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Sejanus.
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125

S E J A N U S

H I S

F A L L.

A   T R A G E D Y.

First Acted in the Year 1603. By the KINGS MAJESTY'S Servants.

With the Allowance of the Master of REVELS.

The Author B. J.
Non hic Centauros, non Gorgonas, Harpyiasque
   Invenies: Hominem pagina nostra sapit.  Mart.

To the no less Noble by VERTUE than BLOOD,

Esme Lord Aubigny.

MY LORD,

I
F ever any Ruine were so great as to survive, I think this be one I send you, The Fall of SEJANUS. It is a Poem, that (if I well remember) in your Lordships sight suffered no less Violence from our People here, than the Subject of it did from the Rage of the People of Rome; but with a different Fate, as (I hope) Merit: For this hath out-liv'd their Malice, and begot it self a greater Favour than he lost, the Love of Good Men. Amongst whom, if I make Your Lordship the first it thanks, it is not without a just Confession of the Bond Your Benefits have, and ever shall hold upon me.

Your Lordships most faithful Honourer,           

BEN. JOHNSON.

126

The A R G U M E N T.

Æ
Lius Sejanus, Son to Seius Strabo, a Gentleman of Rome, and born at Vulsinium, after his long Service in Court, first, under Augustus; afterward, Tiberius; grew into that Favour with the latter, and won him by those Arts, as there wanted nothing but the Name to make him a Co-partner of the Empire. Which Greatness of his, Drusus, the Emperor's Son, not brooking, after many smother'd Dislikes (it one day breaking out) the Prince struck him publickly on the Face. To revenge which Disgrace, Livia, the Wife of Drusus, (being before corrupted by him to her Dishonour, and the Discovery of her Husband's Counsels) Sejanus practiseth with, together with her Physician called Eudemus, and one Lygdus an Eunuch, to poyson Drusus. This their inhumane Act having successful and unsuspected passage, it emboldneth Sejanus to further and more insolent Projects, even the Ambition of the Empire; where finding the Lets he must encounter to be many and hard, in respect of the Issue of Germanicus, (who were next in hope for the Succession) he deviseth to make Tiberius self, his Means, and instils into his Ears many Doubts and Suspicions, both against the Princes, and their Mother Agrippina; which Cæsar jealously hearkning to, as covetously consenteth to their Ruine, and their Friends. In this time, the better to mature and strengthen his Design, Sejanus labours to marry Livia, and worketh (with all his Ingine) to remove Tiberius from the knowledge of Publick Business, with Allurements of a quiet and retired Life; the latter of which, Tiberius (out of a proneness to Lust, and a desire to hide those unnatural Pleasures, which he could not so publickly practise) embraceth: The former enkindleth his Fears, and there gives him first cause of doubt or suspect towards Sejanus: Against whom he raiseth (in private) a new Instrument, one Sertorius Macro, and by him underworketh, discovers the others Counsels, his Means, his Ends, sounds the Affections of the Senators, divides, distracts them: At last, when Sejanus least looketh, and is most secure, (with pretext of doing him an unwonted Honour in the Senate) he trains him from his Guards, and with a long doubtful Letter, in one day hath him suspected, accused, condemned, and torn in pieces, by the Rage of the People.


The PERSONS of the PLAY.

T I B E R I U S.
D R U S U S  sen.
N E R O.
D R U S U S  jun.
C A L I G U L A.
A R R U N T I U S.
S I L I U S.
S A B I N U S.
L E P I D U S.
C O R D U S.
G A L L U S.
R E G U L U S.
T E R E N T I U S.
L A C O.
E U D E M U S.
R U F U S.
 S E J A N U S.
L A T I A R I S.
V A R R O.
M A C R O.
C O T T A.
A F E R.
H A T E R I U S.
S A M Q U I N I U S.
P O M P O N I U S.
P O S T H U M U S.
T R I O.
M I N U T I U S.
S A T R I U S.
N A T T A.
O P S I U S.
T R I B U N I.
A G R I P P I N A. { L I V I A.

 S O S I A.
P R Æ C O N E S.
F L A M E N.
T U B I C I N E S.
N U N T I U S.
 L I C T O R E S.
M I N I S T R I.
T I B I C I N E S.
S E R V U S.



The SCENE

R O M E.


The Principal T R A G œ D I A N S were,

RIC. BURBADGE.
AUG. PHILIPS.
WIL. SLY.
JOH. LOWIN.
 WILL. SHAKESPEAR.
JOH. HEMINGS.
HEN. CONDEL.
ALEX. COOKE.


127
S E J A N U S.

Act I.

Sabinus, Silius, Natta, Latiaris, Cordus, Satrius, Arruntius,
Eudemus, Haterius, &c.

H
Ail, Caius Silius.
   Sil. Titius, Sabinus, Hail.
 Yo' are rarely met in Court!
   Sab. Therefore, well met.
   Sil. 'Tis true: Indeed, this place is not our Sphere.
   Sab. No, Silius, we are no good Inginiers.
We want the fine Arts, and their thriving use,
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, or painted Walls; or, on our Breasts,
Creep up, to fall, from that proud height, to which
We did by slavery, not by service, climb.
We are no guilty Men, and then no great;
We have no place in Court, office in State,
That we can say, we owe unto our Crimes:
We burn with no black Secrets, which can make
Us dear to the pale Authors; or live fear'd
Of their still waking Jealousies, to raise
Our selves a Fortune, by subverting theirs:
We stand not in the Lines, that do advance
To that so courted Point.   Sil. But yonder lean
a pair that do.   (Sab. Good Cousin Latiaris.)
   Sil. Satrius Secundus, and Pinnarius Natta,
The great Sejanus Clients: There be two,
Know more, than honest Councels: whose close Breasts,
Were they rip't 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, inform,
Smile, and betray; make guilty Men; then beg
The forfeit Lives, to get the Livings; cut
Mens Throats with Whisperings; sell to gaping Sutors
The empty Smoke, that flies about the Palace;
Laugh when their Patron laughs; sweat when he sweats;
Be hot and cold with him; change every Mood,
Habit, and Garb, as often as he varies;
Observe him, as his Watch observes his Clock;
And true, ar Turkiseas Turquoise in the dear Lords Ring,
Look well, or ill with him: ready to praise
His Lordship, if he spit, or but piss fair,
Have an indifferent stool, or break wind well;
Nothing can scape their catch.   Sab. Alas! these things
Deserve no note, confer'd with other vile,
And filthier Flatterers, that corrupt the Times:
When, not alone our Gentries chief are fain
To make their safety from such sordid acts,
But all our Consuls, and no little part
Of such as have been Prætors, yea, the most
Pedarii.
Of Senators (that else not use their Voices)
Start up in publick Senate, and there strive
Who shall propound most abject things, and base;
So much, as oft Tiberius hath been heard,
Leaving the Court, to cry, O race of Men,
Prepar'd for servitude! which shew'd, that he,
Who least the publick liberty could like,
As lothly brook'd their flat servility.
   Sil. Well, all is worthy of us, were it more,
Who with our Riots, Pride, and civil Hate,

[column break]

Have so provok'd the Justice of the Gods.
We, that (within these fourscore Years) 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 Man's Lusts;
And now to many: every ministring Spy
That will accuse, and swear, is Lord of you,
Of me, of all our Fortunes, and our Lives.
Our looks are call'd to question, and our words,
How innocent soever, are made Crimes;
We shall not shortly dare to tell our Dreams,
Or think, but 'twill be Treason.   Sab. "Tyrants Arts
"Are to give Flatterers, grace; Accusers, power;
"That those may seem to kill whom they devour.
Now good Cremutius Cordus.
   Cor. Hail to your Lordship.
   Nat. Who's that salutes your Cousin?
[They whisper.
   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 Pompey's,
And Caius Cæsar's; and so down to these.
   Nat. How stands h' affected to the present State?
Is he or Drusian? or Germanican?
Or ours? or Neutral?   Lat. I know him not so far.
   Nat. Those times are somewhat queasie to be toucht.
Have you or seen or heard part of his work?
   Lat. Not I, he means they shall be publick shortly.
   Nat. O, Cordus do you call him?
   Lat. I, Sab. but these our Times
Are not the same, Arruntius.   Arr. Times? the Men,
The Men are not the same: 'tis we are base,
Poor, and degenerate from th' exalted strain
Of our great Fathers. Where is now the Soul
Of God-like Cato? he, that durst be good,
When Cæsar 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 Monsters Heart
That fought unkindly 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,
Flashes, and smoke, wherewith we labour so,
There's nothing Roman in us; nothing Good,
Gallant, or Great: 'Tis true, that Cordus says,
Brave Cassius was the last of all that Race.
[Drusus passeth by.

   Sab. Stand by, Lord Drusus.
   Hat. Th' Emperours Son, give place.
   Sil. I like the Prince well.   Arr. A riotous youth.
There's little hope of him.   Sab. That fault his Age
Will, as it grows, correct. Methinks he bears
Himself, each Day, more Nobly than other:
And wins no less on Mens Affections,
Than doth his Father lose. Believe me, I love him;
And chiefly for opposing to Sejanus.
   Sil. And I, for gracing his young Kinsmen so,
The Sons of Prince Germanicus: It shews
A gallant Cleerness in him, a straight Mind,
That envies not, in them, their Fathers Name.
Arr. His


128 Sejanus.                     

   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 vertue left,
They liv'd in him.   Sil. He had the Fruits, Arruntius,
More than the Seeds: Sabinus, and my self
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 vertue; In all,
And every action, nearer to the Gods,
Than Men, in Nature; of a Body as fair
As was his Mind; and no less reverend
In Face, than Fame: He could so use his state,
Temp'ring his Greatness, with his Gravity,
As it avoided all self-love in him,
And spight 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
To shew 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 paralell'd 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 Bond-mans. 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: Pompey's Dignity,
The Innocence of Cato, Cæsar's Spirit,
Wise Brutus Temp'rance; and every Vertue,
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
Drawn from a Spring, that still rise full, and leave
The part remaining greatest.   Arr. I am sure
He was too great for us, and that they knew
Who did remove him hence.   Sab. When Men grow fast
Honour'd, and lov'd, 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 Embassie, the War, or such,
To shift them forth into another Air,
Where they may purge, and lessen; so was he:
And had his seconds there, sent by Tiberius,
And his more subtile Dam, to discontent him;
To breed, and cherish Mutinies; detract
His greatest Actions; give audacious check
To his Commands; and work to put him out
In open act of Treason. All which snares
When his wise cares prevented, a fine Poyson
Was thought on, to mature their practices.
   Cor. Here comes Sejanus.   Sil. Now observe the stoops,
The bendings, and the falls.   Arr. Most creeping base!

[They pass over
    the Stage.
         Sejanus, Satrius, Terentius, &c.


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 Lordship, it is Eudemus, the Physician
To Livia, Drusus's Wife.   Sej. On with your Sute.
Would buy, you said —   Sat. A Tribunes place, my Lord.
   Sej. What will he give?   Sat. Fifty Sestertia.
   Sej. Livia's Physician, say you, is that Fellow?

[column break]

   Sat. It is, my Lord, your Lordships answer.
   Sej. To what?
   Sat. The Place, my Lord. 'Tis for a Gentleman,
Your Lordship will well like of, when you see him;
And one, you make yours, by the grant.
   Sej. Well, let him bring Money, and his Name.
   Sat. 'Thank your Lordship. He shall, my Lord.
   Sej. Come hither.
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.
   Arr. So, yet! another? yet? O desperate state
Of grov'ling honour! Seest thou this, O Son,
And do we see thee after? Methinks, day
Should lose his light, when Men do lose their shames,
And for the empty circumstance of life,
Betray their cause of living.   Sil. Nothing so.
Sejanus can repair, if Jove should ruine.
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
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, than e're (yet) Poets fain'd
Of Bliss, and Shades, Nectar — Arr. A serving Boy!
I knew him, at Caius trencher, when for hire,
He prostituted his abused Body
To that great gormond, fat Apicius;
And was the noted Pathick of the time.
   Sab. And, now, the second face of the whole World.
The partner of the Empire, hath his Image
Rear'd equal with Tiberius, born in Ensigns,
Commands, disposes every Dignity,
Centurions, Tribunes, Heads of Provinces,
Prætors, 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.   Sil. He hath of late
Made him a strength too, strangely, by reducing
All the Prætorian 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 than sever'd; and their life
More strict, if from the City more remov'd.
   Sab. Where, now, he builds, what kind of Fort's he please,
Is hardheard to court the Soldier, by his name,
Wooes, feasts the chiefest Men of action,
Whose wants, not loves, compel them to be his.
And though he ne'r were liberal by kind,
Yet, to his own dark ends, he's most profuse,
Lavish, and letting fly, he cares not what
To his Ambition.   Arr. Yet, hath he Ambition?
Is there that step in State can make him higher?
Or more? or any thing he is, but less?
   Sil. Nothing, but Emp'rour.   Ar. 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 fail,
To the brave issue of Germanicus;
And they are three: Too many (ha?) for him
To have a Plot upon?   Sab. I do not know
The Heart of his Designs; but, sure, their Face
Looks farther than the present.   Arr. By the Gods,
If I could guess he had but such a thought,
My Sword should cleave him down from Head to Heart,
But I would find it out: and with my Hand
I'ld hurl his panting Brain about the Air,
In


             Sejanus. 129

In Mites, as small as Atomes, to undo
The knotted Bed — Sab. You are observ'd Arruntius.
   Arr. Death! I dare to tell him so; and all his Spies:
[He turns to Sejanus Clyents.

You, Sir, I would, do you look? and you.   Sab. Forbear.

Satrius, Eudemus, Sejanus.

H
Ere' he will instant be: Let's walk a turn;
 Yo' are in a muse, Eudemus?   Eud. Not I, Sir.
I wonder he should mark me out so! well,
Jove and Apollo form it for the best.
   Sat. Your Fortune's made unto you now, Eudemus,
If you can but lay hold upon the means;
Do but observe his humour, and — believe it —
He's the noblest Roman, where he takes —
Here comes his Lordship.   Sej. Now, good Satrius.
   Sat. This is the Gentleman, my Lord.   Sej. 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 have so needful cause,
(However in it self painful and hard)
To make me known to so great Vertue. Look,
Who's that? Satrius —— 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.
   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, Physick soon can make 'em:
For those that are, their Beauties fear no Colours.
   Eud. Your Lordship is conceited.   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.
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
That you will put 'em.   Eud. Else, my Lord, we know not
How to prescribe the Remedies.   Sej. Go to,
Yo' are a subtil Nation, you Physicians!
And grown the only Cabinets in Court,
To Ladies Privacies. Faith, which of these
Is the most pleasunt Lady in her Physick?
Come, you are modest now.   Eud. 'Tis fit, my Lord.
   Sej. Why, Sir, I do not ask you of their Urines,
Whose smels most Violet? or whose Seige is best?
Or who makes hardest Faces on her Stool?
Which Lady sleeps with her own Face a Nights?
Which puts her Teeth off, with her Clothes in Court?
Or, which her Hair? which her Complexion?
And, in which Box she puts it? These were questions,
That might, perhaps, have put your Gravity
To some defence of blush. But, I enquir'd,
Which was the wittiest? merriest? wantonnest?
Harmless Intergatories,Inter'gatories but Conceits.
Methinks, Augusta should be most perverse,
And froward in her Fit?   Eud. She's so, my Lord.
   Sej. I knew it. And Mutilia the most jocund.
   Eud. 'Tis very true, my Lord.   Sej. And why would you
Conceal this from me, now? Come, what's Livia?
I know she's quick and quaintly spirited,
And will have strange thoughts, when she's at leisure?
She tells 'em all to you.   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)
Before your Lordship.   Sej. Sir, you can lose no honour,

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By trusting ought to me. The coursest act
Done to my Service, I can so requite,
As all the World shall stile it honourable:
"Your idle vertuous definitions
"Keep honour poor, and are as scorn'd as vain:
"Those Deeds breath Honour that do suck in gain.
   Eud. But, good my Lord, if I should thus betray
The Counsels 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)
Judg 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?
Should she suspect your Faith? I would you could
Tell me as much from her; see if my Brain
Could be turn'd jealous.   Eud. 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.   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's love,
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 Æsculapius.
Why, this indeed is Physick! and out-speaks
The knowledge of cheap Drugs, or any use
Can be made out of it! more comforting
ThenThan all your Opiates, Juleps, Apozemes,
Magistral Syrrups, or — Be gone my Friend
Not barely stiled, but created so;
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.
"Ambition makes most trusty Slaves than need.
These Fellows, by the favour of their Art,
Have still the means to tempt; oft-times the Power.
If Livia will be now corrupted, then
Thou hast the way, Sejanus, to work out
His Secrets, who (thou knowst) 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.

[One
kneels
to him.
W
E 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.
   Sej. How like a God speaks Cæsar! Arr. There, observe!
He can endure that second, that's no flattery.
O, what is it, proud Slime will not believe
Of his own worth, to hear it equal prais'd
Thus with the Gods?   Cor. He did not hear it, Sir?
   Arr. He did not. Tut, he must not, we think meanly.
'Tis your most courtly known Confederacy,
To have your private Parasite redeem
What he in publick subtilty will lose
To making him a Name.   Hat. Right mighty Lord —
   Tib. We must make up our Ears 'gainst these Assaults
Of charming Tongues; we pray you use no more
These Contumelies to us; stile not us
Or Lord, or Mighty, who profess our self
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.
   Sab. 'When power, that may command, so much descends,
'Their Bondage, whom it stoops to, it intends.
S                                              Tib.       


130 Sejanus.                     

   Tib. Whence are these Letters?   Hat. From the Senate.
      Tib. So.
Whence these?   Lat. From thence too.   Tib. Are they
      sitting now?
   Lat. They stay thy answer, Cæsar.   Sil. If this Man
Had but a mind allied unto his words,
How blest a fate were it to us, and Rome?
We could not think that State for which to change,
Although the aym were our old Liberty:
The Ghosts of those that fell for that, would grieve
Their Bodies liv'd not, now, again to serve.
"Men are deceiv'd, who think there can be thrall
"Beneath a Vertuous Prince. Wish'd liberty
"Ne're lovelier looks, than under such a Crown.
But, when his Grace is meerly but Lip-good,
And, that no longer than he airs himself
Abroad in publick, 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 Vertue) he permits himself
Be carried like a Pitcher by the Ears,
To every act of Vice: this is a Case
Deserves our fear, and doth presage the nigh
And close approach of Blood and Tyranny.
"Flattery is Midwife unto Princes rage:
"And nothing sooner, doth help forth a Tyran,
"ThenThan that, and whisperers grace, who have the time,
"The place, the power, to make all Men Offenders.
   Arr. He should be told this; and be bid dissemble
With Fools and blind Men: we that know the evil,
Should hunt the Palace-rats, or give them bane;
Fright hence these worse than Ravens, that devour
The quick, where they but prey upon the Dead:
He shall be told it.   Sab. Stay, Arruntius,
We must abide our opportunity:
And practise what is fit, as what is needful.
"It is not safe t' enforce a Soveraigns Ear:
"Princes hear well, if they at all will hear.
   Arr. Ha? Say you so, well. In the mean time, Jove,
(Say not, but I do call upon thee now,)
Of all wild Beasts preserve me from a Tyran;
And of all tame, a Flatterer.   Sil. 'Tis well pray'd.
   Tib. Return the Lords this Voice, we are their Creature:
And it is fit, a good and honest Prince,
Whom they out of their Bounty have instructed
VVith so dilate and absolute a Power,
Should owe the Office of it to their Service,
And good of all and every Citizen.
Nor shall it e're repent us to have wish'd
The Senate just, and fav'ring Lords unto us,
"Since their free loves do yield no less defence
"T' a Princes 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, than stay
Behind their Wills: 'tis Empire, to obey,
Where such, so great, so grave, so good determine.
Yet, for the sute of Spain, t' erect a Temple
In honour of our Mother, and our self,
We must (with Pardon of the Senate) not
Assent thereto. Their Lordships may object
Our not denying the same late request
Unto the Asian Cities: We desire
That our defence for suffering that be known
In these brief Reasons, with our after purpose.
Since deified Augustus hindred 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
That pleasing President, because with ours,
The Senates reverence also, there, was joyn'd.
But, as, t' have once receiv'd it, may deserve

[column break]

The gain of pardon; so, to be ador'd
With the continu'd Stile, and note of Gods,
Through all the Provinces, were wild Ambition,
And no less pride: Yea even Augustus's name
Would early vanish, should it be prophan'd
With such promiscuous Flatteries. For our part,
We here protest it, and are covetous
Posterity should know it, we are mortal;
And can but Deeds of Men: 'twere Glory enough,
Could we be truly a Prince. And, they shall add
Abounding Grace unto our Memory,
That shall report us worthy our Fore-fathers,
Careful of your Affairs, constant in Dangers,
And not afraid of any private Frown
For publick good. These things shall be to us
Temples, and Statues, reared in our Minds,
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 tane for living Monuments. We then
Make here our sute, alike to Gods and Men,
The one, until the Period of our Race,
T' inspire us with a free and quiet Mind,
Discerning both divine and human Laws;
The other, to vouchsafe us after death,
An honourable mention, and fair praise,
T' accompany our Actions and our Name:
The rest of greatness Princes may Command,
And (therefore) may neglect; only, a long,
A lasting, high, and happy Memory
They should, without being satisfied, pursue.
Contempt of Fame begets contempt of Vertue.
   Nat. Rare! Sat. Most divine: Sej. The Oracles are ceas'd,
That only Cæsar, with their Tongue might speak.
   Arr. Let me be gone, most felt, and open this!
   Cor. Stay.   Arr. What, to hear more cunning, and fine
      words,
VVith their sound flatter'd, e're their Sense be meant?
   Tib.Their choise of Antium, there to place the Gift
Vow'd to the Goddess for our Mothers health,
Fortuna e-
questris.
VVe will the Senate know, we fairly like;
As also of their grant to Lepidus,
For his repairing the Æmilian Place,
And restauration of those Monuments:
Their grace too in confining of Silanus,
To th' other Isle Cithera; and the sute
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 his Statue
In Pompey's Theatre (whose ruining Fire
His vigilance, and labour kept restrain'd
In that one loss) they have, therein out-gone
Their own great Wisdoms, by their skilful choice,
And placing of their Bounties on a Man,
Whose merit more adorns the Dignity,
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
With offering at thy Praise, for more we cannot,
Since there's no Voice can take it. No Man here,
Receive our Speeches as Hyperboles:
For we are far from flattering our Friend,
(Let Envy know) as from the need to flatter.
Nor let them ask the Causes of our Praise;
Princes have still their grounds 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.
Our loves unto the Senate.   Arr. Cæsar.   Sab. Peace.
   Cor. Great Pompey's Theatre was never ruin'd
Till


             Sejanus. 131

Till now, that proud Sejanus hath a Statue
Rear'd on his Ashes.   Arr. Place the shame of Soldiers,
Above the best of Generals? crack the World!
And bruise the name of Romans into Dust,
E're we behold it!   Sil. Check your Passion;
Lord Drusus tarries.   Dru. 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.
   Dru. Allow him Statues, Titles, Honours, such,
As he himself refuseth?   Arr. Brave, brave Drusus!
   Dru. The first ascents to Soveraignty are hard;
But entred once there never wants or Means,
Or Ministers, to help th' Aspirer on.
   Arr. True, Gallant Drusus.   Dru. We must shortly pray
To Modesty, that he will rest contented ——
   Arr. I, where he is, and not write Emperor.

He enters, follow'd
   with Clients.
    Sejanus, Drusus, Arruntius, &c.

T
Here is your Bill, and yours; Bring you your Man:
 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 list? Advance you?
Take that.   Arr. Good! brave! excellent brave Prince!
[Drusus strikes him.

   Dru. Nay, come, approach. What, stand you off? at gaze?
It looks too full of death for thy cold Spirits.
Avoid mine Eye, dull Camel, or my Sword
Shall make thy brav'ry fitter for a Grave,
Than for a triumph. I'll advance a Statue,
O' your own bulk; but't shall be on the Cross:
Where I will nail your Pride at bredth and length,
And crack those Sinews, which are yet but stretch'd
With your swoln Fortunes rage.   Arr. A noble Prince!
   All. A Castor, a Castor, a Castor, a Castor!

Sejanus.

H
E that, with such wrong mov'd, can bear it through
 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 practise late, I'll now pursue
As my fell Justice. This hath stil'd it new.
C H O R U S —— Of Musicians.

Act II.

Sejanus, Livia, Eudemus.

P
Hysician, thou art worthy of a Province,
 For the great favours done unto our loves;
And, but that greatest Livia bears a part
In the requital of thy Services,
I should alone despair of 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 this Potion, we intend to Drusus,
(No more our Husband, now) whom shall we choose
As the most apt and ablest Instrument,
To Minister it to him?   Eud. I say, Lygdus.
   Sej. Lygdus? what's he?   Liv. An Eunuch Drusus loves.
   Eud. I, and his Cup-bearer.   Sej. Name not a second.
If Drusus love him, and he have that Place,
We cannot think a fitter.   Eud. True, my Lord.
For free access, and trust, are two main aids.
   Sej. Skilful Physician!   Liv. But he must be wrought
To th' undertaking, with some labour'd Art.
   Sej. Is he ambitious?   Liv. No.   Sej. Or covetous?
   Liv. Neither.   Eud. Yet, Gold is a good general Charm.

[column break]

   Sej. What is he then?   Liv. Faith only wanton light.
   Sej. How! Is he young, and fair?   Eud. A delicate youth.
   Sej. Send him to me, I'll work him. Royal Lady,
Though I have lov'd you long, and with that height
Of zeal, and duty, (like the Fire, which more
It mounts it trembles) thinking nought could add
Unto the fervour, which your Eye had kindled;
Yet, now I see your Wisdom, Judgment, Strength,
Quickness, and Will, to apprehend the means
To your own good and greatness, I protest
My self through rarified, and turn'd all Flame
In your affection: Such a Spirit as yours,
Was not created for the idle second,
To a poor flash, as Drusus; but to shine
Bright as the Moon among the lesser Lights,
And share the Sov'reignty of all the World.
Then Livia triumphs in her proper Sphear,
When she, and her Sejanus shall divide
The Name of Cæsar, and Augusta's Star
Be dimm'd with Glory of a brighter Beam:
When Agrippina's Fires are quite extinct,
And the scarce seen Tiberius borrows all
His little Light from us, whose folded Arms
Shall make one perfect 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.   Sej. Illustrious Lady! stay ——
   Eud. I'll tell his Lordship.   Sej. Who is't, Eudemus?
   Eud. One of your Lordships Servants brings you word
The Emp'ror hath sent for you.   Sej. O: where is he?
With your fair leave, dear Princess. I'll but ask
A Question, and return.   Eud. Fortunate Princess!
[He goes out.
How are you blest in the fruition
Of this unequal'd Man, this Soul of Rome,
The Empires Life, and Voice of Cæsar's World!
   Liv. So blessed, my Eudemus, as to know
The Bliss I have, with what I ought to owe
The means that wrought it. How do I look to day?
   Eud. Excellent clear, believe it. This same fucus
Was well laid on.   Liv. Methinks 'tis here not white.
   Eud. Lend me your Scarlet, Lady. 'Tis the Sun
Hath giv'n some little taint unto the Ceruse,
You should have us'd of the white Oyl I gave you.
Sejanus, for your love! his very Name
Commandeth above Cupid or his Shafts —
   (Liv. Nay, now yo' have made it worse.   Eud. I'll
      help it straight.)
And, but pronounc'd, is a sufficient Charm
Against all Rumour; and of absolute power
To satisfie for any Ladies Honour.
   (Liv. What do you now, Eudemus?   Eud. Make a
      light fucus,
To touch you o're withal.) Honour'd Sejanus!
What act (though ne're so strange and insolent)
But that addition will at least bear out,
If't do not expiate?   Liv. Here, good Physician.
   Eud. 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 prescrib'd you too,
To clear your Teeth, and the prepar'd Pomatum,
To smooth the Skin:) A Lady cannot be
Too curious of her form, that still would hold
The Heart of such a Person, made her Captive,
As you have his: who, to endear him more
In your clear Eye, hath put away his Wife,
The trouble of his Bed, and your Delights,
Fair Apicata, and made spacious room
To your new Pleasures.   Liv. How not we return'd
That with our hate of Drusus, and discovery
Of all his Counsels?   Eud. Yes, and wisely, Lady,
The ages that succeed, and stand far off
To gaze at your high Prudence, shall admire,
And reckon it an act, without your Sex:
S 2                                       It       


132 Sejanus.                     

It hath that rare appearance. Some will think
Your fortune could not yield a deeper sound,
Than mixt 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, Stile, and Titles are himself,
The often iterating of Sejanus:
They then will lose their thoughts, and be asham'd
To take acquaintance of them.   Sej. I must make
A rude departure, Lady. Cæsar sends
With all his haste both of Command and Prayer.
Be resolute in our Plot; you have my Soul,
As certain yours as it is my Bodies.
And, wise Physician, so prepare the Poyson,
As you may lay the subtil Operation
Upon some natural Disease of his.
Your Eunuch send to me. I kiss your Hands,
Glory of Ladies, and commend my Love
To your best Faith and Memory.   Liv. My Lord,
I shall but change your words. Farewel. Yet, this
Remember for your heed, he loves you not;
You know what I have told you: His designs
Are full of grudge and danger: we must use
More than a common speed.   Sej. Excellent Lady,
How you do fire my Blood!   Liv. Well, you must go?
The thoughts be best, are least set forth to shew.
   Eud. When will you take some Physick, Lady?
   Liv. When I shall, Eudemus: But let Drusus Drug
Be first prepar'd.   Eud. Were Lygdus made, that's done;
I have it ready. And to morrow Morning
I'll send you a Perfume, first to resolve
And procure Sweat, then prepare a Bath
To cleanse and clear the Cutis; against when
I'll have an excellent new Fucus made,
Resistive 'against'gainst the Sun, the Rain or Wind,
Which you shall lay on with a Breath or Oyl,
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 prescrib'd you better
Than Art could do.   Liv. Thanks, good Physician,
I'll use my Fortune (you shall see) with reverence.
Is my Coach ready?   Eud. It attends your Highness.

Sejanus.

I
F this be not Revenge, when I have done
 And made it perfect, let Ægyptian Slaves,
Parthians, and Bare-foot Hebrews brand my Face,
And print my Body full of Injuries.
Thou lost thy self, Child Drusus, when thou thought'st
Thou could'st 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 have provok'd, and this thy Fathers House
Crack in the Flame of my incensed Rage,
Whose fury shall admit no shame or mean.
Adultery? it is the lightest ill,
I will commit. A race of wicked Acts
Shall flow out of my Anger, and o're-spread
The Worlds wide Face, which no Posterity
Shall e're approve, nor yet keep silent: Things
That for their cunning, close, and cruel mark,
Thy Father would wish his; and shall (perhaps)
Carry the empty Name, but we the Prize.
On then my Soul, and start not in thy Course;
Though Heav'n drop Sulphur, and Hell belch out Fire,
Laugh at the idle Terrors: Tell proud Jove,
Between his Power and thine there is no odds:
'Twas only fear first in the World made Gods.

[column break]

Tiberius, Sejanus.

I
S yet Sejanus come?   Sej. He's here, dread Cæsar.
   Tib. Let all depart that Chamber, and the next:
Sit down, my Comfort. When the Master Prince
Of all the World, Sejanus, saith he fears;
Is it not fatal?   Sej. Yes, to those are fear'd.
   Tib. And not to him?   Sej. Not, if he wisely turn
That part of fate he holdeth, first on them.
   Tib. That Nature, Blood, and Laws of kind forbid.
   Sej. Do Policy and State forbid it?   Tib. No.
   Sej. 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.
   Sej. Whom hatred frights,
Let him not dream of sov'raignty.   Tib. Are Rites
Of Faith, Love, Piety, to be trod down,
Forgotten, and made vain?   Sej. All for a Crown.
The Prince who shames a Tyrants name to bear,
Shall never dare do any thing, but fear;
All the Command of Scepters quite doth perish
If it begin Religious thoughts to cherish:
Whole Empires fall, swayd by those nice respects;
It is the License of dark Deeds protects
Ev'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:   Sej. Yes, and do them throughly.
   Tib. Knows yet Sejanus whom we point at?   Sej. I,
Or else my Thought, my Sense, or both do err:
'Tis Agrippina?   Tib. She, and her proud Race.
   Sej. Proud? dangerous, Cæsar. For in them apace
The Fathers Spirit shoots up. Germanicus
Lives in their Looks, their Gate, their Form, t' upbraid us
With this close Death, if not revenge the same.
   Tib. The Act's not known.
   Sej. Not prov'd: But whispering Fame
Knowledg and proof doth to the Jealous give,
Who, then to fail, would their own thought believe.
It is not safe, the Children draw long breath,
That are provoked by a Parents death.
   Tib. It is as dangerous to make them hence,
If nothing but their Birth be their offence.
   Sej. Stay, till they strike at Cæsar: then their Crime
Will be enough, but late and out of time
For him to punish.   Tib. Do they purpose it?
   Sej. You know, Sir, Thunder speaks not till it hit.
Be not secure: none swiftlyer are opprest,
Than they whom Confidence betrays to rest.
Let not your daring make your danger such:
All Power's to be fear'd, where 'tis too much.
The Youths are (of themselves) hot, violent,
Full of great thought; and that Male-spirited Dame
Their Mother, slacks no means to put them on.
By large Allowance, popular Presentings,
Increase of Train, and State, suing for Titles;
Hath them commended with like Prayers, like Vows,
To the same Gods, with Cæsar: days and nights
She spends in Banquets and ambitious Feasts
For the Nobility; where Caius Silius,
Titius, Sabinus, old Arruntius,
Asinius Gallus, Furnius, Regulus,
And others of that discontented List,
Are the prime Guests. There, and to these, she tells
Whose Niece she was, whose Daughter, and whose Wife;
And then must they compare her with Augusta;
I, and prefer her too; commend her Form,
Extol her Fruitfulness; at which a showr
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 pleas'd,
And wantonly conceited of themselves,
As


             Sejanus. 133

As now, they stick not to believe they're such,
As these do give 'em out: and would be thought
(More than Competitors) immediate Heirs.
Whilst to their thirst of Rule they win the rout
(That's still the Friend of Novelty) with hope
Of future Freedom, which on every change,
That greedily, though emptily, expects.
Cæsar, 'tis age in all things breeds neglects,
And Princes that will keep old Dignity,
Must not admit too youthful Heirs stand by;
Not their own issue; but so darkly set
As shadows are in Picture, to give height,
And lustre to themselves.   Tib. We will command
Their rank thoughts down, and with a stricter hand
Than we have yet put forth, their trains must bate,
Their titles, feasts and factions.   Sej. Or your state.
But how, Sir, will you work?
   Tib. Confine 'em.   Sej. No.
They are too great, and that too faint a blow,
To give them now: it would have serv'd at first,
When, with the weakest touch, their knot had burst.
But, now, your care must be, not to detect
The smallest Cord, or Line of your suspect;
For such, who know the weight of Princes Fear,
Will, when they find themselves discover'd, rear
Their Forces, like seen Snakes, that else would lie
Roul'd in their Circles, close; Nought is more high,
Daring, or desperate, than Offenders found;
Where Guilt is, Rage and courage doth abound.
The course must be to let 'em still swell up,
Riot, and surfeit on blind Fortunes Cup;
Give 'em more Place, more Dignities, more Stile,
Call 'em to Court, to Senate: in the while,
Take from their strength some one, or twain, or more
Of the main Fautors; (It will fright the store)
And, by some by-occasion. Thus, with slight
You shall disarm first; and they (in Night
Of their Ambition) not perceive the train,
Till, in the Ingine, they are caught and slain.
   Tib. We would not kill, if we knew how to save;
Yet, than a Throne, 'tis cheaper give a Grave.
Is there no way to bind them by Deserts?
   Sej. 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 compell'd to bear,
Than praise his Sov'raign's Acts.
   Tib. We can no longer
Keep on our Mask to thee, our dear Sejanus;
Thy thoughts are ours, in all, and we but prov'd
Their voice, in our designs, which by assenting
Hath more confirm'd us, than if heartning Jove
Had, from his hundred Statues, bid us strike,
And at the stroke clickt all his Marble Thumbs.
But who shall first be struck?   Sej. First, Caius Silius;
He is the most of Mark, and most of Danger:
In Power and Reputation equal strong,
Having commanded an Imperial Army
Seven years together, vanquish'd Sacrovir
In Germany, and thence obtain'd to wear
The Ornaments triumphal. His steep fall,
By how much it doth give the weightier crack,
Will send more wounding terror to the rest,
Command them stand a-loof, and give more way
To our surprising of the principal.
   Tib. But what, Sabinus?   Sej. Let him grow a while,
His Fate is not yet ripe: We must not pluck
At all together, lest we catch our selves.
And there's Arruntius too, he only talks.
But Sosia, Silius's Wife, would be wound in
Now, for she hath a fury in her Breast,
More, than Hell ever knew; and would be sent
Thither in time. Then, is there on Cremutius

[column break]

Cordius, a writing Fellow, they have got
To gather Notes of the precedent times,
And make them into Annals; a most tart
And bitter Spirit (I hear): who, under colour
Of praising those, doth tax the present State,
Censures the Men, the Actions, leaves no trick,
No practice un-examin'd, parallels
The Times, the Governments; a profest Champion
For the old Liberty —   Tib. A perishing wretch.
As if there were that Chaos bred in things,
That Laws and Liberty would not rather chuse
To be quite broken, and ta'ne hence by us,
Than have the stain to be preserv'd by such.
Have we the means, to make these guilty, first?
   Sej. Trust that to me: let Cæsar, by his power,
But cause a formal meeting of the Senate,
I will have Matter, and Accusers ready.
   Tib. But how? let us consult.   Sej. We shall mispend
The time of Action. Counsels are unfit
In business, where all rest is more pernicious
Than rashness can be. Acts of those close kind
Thrive more by execution than advice.
There is no lingring in that work begun,
Which cannot praised be, until through done.
   Tib. Our Edict shall, forthwith, command a Court.
While I can live, I will prevent Earths Fury:
'Emou qanontoV gaia micqhtw puri.

Posthumus, Sejanus.

M
Y Lord Sejanus —— Sej. Julius Posthumus,
 Come with my wish! what news from Agrippina's?
   Pos. Faith none. Thay all lock up themselves a-late;
Or talk in Character; I have not seen
A Company so chang'd. Except they had
Intelligence by Augury of our practice.
   Sej. When were you there?
   Pos. Last night.   Sej. And what Guests found you?
   Pos. Sabinus, Silius, (the old List) Arruntius,
Furnius and Gallus.   Sej. Would not these talk?   Pos. Little.
And yet we offer'd choice of Argument.
Satrius was with me.   Sej. Well: 'tis guilt enough
Their often meeting. You forgot t' extoll
The hospitable Lady?   Pos. No, that trick
Was well put home, and had succeeded too,
But that Sabinus caught a caution out;
For she began to swell:   Sej. And may she burst.
Julius, I would have you go instantly,
Mutilia
Prisca.
Unto the Palace of the great Augusta,
And (by your kindest friend) get swift access;
Acquaint her with these meetings: Tell the words
You brought me, (th' other day) of Silius,
And somewhat to 'em. Make her understand
The danger of Sabinus, and the times,
Out of his closeness. Give Arruntius words
Of Malice against Cæsar; so, to Gallus:
But (above all) to Agrippina. Say,
(As you may truly) that her infinite pride,
Propt with the hopes of her too fruitful Womb,
With popular Studies gapes for Soveraignty,
And threatens Cæsar. Pray Augusta then,
That for her own, great Cæsars, and the pub-
lick safety, she be pleas'd to urge these dangers.
Cæsar 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, practice, or prevent,
If he, for whom it is so strongly labour'd,
Shall, out of greatness, and free Spirit, be
Supinely negligent? Our City's now
Divided as in time o' th' Civil War,
And Men forbear not to declare themselves
Of Agrippina's party. Every day,
The Faction multiplies; and will do more,
If               


134 Sejanus.                     

If not resisted: you can best inlarge it,
As you find audience. Noble Posthumus,
Commend me to your Prisca: and pray her,
She will solicit this great business,
To earnest and most present Execution,
With all her utmost Credit with Augusta.
   Pos. I shall not fail in my Instructions.
   Sej. This second (from his Mother) will well urge
Our late design, and spur on Cæsar's rage:
Which else might grow remiss. The way to put
A Prince in blood, is to present the shapes
Of dangers, greater than they are (like late,
Or early shadows), and, sometimes, to fain
Where there are none, only, 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 have I made my rule,
To thrust Tiberius into Tyranny,
And make him toil, to turn aside those blocks,
Which I alone, could not remove with safety.
Drusus once gone, Germanicus three Sons
Would clog my way; whose Guards have too much faith
To be corrupted: and their Mother known
Of too-too unreprov'd a Chastity,
To be attempted, as light Livia was.
Work then, my art, on Cæsar's fears, as they
On those they fear, till all my bets be clear'd:
And he in Ruines of his House, and hate
Of all his Subjects, bury his own State.
When, with my peace, and safety, I will rise,
By making him the publick Sacrifice.

Satrius, Natta.

T
Hey'areThey're grown exceeding circumspect, and wary.
   Nat. They have us in the wind: And yet Arruntius
Cannot contain himself.   Sat. Tut, he's not yet
Look'd after, there are others more desir'd,
That are more silent.   Nat. Here he comes. Away.

Sabinus, Arruntius, Cordus.

H
Ow is it, that these Beagles haunt the house
 Of Agrippina?   Arr. O, they hunt, they hunt.
There is some Game here lodg'd, which they must rouse,
To make the great ones sport.   Cor. Did you observe
How they inveigh'd 'gainst Cæsar?   Arr. I, baits, baits,
For us to bite at: would I have my flesh
Torn by the publick hook, these qualified Hang-men
Should be my Company.   Cor. Here comes another.
   Arr. I, there's a Man, Afer the Orator!
One that hath Phrases, Figures, and fine Flowers,
To strew his Rhetorick with, and doth make haste
To get him note, or name, by any offer
Where Blood, or Gain be Objects; steeps his words,
VVhen he would kill, in artificial tears:
The Crocodile of Tyber! him I love,
That Man is mine; He hath my Heart and Voice,
VVhen I would curse; he, he.   Seb.Sab. Contemn the Slaves,
Their present Lives will be their future Graves.

Silius, Agrippina, Nero, Sosia.

M
Ay't please your Highness not forget your self,
 I dare not, with my Manners, to attempt
Your trouble farther.   Agr. Farewell, noble Silius.
   Sil. Most Royal Princess.   Agr. Sosia stays with us?
   Sil. She is your servant, and doth owe your Grace
An honest, but unprofitable Love.
   Agr. How can that be, when there's no gain, but vertuous?
   Sil. You take the Moral, not the Politick Sense.
I meant, as she is bold, and free of speech,
Earnest to utter what her zealous thought
Travails withal, in honour of your house;

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VVhich act, as it is simply born in her,
Partakes of Love and Honesty; but may,
By th' over often, and unseason'd use,
Turn to your loss and danger: For your State
Is waited on by Envies, as by Eyes;
And every second Guest your tables take,
Is a fee'd Spy, t' observe who goes, who comes,
VVhat conference you have, with whom, where, when,
VVhat the discourse is, what the looks, the thoughts
Of ev'ry person there, they do extract,
And make into a substance.   Agr. Hear me, Silius.
VVere all Tiberius body stuck with Eyes,
And ev'ry VVall and Hanging in my House
Transparent, as this Lawn I wear, or air;
Yea, had Sejanus both his Ears as long
As to my in-most Closet, I would hate
To whisper any thought, or change an act,
To be made Juno's Rival. Vertues forces
Shew ever noblest in conspicuous courses.
   Sil. 'Tis great, and bravely spoken, like the Spirit
Of Agrippina: yet, your Highness knows,
There is nor loss, nor shame in providence:
Few can, what all should do, beware enough.
You may perceive with what officious face,
Satrius, and Natta, Afer, and the rest
Visit your house, of late, t' enquire the secrets;
And with that bold, and priviledg'd Art, they rail
Against Augusta: yea, and at Tiberius;
Tell tricks of Livia, and Sejanus; all
T' excite, and call your indignation on,
That they might hear it at more liberty.
   Agr. Yo' are too suspicious, Silius.   Sil. Pray the Gods,
I be so Agrippina: But I fear
Some subtile practice. They, that durst to strike
At so examp-less, and unblam'd a Life,
As, that of the renown'd Germanicus,
Will not sit down, with that Exploit alone:
"He threatens many, that hath injur'd one.
   Ner. 'Twere best rip forth their tongues, sear out their eyes,
When next they come.   Sos. A fit reward for Spies.

Drusus ju. Agrippina, Nero, Silius.

H
Ear you the rumour?
   Agr. What?   Dru. Drusus is dying.
   Agr. Dying!   Ner. That's strange!
   Agr. Yo' were with him yesternight.
   Dru. One met Eudemus, the Physician,
Sent for, but now: who thinks he cannot live.
   Sil. Thinks! if't be arriv'd at that, he knows,
Or none.   Agr. This's quick! what should be his disease?
   Sil. Poyson, Poyson ——
   Agr. How, Silius!   Ner. What's that?
   Sil. Nay, nothing. There was (late) a certain blow
Giv'n o' the face.   Ner. I, to Sejanus?   Sil. True.
   Dru. And what of that?   Sil. I'm glad I gave it not.
   Ner. But, there is somewhat else?
   Sil. Yes, private meetings,
With a Wife turn'd away —— Ner. Ha!
   Sil. Toys, meer toys:
What wisdom's now i' th' streets, i' th' common mouth?
   Dru. Fears, whisp'rings, tumults, noise, I know not what:
They say the Senate sits.
   Sil. I'le thither straight;
And see what's in the Forge.   Agr. Good Silius, do;
Sosia, and I will in.   Sil. Haste you, my Lords,
To visit the sick Prince; tender your loves,
And sorrows to the people. This Sejanus
(Trust my divining soul) hath plots on all!
No tree, that stops his prospect, but must fall.

C H O R U S —— Of Musicians.

Act.


             Sejanus. 135

Act III.

The S E N A T E.

Sejanus, Varro, Latiaris. Cotta, Afer.

Gallus, Lepidus, Arruntius. Præcones, Lictores.

'T
Is only you must urge against him, Varro;
 Nor I, nor Cæsar may appear therein,
Except in your defence, who are the Consul:
And, under colour of late Enmity
Between your Father, and his, may better do it,
As free from all suspicion of a practice.
Here be your Notes, what Points to touch at; read:
Be cunning in them. Afer has them too.
   Var. But is he summon'd?   Sej. No. It was debated
By Cæsar, and concluded as most fit
To take him unprepar'd.   Afer. And prosecute
All under name of treason.   Var. I conceive.
   Sab. Drusus being dead, Cæsar will not be here.
   Gal. What should the business of this Senate be?
   Arr. That can my subtil whisperers tell you: We,
That are the good-dull-noble lookers on,
Are only call'd 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 sav'd
From Whips and Furies.   Gal. See, see, see their action!
   Arr. I, now their heads do travel, now they work;
Their Faces run like Shittles, they are weaving
Some curious Cobweb to catch flies.   Sab. Observe,
They take their places.
   Arr. What, so low?   Gal. O yes,
They must be seen to flatter Cæsar's grief,
Though but in sitting.   Var. Bid us silence.   Præ. Silence.
   Var. Fathers Conscript, may this our present meeting
Turn fair, and fortunate to the Common-wealth.

Silius, Senate.

S
Ee, Silius enters.   Sil. Hail grave Fathers.   Lic. Stand.
 Silius, forbear thy place. Sen. How! Præ. Silius stand forth,
The Consul hath to charge thee.   Lic. Room for Cæsar.
   Arr. Is he come too? nay then expect a trick.
   Sab. Silius accus'd? sure he will answer nobly.

Tiberius, Senate.

W
E stand amazed, Fathers, to behold
 This general dejection. Wherefore sit
Rome's Consuls thus dissolv'd, as they had lost
All the remembrance both of stile and place?
It not becomes. No woes are of fit weight,
To make the Honour of the Empire stoop:
Though I, in my peculiar self, may meet
Just reprehension, that so suddenly,
And, in so fresh a grief, would greet the Senate,
When private tongues, of Kinsmen and Allies,
(Inspir'd with comforts) lothly are endur'd,
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 fair helps draw out
From warm Embraces of the Common-wealth.
Our Mother, great Augusta, 'is struck with time,
Our self imprest with aged Characters,
Drusus is gone, his Children young and Babes;
Our aims must now reflect on those thay may
Give timely succour to these present ills,
And are our only glad-surviving hopes,
The Noble Issue of Germanicus,

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Nero and Drusus: Might it please the Consul
Honour them in, (they both attend without.)
I would present them to the Senates care,
And raise those Sums of joy that should drink up
These floods of sorrow in your drowned Eyes.
   Arr. By Jove, I am not Oedipus enough,
To understand this Sphynx.   Sab. The Princes come.

Tiberius, Nero, Drusus junior.

A
Pproach you Noble Nero, Noble Drusus.
 These Princes, Fathers, when their Parent died,                         
I gave unto their Uncle, with this prayer,
That, though h' had proper Issue of his own,
He would no less bring up, and foster these,
Than that self-blood; and by that act confirm
Their worths to him, and to posterity:
Drusus ta'ne hence, I turn my prayers to you,
And, 'fore our Country, and our Gods, beseech
You take, and rule Augustus Nephews Sons,
Sprung of the Noblest Ancestors; and so
Accomplish both my Duty, and your own.
Nero, and Drusus, these shall be to you
In place of Parents, these your Fathers, these;
And not unfitly: For you are so born,
As all your good, or ill's the Commonwealths.
Receive them, you strong Guardians; and blest Gods,
Make all their actions answer to their bloods:
Let their great titles find increase by them,
Not they by titles. Set them, as in place,
So in Example, above all the Romans:
And may they know no Rivals but themselves.
Let Fortune give them nothing; but attend
Upon their Vertue: and that still come forth
Greater than hope, and better than their fame.
Relieve me, Fathers, with your general Voice.
A form of speak-
   ing they had.
   Sen. May all the Gods consent to Cæsar's wish,
And add to any Honours, they may crown
The hopeful Issue of Germanicus.
   Tib. We thank you, reverend Fathers, in their right.
   Arr. If this were true now! but the space, the space
Between the Breast and Lips —— Tiberius Heart
Lies a thought farther than another Man's.
   Tib. My comforts are so flowing in my Joys,
As, in them, all my Streams of Grief are lost,
No less than are Land-waters in the Sea,
Or Showers in Rivers; though their Cause was such,
As might have sprinkled ev'n the Gods with tears:
Yet since the greater doth embrace the less,
We covetously obey.   (Arr. Well acted, Cæsar.)
   Tib. And now I am the happy witness made
Of your so much desir'd affections,
To this great Issue, I could wish, the Fates
Would have set' peaceful period to my days;
However, to my Labours, I intreat
(And beg it of this Senate) some fit ease.
   (Arr. Laugh, Fathers, laugh: Ha' you no spleens about you?)
   Tib. The burden is too heavy I sustain
On my unwilling shoulders; and I pray
It may be taken off, and re-confer'd
Upon the Consuls, or some other Roman,
More able, and more worthy.   (Arr. Laugh on still.)
   Sab. Why, this doth render all the rest suspected!
   Gal. It poysons 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,
A Wreath
of Laurel.
('Gainst which he wears that Charm) should
   but the Court
Receive him at his word.
   Gal. Hear.   Tib. For my self,
I know my weakness, and so little covet
(Like some gone past) the weight that will oppress me,
As my ambition is the Counter-point.
(Arr.               


136 Sejanus.                     

   (Arr. Finely maintain'd; good still.)
   Sej. But Rome, whose Blood,
Whose Nerves, whose Life, whose very Frame relies                 
On Cæsar's strength, no less than Heav'n on Atlas,
Cannot admit it but with general ruine.
   (Arr. Ah! are you there, to bring him off?)
   Sej. Let Cæsar
No more than urge a Point so contrary
To Cæsar's Greatness, the griev'd Senates Vows,
Or Rome's Necessity.   (Gal. He comes about.
   Arr. More nimbly than Vertumnus.)
   Tib. For the publick,
I may be drawn, to shew, I can neglect
All private aims; though I affect my rest:
But, if the Senate still command me serve,
I must be glad to practise my obedience.
   (Arr. You must and will, Sir. We do know it.
   Sen. Cæsar,
Another form.
Live long and happy, Great and Royal Cæsar;
The Gods preserve thee, and thy Modesty,
Thy Wisdom, and thy Innocence.   (Arr. Where is't?
The Prayer's made before the Subject.)   Sen. Guard
His Meekness, Jove, his Piety, his Care,
His Bounty —   Arr. And his Subtilty, I'le 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 satisfie so great a hope:
Proceed to your affairs.   Arr. Now, Silius, guard thee;
The Curtain's drawing. Afer advanceth.   Præ. Silence.
   Afe. Cite Caius Silius.    Præ. Caius Silius.   Sil. Here.
   Afe. The triumph that thou hadst in Germany
For thy late Victory on Sacrovir,
Thou hast enjoy'd so freely, Caius Silius,
As no man it envy'd thee; nor would Cæsar,
Or Rome admit, that thou were then defrauded
Of any Honours thy Deserts could claim,
In the fair Service of the Commonwealth:
But now, if, after all their Loves and Graces,
(Thy Actions, and their Courses being discover'd)
It shall appear to Cæsar, and this Senate,
Thou hast defil'd those Glories with thy Crimes ——
   Sil. Crimes?   Afe. Patience, Silius.
   Sil. Tell thy Moil of Patience
I' am a Roman. What are my Crimes? Proclaim them.
Am I too rich? too honest for the times?
Have I or Treasure, Jewels, Land, or Houses
That some Informer gapes for? Is my strength
Too much to be admitted? Or my knowledge?
These now are Crimes.   Afe. Nay, Silius, if the Name
Of Crime so touch thee, with what impotence
Wilt thou endure the matter to be search'd?
   Sil. I tell thee, Afer, with more scorn than fear:
Employ your mercenary tongue and art.
Where's my accuser?   Var. Here.
   Arr. Varro, the Consul,
Is he thrust in?   Varr. 'Tis I accuse thee, Silius.
Against the Majesty of Rome, and Cæsar,
I do pronounce thee here a guilty Cause,
First, of beginning and occasioning,
Next, drawing out the War in Gallia,
For which thou late triumph'st; dissembling long
That Sacrovir to be an Enemy,
Only to make thy Entertainment more,
Whilst thou, and thy Wife Sosia poll'd the Province;
Wherein, with sordid-base desire of Gain,
Thou hast discredited thy Actions worth,
And been a Traitor to the State.   Sil. Thou liest.
   Arr. I thank thee, Silius, speak so still and often.
   Var. If I not prove it, Cæsar, but unjustly
Have call'd him into trial; here I bind
My self to suffer, what I claim 'gainst him;
And yield to have what I have spoke, confirm'd

[column break]

By Judgment of the Court, and all good Men.
   Sil. Cæsar, I crave to have my Cause deferr'd,
Till this Man's Consulship be out.   Tib. We cannot,
Nor may we grant it.   Sil. Why? shall he design
My day of trial? Is he my accuser?
And must he be my Judge?   Tib. It hath been usual,
And is a Right that Custom hath allow'd
The Magistrate, to call forth private men;
And to appoint their day: Which priviledge
We may not in the Consul see infring'd,
By whose deep watches, and industrious care
It is so labour'd, as the Commonwealth
Receive no loss, by any oblique course.
   Sil. Cæsar, thy Fraud is worse than Violence.
   Tib. Silius, mistake us not, we dare not use
The Credit of the Consul, to thy wrong;
But only do preserve his Place and Power,
So far as it concerns the Dignity
And Honour of the State.   Arr. Believe him, Silius.
   Cot. Why, so he may, Arruntius.   Arr. I say so.
And he may chuse too.   Tib. By the Capitoll,
And all our Gods, but that the dear Republick,
Our sacred Laws, and just Authority
Are interess'd therein, I should be silent.
   Afe. Please' Cæsar to give way unto his trial.
He shall have Justice.   Sil. Nay, I shall have Law;
Shall I not Afer? Speak.   Afe. Would you have 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 raves, he raves.
   Sil. Thou durst not tell me so,
Had'st thou not Cæsar's warrant. I can see
Whose Power condemns me.
   Var. This betrays his Spirit.
This doth enough declare him what he is.
   Sil. What am I? speak.
   Var. An Enemy to the State.
   Sil. Because I am an Enemy to thee,
And such corrupted Ministers o' the State,
That here art made a present Instrument
To gratifie it with thine own disgrace.
   Sej. This, to the Consul, is most insolent?
And impious!   Sil. I, take part. Reveal your selves,
Alas! I scent 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 Vulcan's filing, a meer Ingine,
To take that Life by a Pretext of Justice,
Which you pursue in malice? I want Brain,
Or Nostril to perswade me, that your ends,
And purposes are made to what they are,
Before my answer? O, you equal Gods,
Whose Justice not a world of wolf-turn'd men
Shall make me to accuse (how e're provoke;)
Have I for this so oft engag'd my self?
Stood in the heat and fervour of a fight,
When Phœbus sooner hath forsook the day
Than I the Field, against the blew-ey'd Gauls,
And crisped Germans? When our Roman Eagles
Have fann'd the fire, with their labouring wings,
And no blow dealt, that left not death behind it?
When I have charg'd, alone, into the Troops
Of curl'd Sicambrians, routed them, and came
Not off, with backward Ensigns of a Slave;
But forward marks, wounds on my Breast and Face,
Were meant to thee, O Cæsar, and thy Rome?
And have I this return'd? Did I, for this,
Perform so noble, and so brave' defeat,
On


             Sejanus. 137

On Sacrovir? (O Jove, let it become me
To boast my Deeds, when he, whom they concern,
Shall thus forget them.)   Afe. Silius, Silius,
These are the common Customs of thy Blood,
When it is high with Wine, as now with Rage:
This well agrees with that intemperate Vaunt,
Thou lately mad'st at Agrippina's table,
That when all other of the Troops were prone
To fall into Rebellion, only yours
Remain'd in their obedience. You were he,
That sav'd the Empire, which had then been lost,
Had but your Legions, there, rebell'd, or mutin'd,
Your Vertue met, and fronted every Peril.
You gave to Cæsar, and to Rome their Surety,
Their Name, their Strength, their Spirit, and their State,
Their being was a Donative from you.
   Arr. Well worded, and most like an Orator.
   Tib. Is this true, Silius?
   Sil. Save thy Question, Cæsar,
Thy Spy, of famous Credit, hath affirm'd it.
   Arr. Excellent Roman!   Sab. He doth answer stoutly.
   Sej. If this be so, there needs no farther Cause
Of Crime against him.   Var. What can more impeach
The Royal Dignity, and State of Cæsar,
Than to be urged with a benefit
He cannot pay?   Cot. In this, all Cæsar's fortune
Is made unequal to the Courtesie.
   Lat. His means are clean destroy'd that should requite.
   Gal. Nothing is great enough for Silius's Merit.
   Arr. Gallus on that side to?
   Sil. Come, do not hunt,
And labour so about for Circumstance,
To make him guilty, whom you have fore-doom'd:
Take shorter ways, I'le meet your purposes.
The words were mine, and more I now will say:
Since I have done thee that great Service, Cæsar,
Thou still hast fear'd me; and, in place of Grace,
Return'd me Hatred: so soon all best turns,
With doubtful Princes, turn deep injuries
In estimation, when they greater rise,
Than can be answer'd. Benefits, with you,
Are of no longer pleasure, than you can
With ease restore them; that transcended once,
Your Studies are not how to thank, but kill.
It is your Nature, to have all Men Slaves
To you, but you acknowledging to none.
The means that makes your Greatness, must not come
In mention of it; if it do, it takes
So much away, you think: and that which help'd,
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 shews him in the rest.
   Lat. Let him be censur'd.
   Sej. He hath spoke enough to prove him Cæsar's Foe.
   Cot. His thoughts look through his words.
   Sej. A Censure.   Sil. Stay,
Stay, most officious Senate, I shall straight
Delude thy Fury. Silius hath not plac'd
His Guards within him, against Fortunes Spight,
So weakly, but he can escape your gripe
That are but Hands of Fortune: She her self
When Vertue doth oppose, must lose her threats.
All that can happen in Humanity,
The Frown of Cæsar, proud Sejanus's Hatred,
Base Varro's spleen, and Afer's bloodying tongue,
The Senates servile flattery, and these
Mustred to kill, I'am fortified against;
And can look down upon: they are beneath me.
It is not Life whereof I stand enamour'd:
Nor shall my end make me accuse my Fate.
The Coward, and the Valiant Man must fall,
Only the Cause, and Manner how, discerns them:

[column break]

Which then are gladdest, when they cost us dearest.
Romans, if any here be in this Senate,
Would know to mock Tiberius tyranny,
Stabs himself.
Look upon Silius, and so learn to die.
   Var. O, desperate act!
   Arr. An honourable hand!
   Tib. Look, is he dead?
   Sab. 'Twas nobly struck, and home.
   Arr. My thought did prompt him to it. Farewell, Silius.
Be famous ever for thy great Example.
   Tib. We are not pleas'd, in this sad accident,
That thus hath stalled, and abus'd our Mercy,
Intended to preserve thee, Noble Roman:
And to prevent thy hopes.   Arr. Excellent Wolf!
Now he is full he howls.   Sej. Cæsar doth wrong
His Dignity and Safety, thus to mourn
The deserv'd End of so profest a Traitor,
And doth, by this his Lenity, instruct
Others as factious, to the like Offence.
   Tib. The Confiscation meerly of his State
Had been enough.   Arr. O, that was gap'd for then?
   Var. Remove the body.   Sej. Let Citation
Go out for Sosia.   Gal. Let her be proscrib'd.
And for the Goods, I think it fit that half
Go to the Treasure, half unto the Children.
   Lep. With leave of Cæsar, I would think, that fourth
Part, which the Law doth cast on the Informers,
Should be enough; the rest go to the Children:
Wherein the Prince shall shew Humanity,
And Bounty, not to force them by their want
(Which in their Parents trespass they deserv'd)
To take ill courses.   Tib. It shall please us.   Arr. I,
Out of necessity. This Lepidus
Is grave and honest, and I have observ'd
A Moderation still in all his Censures.
   Sab. And bending to the better — Stay, who's this?
Cremutius Cordus? What! is he brought in?
   Arr. More Blood unto the Banquet? Noble Cordus,
I wish thee good: Be, as thy Writings, free,
And honest.   Tib. What is he?   Sej. For th' Annals, Cæsar.

Præco, Cordus, Satrius, Natta.

C
Remutius Cordus.   Cor. Here.   Præ. Satrius Secundus,
 Pinnarius Natta, you are his accusers.
   Arr. Two of Sejanus's Blood-hounds, whom he breeds
With humane flesh, to bay at Citizens.
   Afe. Stand forth before the Senate, and confront him.
   Sat. I do accuse thee here, CremutinsCremutius Cordus,
To be a Man factious and dangerous,
A Sower of Sedition in the State,
A turbulent, and discontented Spirit,
Which I will prove from thine own Writings, here,
The Annals thou hast publish'd; where thou bit'st
The present Age, and with a Vipers tooth,
Being a Member of it, dar'st that ill
Which never yet degenerous Bastard did
Upon his Parent.   Nat. To this, I subscribe;
And, forth a World of more Particulars,
Instance in only one: Comparing men,
And times, thou praisest Brutus, and affirm'st
That Cassius was the last of all the Romans.
   Cot. How! what are we then?
   Var. What is Cæsar, nothing?
   Afe. My Lords, this stikes at every Roman's private,
In whom reigns Gentry, and Estate of Spirit,
To have a Brutus brought in parallel,
A Parricide, an Enemy of his Countrey,
Rank'd, and preferr'd to any real worth
That Rome now holds. This is most strangely invective,
Most full of Spight, and insolent upbraiding.
Nor is't the time alone is here dispris'd,
But the whole man of time, yea, Cæsar's self
Brought in disvalue; and he aim'd at most
T                                       By            


138 Sejanus.                     

By this oblique glance of his licentious Pen.
Cæsar, 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 argu'd; yet those words
Not reaching either Prince, or Princes Parent:
The which your Law of Treason comprehends.
Brutus and Cassius, I am charg'd t' have prais'd:
Whose deeds, when many more, besides my self,
Have writ, not one hath mention'd without honour.
Great Titus Livius, great for Eloquence,
And Faith, amongst us, in his History,
With so great Praises Pompey did extoll,
As oft Augustus call'd 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 Thieves and Parricides,
Which Notes, upon their Fames, are now impos'd.
Asinius Pollio's writings quite throughout
Give them a Noble Memory; So Messalla
Renown'd his general Cassius: yet both these
Liv'd with Augustus, full of wealth and honours.
To Cicero's Book, where Cato was heav'd up
Equal with Heav'n, what else did Cæsar answer,
Being then Dictator, but with a penn'd Oration,
As if before the Judges? Do but see
Antonius's Letters; read but Brutus's pleadings:
VVhat vile reproach they hold against Augustus,
False I confess, but with much bitterness.
The Epigrams of Bibaculus, and Catullus,
Are read, full stuft with Spight of both the Cæsars;
Yet Deified Julius, and no less Augustus:
Both bore them, and contemn'd them: (I not know
Promptly to speak it, whether done with more
Temper, or wisdom) for such Obloquies
If they despised be, they die supprest;
But, if with Rage acknowledg'd, they are confest.
The Greeks I slip, whose Licence not alone,
But also Lust did scape unpunished:
Or where some one (by chance) Exception took,
He words with words reveng'd. But, in my work,
VVhat could be aim'd more free, or farther off
From the times Scandal, than to write of those,
VVhom Death from Grace, or Hatred had exempted?
Did I, with Brutus, and with Cassius,
Arm'd, and possess'd of the Philippi Fields,
Incense the People in the Civil Cause,
VVith dangerous Speeches? Or do they, being slain
Sev'nty years since, as by their Images
(VVhich not the Conquerour hath defac'd) appears,
Retain that guilty Memory with writers?
Posterity pays every Man his Honour.
Nor shall there want, though I condemned am,
That will not only Cassius well approve,
And of great Brutus's Honour mindful be,
But that will, also, mention make of me.
   Arr. Freely, and nobly spoken.
   Sab. With good temper,
I like him, that he is not mov'd with passion.
   Arr. He puts 'em to their whisper.
   Tib. Take him hence,
We shall determine of him at next sitting.
   Cot. Mean time, give order, that his Books be burnt,
To the Ædiles.   Sej. You have well advis'd.
   Afe. It fits not such licentious things should live
T' upbraid the age.
   Arr. If th' age were good, they might.
   Lat. Let 'em be burnt.
   Gal. All sought, and burnt to day.
   Præ. The Court is up; Lictors, resume the Fasces.

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Arruntius, Sabinus, Lepidus.

L
Et 'em be burnt! O, how ridiculous
 Appears the Senate's brainless diligence,
Who think they can, with present power, extinguish
The Memory of all succeeding times!
   Sab. 'Tis true, when (contrary) the punishment
Of wit, doth make th' authority increase.
Nor do they ought, that use this Cruelty
Of interdiction, and this rage of burning;
But purchase to themselves rebuke, and shame,
And to the writers an eternal Name.
   Lep. It is an argument the times are sore,
When Vertue cannot safely be advanc'd;
Nor Vice reprov'd.   Arr. I, Noble Lepidus,
Augustus well foresaw, what we should suffer,
Under Tiberius, when he did pronounce
The Roman Race most wretched, that should live
Between so slow jaws, and so long a bruising.

Tiberius, Sejanus.

T
His business hath succeeded well, Sejanus:
 And quite remov'd all jealousie of practice
'Gainst Agrippina, and our Nephews. Now,
We must bethink us how to plant our Ingines
For th' other pair, Sabinus, and Arruntius,
And Gallus too (how e're he flatter us,)
His heart we know.   Sej. Give it some respite, Cæsar.
Time shall mature, and bring to perfect Crown,
What we, with so good Vultures, have begun:
Sabinus shall be next.   Tib. Rather Arruntius.
   Sej. By any means, preserve him. His frank tongue
Being lent the Reins, will take away all thought
Of Malice, in your course against the rest.
We must keep him to stalk with.   Tib. Dearest head,
To thy most fortunate design I yield it.
   Sej. Sir — I have been so long train'd up in Grace,
First with your Father, great Augustus, since,
With your most happy Bounties so familiar,
As I not sooner would commit my hopes
Or wishes to the Gods, than to your Ears.
Nor have I ever, yet, been covetous
Of over-bright and dazling Honours: rather
To watch, and travail in great Cæsar's Safety,
With the most common Soldier.   Tib. 'Tis confest.
   Sej. The only gain, and which I count most fair
His daughter was
betroth'd to
Claudius, his
Son.
Of all my Fortunes, is, that mighty Cæsar,
Hath thought me worthy his alliance. Hence
Begin my hopes.   Tib. H'mh?
   Sej. I have heard, Augustus
In the bestowing of his Daughter, thought
But even of Gentlemen of Rome: If so,
(I know not how to hope so great a favour)
But if a Husband should be sought for Livia,
And I be had in Mind, as Cæsar's Friend,
I would but use the Glory of the Kindred.
It should not make me slothful, or less caring
For Cæsar's State; it were enough to me
It did confirm, and strengthen my weak House,
Against the-now-unequal opposition
Of Agrippina; and for dear regard
Unto my Children, this I wish: my self
Have no ambition farther than to end
My Days in service of so dear a Master.
   Tib. We cannot but commend thy Piety,
Most-lov'd Sejanus, in acknowledging
Those Bounties; which we, faintly, such remember.
But to thy suit. The rest of Mortal Men,
In all their Drifts, and Counsels, pursue profit:
Princes, alone, are of a different sort,
Directing their main Actions still to Fame.

We


             Sejanus. 139

We therefore will take time to think, and answer.
For Livia, she can best, her self, resolve
If she will marry, after Drusus, or
Continue in the Family; besides,
She hath a Mother, and a Grandame yet,
Whose nearer Counsels she may guide her by:
But I will simply deal. That Enmity
Thou fear'st in Agrippina, would burn more,
If Livia's Marriage should (as 'twere in parts)
Divide th' Imperial House; an Emulation
Between the women might break forth: and discord
Ruine the Sons, and Nephews on both Hands.
What if it cause some present difference?
Thou art not safe, Sejanus, if thou prove it.
Canst thou believe, that Livia, first the Wife
To Caius Cæsar, then my 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 shame?
Or say, that I should wish it, canst thou think
The Senate, or the People (who have seen
Her Brother, Father, and our Ancestors,
In highest place of Empire) will endure it?
The State thou hold'st already, is in talk;
Men murmure at thy Greatness; and the Nobles
Stick not, in publick, 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 hide these things
For Friendships dear respect. Nor will we stand
Adverse to thine, or Livia's designments.
What we had purpos'd to thee, in our thought,
And with what near degrees of love to bind thee,
And make thee equal to us; for the present,
We will forbear to speak. Only, thus much
Believe, our lov'd Sejanus, we not know
That height in Blood, or Honour, which thy Vertue,
And Mind to us, may not aspire with Merit.
And this we'll publish, on all watcht occasion
The Senate, or the People shall present.
   Sej. I am restor'd, and to my Sense again,
Which I had lost in this so blinding Suit.
Cæsar hath taught me better to refuse,
Than I knew how to ask. How pleaseth Cæsar
T' imbrace my late Advice, for leaving Rome?
   Tib. We are resolv'd.
   Sej. Here are some Motives more
Which I have thought on since, may more confirm.
   Tib. Careful Sejanus! we will straight peruse them:
Go forward in our main design and prosper.

Sejanus.

I
F those but take, I shall: dull, heavy Cæsar!
 VVouldst thou tell me, thy favours were made Crimes?
And that my Fortunes were esteem'd thy Faults?
That thou for me wert hated? and not think
I would with winged haste prevent that change,
VVhen thou mightst win all to thy self again,
By forfeiture of me? Did those fond words
Fly swifter from thy Lips, than this my Brain,
This sparkling Forge, created me an Armour
T' encounter chance and thee? VVell, read my Charms,
And may they lay that hold upon thy Senses,
As thou hadst snuft up Hemlock, or tane down
The Juyce of Poppy and of Mandrakes. Sleep,
Voluptuous Cæsar, and security
Seize on thy stupid Powers, and leave them dead
To publick Cares; awake but to thy Lusts,
The strength of which makes thy libidinous Soul
Itch to leave Rome; and I have thrust it on:
VVith blameing of the City Business,
The multitude of Suits, the confluence
Of Suitors, then their Importunacies,

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The manifold Distractions he must suffer,
Besides ill Rumours, Envies, and Reproaches,
All which a quiet and retired Life,
(Larded with ease and pleasure) did avoid;
And yet, for my 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 most dear Affairs;
Draw all dispatches through my private Hands;
Know his designments, and pursue mine own;
Make mine own strengths, by giving Suits and Places;
Conferring Dignities and Offices:
And these, that hate me now, wanting access
To him, will make their envy none or less;
For when they see me Arbiter of all,
They must observe: or else with Cæsar fall.

Tiberius, Servus.

T
O marry Livia? will no less, Sejanus,
 Content thy aims? no lower Object? well!
Thou know'st how thou art wrought into our Trust:
Woven in our design; and think'st we must
Now use thee, whatsoere thy Projects are:
'Tis true. But yet with caution and fit ca