter  
" 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, 
Cons. Suet. Tib. cap. 65. Et Dion. Hist. Rom. lib. 58. pag. 714.   
Thy ministers, what, where, on whom thou wilt;  
Explore, plot, practise: 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 proceed'st, we hope to hear  
●y trusted Messengers: If't be enquired,  
Wherefore we called you; Say, you haue in charge  
To see our Chariots ready, and our Horse:  
Be still our loved, and( shortly) honoured Macro.  MACRO. MAC. 

De Mac●one, et ingenio eius, consul. Tacit. Ann. lib. 6. pag. 114. 115.  I will not ask, why Caesar bids do this:  
But ioy that he bids me." It is the bliss  
" Of Courts, to be employed; No matter, how:  
A Princes 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 States-man hope  
Most use, most prise, can hit his Princes scope.  
Nor must he look at what, or whom to strike,  
But loose at all; Each mark must be alike.  
Were it to plot against the famed, the life  
Of one, with whom I twined; remove a Wife  
From my warm side, as loved, as is the air;  
Practise away each Parent; draw mine heir  
In compass, though but one; work all my Kin  
To swift perdition; leave no vntraind engine,  
For Friendship, or for Innocence; nay make  
The Gods all guilty; I would undertake  
This, being imposd 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.  
" Mens Fortune there is virtue; Reason, their Will:  
" Their Licence, Law; and their observance, Skill.  
" Occasion is their foil; Conscience, their stain;  

Vid. Dion. Hist. Rom. lib. 58. pag. 718. &c. " Profit, their lustre: and what else is, vain.  
If then it be the Lust of Caesars power,  
T'haue raised sejanus up, and in an hour  
Ore turn 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.  MV. chorus.  

actus QVARTVS.  GALLVS. AGRIPPINA. NERO. drusus. CALIGVLA. GAL. 

Agrippina semper atrox, tum et periculo proinquae accensa. Tacit. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 89.  You must haue patience, royal Agrippina.  AGR. 
I must haue vengeance, first: and that were Nectar  
unto my famished spirits. O my Fortune,  
Let it be sudden thou preparest 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 born 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 Neiee, 
Pulchra et Furnius damnat. Tac. ibid.  dear Claudia Pulchra safe?  
Or innocent Furnius? They that latest haue  
( By being made guilty) 
Afer primoribus Oratorum additus, divulgato ingenio, &c. ibid.  added reputation  
To Afers Eloquence? O foolish Friends,  
Could not so fresh example warn your loues,  
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 Practise, by preventing it?  
The Daunger'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?  call. 
A Fortune, like enough  
Once to be bad.  DRV. 
But turned too good, to both.  GAL. 
What was't?  NER. 

Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pa. 91  Tiberius sitting at his meat,  
In a farm house, they call 
Praetorium Sueto. appellat. Tib. cap. 39.  Spelunca, sited  
By the Sea-side, among the Fundane Hills,  
Within a natural cave, part of the Grot  
( About the entry) fell, and ouer-whelm'd  
Some of the waiters; Others ran away:  
Onely sejanus, with his knees, hands, face,  
Ore-hanging Caesar, did oppose himself  
To the remaining ruins, and was found  
In that so labouring posture, by the Souldiers  
That came to succour him. With which adventure,  
He hath so fixed himself 
Praebuitque ipsi materiem, cur amicitiae constantiaeque Seiani magis fideret. Tacit. ibid.  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 Fathers Fall, and Vnckles 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. MAC. 
Return'd 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 born 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  
Vpon thyself:" He doth his vantage know,  
" That makes it home, and gives the foremost blow.  LATIARIS. RVFVS. OPSIVS. LAT. 
It is a service, Lord 
Sabinum adgrediuntur cupidine Consulatus, ad queen non nisi per Seianum aditus: neque Seiani voluntas, nisi scelere quaerebatur. Tac. lib. 4. pag. 94. Dio. Hist. Rom. lib. 58. pag. 711.  sejanus will  
See well requited, and accept of nobly.  
Here place yourselves, between the roof, and ceiling,  
And when I bring him to his words of danger,  
reveal yourselves, and take him.  RVF. 
Is he come?  LAT. 
Ile 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 Consulship  
For one of vs.  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, 
Eoque apud bonos laudatus, et gravis iniquis. Tac. ibid.  though they be declined in grace;  
A daily Visitant, keeps them company  
In private, and in public; and is noted  
To be the onely Client, of the House:  
Pray jove, he will be free to Latiaris.  OPS. 
He'is allied to him, and doth trust him well.  RVF. 
And he'll requited 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 
Haut minus turpi latebrá quam detest andâ fraud, seize abstrudunt; foraminibus& rim●s aurem admouent.  our Holes, with silence.  LATIARIS. SABINVS. LAT. 
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-renownd 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 jove.  
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 
Ne Nox quidem secura cum uxor ( Neronis) vigilias, somnos, suspi●ia matri Liuiae, atque illa Seiano patefaceret. Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pa. 92  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 haue, 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 transfixe us with their murdering eyes?  LAT. 
Me thinks, the Genius of the roman Race  
Should not be so extinct, but that bright flamme  
Of Liberty might be reuiud again,  
( Which no good Man but with his life, should loose)  
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 Honor, 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 haue some assurance of our vows.  
This Asses fortitude doth tyre 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 romans 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, does all, gives Caesar leave  
To hid his 
Facies vlcerosa, ac plerumque medicaminibus inter stincta. Tac. Ann. lib. 18. pag. 91.  vlcerous, and anointed Face,  
With his bald crown at 
Tac. ibid.  Rhodes, while he here stalks  
Vpon the heads of romans, 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 Liuia lodges? How  
Drusus came dead? What men haue been cut off?  SAB. 
Yes, those are things remoou'd: I nearer look't,  
Into his later practise, 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 
Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 90.  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 
Tac. lib. eod. pag. 91. 92.  on Nero, and to heave him up;  
To tell him Caesar's old; That all the People,  
Yea, all the Army haue their eyes on him;  
That both do long to haue him undertake  
Something of worth, to give the world a hope;  
Bids him to court their grace; the easy Youth  
Perhaps gives ear, which strait he writes to Caesar;  
And with this comment: See yon'd dangerous Boy,  
Note but the practise of the Mother, there,  
Shee'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) 
Tac. ibid.  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 doos 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,  
Bogg'd 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 yeares!  
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 Traytors,  
Is honourable vigilance.  SAB. 
You do well, 
Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 94. 95.   
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, hid his Face.  SAB. 
It shall not need. forbear your rude assault,  
" The fault's not shameful villainy makes a fault.  MACRO. CALIGVLA. MAC. 
Sir, but observe how thick your Dangers meet  
In his clear drifts. Your 
Tac. lib. 5 pag. 98.  Mother and your Brothers  
Now cited to the Senate. Their Friend 
Asinium gull. eodem die& conuiuam Tiberij fuisse, et eo suborn ante damnatum, narrat. Dio. lib. 58. pag. 713.  Gallus  
Feasted to day by Caesar, since committed.  
Sabinus here we met, hurried to Fetters.  
The Senators all strooke 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.  call. 
What would you aduise me?  MAC. 
To go for Capreae presently: and there  
give up yourself, entirely, to your uncle.  
Tell Caesar,( since your Mother is 
Vid. Tac. lib eod. pag. 94. Suet. Tib. cap. 53.  accusd  
To fly for succours to Augustus Statue,  
And to the Army, with your Brethren,) You  
Haue rather choose to place your aids in him,  
Then live suspected; or in hourly fear  
To be thrust out, by bold Seianu's Plots:  
Which, you shall confidently urge, 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 commune safety.  
All which( vpon the second) I'll make plain,  
And Both shall love, and trust with Caesar gain.  call. 
Away then, let's prepare us for our journey.  arruntius. ARR. 
Still, dost thou suffer heaven? will no flamme,  
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 drâd power; and blow dust, and smoke  
Into thy nostrils? jove, 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, haue profaned;  
I see( whats equal with a prodigy)  
A great, a noble roman, and an honest,  
live an old man. O, 
De Lepido isto, vid. Tac. Ann. lib. 1. pag. 6. lib. 3 pag. 60. 65. et lib. 4. pag. 81.  Marcus Lepidus,  
When is our turn to bleed? thyself, and I  
( Without our boast) are almost all the few  
Left, to be honest, in these impious Times.  lepidus. arruntius. leap. 
What we are left to be, we will be, Lucius,  
Though Tyranny did stare, as wide as Death,  
To fright us from it.  ARR. 
' Thath so, on Sabinus!  leap. 
I saw him now drawn from the Gemonies,  
And( what increasd the direnesse of the fact)  
His 
Dio. Rom. Hist. lib. 58. pag. 712. Et Tacit. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 94.  faithful Dog( upbraiding all us romans)  
never forsook the corp's, but, seeing it thrown  
Into the stream, leapd in, and drowned with it:  ARR. 
O Act! to be enui'd him, of us men.  
We are the next, the hook lays hold on, Marcus:  
What are thy Artes( good Patriot, teach them me)  
That haue preserved thy hairs, to this white die,  
And kept so reverend, and so dear a head,  
Safe, on his comely shoulders?  LIP. 
Arts, Arruntius?  
None, 
Tac. Cons. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 80.  but the plain, and passive fortitude,  
To suffer, and be silent; never stretch  
These arms, 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 'hem, if I thought  
They would secure me. May I pray to jove,  
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 raynes, or it holds up, and not be thrown  
Vpon the 
Scalae Gēon●ae fuerunt in Auentino, prope Templum Iunonis reginae à Camillo captis Veijs, dicaetum: Agemitu et planctu dictas vult Rhodig. In quas contumeliae causâ cadaucra proicctae. aliquando a Carnifice vnco trahebantur. Vid. Tac. Suet. Dio. sense. Iunenal.  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. Madmens rage,  
The idleness of Dronkerds, Womens 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?  
De Lacon. vid. Dio. Rom. Hist. lib. 58. pag. 718.  LACO. NERO. lepidus. arruntius. LAC. 
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 loose 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.  leap. 
Where goes he, Laco?  LAC. 
Sir.  
H'is 
Suet. Tib. cap. 54.  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?  leap. 
where's his Brother?  LAC. 
Drusus is 
Suet. ibid.  prisoner in the Palace.  ARR. 
Ha?  
I smell it now: Tis rank. where's Agrippina?  LAC. 
The princess is 
Suet. Tib. cap. 53.  confined, to Pandataria.  ARR. 
Bolts, Vulcan; Bolts for jove: Phoebus, thy Bow;  
stern Mars, thy Sword; and blew-eyd Maid thy spear;  
Thy Club, Alcides: All the Armorie  
Of heaven is too little— Ha? to guard  
The Gods, I meant. Fine, rare dispatch! This same  
Was swiftly born! confined? imprisoned? banished?  
Most tripartite! The cause, Sir?  LAC. 
Treason.  ARR. 
O?  
The 
Tac. vid. Ann. lib. 3. pag. 62.  compliment of all Accusings? that  
Will hit, when all else failes.  leap. 
This turn is strange!  
But yesterday, the People would not hear  
Far less objected, but cried, 
Tac. lib. 5. Ann. pag. 98  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, lead into exile?  ARR. 
hushed.  
drowned in their bellies. Wild sejanus breath  
Hath, like a whirlwind, scattered that poor dust,  
With this rude blast. Wee'll talk no treason, Sir,  
If that be it you stand for? Fare you well.  
We haue no need of horseleeches. Good spy,  
Now you are spied, be gone.  leap. 
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 emploies. he's gone: and being gone,  
I dare tell you( whom I dare better trust)  
That our 
Tiberius in tenebris videret. testibus Dion. Hist. Rom. lib. 57. pag. 691. Et Plini. Nat. Hist. lib. 11. cap. 37.  Night-ey'd Tiberius doth not see  
His Minions drifts; Or, if he do, H'is not  
So errand subtle, as we fools do take him:  
To breed a Mungrill up, in his own House,  
With his own Blood, and( if the good Gods please)  
At his own throat, train him, to take a leap.  
I do not beg it, heaven: but, if the Fates  
grant it these eyes, they must not wink.  leap. 
They must  
Not see it, Lucius.  ARR. 
Who should let' hem?  leap. 
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 loathed person 
Cons Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 91.  fouler then all crimes:  
An emperor, onely in his lusts. retired  
( From all regard of his own famed, or Rome's)  
Into an 
Vid. Suet. Tib. de s●cessu Caprensi. cap. 43. Dio. pag. 715. Iuue. Sat. 10.  obscure island; where he lives  
( Acting his Tragedies with a comic face)  
amid his rout of Chaldee's: 
Tac. l●b. Annal. 6. pag. 106. Dio. Rom. Hist. lib. 57. pag 706. Suet. Tib. cap. 62. Suet. ibid. Suet. Tib. cap. 44.  spending hours,  
Daies, weekes, and monthes 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. Thether, too,  
He hath his Boyes, and beauteous girls tâne up  
Out of our noblest Houses, the best formed,  
Best nurtur'd, and most modest: what's their Good  
serves to provoke his Bad. 
Tacit. Ann. lib. 6. pag. 100. Suet. Tib. cap. 43.  Some are allured  
Some threatened; Others,( by their friends detaind')  
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 
Leg. Dio. Rom. Hist. lib. 58. pag. 714.  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 haue his proper Sacrifice in Rome:  
Which jove beholds, and yet will sooner rive  
A senseless oak with thunder, then his trunk.  LACO. 
De Pomponio,& Minutio. vid. Tac. Ann. lib. 6.  pomponius. MINVTIVS. &c. LAC. 
These 
Dio Rom. Hist. lib. 58. pag. 716.  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.)  MAR. 
One day, he's well; and will return to Rome:  

Dio. ibid.  The next day, sick; and knows not when to hope it.  LAC. 
True, and to day, one of sejanus Friends  
honoured by special writ; and on the morrow  
Another punished—  POM. 
By more special writ.  MIN. 

Dio. ibid.  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 'hem not.  
Would he would tell us whom he loues, 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 stil goes on,  
And mounts we see: 
Leg. Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 96.  New Statues are advanced,  
Fresh leaves of Titles, large Inscriptions red,  
His 
Adulationis pleni omnes eius Fortunam iurabant. Dio. Hist. Rom. lib. 58. pag. 714.  Fortune sworn by, himself new gone out  
Caesars 
Dio. pag. 714.  
Suet. Tib. cap. 65.  Colleague, in the fifth Consulship,  
More Altars smoke to him then al the Gods:  
What would we more?  ( AR. 
That the dear smoke would choke him.  LAC. 
But there are 
Dio. H●st. Rom. lib. 58. pag. 718.  Letters come( they say) eu'n now,  
Which do forbid that last.  MIN, 
do you hear so?  LAC. 
Yes.  POM. 
By Castor, that's the worst.  ( ARR. 
By Pollux, best.)  MIN. 
I did not like the sign, when 
De Regulo. Cons. Dio. pag. 718.  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 moat. His 
Dio. ibid.  Partner,  
Fulcinius Trio, is his own; and sure.  
Here comes Terentius. He can give us more.  leap. 
Ile nere beleeue, but Caesar hath some sent  
Of bold sejanus footing. 
Suet. Tib. cap. 65.  These cross points  
Of varying Letters, and opposing Consuls,  
Mixing his honors, and his punishments,  
feigning now ill, now well, 
Dio. pag. 716.  raising sejanus,  
And then depressing him,( as now of late  
In all reports we haue it) cannot bee  
Empty of practise: Tis Tiberius Art.  
For( having found his favourite grown to great,  
And, with his greatness, strong, 
Dio. pag. 714.  that all the Souldiers  
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, quiter disarmed▪  
himself of love, or other public means,  
To dare an open Contestation)  
His subtlety hath choose this doubling line,  
To hold him even in; not so to fear him, 
Dio. pag. 716.   
As wholly put him out: and yet give check  
unto his father 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 return 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 haue tane  
A nearer way; feigned honest, and come home  
To cut his Throat, by Law.  leap. 
I," but his fear  
" Would near be masqu'd, 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 Fiendes they are.  
To suffer thee belie' hem?  TER. 
I haue 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 
Dio. Hist. Rom. lib. 58 pag. 718.  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 beleeue what they would haue!  
looks this like Plot?  leap. 
Noble Arruntius, stay.)  LAC. 
He names him here 
Dio. Hist. Rom. lib. 58 pag. 718.  without his Titles.  ( leap 
Note.  ARR. 
Yes, and come of your notable fool. I will.)  LAC. 
No other, then sejanus.  POM. 
That's but hast  
In him that writes. Here he gives large amends.  MAR. 
And with his own hand written?  POM. 
Yes.  LAC. 
Indeed?  TER. 
Beleeue it, Gentlemen, sejanus breast  
never received more full contentments in,  
Then at this present.  POM. 
Takes he well 
Dio. pag. 717.  th'escape  
Of young Caligula, with Macro?  TER. 
Faith,  
At the first air, it somewhat mated him.  ( leap. 
observe you?  ARR. 
Nothing. Riddles. Till I see  
sejanus strooke, no sound thereof strikes me.)  POM. 
I like it not. I muse h'would not attempt  
Somewhat 
Dio. ibid.  against him in the Consulship  
Seeing the people' gin to favour him.  TER. 
He doth repent it, now; but 
De Pagoniano. vid. Tac. Annal. lib. 6. pag. 101. alibi Paconiano.  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, 
Tac. cons. Annal. lib. 6. pag. 114.  he has a Wife; and the young Prince  
An appetite: He can look up, and spy  
Flies in the roof, when there are pleas i'bed;  
And hath a learned Nose to'assure his sleeps.  
Who, to be fauor'd of the rising sun,  
Would not lend little of his waning moon?  
'tis the saf'st Ambition. Noble Terentius.  TER. 
The night grows fast vpon vs. At your service.  MV. chorus.  

actus QVINTVS.  sejanus. SEI. 
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. 
De fasta Seiani. leg. Dion. Hist. Rom. lib. 58. pag. 715.  Great, and high  
The world knows onely 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 slight,  
That did before sound impudent:" Tis Place, 
Et Tacit. Ann. lib. 4. pag. 96.   
" Not blood, discerns the Noble, and the Base.  
Is there not something more, then to be Caesar?  
Must we rest there? It yrkes, t'haue come so far,  
To be so near a stay. Caligula,  
Would thou stood'st stiff, and many in our way.  
winds loose their strength, when they do empty fly,  
Vn met 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. TER. 
Safety, to great sejanus.  SEI. 
Now, Terentius?  TER. 
hear not my Lord the wonder?  SEI. 
speak it, No.  TER. 
I meet it violent in the peoples mouths,  
Who run, in routs, to Pompey's Theatre,  
To view your Statue: 
Dio. Hist. Rom. lib. 58. pag. 717.  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. SAT. 
The 
Dio. ibid.  Head, my Lord, already is tâne off,  
I saw it: and, at opening, there leap't 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 mens bosoms? was  
The spirit of it Macro's?  not, 
May it please  
The most divine sejanus, in ●y daies  
( And by his sacred Fortune I affirm it)  
I haue 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?  TFR. 
Can the wise sejanus  
think heaven hath meant it less?  SEI. 
O Superstition!  
Why, then the 
Dio. lib. 58. pag. 715.  falling of our bed, that broke  
This morning, burd'ned with the populous weight  
Of our expecting Clients to salute us,  
Or 
Dio. pag. 716.  running of the Cat, betwixt our legs,  
As we set forth unto the capitol,  
Were Prodigies;  TER. 
I think them omenous:  
And, would they had not happened. As, to day,  
The 
Dio. ibid.  fate of some your seruants; who, diverting  
Their way, not able, for the throng, to follow,  
Slip't down the Gemonies, and broke their necks:  
Besides, in 
Dio. ibid.  taking your last Augury,  
No prosperous bide appeared, but croaking ravens  
Flag'd up and down: and from the Sacrifice  
Flew to the Prison, where they sate, all night,  
Beating the air with their obstreperous beaks.  
I dare not council, 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 shane to think them)  
The Gods could change the certain course of Fate?  
Or, if they could, they would( now, in a moment)  
For a Beiues fat, or less, be bribed t'invert  
Those long D●crees? Then think the Gods, l●ke Flies,  
Are to be taken with the steam of flesh,  
Or blood, diffus d about their Altars: think  
Their power as cheap, as I esteem it small.  
Of all the throng, that fill th' Olimpian hall,  
And( without pitty) lad poor Atlas back,  
I know not that one Deity, but Fortune;  
To whom, I would throw up, in begging smoke,  
One. 
Grani Turis. Plant. Paenu. Act. 1. Scen. 1. Et ovid. lib. 4. Fast.  grain of Incense: or whose ear I'd buy  
With thus much oil. Her I, indeed, adore;  
And keep 
Dio. Hist. Rom. lib. 58. pag. 717.  her grateful Image in my house,  
Some times belonging to a Roman King,  
But, now called mine, as by the better style:  
To her, I care not, if( for satisfying  
Your scrupu'lous phant'sies) I go offer. Bid  
Our priest prepare us 
De sacris Fortunae, vid. Lil. Gre. Gyr. Synt. 17. Et Stuch. lib de Sacrif. Gent. pag. 48.  honey, milk, and Poppie,  
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. COT 
Pomponius! whether in such speed?  POM. 
I go  
To give my Lord sejanus notice—  COT. 
What?  POM. 
of Macro.  COT. 
Is he come?  POM. 

Dio Hist. Rom. lib. 58. pag. 718.  Entr'd but now  
The house of Regulus.  COT. 
The opposite Consul?  POM. 
Some half hour since.  COT. 
And by night too? stay Sr..  
Ile bear you company.  POM. 
Along, then—  MACRO. regulus. LACO. MAC. 
'tis Caesars will, to haue a frequent Senate.  
And therefore must your 
Edicto vt plurimum Senatores in Curiam vocatos constat: ex Tac. Ann. lib. 1.& livi. lib. 2. Fest. Pō. lib. 15. vid. Bar. Briss. de form. lib. 1.& Lip. Sat. Menip.  Edict lay 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, 
Dio. ibid.  Apollo's Temple.  REG. 
That's remembered.  MAC. 
And at what hour?  REG. 
Yes.  MAC. 
you do forget  
To sand one 
Dio. ibid.  for the provost of the watch?  REG. 
I haue not: here he comes.  MAC. 
Gracinus Laco,  
You are a friend most welcome: By, and by,  
Ile speak with you.( You must procure this List  
Of the Praetorian Coherts, with the names  
Of the Centurions, and their Tribunes.  REG. 
I.)  MAC. 
I bring you 
Dio. ibid.  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. 
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 your diligent legs, and over take 'hem,  
In likeness of the gout.) o, good my Lord,  
We lacked you present; I would pray you sand  
Another to Fulcinius Trio, strait,  
To tell him, you will come, and speak with him:  
( The matter wee'll devise) to stay him, there,  
While I, with Laco, do survey the watch.  
What are your strengths, Gracinus?  LAC. 

De praefecto vigilum vid. Ros. Ant. Rom. lib. 7. et Dio. Rom. Hist. lib. 55.  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 Souldiers  
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 h'is away,  
spite, on his nimble industry.) Gracinus,  
You find what place you hold, there, in the Trust  
Of royal Caesar?  LAC. 
I, and I am—  MAC. 
Sir,  
The Honors, 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. 

Dio. Hist. Rom. lib. 58. pag. 718.  Those we must  
Hold still in readiness, and vndischarg'd.  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,  
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 haue commission, 
Vid. Tac. Ann. lib. 6. pag. 107. Et Suet. Tib. cap. 65  to possess the palace;  
Enlarge Prince Drusus, and make him our chief:  MAC. 
( That Secret would haue 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 seruants.  MAC. 
These to Arruntius, These to Lepidus,  
This bear to Cotta, This to Latiaris.  
If they demand you'of me, say, I haue tâne  
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; I  
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.  
Hi omnibus sacrificijs interest solebant. Ros. Ant. Rom. lib. 3. Stuch. de Sac. pag. 72.  TVBICINES. TIBICINES. PRAECONES. 
Ex iis, qui Flamines Curiales dicerentur. vid. Lil. Greg. Gyr. Synt. 17.& Onup. Pāuin. Rep. Rom. Comment. 2.  FLAMEN. MINISTRI. sejanus. terentius. satrius. &c. PRAE. 

Moris antiqui erat, praecones praecedere,& sacris arcere profanos. Cons. Briss. Ros. Stuch. Lil. Gyt. &c.  BE ALL PROFANE FAR HENCE; Fly, fly far of:  
Be absent far; FAR HENCE BE ALL PROFANE.  TVB. TIB. 
These sound, 
Obseruatum antiquis inuenimus, vt qui rem divinam facturus esset, lautus, ac mundus accederet,& ad suas leuandas culpas, se inprimis reum dicere solitum,& noxae penituisse. Lil. Gyr. Synt. 17.  while the Flamen washeth.  FLA. 
We haue been faulty, but repent us now;  
And bring 
in sacris puras manus, puras vestes, pura vasa, &c. Antiqui desiderabant. vt ex Virg. Plant. Tibul. ovi. &c. pluribus locis constat.  pure Hands, pure Vestments, and pure Minds:  MIN. 
Pure Vessels.  MIN 
And pure offerings.  MIN. 
Ghyrlonds pure.  FLA. 
Bestow 
Alius ritus, sertis arras coronare,& verbenas imponere.  your Ghyrlonds: and( with reverence) place  
The Veruin on the Altar.  PRAE. 

Huiusmodi vocibus silentium imperatum fuisse constat. Vid. Sen. in lib. de beata vita. Seru.& Don. ad cum versum. lib. 5. AEneid. Ore fauete omnes,& cingite tempora ramis.  favour your TONGVES.  FLA. 

His solemnibus praefationibus in sacris vtebantur.  Great mother FORTVNE, queen of human state,  
Rectresse of Action, Arbitresse of Fate,  
To whom all sway, all power, all empire bows,  
Be present, and propitious to our vows.  PRAE. 

Quibu●, in clausu, populus vel caetus à praeconibus favere inbebatur. id est bona verba fari. Talis enim altera huius formulae interpretatio apud Briss. lib. 1. extat. ovi. lib. 1. Fast. Linguis animisque fanete. Et Metam. lib. 15.— piumque AEneadae praestant& mente,& voice fauorem.  favour IT WITH your TONGVES.  MIN. 
Be present, and propitious to our vows.  TVBICINES. TIBICINES. 
While they sound again, the Flamen 
Vocabatur hic Ritus Libatio. lege. Rosin. Ant. lib. 3. Bar. Brissō. de form. lib. 1. Stn chium. de Sacrif. Et Lil. Synt 17.  takes of the Honey, with his finger, and tastes; then ministers to all the rest: so of the 
in sacris Fortunae lact, non vino libabant. ijsdem Test. Talia sacrificia {αβγδ},& {αβγδ} dictae. Hoc est sobria,& vino carentia.  milk, in an earthen vessel, he deals about; which done he sprinkleth, vpon the Altar, milk; then imposeth the Honey; and kindleth his gums, and after censing about the Altar, placeth his Censer thereon, into which they 
Hoc reddere erat,& litare, id est propitiare,& votum impetrare: secundum Nonium Marcellum. Litare etiam Mac. lib. 3. cap. 5. explicat, sacrificio facto placare numen. In quo sens. leg. apud Plaut. Suet. Senec. &c.  put several branches of Poppy, and the music ceasing, say all, 
Solennis formula, in donis cuiuis numini offerrendis.  Accept our offering, and be pleased great Goddesse.  TER. 
See, see, the Image stirs.  SAT. 
And turns away.  NAT. 
Fortune 
Leg. Dio. Rom. Hist. lib. 58. pag. 717. de hoc sacrificio.  auerts her face.  FLA 
avert you Gods  
The prodigy. Still! still! Some pious Rite  
We haue neglected. Yet! heaven, be appeased.  
And be all tokens false, or voided, that speak  
Thy present wrath.  SEI. 
Be thou dumb, scrupu'lous Priest:  
And gather up thyself, with these thy wears,  
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 woe thee turn again;  
And thou shalt stand, to all posterity,  
Th'eternal game, and laughter, with thy neck  
Writh'd to thy tail, like a ridiculous Cat:  
avoid these fumes, these superstitious Lights,  
And all these coos'ning Ceremonies; You.  
Your pure, and spiced conscience. I, the slave,  
And mock of fools,( scorn on my worthy head,)  
That haue been 
Tac. Ann. lib. 4. pa. 96.  titled, and adored a God,  
Yea, 
Dio. lib. 58. pag. 716 717.  sacrificed unto, myself, in Rome,  
No less then jove: and I be brought, to do  
A peevish Giglot rites? Perhaps, the thought,  
And shane of that made Fortune turn her face,  
Knowing herself the lesser Deity,  
And but my Seruant: bashful queen, if so,  
sejanus thanks thy modesty. Who's that?  pomponius. 
De Minutio. vid. Tac. Ann. lib. 6.  MINVTIVS. &c. POM. 
His Fortune suffers, till he hears my news:  
I'haue 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 vpon your Statue.  
A 
Dio. Hist. Rom. lib. 58. pag. 717.  Rope is since found wreathed about it; And,  
But now, 
Vid. Sen. not. Quaest. lib. 1. cap. 1.  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 then all.  TER. 
Is Macro come?  POM. 
I saw him.  TER. 
Where? with whom?  POM. 
With Regulus.  SEI. 
Terentius,—  TER. 
My Lord?  SEI. 

Dio. pag. 718.  sand for the Tribunes, we will strait haue up  
More of the Souldiers, for our guard. Minutius,  
Wee 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 seruants,  
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 vpon thy will:  
" Me surest Death shall render certain still.  
Yet, why is, now, my thought turned toward death,  
Whom Fates haue let go on, so far, in breath,  
Vncheck'd, or vnreproou'd? I, 
Vid. Tac. Ann. lib. 1. pag. 23.  that did help  
To fell the lofty Cedar of the world,  
Germanicus; that, at one stroke, 
Ann. lib. 4. pag. 74. 75. Et Dio. lib. 57. pag. 709.  cut down  
Drusus, that upright elm; withered his Vine;  
Laid 
Tac. Lib. 4 pag. 79.  Silius, and 
Et pag. 94.— Dion. Rom. Hist. lib. 58.712.  Sabinus, two strong oaks,  
Flat on the earth; besides those other shrubs,  

De Cremutio Cor. vid. Dio. Rom. Hist. lib. 57. pag. 710. Tacit. Ann. lib. 4. pa. 83.  Cordus, and 
De Sofia. Tac. Annal. lib. 4. pa. 94.  Sosiae, 
De Clau.& Furnio. quaere Tac. lib. 4. pa. 89.  Claudia Pulchra,  
Furnius, and 
De Gallo. Tac. lib. 4. pag 95.& Dio. lib. 58. pag. 713.  Gallus, which I haue grub'd up;  
And since, haue set my Axe so strong, and deep,  
Into the roote of spreading 
De Agr. Ner.& Dru. leg. Suet. Tib. cap. 53. 54.  Agrippine,  
lopped off, and scattered her proud branches, Nero,  
Drusus; and 
De Caio. Cons. Dio. lib. 58. pag. 717.  Caius too, although replanted:  
If you will, Destinies, that, after all,  
I faint, now, êre I touch my period;  
You are but cruel: and I already' haue done  
Things great enough. All Rome, hath been my slave;  
The Senate sate an idle Looker on,  
And witness of my power; when I haue blushed,  
More, to command, then it to suffer: All  
The Fathers haue sate ready, and prepared,  
To give me Empire, Temples, or their throats,  
When I would ask 'hem; And, what crownes the top,  
Rome, Senate, People, all the World haue seen  
jove, but my equal; Caesar, but my Second.  
" Tis then your malice, Fates, who( but your own)  
" envy, and fear t'haue any power long known.  terentius. TRIBVNES. TER. 
Stay here: I'll give his Lordship, you are come.  MINVTIVS. COTTA. LATIARIS. &c. MIN. 
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;  
Onely 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 bee all is left to Lord sejanus.  NATTA. LACO. &c. NAT. 
Gentlemen, where's my Lord?  TRI. 
Wee wait him here.  COT. 
The provost Laco? what's the news?  LAT. 
My Lord—  sejanus. terentius. &c. SEI. 
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 Loues.  
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  
Vnquit, when Morning comes. Saw you the consul?  MIN. 
Trio will presently be here my Lord;  COT. 
They are but 
Vid. Dio. ●●b. 58. pag. 718.  giuing 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 Lordsh?  COT. 
It seems so.  SE. 
A Senate warned? without my knowledge?  
And on this sudden? Senators by Letters  
Required to be there? Who brought these?  COT. 
Macro.  SEI. 

Dio. ibid.  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. &c. SAT. 
My Lord, Sertorius Macro is without, 
Dio. ibid.   
Alone, and prays t'haue private conference  
In business, of high nature, with your Lordship,  
He says to me; and which reguards 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. 
Wee'll search him.  SEI. 
No, but take,  
And led him to some room, where you, concealed,  
May keep a guard vpon vs. Noble Laco,  
You are our trust: And, till our ●wne Cohorts  
Can be brought up, your Strengths must be our Guard,  
Now 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, me thinks,  
I'haue not observed it in him, heretofore.  TRI. 1. 
Tis true, and it becomes him nobly.  MIN. 
I  
Am rap't withall.  TRI. 2. 
By Mars, he has my lives,  
( Were they a million) for this onely grace.  LAC. 
I, and to name a man?  LAT. 
As he did me!  MIN. 
And me!  LAT. 
Who would not spend his Life& Fortunes,  
To purchase but the look of such a Lord?  LAC. 
He, that would nor be Lords fool, nor the Worlds.  sejanus. MACRO. SEI. 
Macro! most welcome, as most coveted friend, 
Dio. Hist. Rom. lib. 58. pag. 718.   
Let me enjoy my longings. When arrived you?  MAC. 
About the 
Merid ies noctis. Varr. Marcipor. vid. Non. Mar. cap. 6.  noon of Night.  SEI. 
Satrius, give leave.  MAC 
I haue been since I came, with both the Consul's,  
On a particular design from Caesar.  SEI, 
How fares it with our great, and royal Master?  MAC. 
Right plentifully well; As, with a Prince,  

Dio. ibid.  That still holds out the great proportion  
Of his large favours, where his iudgement 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'amus'd. For to this end  
Was I by Caesar sent for, to the Isle,  
Which special caution to conceal my journey;  
And, thence, had my dispatch as privately  

Dio. ibid.  again to Rome; charged to come here by night;  
And, onely to the Consuls, make narration  
Of his great purpose: that the benefit  
Might come more full, and striking, by how much  
It was less loo'kd 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 loathe 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  

Dio. ibid.  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,  
Onely 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,  

Dio. ibid.  
Vid. Suet. de oppress. Scian. Tib. cap. 65.  The Tribuniciall Dignity, and Power:  
Both which sejanus is to haue this day  
conferred vpon him, and by public Senate.  SEI. 
Fortune, be mine again; Thou' hast satisfied  
For thy suspected loyalty.  MAC. 
My Lord,  
I haue no longer time, the day approacheth,  
And I must back to Caesar.  SEI. 
wher's Caligula?  MAC. 
That I forgot to tel 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 haue quitted  
His forward trouble, with as tardy note  
As my Neglect, or Silence could bestow.  
Your Lordship cannot now command me ought,  
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 seruants,  
Stoupe, court, and catch at the benevolence  
Of Creatures, unto whom( within this hour)  
I would not haue vouchsafed a quarter-looke,  
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 loos'ned 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 strooke  
With forked fire, and vnpitied die:  
" Who fears, is worthy of Calamity.  pomponius. regulus. TRIO. &c. POM. 
Is not my Lord here?  TER. 
Sir, he will be strait. 
Dio. ibid.   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 Tribuniciall dignity.  COT. 
Is't true?  TRI. 
No words; not to your thought: but Sir beleeue it.  LAT. 
What says the Consul?  COT. 
( speak it not again,)  
He tells me, that to day my Lord sejanus—  ( TRI. 
I must entreat you Cotta, on your honor  
Not to reveal it.  COT. 
On my life, Sir)  LAT. 
Say.  COT. 
Is to receive the Tribuniciall 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. 
Ile tell you,  
But you must swear to keep it secret.—  sejanus. &c. SEI. 
I knew the Fates had on their distaff left  
More of our thread, then so.  REG. 
hail great sejanus.  TRI. 
hail the 
Dio. lib. Hist. Rom. 58. pag. 718  most honoured,  CO. 
Happy,  LAT. 
High sejanus.  SEI. 
Do you bring Prodigies too?  TRI. 
May all Presage  
turn to those faire effects, whereof we bring  
Your Lordship news.  REG. 
May't please my Lord withdraw.  SEI. 
Yes. I will speak with you, anon.  TER. 
My Lord  
What is your pleasure for the Tribunes?  SEI. 
Why,  
Let 'hem be thanked, and sent away.  MIN. 
My Lord—  LAC. 
Wilt please your Lo: to command me—  SEI. 
No.  
You' are troublesome.  MI. 
The 
Dio. Hist. Rom. lib. 58. pag. 715.  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. ARR. 
I, go, make hast; Take heed you be not last  
To tender your 
have matutina vox salutanti propria, apud Romanos. Vid. Brifs. de for. lib. 8.  ALL hail, in the wide hall  
Of huge sejanus: run, a Lictors place;  
Stay not to put your robes on; But, away,  
With the pale troubled ensigns of great Friendship  
Stamp't i'your face. Now, Marcus Lepidus,  
You still beleeue your former augury?  
sejanus must go downward? You perceive  
His wane approaching fast?  leap. 
Beleeue me, Lucius,  
I wonder at this Rising!  ARR. 
I, 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' ssay to bring back time; 
De Sanquinio. vid. 12. Ann. lib. 6.   
" In cases desperate, all Hope is Crime.  
See, see! what troops of his officious friends  
Flock to salute my LORD! 
Et de Haterio. ibid.  and start before  
My great, proud LORD, to get a LORD-like nod!  
Attend MY LORD unto the Senate-house! 
Ex Liburnia, magnae,& procerae staturae mittebantur, qui erant Rom. Lecticarij. Test. iwen. Sai 3. vers. 240.— turbâ cedente vehetur dives,& ingenti curret supper ora Liburno.   
Bring back MY LORD! like servile Huishers, make  
Way for MY LORD! proclaim his idol LORD-ship,  
More then ten Criers, or six noise of trumpets!  
Make legs, kiss hands, and take a scattered hair  
From my LORDS excellent shoulder. See, Sanquinius!  
With his slow belly, and his dropsy! look,  
What toiling hast he makes lyet, 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. CONSVLS. sejanus. &c. LIC. 
give way, make place; room for the Consul.  SA. 
hail,  
hail great sejanus.  HAT. 
hail my honoured Lord.  ARR. 
We shall be marked anon for our not hail. 
Dio. ibid.   leap. 
That is all ready done.  ARR. 
It is a note  
Of upstart greatness, to observe, and watch  
For these poor trifles, which the noble mind  
Neglects, and scorns.  leap. 
I, and they think themselves  
deeply dishonoured, where they are omitted,  
As if they were 
Dio. ibid.  necessities, that helped  
To the perfection of their Dignities:  
And hate the men, that but refraine'hem.  ARR. 
o  
There is a father cause of hate. Their breasts  
Are guilty, that we know their obscure springs,  
And base beginnings: Thence the anger grows. On. Follow.  MACRO. LACO. MAC. 
When all are entred, 
Dio pag. 718.  shut the Temple doors;  
And bring your guards up to the Gate.  LAC. 
I will.  MAC. 
If you shal hear Commotion in the Senate,  
Present yourself: and charge on any man  
Shall offer to come forth.  LAC. 
I am instructed.  THE SENATE. PRAECONES. LICTORES. regulus. sejanus. TRIO. HATERIVS. SANQVINIVS. COTTA. pomponius. LATIARIS. lepidus. arruntius. HAT. 
How well his Lordship looks to day!  TRI. 
As if  
He had been born, or made for this hours state.  COT. 
Your fellow Consul's come about, me thinks?  TRI. 
I, he'is wise.  sand. 
sejanus trusts him well.  TRI. 
sejanus is a noble, 
Vid. acclamation. Senat. Dio. pag. 719.  bounteous Lord.  HAT. 
he is so, and most valiant.  LAT. 
And most wise.  SEN. 
he's every thing.  LAT. 
Worthy of all, and more  
Then bounty can bestow.  TRI. 
This Dignity  
will make him worthy.  POM. 
above Caesar.  sand. 
Tut,  
Caesar is but the 
Dio. Hist. Rom. lib. 58. 715.  Rector of an I'sle,  
he of the Empire.  TRI. 
Now he will haue power  
More to reward, then ever.  COT. 
Let us look  
We be 
Dio. pag. 719.  not slacken in giuing him our voices.  LAT. 
Not I.  sand. 
Nor I.  COT. 
The readier we seem  
To propagate his Honors, will more bind  
His thought to ours.  HAT. 
I think right, with your Lordship.  
It is the way to haue us hold our Places.  sand. 
I, and get more.  LAT. 
More Office, and more Titles. 
Dio. ibid.   POM. 
I will not loose the part, I hope to share  
In these his Fortunes, for my Patrimony.  LAT. 
See how Arruntius sits, and Lepidus.  TRI. 
Let'hem alone, they will be marked anon.  SEN. 
Ile 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 Senates peace;  
And give last summons by the Edict.  PRAE. 
Silence.  
In name of CAESAR, and the SENATE. SILENCE.  
Vid. Brissonium: de formul. lib. 2. Et Lipsium Sat. Menip.  MEMMIVS regulus. AND. FVLCINIVS. TRIO. CONSVL'S. THESE. PRESENT. kalends. OF. june. WITH. THE. FIRST. LIGHT. SHALL. HOLD. A. SENATE. IN. THE. TEMPLE. OF. 
Palatinus, à monte Palatino, dictus.  APOLLO. PALATINE. ALL. THAT. ARE. FATHERS. AND. ARE. registered. FATHERS. THAT. HAVE. RIGHT. OF. entering. THE. SENATE. WE. WARNE. OR. COMMAVND. you. BE. FREQVENTLY. PRESENT. TAKE. KNOWLEDGE. THE. BVSINESSE. IS. THE. COMMON. WEALTHES. WHOSOEVER. IS. ABSENT. HIS. FINE. OR. MVLCT. WILL. BE. TAKEN. HIS. EXCVSE. WILL. NOT. BE. TAKEN. TRI. 
Note, who are absent, and record their names.  REG. 

Solemnis praefatio Consulum in relationibus. Dio. pag. 718.  FATHERS CONSCRIPT. MAY WHAT I AM TO utter,  
turn GOOD AND HAPPY FOR THE COMMON WEALTH.  
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  
Vpon the man he lones, honoured sejanus,  
The 
Vid. Suet. Tib. cap. 65  tribuniciall dignity. and power;  
Here are his Letters, signed with his signet:  

Alia formula solemnis. vid. Briss. lib. 2.  WHAT PLEASETH NOW THE FATHERS TO BE DONE?  SEN. 
red, red 'hem, open, publicly, red' hem.  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.  sand. 
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.  tiberius CAESAR TO THE SENATE GREETING. 

solemn exordium Epistolar. apud Romanos. Cons. Briss. de formul. lib. 8.  IF. you. CONSCRIPT. FATHERS. WITH. your. CHILDREN. BE. IN. HEALTH. IT. IS. ABOVNDANTLY. WELL. WE. WITH. our. FRIENDS. HERE. ARE. SO. The care of the Common-wealth, howsoever we are removed in person, cannot bee absent to our thought; although, oftentimes, even to Princes most present, the truth of their own affairs is hide: then which, nothing falls out more miserable to a State, or makes the art of governing more difficult. But since it hath been our easeful happiness to enjoy both the aids, and industry of so vigilant a Senate, wee profess to haue been the more indulgent to our pleasures, not as being careless of our office, but rather secure of the necessity. Neither do these common Rumors of many, and infamous Libels published against our retirement, at all afflict us; being born more out of mens ignorance, then their malice: and will, neglected, find their own grave quickly, whereas too sensibly acknowledged, it would make their obloquy ours. Nor do wee desire their Authors( though found) bee censured, 
Vid. Sue. Tib. cap. 28.  since in a free State( as ours) all men ought to enjoy both their mindes, and tongues free.  ( ARR. 
The Lapwing, the Lapwing.)  
Yet in things: which shall worthily, and more near concern the majesty of a Prince, we shall fear to bee so unnaturally cruel to our own famed, as to neglect them. True it is, CONSCRIPT FATHERS, that we haue raised sejanus, from obscure, and almost unknown Gentry,  SEN. 
How! how!  
to the highest, and most conspicuous point of greatness, and( wee hope) deseruingly; yet not without danger: it being a most bold hazard in that sovereign, who, by his particular love to one, dar●● adventure the hatred of all his other subiects.  ARR. 
This Touches, the blood turns.  
But we affie in your Loues, and understandings, and do no way suspect the merit of our sejanus to make our favours offensive to any.  SEN. 
O, good, good.  
Though we could haue wishd his zeal had run a calmer course against Agrippina, and our Nephues, howsoever the openness of their actions, declared them delinquents; and, that he would haue remembered, no Innocence is so safe, but it rejoiceth to stand in the sight of mercy: The use of which in us, he hath so quiter taken away, toward them, by his loyal fury, as now our clemency would be● thought but wearied Cruelty, if wee should offer to exercise it.  ARR. 
I thank him, there I looked for't. A good Foxel  
Some there be, that would interpret this his public severity to be particular Ambition, and that under a pretext of service to us, 
De hâc Epist. vid. Dio. Hist. Rom. lib. 58. pag. 719.  he doth but remove his own Lets; alleging the strengths he hath made to himself, by the Praetorian souldiers, by his Faction in Court and Senate, by the Offices he holds himself, and confers on others, his Popularity, and Dependentes, 
Et iwen. satire. 10.  his urging( and almost driving) us to this our unwilling Retirement, and lastly, his aspiring to be our son inlaw;  SEN. 
' This' strange.  ARR. 
I shall anon beleeue your Vultures, Marcus.  
Your wisdoms, CONSCRIPT FATHERS, are able to examine, and censure these suggestions: but, were they left to our absolving voice, we durst pronounce them, as we think them, most malicious.  SEN. 
O he has restored all, List.  
Yet, are they offered to be auerr'd, and on the lives of the Informers: What we should say, or rather what we should not say, Lords of the Senate, if this be true, our Gods, and Goddesses confounded us if wee know! Onely, we must think we haue placed our benefits ill; and conclude, that in our choice, either wee were wanting to the Gods, or the Gods to vs.  ARR. 
The place grows hot, they shift. we haue not been covetous, honourable FATHERS, to change; neither is it now, any new Lust that alters our affection, or old Loathing, but those needful jealousies of state, that warn wiser Princes, hourly, to provide their safety; and do teach them how learned a thing it is to beware of the humblest enemy: much more of those great ones, whom their own emploid favours haue made fit for their fears.  SEN. 
Away.  SEN. 
Sit father.  Cor. 
let's remove—  ARR. 
Gods! how the leaves drop off, this little wind!  
we therefore desire that the Offices he holds, be first seized by the Senate; and himself suspended from all exercise of place, or power—  SE. 
How!  SA. 
By your leave.  AR. 
Come Porcpisce( where's Haterius?  

Dio. Hist. Rom. lib. 58 pag. 719.  His Gout keeps him most miserable constant.)  
Your dancing shows a tempest.  SEI. 
red no more.  REG. 
Lords of the Senate, hold your seats; red on.  SEI. 
These Letters they are forged.  REG. 
a guard, Sit still.  ARR. 
Here's change.  REG. 
Bid silence, and red forward.  PRAE. 
Silence,— and himself suspended from all exercise of place, or power,( but till due and mature trial bee made of his innocency, which yet we can faintly apprehended the necessity, to doubt.) If CONSCRIPT FATHERS, to your more searching wisdoms, there shal appear farther cause( or of father proceeding, either to seyzure of Lands, Goods, or more—) It is not our power that shall limit your authority, or our favour, that must corrupt your iustice; either were dishonourable in you, and both uncharitable to ourself. 
Dio. ibid.  We would willingly be present with your counsels in this business, but the danger of so potent a faction( if it should prove so) forbids our attempt: except one of the Consuls would be entreated for our safety to undertake the guard of us home, then wee should most readily adventure. In the mean time, it shall not bee fit for us to importune so judicious a Senate, who know howe much they hurt the innocent, that spare the guilty, and howe grateful a sacrifice, to the Gods, is the life of an ingratefull person. We reflect not in this on sejanus ( notwithstanding if you keep an eye vpon him— And there is Latiaris a senator, and Pinnarius Natta, two of his most trusted Ministers, and so professed, whom we desire not to haue apprênded, but as the necessity of the cause exacts it.  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.  LACO. 
Stand, stand,  
He comes vpon his death, that doth advance  
An inch toward my point.  SEI. 
Haue we no friend here?  ARR. 
hushed. Where now are all the HAYLES, and acclamations?  MACRO. &c. MAC. 
hail, to the Consuls, and this noble Senate. 
Dio. ibid.   SEI. 
Is Macro here? O, thou art lost, sejanus.  MAC. 
Sit still, and vnaffrighted, reverend Fathers.  
Macro, by Caesars Grace, the new-made Pronost,  
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 Souldiers, Tribunes, and Centurions  
received in our command.  REG. 
sejanus, sejanus.  
Stand forth, sejanus.  SEI. 
Am I called?  MAC. 
I, 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, Typhan●,  
If mine be most, lo thus I make it more;  
Kick up thy heels in air, tear off thy robe,  
Play with thy beard, and nostrils: Thus 'tis fit  
( And no man take compassion of thy state)  
To use th'ingratefull viper, tread his brains  
Into the earth.  REG. 
For bear.  MAC. 
If I could loose  
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 rebeld  
'Gainst Caesars bounty, did condemn himself?  
P'hlegra, the field, where all the sons of Earth  
mustered against the Gods, did nere aclowledge  
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.  sand. 
He deserves it.  SEN. 
crown all our doors with bays.  sand. 
And let an ox  
With gilded horns, and Gyrlonds, strait be lead  
unto the capitol:  HAT. 
And sacrificed  

Ieg. iwen. S●tyr. 10.  To jove, for Caesars safety.  TRI. 
All our Gods  
Be present still to Caesar.  COT. 
Phoebus.  sand. 
Mars.  HAT. 
Diana.  sand. 
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.  leap. 
O violent change,  
And whirl of mens affections!  ARR. 
Like, as both  
Their bulks and souls were bound on Fortunes wheel,  
And must act onely with her motion.  lepidus. arruntius. leap. 
Who would depend vpon the popular air,  
Or voice of men, that haue to day beholded  
( That which if all the Gods had fore-declar'd,  
Would not haue been believed) sejanus fall?  
He, that this morn rose proudly, as the sun;  
And, breaking through a mist of Clients breath,  
Came on as gazed at, and admired, as he  
When superstitious Moores salute his light!  
That had our servile Nobles waiting him  
As common-Groomes; and hanging on his look,  
No less then human Life on destiny!  
That had mens knees as frequent, as the Gods;  
And Sacrifices, more, then Rome had Altars:  

Dio. lib. 58. pag. 719. 720. &c.  And this man fall! Fall? I, without a look,  
That durst appear his friend; or lend so much  
Of vain relief, to his changed state, as pitty!  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 shane for Honors; and black taunts for Titles!  
Who would trust slippery Chance?  leap. 
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 haue placed thee so high,  
" By fond belief in thy felicity.  SHOVTE WITHIN. The Gods guard Caesar. All the Gods guard Caesar. MACRO. LACO. SENATE. MAC. 
Now great sejanus, you that awed the State, 
Vid. Dion. Hist. Rom. lib. 58. pag. 720. 721. 722. 723.   
And sought to bring the Nobles to your whip.  
That would be Caesars 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 haue Pyramid's, yea Temples reared  
To your huge greatness: Now, you lye as flat,  
As was your pride advanced.  REG. 
Thankes to the Gods.  SEN. 
And praise to Macro, that hath saved Rome.  
Liberty, liberty, liberty. led on,  
And praise to Macro, that hath saved Rome.  arruntius. lepidus. terentius. ARR. 
I prophesy, out of this Senates flattery,  
That this new fellow, Macro, will become  
A greater prodigy in Rome, then he  
That now is fallen.  TER. 
o you, whose mindes are good,  
And haue not forced all mankind, from your breasts;  
That yet haue so much stock of virtue left,  
To pitty 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 Circke:  
Where, like so many Mastiues, 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,  

Vid. iwen. Sat. 10.  Crying in scorn, this, this was that rich head  
Was crowned with Gyrlonds, and with Odours, This  
That was in Rome so reverenced. Now  
The Furnace, and the bellows shall to work  
The great sejanus crack, and piece, by piece,  
Drop i'the Founders pit.  leap. 
O popular Rage!  TER. 

Dio. Rom. Hist. lib. 58. pag. 720.  The whilst, the Senate, at the Temple of Concord,  
Make hast to meet again, and thronging cry,  
Let us condemn him, tread him down in water,  
While he doth lye vpon the bank; Away:  
Where some, more tardy, cry unto their bearers,  
He will be censured êre we come, run knaves,  
And use that furious diligence, for fear  
Their Bond-men should inform against their slackness,  
And bring their quaking flesh unto the hook:  
The Rout, they follow with confused voice  
Crying, they' are glad, say they could nere 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 dyes? what death?  
And not a Beast of all the Heard demands  
What was his Crime? or who were his Accusers?  
under what proof, or testimony, he fell?  
There came( says one) a huge, long, worded Letter  
From Capraeae against him. Did there so?  
O, they are satisfied, no more.  leap. 
alas!  
They follow Fortune, and hate men condemned, 
Iuue. Sat. 10.   
Guilty, or not.  ARR. 
But had sejanus thrived  
In his design, and prosperously oppressed  
The old Tiberius, then, in that same minute  
These very Raskalls, that now rage like Furies,  
Would haue proclaimed sejanus Emperour.  leap. 
But what hath followed?  TER. 
Sentence, by the Senate; 
Dio. ibid.   
To loose his head: which was no sooner off, 

Senec. lib. de Tranq. Anim. cap. 11.  
Quo die illum Senatus deduxerat, Populus in frusta diuisit, &c.    
But that, and th'unfortunate trunk were seizd  
By the rude multitude; who not content  
With what the forward Iustice of the State  
Officiously had done, with violent rage  
Haue 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 shane,  
Late wives with loss of Husbands, Mothers of Children,  
losing all grief in ioy of his sad fall,  
run quiter 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, haue 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 ôre done.  
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 no where, and yet often butted.  NVNTIVS, &c. ARR. 
More of sejanus?  nun. 
Yes.  leap 
What can be added?  
We know him dead.  nun. 
Then there begin your pitty,  
There is enough behin'd, to melt eu'n Rome,  
And Caesar into tears:( though 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 
Vid Senec. lib. de Tranq. any. cap. xi.  there is not now so much remaining  
As would give fastening to the Hang-mans hook)  
Haue they drawn forth for father sacrifice;  
Whose tenderness of knowledge, unripe yeares,  
And childish silly Innocence was such,  
As scarce would lend them feeling of their danger:  
The 
Tac. Ann. lib. 5. pa. 99. Et Dion. lib. 58. pag. 720.  girl so simplo, as she often asked,  
Where they would led 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 
Lex enim non tam virginitati ignotum cautumque volvit quam aeta●i. Cons. Lips. Comment. Tac.  immature to die,  
The wittily, and strangly-cruell Macro  
delivered her to be deflowered, and spoiled,  
By the rude lust of the licentious Hang-man,  
Then, to be strangled with her harmless brother.  leap. 
o Act, most worthy Hell, and lasting night,  
To hid it from the world!  nun. 
Their bodies thrown  
Into the Gemonies,( I know not how  
Or by what accident returned) the Mother,  
Th'expulsed 
Dio. ibid.  Apicata, finds them there;  
Whom when she saw lye spread on the 
Scalae Gemoniae in quas erant protecta damnator. Corpora.  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 Chaos rise again t'ore-whelme  
Them, us, and all the world) she fills the air;  
upbraids the Heauens with their partial dooms,  
Defies their tyrannous powers, and demands  
What she, and those poor Innocents haue transgressed,  
That they must suffer such a share in vengeance, 
Dio. Hist. Rom. lib. 58. pag. 720.   
Whilst Liuia, Lygdus, and Eudemus live,  
Who,( as she says, and firmly vows, to prove it  
To Caesar, and the Senate) poisoned Drusus?  leap. 
confederates with her husband?  nun. 
I.  leap. 
Strange Act!  ARR. 
And strangely opened: what says now my Monster,  
The Multitude? They reel now? do they not?  nun. 
Their gull is gone, and now they gin to weep  
The mischief they haue done.  ARR. 
I thank 'hem, Rogues!  nun. 
Part are so stupid, or so flexible,  
As they beleeue him innocent; All grieve:  
And some, whose hands yet reeke with his warm blood,  
And gripe the part which they did tear of him,  
Wish him collected, and created new.  leap. 
How Fortune plies her sports, when she begins  
To practise' hem! pursues, continues, adds!  
Confounds, with varying her empassion'd 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 vpon the Pinnacles of State,  
To boast your slippery height; when you do fall,  
You pash yourselves in pieces, nêre to rise,  
And he that lends you pitty, 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, before the' even doth lie.   
FINIS.