ACT I

[SCENE I.][1371]

[_Enter_] SABINUS _and_ SILIUS, [_followed by_] LATIARIS.

_Sab._ Hail, Caius Silius![1372]

_Sil._ Titius Sabinus,[1373] hail! You’re rarely met in court.

_Sab._ Therefore, well met.

_Sil._’T is true: indeed, this place is not our sphere.

_Sab._ No, Silius, we are no good inginers.[1374] We want the fine arts, and their thriving use 5 Should make us grac’d, or favour’d of the times: We have no shift of faces, no cleft tongues, No soft and glutinous bodies, that can stick, Like snails, on painted walls; or, on our breasts, Creep up, to fall from that proud height, to which 10 We did by slavery,[1375] not by service climb. We are no guilty men, and then no great; We have nor place in court, office in state, That we can say,[1376] we owe unto our crimes: We burn with no black secrets,[1377] which can make 15 Us dear to the pale authors; or live fear’d Of their still waking jealousies, to raise Ourselves a fortune, by subverting theirs. We stand not in the lines, that do advance To that so courted point.

[_Enter_ SATRIUS _and_ NATTA _at a distance_.]

_Sil._ But yonder lean 20 A pair that do.

_Sab._[_salutes_ LATIARIS.] Good cousin Latiaris.[1378]

_Sil._ Satrius Secundus,[1379] and Pinnarius Natta,[1380] The great Sejanus’ clients: there be two, Know more than honest counsels; whose close[1381] breasts, 24 Were they ripp’d up to light, it would be found A poor and idle[1382] sin to which their trunks Had not been made fit organs. These can lie, Flatter, and swear, forswear,[1383] deprave, inform, Smile, and betray; make guilty men; then beg The forfeit lives, to get their livings; cut 30 Men’s throats with whisp’rings; sell to gaping suitors The empty smoke that flies about the palace; Laugh when their patron laughs; sweat when he sweats; Be hot and cold with him; change every mood, Habit, and garb, as often as he varies; 35 Observe him, as his watch observes his clock;[1384] And, true as turquoise in the dear lord’s ring,[1385] Look well or ill with him:[1386] ready to praise His lordship, if he spit, or but piss fair, 39 Have an indifferent stool, or break wind well; Nothing can scape their catch.

_Sab._ Alas! these things Deserve no note, conferr’d[1387] with other vile And filthier flatteries,[1388] that corrupt the times, When, not alone our gentries chief are fain To make their safety from such sordid acts, 45 But all our consuls,[1389] and no little part Of such as have been praetors, yea, the most Of senators,[1390] that else not use their voices, Start up in public senate, and there strive Who shall propound most abject things, and base; 50 So much, as oft Tiberius hath been heard, Leaving the court, to cry,[1391] O race of men, Prepar’d for servitude!—which show’d that he, Who least the public liberty could like, As loathly brook’d their flat servility. 55

_Sil._ Well, all is worthy of us, were it more, Who with our riots, pride, and civil hate, Have so provok’d the justice of the gods: We, that, within these fourscore years, were born Free, equal lords of the triumphed world, 60 And knew no masters but affections; To which betraying first our liberties, We since became the slaves to one man’s lusts; And now to many:[1392] every minist’ring spy That will accuse and swear, is lord of you, 65 Of me, of all, our fortunes and our lives. Our looks are call’d to question,[1393] and our words, How innocent soever, are made crimes; We shall not shortly dare to tell our dreams, Or think, but ’t will be treason.

_Sab._ Tyrants’ arts 70 Are to give flatterers grace; accusers, power; That those may seem to kill whom they devour. [_Enter_ CORDUS _and_ ARRUNTIUS.] Now, good Cremutius Cordus.[1394]

_Cor._ [_salutes_ SABINUS.] Hail to your lordship!

_Nat._ Who ’s that salutes your cousin?

_Lat._ ’T is one Cordus. _They whisper._ A gentleman of Rome: one that has writ 75 Annals of late, they say, and very well.

_Nat._ Annals? Of what times?

_Lat._ I think of Pompey’s,[1395] And Caius Caesar’s; and so down to these.

_Nat._ How stands he affected to the present state? Is he or Drusian,[1396] or Germanican, 80 Or ours, or neutral?

_Lat._ I know him not so far.

_Nat._ Those times are somewhat queasy[1397] to be toucht. Have you or seen or heard part of his work?

_Lat._ Not I; he means they shall be public shortly.

_Nat._ O, Cordus do you call him?

_Lat._ Ay. [_Exeunt_ NATTA _and_ SATRIUS.]

_Sab._ But these our times 85 Are not the same, Arruntius.[1398]

_Arr._ Times! The men, The men are not the same! ’T is we 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, 90 When Caesar durst be evil; and had power, As not to live his slave, to die his master? Or where’s the constant Brutus, that being proof Against all charm of benefits, did strike So brave a blow into the monster’s heart 95 That sought unkindly[1399] to captive his country? O, they are fled the light! Those mighty spirits Lie rak’d up with their ashes in their urns, And not a spark of their eternal fire Glows in a present bosom. All’s but blaze, 100 Flashes, and smoke, wherewith we labour so; There’s nothing Roman in us; nothing good, Gallant, or great. ’T is true that Cordus says, “Brave Cassius was the last of all that race.”

DRUSUS _passes by_ [_attended by_ HATERIUS, _etc._]

_Sab._ Stand by! Lord Drusus.[1400]

_Hat._ Th’ emp’ror’s son! Give place, 105

_Sil._ I like the prince well.

_Arr._ A riotous youth,[1401] There’s little hope of him.

_Sab._ That fault his age Will, as it grows, correct. Methinks he bears Himself each day more nobly than other; And wins no less on men’s affections, 110 Than doth his father lose. Believe me, I love him; And chiefly for opposing to Sejanus.[1402]

_Sil._ And I, for gracing his young kinsmen so,[1403] The sons[1404] of prince Germanicus:[1405] it shows A gallant clearness in him, a straight mind, 115 That envies not, in them, their father’s name.

_Arr._ His name was, while he liv’d, above all envy; And, being dead, without it. O, that man! If there were seeds of the old virtue left, 119 They liv’d in him.

_Sil._ He had the fruits, Arruntius, More than the seeds:[1406] 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 125 Than men, in nature; of a body as fair As was his mind; and no less reverend In face than fame:[1407] he could so use his state, Temp’ring his greatness with his gravity, As it avoided all self-love in him, 130 And spite in others. What his funerals lack’d In images and pomp, they had suppli’d With honourable sorrow, soldiers’ sadness, A kind of silent mourning, such as men, Who know no tears but from their captives, use 135 To show in so great losses.

_Cor._ I thought once, Considering their forms, age, manner of deaths, The nearness of the places where they fell, T’ have parallel’d him with great Alexander: For both were of best feature, of high race, 140 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, 145 Giddy, and drunken Macedon’s, as mine Doth with my bondman’s. All the good in him, His valour, and his fortune, he made his; But he had other touches of late Romans, 149 That more did speak him:[1408] Pompey’s dignity, The innocence of Cato, Caesar’s spirit, Wise Brutus’ temp’rance: and every virtue, Which, parted unto others, gave them name, Flow’d mixt in him. He was the soul of goodness; And all our praises of him are like streams 155 Drawn from a spring, that still rise full, and leave The part remaining greatest.

_Arr._ I am sure He was too great for us,[1409] and that they knew Who did remove him hence.

_Sab._ When men grow fast Honour’d and lov’d, there is a trick in state, 160 (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, 165 Where they may purge, and lessen; so was he:[1410] And had his seconds there, sent by Tiberius And his more subtile dam, to discontent him; To breed and cherish mutinies; detract His greatest actions; give audacious check 170 To his commands; and work to put him out In open act of treason. All which snares When his wise cares prevented,[1411] a fine poison Was thought on, to mature their practices.

_Cor._ Here comes Sejanus.[1412]

_Sil._ Now observe the stoops, 175 The bendings, and the falls.

_Arr._ Most creeping base!

[_Enter_] SEJANUS, TERENTIUS, SATRIUS, [NATTA,] _etc._ _They pass over the stage._

_Sej._ I note ’em well: no more. Say you?

_Sat._ My lord. There is a gentleman of Rome would buy——

_Sej._ How call you him you talk’d with?

_Sat._ Please your worship, It is Eudemus,[1413] the physician 180 To Livia, Drusus’ wife.

_Sej._ On with your suit. Would buy, you said——

_Sat._ A tribune’s place, my lord.

_Sej._ What will he give?

_Sat._ Fifty sestertia.[1414]

_Sej._ Livia’s physician, say you, is that fellow?

_Sat._ It is, my lord. Your lordship’s answer?

_Sej._ To what? 185

_Sat._ The place, my lord. ’T is for a gentleman Your lordship will well like of, when you see him, And one that you may make yours, by the grant.

_Sej._ Well, let him bring his money, and his name.

_Sat._ Thank your lordship. He shall, my lord.

_Sej._ Come hither. 190 Know you this same Eudemus? Is he learn’d?

_Sat._ Reputed so, my lord, and of deep practice.

_Sej._ 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! [_Exeunt_ SEJANUS, SATRIUS, TERENTIUS, _etc._]

_Arr._ So! yet another? yet? O desperate state 195 Of grov’ling honour! Seest thou this, O sun, And do we see thee after? Methinks, day Should lose his light, when men do lose their shames, And for the empty circumstance of life, 200 Betray their cause of living.

_Sil._ Nothing so.[1415] Sejanus can repair, if Jove should ruin. He is the now court-god; and well applied With sacrifice of knees, of crooks, and cringe, He will do more than all the house of heav’n 205 Can for a thousand hecatombs. ’T is he Makes us our day, or night; hell and elysium Are in his look. We talk of Rhadamanth, Furies, and firebrands; but ’t is his frown 209 That is all these; where, on the adverse part, His smile is more than e’er yet poets feign’d Of bliss, and shades, nectar—

_Arr._ A serving boy! I knew him, at Caius’[1416] trencher, when for hire He prostituted his abused body To that great gourmand, fat Apicius: 215 And was the noted pathic[1417] of the time.

_Sab._ And, now,[1418] the second face of the whole world! The partner of the empire, hath his image Rear’d equal with Tiberius, borne in ensigns; Commands, disposes every dignity. 220 Centurions, tribunes, heads of provinces, Praetors, and consuls; all that heretofore Rome’s general suffrage gave, is now his sale. The gain, or rather spoil of all the earth, One, and his house, receives.

_Sil._ He hath of late 225 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 230 Should be attempted, their united strength Would be far more than sever’d; and their life More strict, if from the city more remov’d.

_Sab._ Where now he builds what kind of forts he please, Is heard to court the soldier by his name, 235 Woos, feasts the chiefest men of action, Whose wants, nor loves, compel them to be his. And though he ne’er were liberal by kind,[1419] Yet to his own dark ends, he’s most profuse, Lavish, and letting fly he cares not what 240 To his ambition.

_Arr._ Yet hath he ambition? Is there that step in state can make him higher, Or more, or anything he is, but less?

_Sil._ Nothing but emp’ror.

_Arr._ The name Tiberius, I hope, will keep, howe’er he hath foregone 245 The dignity and power.

_Sil._ Sure, while he lives.

_Arr._ And dead, it comes to Drusus. Should he fail, To the brave issue of Germanicus; And they are three:[1420] too many—ha? for him To have a plot upon?

_Sil._ I do not know 250 The heart of his designs; but sure their face Looks farther than the present.

_Arr._ By the gods, If I could guess he had but such a thought, My sword should cleave him down from head to heart, But I would find it out; and with my hand 255 I’d hurl his panting brain about the air In mites as small as atomi t’ undo The knotted bed——

_Sab._ You are observ’d, Arruntius.

_Arr._ (_Turns to_ SEJANUS’ _clients_.) Death! I dare tell him so; and all his spies. You, sir, I would, do you look? and you.

_Sab._ Forbear. 260

[SCENE II.][1421]

[_Enter_] SATRIUS, EUDEMUS.

_Sat._ Here he will instant be; let’s walk a turn; You’re in a muse, Eudemus?

_Eud._ Not I, sir. [_Aside._] I wonder he should mark me out so. Well, Jove and Apollo form it for the best!

_Sat._ Your fortune’s made unto you now, Eudemus, 5 If you can but lay hold upon the means; Do but observe his humour, and—believe it— He is the noblest Roman, where he takes— [_Enter_ SEJANUS.] Here comes his lordship.

_Sej._ Now, good Satrius.

_Sat._ This is the gentleman, my lord.

_Sej._ Is this? 10 Give me your hand, we must be more acquainted. Report, sir, hath spoke out your art and learning: And I am glad I have so needful cause, However in itself painful and hard, To make me known to so great virtue—Look, 15 Who’s that, Satrius? [_Exit_ SAT.] I have a grief, sir, That will desire your help. Your name’s Eudemus?

_Eud._ Yes.

_Sej._ Sir?

_Eud._ It is, my lord.

_Sej._ I hear you are Physician to Livia, the princess.

_Eud._ I minister unto her, my good lord. 20

_Sej._ You minister to a royal lady, then.

_Eud._ She is, my lord, and fair.

_Sej._ That’s understood Of all their sex, who are or would be so; And those that would be, physic soon can make ’em: For those that are, their beauties fear no colours.[1422] 25

_Eud._ Your lordship is conceited.[1423]

_Sej._ Sir, you know it, And can, if need be, read a learned lecture On this, and other secrets. ’Pray you, tell me, What more of ladies, besides Livia, Have you your patients?

_Eud._ Many, my good lord. 30 The great Augusta, Urgulania, Mutilia Prisca, and Plancina; divers—

_Sej._ And all these tell you the particulars Of every several grief? how first it grew, And then increas’d; what action caused that; What passion that; and answer to each point 36 That you will put ’em?

_Eud._ Else, my lord, we know not How to prescribe the remedies.

_Sej._ Go to, You are a subtile nation, you physicians! And grown the only cabinets in court 40 To ladies’ privacies. Faith, which of these Is the most pleasant lady in her physic? Come, you are modest[1424] now.

_Eud._ ’T is fit, my lord.

_Sej._ Why, sir, I do not ask you of their urines, Whose smell’s most violet, or whose siege is best, 45 Or who makes hardest faces on her stool, Which lady sleeps with her own face a nights. Which puts her teeth off, with her clothes, in court, Or, which her hair, which her complexion, And, in which box she puts it. These were questions 50 That might, perhaps, have put your gravity To some defence of blush. But, I inquir’d, Which was the wittiest, merriest, wantonest? Harmless interrogatories, but conceits.—— Methinks Augusta should be most perverse, 55 And froward in her fit.

_Eud._ She’s so, my lord.

_Sej._ I knew it: and Mutilia the most jocund.

_Eud._ ’T is very true, my lord.

_Sej._ And why would you Conceal this from me, now? Come, what is Livia? I know she’s quick and quaintly spirited, 60 And will have strange thoughts, when she is at leisure: She tells ’em all to you?

_Eud._ My noblest lord, He breathes not in the Empire, or on earth, Whom I would be ambitious to serve (In any act that may preserve mine honour) 65 Before your lordship.

_Sej._ Sir, you can lose no honour, By trusting aught to me. The coarsest act Done to my service, I can so requite As all the world shall style it honourable: Your idle, virtuous definitions, 70 Keep honour poor, and are as scorn’d as vain: Those deeds breathe honour that do suck in gain.

_Eud._ But, good my lord, if I should thus betray The counsels of my patient, and a lady’s Of her high place and worth, what might your lordship, 75 (Who presently are to trust me with your own) Judge of my faith?

_Sej._ Only the best, I swear. Say now that I should utter you my grief, And with it the true cause; that it were love, And love to Livia: you should tell her this: 80 Should she suspect your faith? I would you could Tell me as much from her; see if my brain Could be turn’d jealous.[1425]

_Eud._ Happily,[1426] my lord, I could in time tell you as much and more; So I might safely promise but the first 85 To her from you.

_Sej._ As safely, my Eudemus, I now dare call thee so, as I have put The secret into thee.

_Eud._ My lord——

_Sej._ Protest not, Thy looks are vows to me; use only speed, And but affect her with Sejanus’ love, 90 Thou art a man made to make consuls. Go.

_Eud._ My lord, I’ll promise you a private meeting. This day together.

_Sej._ Canst thou?

_Eud._ Yes.

_Sej._ The place?

_Eud._ My gardens, whither I shall fetch your lordship.

_Sej._ Let me adore my Aesculapius. 95 Why, this indeed is physic! and outspeaks The knowledge of cheap drugs, or any use Can be made out of it! more comforting Than all your opiates, juleps, apozems,[1427] Magistral[1428] syrups, or——Begone, my friend, Not barely styled, but created so; 101 Expect things greater than thy largest hopes, To overtake thee. Fortune shall be taught To know how ill she hath deserv’d thus long, To come behind thy wishes. Go, and speed—— [_Exit_ EUDEMUS.] Ambition makes more trusty slaves than need. These fellows, by the favour of their art, 107 Have still the means to tempt; oft-times the power. If Livia will be now corrupted, then Thou hast the way, Sejanus, to work out 110 His secrets, who, thou know’st, endures thee not, Her husband, Drusus: and to work against them. Prosper it, Pallas, thou that better’st wit; For Venus hath the smallest share in it.

[_Enter_] TIBERIUS, DRUSUS, [_attended._] _One kneels to_ TIBERIUS.

_Tib._ We not endure these flatteries; let him stand; 115 Our empire, ensigns, axes, rods, and state Take not away our human nature from us: Look up on us, and fall before the gods.

_Sej._ How like a god speaks Cæsar!

_Arr._ [_Aside to_ CORDUS.] There, observe! He can endure that second, that’s no flattery. O, what is it proud slime will not believe, 121 Of his own worth, to hear it equal prais’d Thus with the gods!

_Cor._ He did not hear it, sir.

_Arr._ He did not? Tut, he must not, we think meanly. ’T is your most courtly known confederacy, 125 To have your private parasite redeem What he, in public subtilety, will lose To making him a name.

_Hat._ Right mighty lord—— [_Gives him letters._]

_Tib._ We must make up our ears ’gainst these assaults Of charming tongues; we pray you use no more These contumelies to us; style not us 131 Or lord, or mighty, who profess ourself The servant of the senate, and are proud T’ enjoy them our good, just, and favouring lords.

_Cor._ Rarely dissembled!

_Arr._ Prince-like to the life. 135

_Sab._ When power that may command, so much descends, Their bondage, whom it stoops to, it intends.

_Tib._ Whence are these letters?

_Hat._ From the senate.

_Tib._ So, Whence these? [LAT. _gives him letters_.]

_Lat._ From thence too.

_Tib._ Are they sitting now?

_Lat._ They stay thy answer, Caesar.

_Sil._ If this man 140 Hath but a mind allied unto his words, How blest a fate were it to us, and Rome! We could not think[1429] that state for which to change, Although the aim were our old liberty: The ghosts of those that fell for that, would grieve 145 Their bodies liv’d not, now, again to serve. Men are deceiv’d, to think there can be thrall Beneath a virtuous prince. Wish’d liberty Ne’er lovelier looks, than under such a crown. But, when his grace is merely but lip-good, 150 And that no longer than he airs himself Abroad in public, there, to seem to shun The strokes and stripes of flatterers, which within Are lechery unto him, and so feed His brutish sense with their afflicting sound, 155 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. 160 Flattery is midwife unto prince’s rage: And nothing sooner doth help forth a tyrant, Than that and whisperers’ grace, who have the time, The place, the power, to make all men offenders.

_Arr._ He should be told this; and be bid dissemble 165 With fools and blind men: we that know the evil, Should hunt the palace-rats, or give them bane.[1430] Fright hence these worse than ravens, that devour The quick, where they but prey upon the dead: He shall be told it.

_Sab._ Stay, Arruntius, 170 We must abide our opportunity, And practise what is fit, as what is needful. It is not safe t’ enforce a sovereign’s ear: Princes hear well, if they at all will hear.

_Arr._ Ha, say you so? well! In the mean time, Jove, 175 (Say not but I do call upon thee now,) Of all wild beasts preserve me from a tyrant; And of all tame, a flatterer.

_Sil._ ’T is well pray’d.

_Tib._ [_having read the letters._] Return the lords this voice: We are their creature, And it is fit a good and honest prince, 180 Whom they, out of their bounty, have instructed With so dilate[1431] and absolute a power, Should owe the office of it to their service, And good of all and every citizen. Nor shall it e’er repent us to have wish’d 185 The senate just and fav’ring lords unto us, Since their free loves do yield no less defence T’ a prince’s state, than his own innocence. Say then, there can be nothing in their thought Shall want to please us, that hath pleased them; Our suffrage rather shall prevent[1432] than stay 191 Behind their wills: ’t is empire to obey, Where such, so great, so good determine. Yet, for the suit of Spain t’ erect a temple In honour of our mother and our self, 195 We must, with pardon of the senate, not Assent thereto. Their lordships may object Our not denying the same late request Unto the Asian cities: we desire That our defence for suffering that be known 200 In these brief reasons, with our after purpose. Since deified Augustus hind’red not A temple to be built at Pergamum, In honour of himself and sacred Rome; We, that have all his deeds and words observ’d Ever, in place of laws, the rather follow’d 206 That pleasing precedent, because with ours, The senate’s reverence, also, there was join’d. But as, t’ have once receiv’d it, may deserve The gain of pardon; so, to be ador’d 210 With the continu’d style and note[1433] of gods, Through all the provinces, were wild ambition, And no less pride: yea, ev’n Augustus’ name Would early vanish, should it be profan’d 214 With such promiscuous flatteries. For our part, We here protest it, and are covetous Posterity should know it, we are mortal; And can but deeds of men: ’t were glory enough, Could we be truly a prince. And they shall add Abounding grace unto our memory, 220 That shall report us worthy our forefathers, Careful of your affairs, constant in dangers, And not afraid of any private frown For public good. These things shall be to us Temples and statues, reared in your minds, 225 The fairest, and most during imag’ry: For those of stone or brass, if they become Odious in judgment of posterity, Are more contemn’d as dying sepulchres, Than ta’en for living monuments. We then 230 Make here our suit, alike to gods and men; The one, until the period of our race, T’ inspire us with a free and quiet mind, Discerning both divine and human laws; The other, to vouchsafe us after death, 235 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 240 They should, without being satisfied, pursue: Contempt of fame begets contempt of virtue.

_Nat._ Rare!

_Sat._ Most divine!

_Sej._ The oracles are ceas’d, That only Caesar, with their tongue, might speak.

_Arr._ Let me be gone: most felt and open this! 245

_Cor._ Stay.

_Arr._ What! to hear more cunning and fine words, With their sound flatter’d ere their sense be meant?

_Tib._ Their choice of Antium, there to place the gift, Vow’d to the goddess[1434] for our mother’s health, We will the senate know, we fairly like; 250 As also of their grant to Lepidus, For his repairing the Aemilian place, And restoration of those monuments: Their grace, too, in confining of Silanus To th’ other isle Cithera, at the suit 255 Of his religious sister, much commends Their policy, so temp’red with their mercy. But for the honours which they have decreed To our Sejanus, to advance[1435] his statue In Pompey’s theatre, (whose ruining fire 260 His vigilance and labour kept restrain’d In that one loss,) they have therein outgone Their own great wisdoms, by their skilful choice And placing of their bounties on a man Whose merit more adorns the dignity 265 Than that can him; and gives a benefit, In taking, greater than it can receive. Blush not, Sejanus, thou great aid of Rome, Associate of our labours, our chief helper; Let us not force thy simple modesty 270 With off’ring at[1436] thy praise, for more we cannot, Since there’s no voice can take[1437] 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. 275 Nor let them ask the causes of our praise: Princes have still their grounds rear’d with themselves, Above the poor low flats of common men; And who will search the reasons of their acts, Must stand on equal bases. Lead, away: 280 Our loves unto the senate. [_Exeunt_ TIB., SEJAN., NATTA., HAT., SAT., Officers, _etc._]

_Arr._ Caesar!

_Sab._ Peace.

_Cor._ Great Pompey’s theatre was never ruin’d Till now, that proud Sejanus hath a statue Rear’d on his ashes.

_Arr._ Place the shame of soldiers 284 Above the best of generals? Crack the world, And bruise the name of Romans into dust, Ere we behold it!

_Sil._ Check your passion; Lord Drusus tarries.

_Dru._ Is my father mad, Weary of life and rule, lords, thus to heave 289 An idol up with praise? Make him his mate, His rival in the empire?

_Arr._ O, good prince!

_Dru._ Allow him statues, titles, honours, such As he himself refuseth?

_Arr._ Brave, brave Drusus!

_Dru._ The first ascents to sovereignty are hard; But ent’red once, there never wants or means, Or ministers, to help th’ aspirer on. 296

_Arr._ True, gallant Drusus.

_Dru._ We must shortly pray To Modesty, that he will rest contented—

_Arr._ Ay, where he is, and not write emp’ror.

_Re-enter_ SEJANUS, [SATRIUS, LATIARIS,] Clients, _etc._

_Sej._ There is your bill, and yours; bring you your man. [_To_ SATRIUS.] 300 I have mov’d for you, too, Latiaris.

_Dru._ What! Is your vast greatness grown so blindly bold, That you will over us?

_Sej._ Why then give way.

_Dru._ Give way, Colossus! Do you lift? Advance you? Take that! _Strikes him._

_Arr._ Good! brave! excellent, brave prince! 305

_Dru._ Nay, come, approach. [_Draws his sword._] What, stand you off? at gaze? It looks too full of death for thy cold spirits. Avoid mine eye, dull camel, or my sword Shall make thy brav’ry fitter for a grave, Than for a triumph. I’ll advance[1438] a statue 310 O’ your own bulk; but ’t shall be on the cross, Where I will nail your pride at breadth and length, And crack those sinews, which are yet but stretch’d With your swoln fortune’s rage.

_Arr._ A noble prince!

_All._ A Castor, a Castor, a Castor, a Castor. [_Exeunt all but_ SEJANUS.]

_Sej._ He that, with such wrong mov’d, can bear it through 316 With patience, and an even mind, knows how To turn it back. Wrath cover’d carries fate: Revenge is lost, if I profess my hate. What was my practice[1439] late, I’ll now pursue, As my fell justice: this hath styl’d it new. 321 [_Exit._]

CHORUS—of musicians.