PRAECONES

Silence. SILIUS stand forth, The Consul hath to charge thee. Silence. Caius SILIUS. SATRIUS SECVNDꝰ, PINNARIUS NATTA, you are his accusers. The court is up, Lictors , resume the fasces. Favour your tongues. Favour it with your tongues. Silence: In name of Caesar, and the SENATE. Silence. MEMMIUS REGULUS , and FULCINIUS TRIO , consuls, these present kalends of June, with the first light, shall hold a senate, in the temple of APOLLO PALATINE , all that are Father's, and are registered Father's, that have right of entering the Senate, we warn, or command, you be frequently present, take knowledge the business is the commonwealths, whosoever is absent, his fine, or mulct, will be taken, his excuse will not be taken. Silence. IF you, Conscript Father's, with your children, be in health, it is aboum dantly 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 of fairs is hid: then which, nothing falls out more miserable to a state, or makes the art of governing more difficult. But since it hath been our easeful happiness to enjoy both the aides, 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, then their malice: and will, neglected, find their own graven 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. Silence — and himself suspended from all exercise of place, or power, but till endue and mature trial be made of his innocency, which yet we can faintly apprehend the necessity, to doubt. If, Conscript Father's, to your more searching wisdoms, there shall appear farther cause (or of farther pro ceeding, 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 our self. We would willing lie he 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 gods, is the life of and ingrateful person. We reflect not, in this, on SEIANUS (notwithstanding, if you keep and eye upon him— and there is LATIARIS a Senator, and PINNA RIUS NATTA , two of his most trusted ministers, and so professed, whom we de sire not to have apprênded) but as the necessity of the cause exacts it. Proclaim the Senates peace; And give last summons by the edict.