LENTULUS

Both they, Longinus, Lecca, Curius, Fulvius, Gabinius, gave me word, last night, By Lucius Bestiam, they would all be here, And early. Nay, urge not that Is so uncertain. I mean, not cleared. And, therefore, not to be reflected on. All Prophecies, you know, suffer the torture. Do you believe it? The Augurs all are constant, I am meant. They count from Cinna. Men mark me more, of late, as I come forth. I am your creature, Sergius: And what ere The great Cornelian Name shall win to be, It is not Augury, nor the Sybil's Books, But Catiline that makes it. The Vest all flame, I think, be out. And mine. Godlike Catiline. Gone. Slipped away; all shrunk: Now that he missed the Consulship. Is't not stranger, The upstarted Cicero should carry it so, By all consents, from men so much his Master's? The whole design, And enterprise is lost by't. All hands quit it, Upon his fail. Peace, here comes Cato. What needs this, Lucius? Hold good Caius; You wrong me, Lucius. Let us consult then. He too's coming back, Now, out of Asia. It is too great for me, but what the Gods, And their great loves decree me, I must not Seem careless of. Come, let us each one know his partly to do, And then be accused. Leave these untimely quarrels. When shall the time be, first? Loosed whole In pleasure and security. Or hate unto their Lords. Nay, good Cethegus, Why do your passion, now, disturb our Hope's? I Like not fire: It'll too much wast my City. How find you Antonius? What are your means? Here's Vargunteius holds good quarter with him. And perhaps Miss of him too. By all our vows, and friendships. WHat! is our Council broke up first? To her coach, and duty. Oh you Fates, Give Fortune now her eyes, to see with whom She goes along, that she may never forsake him. Now friends, it's left with us. I have already Dealt, by Umbrenus, with the Allobroges, Here resiant in Room; whose State, I hear, Is discontent with the great usuries, They are oppressed with: and have made complaints Diverse, unto the Senate, but all vain. These men, I'haue thought, both for their own oppressions, As also that, by nature, they'are a people Warlike, and fierce, still watching after change, And now, in present hatred with our State, The fittest, and the asiest to be drawn To our society, and to aid the war. The rather, for their seat: being next bordrers On Italy: and that they' abound with horse, Of which one want our Camp does only labour. And I have found them coming. They will meet Soon at Sempronia's house, where I would pray you All to be present, to confirm them more. The sighed of such spirits hurt not, nor the store. Worthy Caius, Your presence will add much. I think not, Madame. No surely. Yes, Your Ladyship shall observe their gravity, And their reservedness, their many cautions, Fitting their persons. Oh Caius, it is no such business. You are too sour, and harsh Cethegus. How now, Volturtius? How do you Like this spirit? In such men, Mankind does live. They are such souls, as these, That move the world. Well, I do see you would prevent the Consul. And I commend your care: It was but reason, To ask our Letters, and we had prepared them. Go in, and we will take and oath, and eale them. You shall have Letters, too, to Catiline, To visit him i'the way, and to confirm The association. This our friend, Volturtius, Shall go along with you. Tell our great General, That we are ready here; that Lucius Bestiam The Tribune, is provided of a speech, To lay the envy of the war on Cicero; That all but long for his approach, and person: And then, you are made Freemen, as our selves. I Cannot fear the war but to succeed well, Both for the honour of the cause, and worth Of him that does command. For my Colleague, Being so ill affected with the gout, Will not be able to be there in person; And then Petreius, his Lieutenant, must Of need take charge o'the army: who is much The better soldier, having be a Tribune, Prefect, Lieutenant, Praetor in the war, These thirty years, so conversant in the army, As he knows all the soldiers, by their names. Yes, it is mine. My Grandfathers. As what, impetuous Cicero? What are these to me? I know them not. What did you there? Who sent for you? Spies? spies? I do resign it here unto the Senate. Thou dost well, Consul. It a cast at dice In Fortune's hand, not long since, that thy self Shouldst have herd these, or other words as fatal. Oh! 'tis about the prophecy, belike, And promise of the Sibyl's;