University of Virginia Library

Act III.

THE SENATE.
Seianvs
, Varro, Latiaris. Cotta, Afer. Gallvs, Lepidvs, Arrvntivs. Præcones, Lictores.
Tis only you must vrge against him, Varro,
Nor I, nor Caesar may appeare therein,
Except in your defence, who are the Consul:
And, vnder colour of late en'mitie
Betweene your father, and his, may better doe it,
As free from all suspition of a practice.
Here be your notes, what points to touch at; read:
Bee cunning in them. Afer ha's them too.

Var.
But is he summon'd?

Sei.
No. It was debated
By Caesar, and concluded as most fit
To him take vnprepar'd.

Afe.
And prosecute
All vnder name of treason.

Var.
I conceiue.

Sab.
Drvsvs being dead, Caesar will not be here.

Gal.
What should the businesse of this Senate bee?

Arr.
That can my subtile whisperers tell you: We,
That are the good-dull-noble lookers on,
Are only call'd to keepe the marble warme.
What should we doe with those deepe mysteries,
Proper to these fine heads? let them alone.
Our ignorance may, perchance, helpe vs be sau'd
From whips, and furies.

Gal.
See, see, see, their action!

Arr.
I, now their heads doe trauaile, now they worke;
Their faces runne like shittles they are weauing
Some curious cobweb to catch flyes.

Sab.
Obserue,
They take their places.

Arr.
What so low?

Gal.
O yes,
They must be seene to flatter Caesars griefe
Though but in sitting.

Var.
Bid vs silence.

Prae.
Silence.

Var.
Fathers Conscript, may this our present meeting
Turne faire, and fortunate to the Common-wealth.

Silivs, Senate.
Sil.
Haile graue Fathers.

Lic.
Stand.
Silivs, forbeare thy place.

Sen.
How!

Prae.
Silivs stand forth,
The Consul hath to charge thee.

Lic.
Roome for Caesar.

Arr.
Is he come too? nay then expect a tricke.

Sab.
Silivs accus'd? sure he will answere nobly.

Tiberivs
, Senate.
Westand amazed, Fathers, to behold
This generall deiection. Wherefore sit
Romes Consuls thus dissolu'd, as they had lost
All the remembrance both of stile, and place?
It not becomes. No woes are of fit waight,
To make the honour of the empire stoope:
Though I, in my peculiar selfe, may meete
Iust reprehension, that so suddenly,
And, in so fresh a griefe, would greet the Senate,
When priuate tongues, of kinsmen, and allies,
(Inspir'd with comforts) lothly are indur'd,
The face of men not seene, and scarce the day,
To thousands, that communicate our losse.
Nor can I argue these of weaknesse; since
They take but naturall wayes: yet I must seeke
For stronger aides, and those faire helpes draw out
From warme imbraces of the common-wealth.
Our mother, great Avgvsta, 'is strooke with time,
Our selfe imprest with aged characters,
Drvsvs is gone, his children young, and babes,
Our aimes must now reflect on those, that may
Giue timely succour to these present ills,
And are our only glad-suruiuing hopes,
The noble issue of Germanicvs,
Nero, and Drvsvs: might it please the Consul
Honour them in, (they both attend without.)
I would present them to the Senates care,
And raise those sunnes of ioy, that should drinke vp
These flouds of sorrow, in your drowned eyes.

Arr.
By Iove, I am not Oedipvs inough,
To vnderstand this Sphynx.

Sab.
The princes come.

Tiberivs
, Nero, Drvsvs iunior.
Approch you noble Nero, noble Drvsvs,
These princes, Fathers, when their parent dyed,
I gaue vnto their vncle, with this prayer,
That, though h'had proper issue of his owne,
He would no lesse bring vp, and foster these,
Then that selfe-bloud; and by that act confirme
Their worths to him, and to posteritie:
Drvsvs tane hence, I turne my prayers to you,
And, 'fore our countrie, and our gods, beseech
You take, and rule Avgvstvs nephewes sonnes,
Sprung of the noblest ancestors; and so
Accomplish both my dutie, and your owne.
Nero, and Drvsvs, (these shall be to you
In place of parents, these your fathers, these,
And not vnfitly: For you are so borne,
As all your good, or ill's the common-wealths.
Receyue them, you strong guardians; and blest gods,
Make all their actions answere to their blouds:
Let their great titles find increase by them,
Not they by titles. Set them, as in place,
So in example, aboue all the Romanes:
And may they know no riuals, but themselues.
Let fortune giue them nothing; but attend
Vpon their vertue: and that still come forth
Greater then hope, and better then their fame.
Relieue me, Fathers, with your generall voyce.

Sen.

A forme of speaking they b d.

May all the gods consent to Caesar's wish,
And adde to any honours, that may crowne
The hopefull issue of Germanicvs.

Tib.
We thanke you, reuerend Fathers, in their right.

Arr.
If this were true now! but the space, the space
Betweene the brest, and lips—Tiberivs heart
Lyes a thought farder, then another mans.

Tib.
My comforts are so flowing in my ioyes,
As, in them, all my streames of griefe are lost,
No lesse then are land-waters in the sea,
Or showres in riuers; though their cause was such,
As might haue sprinkled eu'n the gods with teares:
Yet since the greater doth embrace the lesse,
We couetously obey.

Arr.
(Well acted, Caesar.)

Tib.
And, now I am the happy witnesse made
Of your so much desir'd affections,
To this great issue, I could wish, the fates
Would here set peacefull period to my dayes;
How euer, to my labours, I intreat
(And beg it of this Senate) some fit ease.

Arr.
(Laugh, Fathers, laugh: Ha'you no spleenes about you?)

Tib.
The burden is too heauy, I sustayne
On my vnwilling shoulders; and I pray
It may be taken off, and re-confer'd
Vpon the Consuls, or some other Romane,
More able, and more worthy.

Arr.
(Laugh on, still.)

Sab.
Why, this doth render all the rest suspected!

Gal.
It poysons all.

Arr.
O, do you taste it then?

Sab.
It takes away my faith to any thing
He shall hereafter speake.

Arr.
I, to pray that,
Which would be to his head as hot as thunder,

A wreath of laurell.

(Gain'st which he weares that charme) should but the court
Receiue him at his word.

Gal.
Heare.

Tib.
For my selfe,
I know my weakenesse, and so little couet
(Like some gone past) the waight that will oppresse me,
As my ambition is the counter-point.

Arr.
(Finely maintain'd; good still.)

Sei.
But Rome, whose bloud,
Whose nerues, whose life, whose very frame relyes
On Caesar's strength, no lesse then heau'n on Atlas,
Cannot admit it but with generall ruine.

Arr.
(Ah! are you there, to bring him of?)

Sei.
Let Caesar
No more then vrge a point so contrary
To Caesars greatnesse, the grieu'd Senates vowes,
Or Romes necessitie.

Gal.
(He comes about.

Arr.
More nimbly then Vertvmnvs.)

Tib.
For the publique,
I may be drawne, to shew, I can neglect
All priuate aymes; though I affect my rest:
But, if the Senate still command me serue,
I must be glad to practise my obedience.

Arr.
(You must, and will, sir. We doe know it.)

Sen.
Casear,
Liue long, and happy, great, and royall Caesar,

Another forme.

The gods preserue thee, and thy modestie,
Thy wisedome, and thy innocence.

Arr.
(Where is't?
The prayer's made before the subiect.)

Sen.
Guard
His meekenesse, Iove, his pietie, his care,
His bountie—

Arr.
And his subtlety, I'le put in:
Yet hee'll keepe that himselfe, without the gods.
All prayer's are vaine for him.

Tib.
We will not hold
Your patience, Fathers, with long answere; but
Shall still contend to be, what you desire,
And worke to satisfie so great a hope:
Proceed to your affaires.

Arr.
Now, Silivs, guard thee;
The curtin's drawing. Afer aduanceth.

Prae.
Silence.

Afe.
Cite Caivs Silivs.

Prae.
Caivs Silivs.

Sil.
Here.

Afe.
The triumph that thou hadst in Germanie
For thy late victorie on Sacrovir,
Thou hast enioy'd so freely, Caivs Silivs,
As no man it enuy'd thee; nor would Caesar,
Or Rome admit, that thou wert then defrauded
Of any honours, thy deserts could clayme,
In the faire seruice of the common-wealth:
But now, if, after all their loues, and graces,
(Thy actions, and their courses being discouer'd)
It shall appeare to Caesar, and this Senate,
Thou hast defil'd those glories, with thy crimes—

Sil.
Crimes?

Afe.
Patience, Silivs.

Sil.
Tell thy moile of patience,
I am a Romane. What are my crimes? Proclaime them.
Am I too rich? too honest for the times?
Haue I or treasure, iewels, land, or houses
That some informer gapes for? Is my strength
Too much to be admitted? Or my knowledge?
These now are crimes.

Afe.
Nay, Silivs, if the name
Of crime so touch thee, with what impotence
Wilt thou endure the matter to be search'd?

Sil.
I tell thee, Afer, with more scorne, then feare:
Employ your mercenarie tongue, and arte.
Where's my accuser?

Var.
Here.

Arr.
Varro? The Consul?
Is he thrust in?

Var.
'Tis I accuse thee, Silivs.
Against the maiestie of Rome, and Caesar,
I doe pronounce thee here a guiltie cause,
First, of beginning, and occasioning,
Next, drawing out the warre in Gallia,
For which thou late triumph'st; dissembling long
That Sacrovir to be an enemie,
Only to make thy entertainement more,
Whil'st thou, and thy wife Sosia poll'd the prouince;
Wherein, with sordide-base desire of gaine,
Thou hast discredited thy actions worth
And beene a traytor to the state.

Sil.
Thou lyest.

Arr.
I thanke thee, Silivs, speake so still, and often.

Var.
If I not proue it, Caesar, but iniustly
Haue call'd him into tryall, here I bind
My selfe to suffer, what I claime 'gainst him;
And yeeld, to haue what I haue spoke, confirm'd
By iudgement of the court, and all good men.

Sil.
Caesar, I craue to haue my cause defer'd,
Till this mans Consulship be out.

Tib.
We cannot,
Nor may we graunt it.

Sil.
Why? shall he designe
My day of tryall? is he my accuser?
And must he be my iudge?

Tib.
It hath beene vsuall,
And is a right, that custome hath allow'd
The magistrate, to call forth priuate men;
And to appoint their day: Which priuiledge
We may not in the Consul see infring'd,
By whose deepe watches, and industrious care
It is so labour'd, as the common-wealth
Receiue no losse, by any oblique course.

Sil.
Caesar, thy fraud is worse then violence.

Tib.
Silivs, mistake vs not, we dare not vse
The credit of the Consul, to thy wrong,
But only doe preserue his place, and power,
So farre as it concernes the dignitie,
And honor of the state.

Arr.
Beleeue him, Silivs.

Cot.
Why, so he may, Arrvntivs.

Arr.
I say so.
And he may choose too.

Tib.
By the capitoll,
And all our gods, but that the deare republick,
Our sacred lawes, and iust authoritie
Are interess'd therein, I should be silent.

Afe.
Please Caesar to giue way vnto his tryall.
He shall haue iustice.

Sil.
Nay, I shall haue law;
Shall I not Afer? speake.

Afe.
Would you haue more

Sil.
No, my well-spoken man, I would no more;
Nor lesse: might I inioy it naturall,
Not taught to speake vnto your present ends,
Free from thine, his, and all your vnkind handling,
Furious enforcing, most vniust presuming,
Malicious, and manifold applying,
Foule wresting, and impossible construction.

Afe.
He raues, he raues.

Sil.
Thou durst not tell me so,
Had'st thou not Caesars warrant. I can see
Whose power condemnes me.

Var.
This betrayes his spirit.
This doth inough declare him what he is.

Sil.
What am I? speake.

Var.
An enemie to the state.

Sil.
Because I am an enemie to thee,
And such corrupted ministers o'the state,
That here art made a present instrument
To gratifie it with thine owne disgrace.

Sei.
This, to the Consul, is most insolent!
And impious!

Sil.
I, take part. Reueale your selues.
Alas, I sent not your confed'racies?
Your plots, and combinations? I not know
Minion Seianvs hates me; and that all
This boast of law, and law, is but a forme,
A net of Vulcanes filing, a meere ingine,
To take that life by a pretext of iustice,
Which you pursue in malice? I want braine,
Or nostrill to perswade me, that your ends,
And purposes are made to what they are,
Before my answere? O, you equall gods,
Whose iustice not a world of wolfe-turn'd men
Shall make me to accuse (how ere prouoke)
Haue I for this so oft engag'd my selfe?
Stood in the heate, and feruor of a fight,
When Phœbvs sooner hath forsooke the day
Then I the field? Against the blue-ey'd Gaules?
And crisped Germanes? when our Romane Eagles
Haue fann'd the fire, with their labouring wings,
And no blow dealt, that left not death behind it?
When I haue charg'd, alone, into the troopes
Of curl'd Sicambrians, routed them, and came
Not off, with backward ensignes of a slaue,
But forward markes, wounds on my brest, and face,
Were meant to thee, ô Caesar, and thy Rome?
And haue I this returne? did I, for this,
Performe so noble, and so braue defeate,
On Sacrovir? (ô Iove, let it become me
To boast my deedes, when he, whom they concerne,
Shall thus forget them.)

Afe.
Silivs, Silivs,
These are the common customes of thy bloud,
When it is high with wine, as now with rage:
This well agrees, with that intemperate vaunt,
Thou lately mad'st at Agrippina's table,
That when all other of the troopes were prone
To fall into rebellion, only yours
Remain'd in their obedience. You were he,
That sau'd the empire; which had then beene lost,
Had but your legions, there, rebell'd, or mutin'd.
Your vertue met, and fronted euery perill.
You gaue to Caesar, and to Rome their surety.
Their name, their strength, their spirit, and their state,
Their being was a donatiue from you.

Arr.
Well worded, and most like an Orator.

Tib.
Is this true, Silivs?

Sil.
Saue thy question, Caesar.
Thy spie, of famous credit, hath affirm'd it.

Arr.
Excellent Romane!

Sab.
He doth answere stoutly.

Sei.
If this be so, there needes no farder cause
Of crime against him.

Var.
What can more impeach
The royall dignitie, and state of Caesar,
Then to be vrged with a benefit
He cannot pay?

Cot.
In this, all Caesars fortune
Is made vnequall to the courtesie.

Lat.
His meanes are cleane destroy'd, that should requite.

Gal.
Nothing is great inough for Silivs merit.

Arr.
Gallvs on that side to?

Sil.
Come, doe not hunt,
And labour so about for circumstance,
To make him guiltie, whom you haue fore-doom'd:
Take shorter wayes, I'le meet your purposes.
The wordes were mine, and more I now will say:
Since I haue done thee that great seruice, Caesar,
Thou still hast fear'd me; and, in place of grace,
Return'd me hatred: so soone, all best turnes,
With doubtfull Princes, turne deepe iniuries
In estimation, when they greater rise,
Then can be answer'd. Benefits, with you,
Are of no longer pleasure, then you can
With ease restore them; that transcended once,
Your studies are not how to thanke, but kill.
It is your nature, to haue all men slaues
To you, but you acknowledging to none.
The meanes that makes your greatnesse, must not come
In mention of it; if it doe, it takes
So much away, you thinke: and that, which help'd,
Shall soonest perish, if it stand in eye,
Where it may front, or but vpbraid the high.

Cot.
Suffer him speake no more.

Var.
Note but his spirit.

Afe.
This shewes him in the rest.

Lat.
Let him be censur'd.

Sei.
He hath spoke inough to proue him Caesars foe.

Cot.
His thoughts looke through his words.

Sei.
A censure.

Sil.
Stay,
Stay, most officious Senate, I shall straight
Delude thy furie. Silivs hath not plac'd
His guards within him, against fortunes spight,
So weakely, but he can escape your gripe
That are but hands of fortune: Shee her selfe
When vertue doth oppose, must lose her threats.
All that can happen in humanitie,
The frowne of Caesar, proud Seianvs hatred,
Base Varro's spleene, and Afers bloudying tongue,
The Senates seruile flatterie, and these
Mustred to kill, I'am fortified against;
And can looke downe vpon: they are beneath me.
It is not life whereof I stand enamour'd:
Nor shall my end make me accuse my fate.
The coward, and the valiant man must fall,
Only the cause, and manner how, discernes them:
Which then are gladdest, when they cost vs dearest.
Romanes, if any here be in this Senate,
Would know to mock Tiberivs tyrannie,
Looke vpon Silivs, and so learne to die.

Var.
O, desperate act!

Arr.
An honorable hand!

Tib.
Looke, is he dead?

Sab.
'Twas nobly strooke, and home.

Arr.
My thought did prompt him to it. Farewell, Silivs.
Be famous euer for thy great example.

Tib.
We are not pleas'd, in this sad accident,
That thus hath stalled, and abus'd our mercy,
Intended to preserue thee, noble Romane:
And to preuent thy hopes.

Arr.
Excellent wolfe!
Now he is full, he howles.

Sei.
Caesar doth wrong
His dignitie, and safetie, thus to mourne
The deseru'd end of so profest a traytor,
And doth, by this his lenitie, instruct
Others as factious, to the like offence.

Tib.
The confiscation meerely of his state
Had beene inough.

Arr.
O, that was gap'd for then?

Var.
Remoue the body.

Sei.
Let citation
Goe out for Sosia.

Gal.
Let her be proscrib'd.
And for the goods, I thinke it fit that halfe
Goe to the treasure, halfe vnto the children.

Lep.
With leaue of Caesar, I would thinke, that fourth
Part, which the law doth cast on the informers,
Should be inough; the rest goe to the children:
Wherein the Prince shall shew humanitie,
And bountie, not to force them by their want
(Which in their parents trespasse they deseru'd)
To take ill courses.

Tib.
It shall please vs.

Arr.
I,
Out of necessitie. This Lepidvs
Is graue and honest, and I haue obseru'd
A moderation still in all his censures.

Sab.
And bending to the better—Stay, who's this?
Cremvtivs Cordvs? what? is he brought in?

Arr.
More bloud vnto the banquet? Noble Cordvs,
I wish thee good: Be as thy writings, free,
And honest.

Tib.
What is he?

Sei.
For th'Annal's, Caesar.

Præco
, Cordvs, Satrivs, Natta.
Cremvtivs Cordus.

Cor.
Here.

Prae.
Satrivs Secvndus,
Pinnarivs Natta, you are his accusers.

Arr.
Two of Seianvs bloud-hounds, whom he breeds
With humane flesh, to bay at citizens.

Afe.
Stand forth before the Senate, and confront him.

Sat.
I doe accuse thee here, Cremvtivs Cordvs,
To be a man factious, and dangerous,
A sower of sedition in the state,
A turbulent, and discontented spirit,
Which I will proue from thine owne writings, here,
The Annal's thou hast publish'd; where thou bit'st
The present age, and with a vipers tooth,
Being a member of it, dar'st that ill
Which neuer yet degenerous bastard did
Vpon his parent.

Nat.
To this, I subscribe;
And, forth a world of more particulars,
Instance in only one: Comparing men,
And times, thou praysest Brvtvs, and affirm'st
That Cassivs was the last of all the Romanes.

Cot.
How! what are we then?

Var.
What is Caesar? nothing?

Afe.
My lords, this strikes at euery Romanes priuate,
In whom raignes gentrie, and estate of spirit,
To haue a Brvtvs brought in paralell,
A parricide, an enemie of his countrie,
Rank'd, and preferr'd to any reall worth
That Rome now holds. This is most strangely inuectiue.
Most full of spight, and insolent vpbraiding.
Nor is't the time alone is here dispris'd,
But the whole man of time, yea Caesar's selfe
Brought in disualew; and he aym'd at most
By oblique glance of his licentious pen.
Caesar, if Cassivs were the last of Romanes,
Thou hast no name.

Tib.
Let's heare him answere. Silence.

Cor.
So innocent I am of fact, my lords,
As but my words are argu'd; yet those words
Not reaching eyther prince, or princes parent:
The which your law of treason comprehends.
Brvtvs, and Cassivs, I am charg'd, t'haue prays'd:
Whose deedes, when many more, besides my selfe,
Haue writ, not one hath mention'd without honour.
Great Titvs Livivs, great for eloquence,
And faith, amongst vs, in his historie,
With so great prayses Pompey did extoll,
As oft Avgvstvs call'd him a Pompeian:
Yet this not hurt their friendship. In his booke
He often names Scipio, Afranivs,
Yea, the same Cassivs, and this Brvtvs too,
As worthi'st men; not theeues, and parricides,
Which notes, vpon their fames, are now impos'd.
Asinivs Pollio's writings quite throughout
Giue them a noble memorie; So Messalla
Renown'd his generall Cassivs: yet both these
Liu'd with Avgvstvs, full of wealth, and honours.
To Cicero's booke, where Cato was heau'd vp
Equall with heau'n, what else did Caesar answere,
Being then Dictator, but with a penn'd oration,
As if before the iudges? Doe but see
Antonivs letters; read but Brvtvs pleadings:
What vile reproch they hold against Avgvstvs,
False I confesse, but with much bitternesse.
The Epigram's of Bibacvlvs, and Catvllvs,
Are read, full stuft with spight of both the Caesars;
Yet deified Ivlivs, and no lesse Avgvstvs!
Both bore them, and contemn'd them: (I not know
Promptly to speake it, whether done with more
Temper, or wisdome) for such obloquies
If they despised bee, they dye supprest,
But, if with rage acknowledg'd, they are confest.
The Greekes I slip, whose licence not alone,
But also lust did scape vnpunished:
Or where some one (by chance) exception tooke,
He words with words reueng'd. But, in my worke,
What could be aim'd more free, or farder of
From the times scandale, then to write of those,
Whom death from grace, or hatred had exempted?
Did I, with Brvtvs, and with Cassivs,
Arm'd, and possess'd of the Philippi fields,
Incense the people in the ciuill cause,
With dangerous speeches? or doe they, being slaine
Seuentie yeeres since, as by their images
(Which not the conquerour hath defac'd) appeares,
Retaine that guiltie memorie with writers?
Posteritie payes euerie man his honour.
Nor shall there want, though I condemned am,
That will not only Cassivs well approue,
And of great Brvtvs honour mindfull be,
But that will, also, mention make of me.

Arr.
Freely, and nobly spoken.

Sab.
With good temper,
I like him, that he is not moou'd with passion.

Arr.
He puts 'hem to their whisper.

Tib.
Take him hence,
We shall determine of him at next sitting.

Cot.
Meane time, giue order, that his bookes be burn't,
To the' Ædiles.

Sei.
You haue well aduis'd.

Afe.
It fits not such licentious things should liue
T'vpbraid the age.

Arr.
If th'age were good, they might.

Lat.
Let 'hem be burnt.

Gal.
All sought, and burnt, to day.

Prae.
The court is vp, Lictors, resume the fasces.

Arrvntivs
, Sabinvs, Lepidvs.
Let 'hem be burnt! ô, how ridiculous
Appeares the Senate's brainlesse diligence,
Who thinke they can, with present power, extinguish
The memorie of all succeeding times!

Sab.
'Tis true when (contrarie) the punishment
Of wit, doth make th'authoritie increase.
Nor doe they ought, that vse this crueltie
Of interdiction, and this rage of burning;
But purchase to themselues rebuke, and shame,
And to the writers an eternall name.

Lep.
It is an argument the times are sore,
When vertue cannot safely be aduanc'd;
Nor vice reproou'd.

Arr.
I, noble Lepidvs,
Avgvstvs well foresaw, what we should suffer,
Vnder Tiberivs, when he did pronounce
The Roman race most wretched, that should liue
Betweene so slow iawes, and so long a bruising.

Tiberivs
, Seianvs.
This businesse hath succeeded well, Seianvs:
And quite remoou'd all iealousie of practice
'Gainst Agrippina, and our nephewes. Now,
We must bethinke vs how to plant our ingines
For th'other paire, Sabinvs, and Arrvntivs,
And Gallvs too (how ere he flatter vs,)
His heart we know.

Sei.
Giue it some respite, Caesar.
Time shall mature, and bring to perfect crowne,
What we, with so good vultures, haue begunne:
Sabinvs shall be next.

Tib.
Rather Arrvntivs.

Sei.
By any meanes, preserue him. His franke tongue
Being lent the reines, will take away all thought
Of malice, in your course against the rest.
We must keep him to stalke with.

Tib.
Dearest head,
To thy most forunate designe I yeeld it.

Sei.
Sir—I'haue beene so long train'd vp in grace,
First, with your father, great Avgvstvs, since,
With your most happie bounties so familiar,
As I not sooner would commit my hopes
Or wishes to the gods, then to your eares.
Nor haue I euer, yet, beene couetous
Of ouer-bright, and dazling honours: rather
To watch, and trauaile in great Caesar's safetie,
With the most common souldier.

Tib.
'Tis confest.

Sei.
The only gaine, and which I count most faire
Of all my fortunes, is that mightie Caesar

His daughter was betroth'd to Claudius, his sonne.

Hath thought me worthie his alliance. Hence
Beginne my hopes.

Tib.
H'mh?

Sei.
I haue heard, Avgvstvs
In the bestowing of his daughter, thought
But euen of gentlemen of Rome: If so,
(I know not how to hope so great a fauour)
But if a husband should be sought for Livia,
And I be had in minde, as Caesars freind,
I would but vse the glorie of the kindred.
It should not make me slothfull, or lesse caring
For Caesars state; it were inough to me
It did confirme, and strengthen my weake house,
Against the-now-vnequall opposition
Of Agrippina; and for deare reguard
Vnto my children, this I wish: my selfe
Haue no ambition farder, then to end
My dayes in seruice of so deare a master.

Tib.
We cannot but commend thy pietie
Most-lou'd Seianvs, in acknowledging
Those bounties; which we, faintly, such remember.
But to thy suit. The rest of mortall men,
In all their drifts, and counsels, pursue profit:
Princes, alone, are of a different sort,
Directing their maine actions still to fame.
VVe therefore will take time to thinke, and answere.
For Livia, she can best, her selfe, resolue
If she will marrie, after Drvsvs, or
Continue in the family; besides
She hath a mother, and a grandame yet,
VVhose neerer counsels she may guide her by:
But I will simply deale. That enmitie,
Thou fear'st in Agrippina, would burne more,
If Livias marriage should (as 'twere in parts)
Deuide th'imperiall house; an emulation
Betweene the women might breake forth: and discord
Ruine the sonnes, and nephues, on both hands.
VVhat if it cause some present difference?
Thou art not safe, Seianvs, if thou prooue it.
Canst thou beleeue, that Livia, first the wife
To Caivs Caesar, then my Drvsvs, now
VVill be contented to grow old with thee,
Borne but a priuate gentleman of Rome?
And rayse thee with her losse, if not her shame?
Or say, that I should wish it, canst thou thinke
The Senate, or the people (who haue seene
Her brother, father, and our ancestors,
In highest place of empire) will indure it?
The state thou hold'st alreadie, is in talke;
Men murmure at thy greatnesse; and the nobles
Sticke not, in publike, to vpbraid thy climbing
Aboue our fathers fauours, or thy scale:
And dare accuse me, from their hate to thee.
Be wise, deare friend. VVe would not hide these things
For friendships deare respect. Nor will we stand
Aduerse to thine, or Livia's designements.
VVhat we had purpos'd to thee, in our thought,
And with what neere degrees of loue to bind thee,
And make thee equall to vs; for the present,
VVe will forbeare to speake. Only, thus much
Beleeue, our lou'd Seianvs, we not know
That height in bloud, or honour, which thy vertue,
And minde to vs, may not aspire with merit.
And this wee'll publish, on all watch'd occasion
The Senate, or the people shall present.

Sei.
I am restor'd, and to my sense againe,
Which I had lost in this so blinding suit.
Caesar hath taught me better to refuse,
Then I knew how to aske. How pleaseth Caesar
T'imbrace my late aduice, for leauing Rome?

Tib.
We are resolu'd.

Sei.
Here are some motiues more
Which I haue thought on since, may more confirme.

Tib.
Carefull Seianvs! we will straight peruse them:
Goe forward in our maine designe, and prosper.

Seianvs.
If those but take, I shall: dull, heauie Caesar!
Would'st thou tell me, thy fauours were made crimes?
And that my fortunes were esteem'd thy faults?
That thou, for me, wert hated? and not thinke
I would with winged haste preuent that change,
When thou might'st winne all to thy selfe againe,
By forfeiture of me? Did those fond words
Fly swifter from thy lips, then this my braine,
This sparkling forge, created me an armor
T'encounter chance, and thee? Well, read my charmes,
And may they lay that hold vpon thy senses,
As thou had'st snuft vp hemlocke, or tane downe
The iuice of poppie, and of mandrakes. Sleepe,
Voluptuous Caesar, and securitie
Seize on thy stupide powers and leaue them dead
To publique cares, awake but to thy lusts.
The strength of which makes thy libidinous soule
Itch to leaue Rome; and I haue thrust it on:
With blaming of the citie businesse,
The multitude of suites, the confluence
Of suitors, then their importunacies,
The manifold distractions he must suffer,
Besides ill rumours, enuies, and reproches,
All which, a quiet and retired life,
(Larded with ease, and pleasure) did auoid;
And yet, for any weightie, and great affaire,
The fittest place to giue the soundest counsels.
By this, shall I remooue him both from thought,
And knowledge of his owne most deare affaires;
Draw all dispatches through my priuate hands;
Know his designements, and pursue mine owne;
Make mine owne strengths, by giuing suites, and places;
Conferring dignities, and offices:
And these, that hate me now, wanting accesse
To him, will make their enuie none, or lesse.
For when they see me arbiter of all,
They must obserue: or else, with Caesar fall.

Tiberivs
, Servus.
To marry Livia? will no lesse, Seianvs,
Content thy aimes? no lower obiect? well!
Thou know'st how thou art wrought into our trust;
Wouen in our designe; and think'st, we must
Now vse thee, whatsoere thy proiects are:
'Tis true. But yet with caution, and fit care.
And, now we better thinke—who's there, within?

Ser.
Caesar?

Tib.
To leaue our iourney off, were sin
'Gainst our decree'd delights; and would appeare
Doubt: or (what lesse becomes a prince) low feare.
Yet, doubt hath law, and feares haue their excuse,
Where princes states plead necessarie vse;
As ours doth now: more in Seianvs pride,
Then all fell Agrippina's hates beside.
Those are the dreadfull enemies, we raise
VVith fauours, and make dangerous, with prayse;
The iniur'd by vs may haue will alike,
But 'tis the fauourite hath the power, to strike:
And furie euer boyles more high, and strong,
Heat' with ambition, then reuenge of wrong.
'Tis then a part of supreme skill, to grace
No man too much; but hold a certaine space
Betweene th'ascenders rise, and thine owne flat,
Lest, when all rounds be reach'd, his aime be that.
'Tis thought—Is Macro in the palace? See:
If not, goe, seeke him, to come to vs—Hee
Must be the organ, we must worke by now;
Though none lesse apt for trust: Need doth allow
VVhat choise would not. I'haue heard, that aconite
Being timely taken, hath a healing might
Against the scorpions stroke; the proofe wee'll giue:
That, while two poysons wrastle, we may liue.
Hee hath a spirit too working, to be vs'd
But to th'encounter of his like; excus'd
Are wiser sou'raignes then, that raise one ill
Against another, and both safely kill:
The prince, that feeds great natures, they will sway him;
VVho nourisheth a lyon, must obey him.

Tiberivs
, Macro.
Macro, we sent for you.

Mac.
I heard so, Caesar.

Tib.
(Leaue vs awhile!) when you shal know good Macro,
The causes of your sending, and the ends;
You then will harken neerer: and be pleas'd
You stand so high, both in our choise, and trust.

Mac.
The humblest place in Caesars choise or trust,
May make glad Macro proud; without ambition,
Saue to doe Caesar seruice.

Tib.
Leaue our courtings.
We are in purpose, Macro, to depart
The citie for a time, and see Campania;
Not for our pleasures, but to dedicate
A paire of temples, one, to Ivfiter
At Capua; Th'other at Nola, to Avgvstvs:
In which great worke, perhaps, our stay will be
Beyond our will produc't. Now, since we are
Not ignorant what danger may be borne
Out of our shortest absence in a state
So subiect vnto enuie, and embroild
With hate, and faction; we haue thought on thee,
(Amongst a field of Romanes,) worthiest Macro,
To be our eye, and eare; to keepe strict watch
On Agrippina, Nero, Drvsvs; I,
And on Seianvs: Not, that we distrust
His loyaltie, or doe repent one grace,
Of all that heape, we haue conferd on him:
(For that were to disparage our election,
And call that iudgement now in doubt, which then
Seem'd as vnquestion'd as an oracle,)
But, greatnesse hath his cankers. Wormes, and moaths
Breed out of too much humour, in the things
Which after they consume, transferring quite
The substance of their makers, int' themselues.
Macro is sharpe, and apprehends: Besides,
I know him subtle, close, wise, and wel-read
In man, and his large nature: He hath studied
Affections passions, knowes their springs, their ends,
Which way, and whether they will worke: 'tis proofe
Inough, of his great merit, that we trust him.
Then, to a point; (because our conference
Cannot be long without suspition)
Here, Macro, we assigne thee, both to spie,
Informe, and chastise; Thinke, and vse thy meanes,
Thy ministers, what, where, on whom thou wilt;
Explore, plot, practise: All thou doost in this,
Shall be, as if the Senate, or the Lawes
Had giu'n it priuiledge, and thou thence stil'd
The sauier both of Caesar, and of Rome.
We will not take thy answere, but in act:
Whereto, as thou proceed'st, we hope to heare
By trusted messengers. If't be enquir'd,
Wherefore we call'd you, say, you haue in charge
To see our chariots readie, and our horse:
Be still our lou'd, and (shortly) honor'd Macro.

Macro.
I will not aske, why Caesar bids doe this:
But ioy, that he bids me. It is the blisse
Of courts, to be imploy'd; no matter, how:
A princes power makes all his actions vertue.
We, whom he workes by, are dumbe instruments,
To doe, but not enquire: His great intents
Are to be seru'd, not search'd. Yet, as that bow
Is most in hand, whose owner best doth know
T'affect his aymes, so let that states-man hope
Most vse, most price, can hit his princes scope.
Nor must he looke at what, or whom to strike,
But lose at all; each marke must be alike.
Were it to plot against the fame, the life
Of one, with whom I twin'd; remoue a wife
From my warme side, as lou'd, as is the ayre;
Practise away each parent; draw mine heyre
In compasse, though but one; worke all my kin
To swift perdition; leaue no vntrain'd engin,
For friendship, or for innocence; nay, make
The gods all guiltie: I would vndertake
This, being impos'd me, both with gaine, and ease.
The way to rise, is to obey, and please.
He that will thriue in state, he must neglect
The trodden paths, that truth and right respect;
And proue new, wilder wayes: for vertue, there,
Is not that narrow thing, shee is else-where.
Mens fortune there is vertue; reason, their will:
Their licence, law; and their obseruance, skill.
Occasion, is their foile; conscience, their staine;
Profit, their lustre: and what else is, vaine.
If then it be the lust of Caesars power,
T'haue rais'd Seianvs vp, and in an hower
O're-turne him, tumbling, downe, from height of all;
We are his ready engine: and his fall
May be our rise. It is no vncouth thing
To see fresh buildings from old ruines spring.

CHORVS—Of Musicians.