Sejanus: His Fall Part 31

Tri.

It was a thought Happy, and worthy Caesar.

Lat.

And the lord As worthy it, on whom it is directed!

Hat. Most worthy!

San.

Rome did never boast the virtue That could give envy bounds, but his: Seja.n.u.s----

1 Sen. Honour'd and n.o.ble!

2 Sen. Good and great Seja.n.u.s!

Arr. O, most tame slavery, and fierce flattery!

Prae. Silence!

TIBERIUS CAESAR to the Senate, greeting.

"If you, conscript fathers, with your children, be in health, it is abundantly well: we with our friends here are so. The care of the commonwealth, howsoever we are removed in person, cannot be absent to our thought; although, oftentimes, even to princes most present, the truth of their own affairs is hid, than which, nothing falls out more miserable to a state, or makes the art of governing more difficult. But since it hath been our easeful happiness to enjoy both the aids and industry of so vigilant a senate, we profess to have been the more indulgent to our pleasures, not as being careless of our office, but rather secure of the necessity. Neither do these common rumours of many, and infamous libels published against our retirement, at all afflict us; being born more out of men's ignorance than their malice: and will, neglected, find their own grave quickly, whereas, too sensibly acknowledged, it would make their obloquy ours. Nor do we desire their authors, though found, be censured, since in a free state, as ours, all men ought to enjoy both their minds and tongues free."

Arr. The lapwing, the lapwing!

"Yet in things which shall worthily and more near concern the majesty of a prince, we shall fear to be so unnaturally cruel to our own fame, as to neglect them. True it is, conscript fathers, that we have raised Seja.n.u.s from obscure, and almost unknown gentry"

Sen. How, how!

"to the highest and most conspicuous point of greatness, and, we hope, deservingly, yet not without danger: it being a most bold hazard in that sovereign, who, by his particular love to one, dares adventure the hatred of all his other subjects."

Arr. This touches; the blood turns.

"But we affy in your loves and understandings, and do no way suspect the merit of our Seja.n.u.s, to make our favours offensive to any."

Sen. O! good, good.

"Though we could have wished his zeal had run a calmer course against Agrippina and our nephews, howsoever the openness of their actions declared them delinquents, and, that he would have remembered, no innocence is so safe, but it rejoiceth to stand in the sight of mercy: the use of which in us, he hath so quite taken away, towards them, by his loyal fury, as now our clemency would be thought but wearied cruelty, if we should offer to exercise it."

Arr. I thank him; there I look'd for't. A good fox!

"Some there be that would interpret this his public severity to be particular ambition, and that, under a pretext of service to us, he doth but remove his own lets: alleging the strengths he hath made to himself, by the praetorian soldiers, by his faction in court and senate, by the offices he holds himself, and confers on others, his popularity and dependents, his urging and almost driving us to this our unwilling retirement, and, lastly, his aspiring to be our son-in-law."

Sen. This is strange!

Arr. I shall anon believe your vultures, Marcus.

"Your wisdoms, conscript fathers, are able to examine, and censure these suggestions. But, were they left to our absolving voice, we durst p.r.o.nounce them, as we think them, most malicious."

Sen. O, he has restored all; list!

"Yet are they offered to be averred, and on the lives of the informers. What we should say, or rather what we should not say, lords of the senate, if this be true, our G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses confound us if we know! Only we must think, we have placed our benefits ill; and conclude, that in our choice, either we were wanting to the G.o.ds, or the G.o.ds to us."

[The Senators shift their places.

Arr. The place grows hot; they shift.

"We have not been covetous, honourable fathers, to change, neither is it now any new l.u.s.t that alters our affection, or old lothing, but those needful jealousies of state, that warn wiser princes hourly to provide their safety, and do teach them how learned a thing it is to beware of the humblest enemy; much more of those great ones, whom their own employed favours have made fit for their fears."

1 Sen. Away.

2 Sen. Sit farther.

Cot. Let's remove-

Arr. G.o.ds! how the leaves drop off, this little wind!

"We therefore desire, that the offices he holds be first seized by the senate, and himself suspended from all exercise of place or power--"

Sen. How!

San. [thrusting by.] By your leave.

Arr.

Come, porpoise; where's Haterius?

His gout keeps him most miserably constant; Your dancing shews a tempest.

Sej. Read no more.

Reg. Lords of the senate, hold your seats: read on.

Sej. These letters they are forged.

Reg. A guard! sit still.

Enter LACO, with the Guards.

Arr. Here's change!

Reg. Bid silence, and read forward.

Prae. Silence!----

"and himself suspended from all exercise of place or power, but till due and mature trial be made of his innocency, which yet we can faintly apprehend the necessity to doubt. If, conscript fathers, to your more searching wisdoms, there shall appear farther cause----or of farther proceeding, either to seizure of lands, goods, or more----it is not our power that shall limit your authority, or our favour that must corrupt your justice: either were dishonourable in you, and both uncharitable to ourself. We would willingly be present with your counsels in this business, but the danger of so potent a faction, if it should prove so, forbids our attempting it: except one of the consuls would be entreated for our safety, to undertake the guard of us home; then we should most readily adventure. In the mean time, it shall not be fit for us to importune so judicious a senate, who know how much they hurt the innocent, that spare the guilty; and how grateful a sacrifice to the G.o.ds is the life of an ingrateful person, We reflect not, in this, on Seja.n.u.s, (notwithstanding, if you keep an eye upon him-and there is Latiaris, a senator, and Pinnarius Natta, two of his most trusted ministers, and so professed, whom we desire not to have apprehended,) but as the necessity of the cause exacts it."

Reg. A guard on Latiaris!

Arr.

O, the spy, The reverend spy is caught! who pities him?

Reward, sir, for your service: now, you have done Your property, you see what use is made!

[Exeunt Latiaris and Natta, guarded.

Hang up the instrument.