Sejanus: His Fall Part 17

Nor do they aught, 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 virtue cannot safely be advanced; Nor vice reproved.

Arr.

Ay, n.o.ble Lepidus; Augustus well foresaw what we should suffer Under Tiberius, when he did p.r.o.nounce The Roman race most wretched, that should live Between so slow jaws, and so long a bruising. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.----A Room in the Palace.

Enter TIBERIUS and SEJa.n.u.s.

Tib.

This business hath succeeded well, Seja.n.u.s, And quite removed all jealousy of practice 'Gainst Agrippina, and our nephews. Now, We must bethink us how to plant our ingine, For th' other pair, Sabinus and Arruntius, And Gallus too: howe'er he flatter us, His heart we know.

Sej.

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.

Tib. Rather Arruntius.

Sej.

By any means, preserve him. His frank tongue Being let the reins, would 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 G.o.ds. than to your ears.

Nor have I ever, yet, been covetous Of over-bright and dazzling honour; rather To watch and travail in great Caesar's safety, With the most common soldier.

Tib. 'Tis confest.

Sej.

The only gain, and which I count most fair Of all my fortunes, is, that mighty Caesar Has thought me worthy his alliance. Hence Begin my hopes.

Tib. Umph!

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 he had in mind, as Caesar's friend, I would but use the glory of the kindred: It should not make me slothful, or less caring For Caesar'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: myself Have no ambition farther than to end My days in service of so dear a master.

Tib.

We cannot but commend thy piety, Most loved Seja.n.u.s, 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 therefore will take time to think and answer.

For Livia she can best, herself, resolve If she will marry, after Drusus, or Continue in the family; besides, She hath a mother, and a grandam 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 the imperial house; an emulation Between the women might break forth; and discord Ruin the sons and nephews on both hands.

What if it cause some present difference?

Thou art not safe, Seja.n.u.s, if thou prove it.

Canst thou believe, that Livia, first the wife To Caius Caesar, 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 murmur at thy greatness; and the n.o.ble!

Stick not, in public, to upbraid thy climbing Above our father's favours, or thy scale: And dare accuse me, from their hate to thee.

Be wise, dear friend. We would not hide these things, For friends.h.i.+p's dear respect: Nor will we stand Adverse to thine, or Livia's designments.

What we have purposed 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 loved Seja.n.u.s, we not know That height in blood or honour, which thy virtue And mind to us, may not aspire with merit.

And this we'll publish on all watch'd occasion The senate or the people shall present.

Sej.

I am restored, and to my sense again, Which I had lost in this so blinding suit.

Caesar hath taught me better to refuse, Than I knew how to ask. How pleaseth Caesar T' embrace my late advice for leaving Rome!

Tib. We are resolved.

Sej.

Here are some motives more, [Gives him a paper Which I have thought on since, may more confirm.

Tib.

Careful Seja.n.u.s! we will straight peruse them: Go forward in our main design, and prosper. [Exit.

Sej.

If those but take, I shall. Dull, heavy Caesar!

Wouldst 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, When thou might'st win all to thyself 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? Well, read my charms, And may they lay that hold upon thy senses, As thou hadst snuft up hemlock, or ta'en down The juice of poppy and of mandrakes. Sleep, Voluptuous Caesar, and security Seize on 'thy stupid powers, and leave them dead To public cares; awake but to thy l.u.s.ts, The strength of which makes thy libidinous soul Itch to leave Rome! and I have thrust it on; With blaming of the city business, The mult.i.tude of suits, the confluence Of suitors; then their importunacies, 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 any weighty and great affair, The fittest place to give the soundest counsels.

By this I shall remove him both from thought And knowledge of his own 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 Caesar fall. [Exit

SCENE III.-Another Room in the same.

Enter TIBEBIUS.

Tib.

To marry Livia! will no less, Seja.n.u.s, Content thy aim? 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, whatsoe'er thy projects are: 'Tis true. But yet with caution and fit care.

And, now we better think----who's there within?

Enter an Officer.

Off. Caesar!

Tib.

To leave our journey off, were sin 'Gainst our decreed delights; and would appear Doubt; or, what less becomes a prince, low fear.

Yet doubt hath law, and fears have their excuse.

Where princes' states plead necessary use; As ours doth now: more in Seja.n.u.s' pride, Than all fell Agrippina's hates beside.

Those are the dreadful enemies we raise With favours, and make dangerous with praise; The injured by us may have will alike, But 'tis the favourite hath the power to strike; And fury ever boils more high and strong, Heat with ambition, than revenge of wrong.

'Tis then a part of supreme skill, to grace No man too much; but hold a certain s.p.a.ce Between the ascender's rise, and thine own flat, Lest, when all rounds be reach'd, his aim be that.

'Tis thought. [Aside.]

Is Macro in the palace? see: If not, go seek him, to come to us.---- [Exit Offi.]

He must be the organ we must work by now; Though none less apt for trust: need doth allow What choice would not. I have heard that aconite, Being timely taken, hath a healing might Against the scorpion's stroke: the proof we'll give: That, while two poisons wrestle, we may live.

He hath a spirit too working to be used But to the encounter of his like; excused Are wiser sov'reigns then, that raise one ill Against another, and both safely kill: The prince that feeds great natures, they will slay him; Who nourisheth a lion must obey him.---- Be-enter Officer, with MACRO.

Macro, we sent for you.

Mac. I heard so, Caesar.