SEJANUS

How call you him you talked with? On with your suit. Would buy, you said— What will he give? LIVIA'S physician, say you, is that fellow? To what? Well, let him bring his money, and his name. Come hither. Know you this same EUDEMUS? Is he learned? 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. Now, good SATRIUS. Is this? Give me your hand, we must be more acquainted. Report, sir, hath spoke out your art, and learning: And I am glad I have so needful cause, (How ever in it self painful, and hard) To make me known to so great virtue. Look, Who's that? SATRIUS — I have a grief, sir, That will desire your help. Your name's EUDEMUS? Sir? I hear, you are Physician to LIVIA, the princess? You minister to a royal lady, then. That's understood Of all their sex, who are, or would be so; And those, that would be, physic soon can make them For those that are, their beauty's fear no colours. Sir, you know it. And can (if needs be) read a learned lecture, On this, and other secrets. Pray you tell me, What more of ladies, beside LIVIA, Have you your patients? And, all these tell you the particulars Of every several grief? how first it grew, And then increased, what Actium caused that; What passion that: and answer to each point That you will put them. Go to, Yo'are a subtle nation, you Physicians! And grown the only cabinets, in court, To ladies privacies. Faith which of these Is the most pleasant lady, in her physic? Come, you are modest now. Why, sir, I do not ask you of their vrines, Whose smel's most violet? or whose siege 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 inquired, Which was the wittiest? merriest? wantonest? Harmless intergatories, but conceits. Me thinks, AUGUSTA should be most perverse, And froward in her fit? I knew it. And MUTILIA the most jocund? 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 them all to you? Sir, you can lose no honour, By trusting ought to me. The coursest act Done to my service, I can so requite, As all the world shall style it honourable: "Your idle, virtuous definitions "Keep honour poor, and are as scorned, as vain: "Those deeds breathe honour, that do suck in gain. 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 turned jealous. As safely, my EUDEMUS, (I now dare call thee so) as I have put The secret into thee. Protest not. Thy looks are vows to me, use only speed, And but affect her with SEIANUS love, Thou art a man, made, to make Consuls. Go. Canst thou? The place? Let me adore my AESCULAPIUS. Why, this indeed is physic! and out-speakes The knowledge of cheap drugs, or any use Can be made out of it! more comforting Then all your opiates, iulebes, apozemes , Magistral syrrupes , or—Be gone, my friend, Not barely styled, but created so; Expect things, greater then thy largest Hope's, To overtake thee: Fortune, shall be taught To know how ill she hath deserved thus long, To come behind thy wishes. Go, and speed. "Ambition makes more trusty slaves, then needs, These fellows, by the favour of their art, Have, still, the means to tempt, ofttimes, the power. If LIVIA will be now corrupted, then Thou hast the way, SEIANUS, to work out His secrets, who (thou knowest) endures thee not, Her husband DRUSUS: and to work against them. Prosper it, PALLAS, thou, that betterst wit; For VENUS hath the smallest share in it. How Like a God, speaks Caesar! The Oracles are ceased, That only Caesar, with their tongue, might speak. Why, then give way. LYGDUS? what's he? Name not a second. If DRUSUS love him, and he have that place, We cannot think a sitter. Skilful physician! Is he ambitious? Or covetous? What is he then? How! Is he young? and fair? Send him to me, I'll work him. Royal lady, Though I have loved 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, judgement, strength, Quickness, and will, to apprehend the means To your own good, and greatness, I protest My self through rarefied, and turned 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 sovereignty of all the world. Then LIVIA triumphs in her proper sphere, When she, and her SEIANUS shall divide The name of Caesar; and AUGUSTA'S star Be dimmed 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 or be. Who's that? EUDEMUS, Look, it's not DRUSUS? Lady, do not fear. Illustrous lady! stay— Who is't, EUDEMUS? Oh! where is he? With your fair leave, deer Princess. I'll but ask A question, and return. I must make A rude departure, lady. Caesar 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 poison As you may lay the subtle 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. Excellent lady, How you do fire my blood! He's here, dread Caesar. Yes, to those are feared. Not, if he wisely turn That partly of fate he holds, first on them. Do policy, and state forbid it? The rest of poor respects, then, let go by: State is enough to make th'act joust, them guilty. Whom hatred frights, Let him not dream on sovereignty. 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 sceptres quite does perish If it begin religious thoughts to cherish: Whole Empires fallen, swayed by those nice respects. It is the licence of dark deeds protects Even states most hated: when no laws resist The sword, but that it acteth what it list. Yes, and do them thoroughly. I, Or else my thought, my sense, or both do err: It's AGRIPPINA? Proud? dangerous, Not proved. But whispering fame Knowledge, and proof does 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. Stay, till they strike at Caesar: then their crime Will be enough, but late, and out of time For him to punish. You know, sir, thunder speaks not till it hit. Be not secure: none swiftlier are oppressed, Then they, whom confidence betrays to rest. Let not your daring make your danger such: All power's to be feared, where it's too much. The youth's are (of themselves) hight, 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 Caesar: 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 shower Falls for the memory of GERMANICUS, Which they blow over straight, with windy praise, And puffing Hope's of her aspiring sons: Who, with these hourly ticklings, grow so pleased, And wantonly conceited of themselves, As now, they stick not to believe they're such, As these do give them out: and would be thought (More then competitors) immediate heirs. Whilst to their thirst of rule they win the rout (That's still the friend of novelty) with hope Of future freedom, which on every change, That greedily, though emptily, expects. Caesar, it's 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. Or your state. But how sir, will you work? No. They are too great, and that too faint a blow, To give them now: it would have served 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 discovered, rear Their forces, Like seen snakes, that else would lie Rolled in their circles, close: Nought is more high, Daring, or desperate, then offenders found; Where gilded is, rage, and courage does abound. The course must be, to let them still swell up, Riot, and surfeit on blind Fortune's cup; Give them more place, more dignities, more style, Call them 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 engine, they are caught, and slain. 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 found; and chiefly where The subject is no less compelled to bear, Then praise his sovereigns acts. First, Caius SILIUS; He is the most of mark, and most of danger: In power, and reputation equal strong, Having commanded and imperial army Seven years together, vanquished SACROVIR In Germany , and thence obtained to wear The ornaments triumphal. His steep fallen, By how much it does give the weightier crack, Will send more wounding terror to the rest, Command them stand aloof, and give more way To our surprising of the principal. Let him grow awhile, His fate is not yet ripe: we must not pluck At all together, lest we catch our selves. And ther's ARRUNTIUS too, he only talks. But SOSIA, SILIUS wife, would be wound in Now, for she hath a fury in her breast More, then hell ever knew; and would be sent Thither in time. Then, is there one CREMUTIUS CORDUS, a writing fellow, they have God To gather notes of the precedent times, And make them into Annal's; a most tart And bitter spirit (I hear) who, under colour Of praising those, does tax the present state, Censures the men, the actions, leaves no trick, No practice unexamined, parallels The times, the governments, a professed champion, For the old liberty— Trust that to me: let Caesar, by his power, But cause a formal meeting of the Senate , I will have matter, and accusers ready. We shall misspend The time of Actium. Counsels are unfit In business, where all rest is more pernicious Then rashness can be. Acts of this close kind Thrive more by execution, then advice. There is no lingering in that work begun, Which cannot praised be, until through done. JULIUS POSTHUMUS, Come with my wish! what news from AGRIPPINA'S? When were you there? And what guests found you? Would not these talk? Well: it's gilded enough Their often meeting. You forgotten extol The hospitable lady? And may she burst. JULIUS, Mutilia Priscam. I would have you go instantly, 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, Add somewhat to them. Make her understand The danger of SABINUS, and the times, Out of his closeness. Give ARRUNTIUS words Of malice against Caesar; so, to GALLUS: But (above all) to AGRIPPINA. Say, (As you may truly) that her infinite pride, Propped with the Hope's of her too fruitful womb, With popular studies gapes for sovereignty; And threatens Caesar. Pray AUGUSTA then, That for her own, great CAESARS, and the pub lique safety, she be pleased to urge these dangers. Caesar is too secure (he must be told, And best hee'll take it from a mother's tongue.) Alas! what is it for us to found, to explore, To watch, oppose, plot, practice, or prevent, If he, for whom it is so strongly laboured, Shall, out of greatness, and free spirit, be Supinely negligent? Our citi's now Divided as in time o'th'ciuill war, And men forbear not to declare themselves Of AGRIPPINA'S party. Every day, The faction multiplies; and will do more If not resisted: you can best enlarge it As you find audience. Noble POSTHUMUS, Commend me to your PRISCAM: and pray her, She will solicit this great business To earnest, and most present execution, With all her utmost credit with AUGUSTA. This second (from his mother) will well urge Our late design, and spur on CAESARS rage: Which else might grow remiss. The way, to put A prince in blood, is to present the shapes Of dangers, greater then they are (Like late, Or early shadows) and, sometime, to feign Where there are none, only, to make him fear; His fear will make him cruel: And once entered, He does 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 vnreproou'd a chastity, To be attempted, as light LIVIA was. Work then, my art, on CAESAR'S fears, as they On those they fear, till all my bets be cleared: And he in ruins 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 public sacrifice. No. It was debated By Caesar, and concluded as most fit To him take unprepared. But Room , whose blood, Whose nerves, whose life, whose very frame relies On CAESAR'S strength, no less then heaven on ATLAS, Cannot admit it but with general ruin. Let Caesar No more then urge a point so contrary To CAESARS greatness, the grieved Senates vows, Or Rome's necessity. This, to the Consul , is most insolent! And impious! If this be so, there needs no farther cause Of crime against him. He' hath spoke enough to prove him CAESARS foe. A censure. Caesar does wrong His dignity, and safety, thus to mourn The deserved end of so professed a traitor, And does, by this his lenity, instruct Others as factious, to the Like offence. Let citation Go out for SOSIA. For annal's, Caesar. You have well advised. Give it some respite, Caesar. Time shall mature, and bring to perfect crown, What we, with so good vultures, have begun: SABINUS shall be next. 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. Sir— In have been so long trained up in grace, First, with your father, great AUGUSTUS, since, With your most happy bounties so familiar, As I not sooner would commit my Hope's Or wishes to the gods, then to your ears. Nor have I ever, yet, been covetous Of overbright, and dazzling honours: rather To watch, and travail in great CAESAR'S safety, With the most common soldier. The only gain, and which I count most fair Of all my Fortune's, His daughter was betrothed to Claudius, his son. is that mighty Caesar Hath thought me worthy his alliance. Hence Begin my Hope's. I have herd, AUGUSTUS In the bestowing of his daughter, thought But even of gentlemen of Room : 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 CAESARS friend, I would but use the glory of the kindred. It should not make me slothful, or less caring For CAESARS state; it were enough to me It did confirm, and strengthen my weak house, Against the-now-vnequall opposition Of AGRIPPINA; and for deer reguard Unto my children, this I wish: my self Have no ambition farther, then to end My days in service of so deer a master. I am restored, and to my sense again, Which I had lost in this so blinding suit. Caesar hath taught me better to refuse, Then I knew how to ask. How pleases Caesar to embrace my late advice, for leaving Room? Here are some motives more Which I have thought on since, may more confirm. Now, TERENTIUS? Speak it, no. Some traitor hath put fire in: (you, go see.) And let the head be taken off, to look What it's— Some slave hath practised and imposture, To stir the people. How now? why return you? The head, my lord, already is taken off, I saw it: and, at opening, there leapt out A great, and monstrous serpent! Monstrous! why? Had it a beard? and horns? no heart? a tongue Forked as flattery? looked it of the hue, To such as live in great men's bosoms? was The spirit of it MACRO'S? Oh, the fates! What a wild muster's here of attributes, Express a worm, a snake? What! and you too, TERENTIUS? I think you mean to make it a prodigy In your reporting? Oh, superstition! Why, then the falling of our bed, that brake This morning, burdened with the populous weight Of our expecting clients, to salute us; Or running of the cat, betwixt our legs, As we set forth unto the capital , Were prodigies. What excellent fools Religion makes of men? Believes TERENTIUS, (If these were dangers, as I shame to think them) The gods could change the certain course of fate? Or, if they could, they would (now, in a moment) For a beeves fat, or less, be bribed t'inuert Those long decrees? Then think the gods, Like flies, Are to be taken with the steam of flesh, Or blood, diffused about their altars: think Their power as cheap, as I esteem it small. Of all the throng, that fill the Olympian hall, And (without pity) lade poor ATLAS back, I know not that one deity, but Fortune ; To whom, I would throw up, in begging smoke, One grane of incense: or whose ear I'd buy With thus much oil. Her, I, indeed, adore; And keep her grateful image in my house, Sometimes belonging to a Roman king, But, now called mine, as by the better style: To her, I care not, if (for satisfying Your scrupulous fantasies) I go offer. Bid Our priest prepare us honey, milk, and poppy, His masculine odours, and night-vestments: say, Our rites are instant, which performed, you'll see How vain, and worthy laughter, your fears be. Be thou dumb, scrupulous priest: And gather up thy self, with these thy wares, Which I, in spite of thy blind mistress, or Thy juggling mystery, religion, throw Thus, scorned on the earth. Nay, hold thy look Averted, till I woo thee, turn again; And thou shalt stand, to all posterity, Th'eternall game, and laughter, with thy neck Writhed to thy tail, Like a ridiculous cat. Avoid these fumes, these superstitious lights, And all these coos'ning ceremonies: you, Your pure, and spiced conscience. I, the slave, And mock of fools, (scorn on my worthy head) That have been titled, and adored a God, Yea, sacrificed unto, my self, in Room , No less then JOVE: and I be brought, to do A peevish gigglot rites? Perhaps, the thought, And shame of that made Fortune turn her face, Knowing her self the lesser deity, And but my servant. Bashful queen, if so, SEIANUS thanks thy modesty. Who's that? Speak lower, & withdraw. What's that? No more. That MACRO'S come, is more then all! TERENTIUS— Send for the Tribunes , we will straight have up More of the soldiers, for our guard. MINUTIUS, We pray you, go for COTTAM, LATIARIS, TRIO the Consul , or what Senators You know are sure, and ours. You, my good NATTA, For LACO, Provost of the watch. Now, SATRIUS, The time of proof comes on. Arm all our servants, And without tumult. You, POMPONIUS, Hold some good correspondence, with the Consul , Attempt him, noble friend. These things begin To look Like dangers, now, worthy my fates. Fortune, I see thy worst: Let doubtful states, And things uncertain hang upon thy will: Me surest death shall render certain still. Yet, why is, now, my thought turned towards death, Whom fates have let go on, so far, in breath, Unchecked, or unreproved? I, that did help To fell the lofty Cedar of the world, GERMANICUS; that, at one stroke, cut down DRUSUS, that upright Elm; withered his vine; Laid SILIUS, and SABINUS, two strong Oaks, Flat on the earth; beside, those other shrubs, CORDUS, and SOSIA, CLAUDIA PULCHRA, FURNIUS, and GALLUS, which I have grubbed up; And since, have set my axe so strong, and deep Into the root of spreading AGRIPPINE; Lopped off and scattered her proud branches, NERO, DRUSUS, and Caius too, although replanted; If you will, destinies, that, after all, I faint, now, ere I touch my perjod; You are but cruel: and I already have done Things great enough. All Room hath been my slave; The Senate sat and idle looker on, And witness of my power; when I have blushed, More, to command, then it to suffer; all The Father's have sat ready, and prepared, To give me empire, temples, or their throats, When I would ask them; and (what crowns the top) Room, Senate , people, all the world have seen JOVE, but my equal: Caesar, but my second. It's then your malice, fates, who (but your own) Envy, and fear, to-have any power long known. How! the Senate? By letter? pray you let's see! A Senate warned? without my knowledge? And on this sudden? Senators by letters Required to be there! who brought these? Mine enemy! And when? Time, With every other circumstance, does give It hath some strain of engine in't! How now? Let him come here. Is he not armed? No, but take, And led him to some room, where you, concealed, May keep a guard upon us. Noble LACO, You are our trust: and, till our own cohorts Can be brought up, your strengths must be our guard. Now, good MINUTIUS, honoured LATIARIS, Most worthy, and my most unwearied friends: I return instantly. SATRIUS, give leave. How fares it with our great, and royal master? What may this be? partly of my self, deer MACRO! If good, speak out: and share with your SEIANUS. You take pleasure, MACRO, Like a coy wench, in torturing your lover. What can be worth this suffering? Fortune, be mine again; thou hast satisfied For thy suspected loyalty. Where's CALIGULAM? Honest, and worthy MACRO, Your love, and friendship. Who's there? SATRIUS, Attend my honourable friend forth. Oh! How vain, and vile a passion is this fear? What base, uncomely things it makes men do? Suspect their noblest friends, (as I did this) Flatter poor enemies, entreat their servants, Stoop, court, and catch at the benevolence Of creatures, unto whom (within this hour) I would not have vouchsafed a quarter-look, Or piece of face? By you, that fools call gods, Hang all the sky with your prodigious signs, Fill earth with monsters, drop the scorpion down, Out of the zodiac , or the fiercer lion , Shake off the loosened globe from her long hinge, Roll all the world in darkness, and let lose Enraged winds to turn up groves and towns; When I do fear again, let me be struck With forked fire, and unpitied die: Who fears, is worthy of calamity. IS not my lord here? Do you bring prodigies too? Yes (I will speak with you, anon.) Why, Let them be thanked, and sent away. No. You are troublesome. Read no more. These letters, they are forged. Give leave. Have we no friends here? Is MACRO here? Oh, thou art lost, SEIANUS. Am I called? Why, MACRO, It hath been otherwise, between you, and I? This court, that knows us both, hath seen a difference, And can (if it be pleased to speak) confirm, Whose insolence is most. IF this be not revenge, when I have done And made it perfect, let Egyptian slaves, Parthians , and barefoot Hebrews brand my face, And print my body full of injuries. Thou lost thy self, child DRUSUS, when thou thoughtest Thou couldst out-skip my vengeance: or outstand The power I had to crush thee into air. Thy folly's now shall taste what kind of man They have provoked, and this thy father's 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 raze of wicked acts Shall flow out of my anger, and overspread The world's wide face, which no posterity Shall ever 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 heaven drop sulphur, and hell belch out fire, Laugh at the idle terrors: Tell proud JOVE, Between his power, and thine, there is no odds. 'Twas only fear, first, in the world made gods. SWell, swell, my joys: and faint not to declare Your selves, as ample, as your causes are. I did not live, till now; this my first hour: Wherein I see my thoughts reached by my power. But this, and gripe my wishes. Great, and high, The world knows only two, that's Room, and I. My roof receives me not; it's air I tread: And, at each step, I feel my advanced head Knock out a star in heaven! Reared to this height, All my desires seem modest, poor, and sleight, That did before found impudent: It's place, Not blood, discerns the noble, and the base. Is there not something more, then to be Caesar? Must we rest there? It irks, to have come so far, To be so near a stay. CALIGULAM, Would thou stoodst stiff, and many, in our way. Winds loose their strength, when they do empty fly, Vn-met of woods or buildings; great fires die That want their matter to withstand them: so, It is our grief, and will be' our lose, to know Our power shall want opposites; unless The gods, by mixing in the cause, would bless Our fortune, with their conquest. That were worth SEIANUS strife: durst fates but bring it forth.