University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

Scene I.

SCENE A Hall, with the Image of Fortune, Sejanus, Satrius, Natta, Priests, &c.

ODE.
CHORUS.
CHORUS.

After the ODE Sejanus speaks.
Thou darling Goddess of my Soul,
Who can the Frowns of Fate controul;
As on thee I ever call,
Selected from th'Olympian Hall.
And to thee constant Homage pay,
Grant the Things which now I pray.
Ne'er let Adversity presume,
To cloud with worse than Stygian Gloom:
But crown his Hopes with high Success,
Who does thy boundless Pow'r confess.
And off'ring Incense at thy Shrine,
Pays thee Homage most Divine.
Some there are of human-kind,
Will madly vouch that thou art blind,
To real Merit still unkind.
Such empty bab'ling Fools there are,
The Children of dark brooding Care.
But I adore thy just Decrees,
And therefore still desire to please.
Then as a Token of thy Love,
Smile propitious from above.
Brightest Goddess of the Skies,
Accept and grace my Sacrifice.

(Thunder and Lightning, the Image turns away.)
Sat.
Behold! the Image starts, and turns away.

Priest.
Avert this dreadful Omen, sacred Powers,
Somewhat the anger'd Goddess does displease.

Sej.
Hold, babling Priest, your vile Constructions hold.
Can it not thunder but you shake with Fear?
Why should you still interpret things the worst?
This Riddle I can easily expound.
Fortune's asham'd to see me bend and pray,
That am more like a Deity than her.
She always hath my faithful Servant been;
Would not a Bondman blush, and turn away,
If he beheld his Lord and Master kneel,
Praying for that which he might well command?
Goddess, I thank thee for this just Rebuke,
And will possess the Honours thou hast giv'n,
Untainted by Religion's sickly Qualms.
I blush to think Credulity could move,
Or win me to such base Servility.

Thunder and Lightning, the Image of Fortune breaks to Pieces, and Drusus' Ghost appears on the Pedestal in its Room.
Sat.
Behold, my Lord, this sudden wond'rous Change.

Nat.
The very Form of Drusus as he liv'd,
It is an Object terrible to Sight.

Sej.
Wherefore should this be, or whence the Cause?
Our Eyes deceive us and there's no such thing.

Sat.
Nay, my Lord, the Vision is most plain,
The Proof speaks loudly in the dread Effects;
The Blood hath left your Cheeks, mine too runs cold,
And all around are struck with wild Amaze.

Sej.
Why should it thus appall?—Hence pale Shade,
Nor longer shake our Souls with abject Fears;
Make not our Eyes thus Poinards to our Hearts.
Hence to the gloomy Cave of silent Death,
And wrap thyself in everlasting Night.

(Ghost sinks.)
Sat.
Lo! Behold it vanisheth.

Sej.
So, 'tis gone,
The Gods have sent this Phantom to affright,
And punish for mistrusting of their Care.

Priest.
My Lord, 'twere best the Augurs were consulted,
It hap'ly may prevent approaching Ills.
When the Gods threaten thus, they should be fear'd.

Sej.
I tell thee, Priest, I have explain'd the Cause,
Why should we pray who never yet have fail'd?
Let them implore who labour under Ills;
When Fortune freely gives us all we wish,
'Tis Avarice to importune for more.
This, and this only causes her to frown.

Nat.
'Tis wonderful.

Sat.
And fatal much I fear.

Sej.
Give to the Winds your Fears, they're idly vain,
And serve but for unnecessary Pain.
Let us such phantom Prodigies despise,
They never should appall the bold and Wise,
Howe'er my Nerves may tremble at the sight,
My daring Soul it never shall affright.

(Exeunt.)
Enter Tiberius, Senators, Lictors, &c.
Tib.
Hath our most dear Sejanus yet been call'd,
Our Court were vacant should he not appear;
He is the very Basis of our Throne,
And valu'd Partner of our inmost Thoughts.

Var.
'Tis true, most mighty, and Imperial Cæsar,
He is much more than Eloquence can speak.
His Bosom glows with firmest Patriot Zeal,
His King and Country are his chiefest Care.

Tib.
Varro, thou speak'st the Meaning of my Heart:
For such he always has appear'd to me.
Therefore I've labour'd to advance him high,
And still my Favours shall in Bounty flow;
Let him be summon'd with the utmost Speed
To meet the Senate.

Afer.
I'll wait upon his Lordship,
And speak great Cæsar's Message, whose Commands
I'm well assur'd are Musick to his Ears,
And utmost Pleasure to his loyal Heart.
I shall gain some Advancement by my Care.

(Aside.
Tib.
We shall expect him on the Instant—Lead.

Exeunt.)
SCENE CHANGES, enter Sejanus.
If in hereafter I could meet with Ease,
Were it not well to cast off loathsome Life?
If it were good, the Change is easy wrought.
Would Being end with our expiring Breath,
How soon Misfortune could be puff'd away?
A trifling Shock can shiver us to Dust.
But the Existence of the immortal Soul,
Futurities dark Road perplexes still.
Tho' in fair Liberty's and Virtue's Cause
'Tis Honour's chiefest, fairest Deed to die,
To me 'twould furnish everlasting Pain.
If the frail Body feels disorder'd Pangs,
Then Drugs medicinal can give us Ease;
The Soul, no Æsculapian Medicine can cure,
And 'tis the Soul that ever must survive;
Therefore who dies to ease a guilty Soul,
Flies like the Moth into a deadly Flame.
Where is the Refuge then for wretched Man,
Loaded with Guilt and circled round with Crimes,
Reflective Thought administring fresh Pain?
Plung'd in the Gulph of Misery so far,
That strugling, serves but to immerge him more.
I am so tangled in the Mesh of Fate,
I cannot fortify my Breast, nor guard
Against the Horrors of besieging Crimes,
They will rush in, in spite of all my Cares,
Crowding they tear, and harrass my rack'd Soul.
Oh! that Oblivion could with Crowns be bought,
Then, and then only can I hope for Ease.
But I must bear me up to public View,
Or all will be inevitably lost.

Enter Afer.
Af.
Hail to the noblest, most renown'd of Rome.
By Cæsar's Order is the Senate met.
Greeting he sends a Summons to Sejanus.

Sej.
The Senate call'd so suddenly to meet,
And I not pre-acquainted with the Cause;
Sure Cæsar's Love decays, or my fell Foes
Have o'er his Soul acquir'd some secret Pow'r.
Hear'st thou the Cause of their assembling thus?

Afer.
To try Cremutius Cordus and the rest,
Whose Trials the last Senate were put off.
Nay Agrippina now will be impeach'd,
And all Things settled to our utmost Wish.

Sej.
Thou bring'st me Tydings which revive my Soul,
And shalt receive a fit and just Reward.
Nay all my Friends shall Fortune's Bounties share.
Why this indeed outstrips the swiftest Hope,
Cæsar doth labour in Sejanus' Cause,
But come let's wing our Steps with utmost Speed,
The swiftest Haste is laggard to the Deed.

(Exeunt.)
SCENE the last, Tiberius in the Senate seated.
Tib.
I doubt not, Fathers, but it gives Surprize,
To be thus summon'd with unusual Haste.
But where there is a mortifying Limb,
Quick Amputation must the Body save;
So in a State whose Health your Wisdoms rule,
All tainted Members should be soon cut off,
Lest vile Contagion might o'erspread the Land.
This to prevent are ye assembled here.

Var.
Your Highness still has been most just and wise.

Tib.
Where is our skillful Minister Sejanus?
He did not use to shun our Councils thus.
Hath he been summon'd to Attendance here?

Var.
Afer hath Charge to bring his Lordship hither,
And well I know his Love will give him Wings,
When he doth hear dread Cæsar needs his Presence.

Tib.
Why doubt we his Fidelity and Love?

Var.
His Lordship comes—room for the great Sejanus.

Enter Sejanus, Afer, and Latiaris, &c.
Arr.
Now Lepidus behold the servile Crew,
How, Spaniel-like, they cringe and fawn and bow.

(Aside.)
Sej.
Health to great Cæsar and the State of Rome.

Tib.
That to preserve, are we assembled here,
And tho' perhaps not plain to public View,
Yet, Rev'rend fathers, 'tis endanger'd much.
Such hellish Practices are hourly wrought,
As to be told will strike ye with Surprize:
The wise Sejanus can unfold them all.
Speak then, our dearest Counsellor and Friend,
Of what you know concerns the Roman State.
Nor fear to pain in probing of our Wounds.
I know thy tender and relenting Heart,
Feels utmost Pangs for such abhorred Crimes;
But yet would smooth th'Offences of my Blood,
Nor give true Colour to my Kinsmen's Guilt,
Lest it should fix a Stain upon my Name.
But as thou hold'st thy Prince and Country dear,
Speak ev'n thy Fears without the least Disguise.

Sej.
To be thus honour'd by my sov'reign Lord,
To have such Confidence repos'd in me,
Is more than all my Services can claim,
But what I can, I will, with Duty pay.
Since I must speak, (yet would 'twere not my Task)
In Agrippina all our Dangers lurk.
She madly thirsting for Imperial Sway,
Doth hourly plot among conspiring Friends,
To place her darling Son upon the Throne,
New mould and overturn the present State.
With specious Promises, fallacious Tears,
Many she gains to her rebellious Ends;
Such discontented and repining Slaves,
As hope by Revolution to amend.
Already some have suffer'd for the Cause,
As Silius and Sabinus—more remain,
Which as they merit will I hope be us'd.

Tib.
I hope so too, and shall if I have Pow'r.

Var.
My Lord Sejanus shall determine all,
His Voice shall crush these Cankers of the State.

Afe.
He is a worthy, and right noble Lord.

Lat.
Determinate and just in his Decrees.

Arr.
Hark, the Court Birds now all in Chorus join,
Sejanus whistles, and they learn the Tune.

(Aside.
Sej.
Most Reverend Fathers, for my single self,
I could be most content with private Life,
Abstracted from the Turmoils of the State.
Peaceful Retirement best would suit my Mind.
But for my Emperor's and your lov'd Sakes,
What Pains, what Perils would I not endure?
I have not sought the Honours I enjoy.
Nor yet impress'd by interested Views,
My weak Ambition never soar'd more high
Than to approve me loyal to my Prince,
And still industrious for my Country's Good.
These were the Principles I still preserv'd,
While overflowing Bounties paid my Deeds.

Afe.
They have been all deserv'd and many more.
Fathers let's build a Temple to his Fame,
He is the great Protector of our State,
And therefore should be rank'd amongst the Gods.

Var.
Afer, well mov'd—the Senate will approve.

Tib.
Fathers, forbear, ye know not what ye do,
The swelling Tide of unrestrain'd Success,
Has flow'd so high, as near to break its Bounds,
And Deluge in Destruction o'er the State.
I will remove the Blind which stands before
And stops the Penetration of your Sight,
Shew you this Traytor 'circled round with Guilt,
Whom I have rais'd upon the Wing of Hope;
More to torment him with the Shock of Fate,
Which like the unseen Thunderbolt now falls
To crush this Heap of Villainy to Earth.
Behold this Slave as Serpent to my Breast,
He is the Vulture would devour us all.

Omnes.
How's this Sejanus?

Tib.
Ay that very Slave,
Whom I have nurs'd and foster'd with my Blood,
Whom rais'd to highest Honour and Renown,
Fathers, ye all seem much amaz'd—he looks surpriz'd.
As if that Guilt were foreign to his Soul,
Dissimulation shall not save thee now.
Where is my Son, thou Traitor? turn'st thou pale.
What Fate will your grave Wisdoms here decree
To him, who robb'd my noble Son of Life?

Sej.
With sudden Accusation thus surpriz'd,
I know not what to answer to my Prince,
'Tis hard that Supposition should condemn,
And blast my faithful Services at once.
May I not hope so much your Highness' Grace,
As Time of Preparation for Defence?

Tib.
Too well I know thee to let Favour smile
Or give thee Opportunity to 'scape.
Thou would'st have Time t'alarm the servile Herd
Which by the Pow'r I gave, thou hast obtain'd,
As slavish Sycophants to aid thy Cause.
I have ta'en Care to seize thee unprepar'd;
And by our awful Capitol I swear,
Thou shalt meet Fate before an Hour's Space.
If any here oppose the just Decree,
He shall be deem'd a Traitor and my Foe.

Sej.
Will then great Cæsar sentence me to Death,
And criminate without an Evidence?

Tib.
To strike him dumb bring that Eudemus forth.

Var.
This is most wonderful.

Afe.
Beyond all Belief.

Arr.
Now Lepidus behold the Courtier fry,
How prone they are, how liable to change.

Enter Eudemus.
Tib.
This was the Slave by thee suborn'd to act,
This was the Pandar of thy Hellish Schemes.
Who now repenting has confess'd it all,
In Hopes to gain a Pardon from the State;
For shewing the Distemper of our Blood,
And bringing Justice on thy wicked Head.

(Aside.)
(Aside) Sej.
Nay then I am undone.—This is no Proof.
Brib'd by my Enemies he will say aught,
Those Enemies I made by serving you.

Eud.
Most grave and reverend Senators of Rome,
For strictest Justice in your Councils fam'd;
You see me here a most unhappy Wretch,
Stung with Remorse, abhorring my own Guilt,
Of basely joining in such wicked Acts,
As this Sejanus won me to perform.
Great Drusus fell by our complotted Schemes,
And I've, for ever, lost my Peace of Mind.

Sej.
And will a Tale form'd by an artful Slave,
Without Foundation, and devoid of Truth;
So sway where awful Justice should preside,
As to assail my Life and rule my Fate?

Tib.
Can'st thou so bravely then deny the Fact?

Var.
The Guilt is plainly pictur'd in his Look.

Lat.
He is a Monster fraught with foul Deceit.

Arr.
Oh! do the Birds begin to change their Notes?

(Aside
Eud.
Since he has Confidence to brave his Guilt,
And to arraign the Justice of the Court.
Fathers but send a Messenger with me,
I will produce an Object shall declare,
And speak so loud in Proof of his Misdeeds,
Evasion will no longer find a Plea.

Tib.
Say what thou can'st produce.

Eud.
Most mighty Cæsar,
The faithless Livia, our lost Prince's Wife,
Betray'd by him to Infamy and Shame,
Now lies expiring by his murderous Hands,
Lest she should all his Villainies reveal.

Tib.
Go thou, Arruntius, prove the Truth of this.

Sej.
Then Fate conspires against me, and I must fall.
This Trouble spare, I now confess it all,
And think it is but just, Guilt should be found,
That took no better Care to silence bab'ling Tongues.

Tib.
Art thou not terrify'd, abandon'd Wretch,
To think what Tortures wait upon thy Crimes?
Henceforth no Trust be held, 'twixt Man and Man,
Since he, whom I still labour'd to promote,
Rais'd from Obscurity to mate with Kings,
Could use that Pow'r unto such wicked Ends.
Had'st thou no grateful Feeling of my Love?
Wretch! whence could all thy Villainies derive?

Sej.
Since they are found, what Matter whence they sprung;
But if thou wilt be told, know from Ambition.
Your Folly rais'd me to such glaring Height,
As made me hope to step into a Throne,
And my Thoughts soar'd to universal Sway,
Which I had nearly brought within my Grasp.
Now the gay Dream is vanish'd from my Sight.
The Clouds of Fortune to the Glare succeed.—
Yet I complain not—had I been a King,
Death must one Day have seiz'd upon my Crown—
But come, ye thirsty Bloodhounds of the State,
I see ye long to lap my vital Stream,
Dispatch then, and at once my Fate decree.

Var.
Let him be stripp'd of all his Honours first.

Afe.
His Images disrob'd and strait defac'd.

Lat.
Most bloody Villain!

Sat.
Most abandon'd Traitor!

Var.
Then let him be led forth to publick Death.

Afe.
Such as his Crimes deserve.

Lat.
To the most shameful!

Nat.
Aye, and cruel.

Sej.
Right, ye time-serving Sycophants and Slaves,
But now ye were dependant on my Nod,
Bask'd in my Looks, and dwelt upon my Smiles:
Nay strove with Emulation, how to raise
Such Trophies as might eternize my Name.
Now with full Cry ye run me to a bay,
And snarling strive who takes the foremost Bite;
Nor would Tiberius meet a better Fate,
Were he but once within your currish Fangs.
Ye all are just and wise to publick View,
While Villainy lies lurking in your Hearts.
Ye are my Judges who were once my Slaves.
Base veering Weathercocks of ev'ry Blast,
Who have not Stedfastness to brave a Gale;
But on the Centers of your Interest turn.
Your rotten Hearts still float with Fortune's Tide,
But never dare run counter to the Stream.
Which of ye all, when I had Pow'r to serve,
And feed with Bribes your avaritious Souls,
But would with Pleasure have obey'd Command;
Nor ever felt a conscientious Qualm?
It is a Comfort at the Close of Life,
That with my Life such Reptiles I forsake.
Thus then I take my everlasting Leave.
May all your Tongues, as ye together cry,
Together rot, and in Oblivion lie,
All Plagues that Heav'n can send to human Kind,
All Pangs of Body and all Racks of Mind,
With Jars intestine, Discontents and Strife
Be your Tormenters thro' each Scene of Life,
May Tyranny and Blood o'erwhelm ye all,
And may ye like the curs'd Sejanus fall.

(Exit.)
Tib.