Act 3 — [Scene I.]

Sej. ’T is only you must urge against him, Varro; Nor I, nor Caesar may appear therein, Except in your defence, who are the consul; And, under colour of late enmity4 Between your father and his, may better do it, As free from all suspicion of a practice.[1472] Here be your notes, what points to touch at; read: Be cunning in them. Afer has them too. Var. But is he summon’d? Sej. No. It was debated By Caesar, and concluded as most fit10 To take him unprepar’d. Afer. And prosecute All under name of treason. Var. I conceive.

Sab. Drusus being dead, Caesar will not be here. Gal. What should the business of this senate be? Arr. That can my subtle whisperers tell you: we15 That are the good-dull-noble lookers-on. Are only call’d to keep the marble warm. What should we do with those deep mysteries, Proper to these fine heads? Let them alone.19 Our ignorance may, perchance, help us be sav’d From whips and furies. Gal. See, see, see their action! Arr. Ay, now their heads do travail, now they work; Their faces run like shittles; they are weaving Some curious cobweb to catch flies. Sab. Observe, They take their places. Arr. What, so low! Gal. O yes,25 They must be seen to flatter Caesar’s grief, Though but in sitting. Var. Bid us silence. Prae. Silence. Var. “Fathers conscript, may this our present meeting Turn fair and fortunate to the commonwealth!”

Sej. See, Silius enters. Sil. Hail, grave fathers! Lic. Stand.30 Silius, forbear thy place. Sen. How! Prae. Silius, stand forth, The consul hath to charge thee. Lic. Room for Caesar. Arr. Is he come too! Nay then expect a trick. Sab. Silius accus’d! Sure he will answer nobly.

Tib. We stand amazed, fathers, to behold35 This general dejection. Wherefore sit Rome’s consuls thus dissolv’d, as they had lost All the remembrance both of style and place? It not becomes. No woes are of fit weight To make the honour of the Empire stoop:40 Though I, in my peculiar self may meet Just reprehension, that so suddenly, And in so fresh a grief, would greet the senate, When private tongues, of kinsmen and allies, Inspir’d with comforts, lothly are endur’d,45 The face of men not seen, and scarce the day, To thousands that communicate[1473] our loss. Nor can I argue these of weakness, since They take but natural ways; yet I must seek49 For stronger aids, and those fair helps draw out From warm embraces of the commonwealth. Our mother, great Augusta, ’a struck with time, Our self imprest with aged characters, Drusus is gone, his children young and babes; Our aims must now reflect on those that may Give timely succour to these present ills,56 And are our only glad-surviving hopes, The noble issue of Germanicus, Nero and Drusus: might it please the consul Honour them in, they both attend without.60 I would present them to the senate’s care, And raise those sons of joy that should drink up These floods of sorrow in your drowned eyes. Arr. By Jove, I am not Oedipus enough To understand this Sphinx. Sab. The princes come.65

Tib. Approach you, noble Nero, noble Drusus. These princes, fathers, when their parent died, I gave unto their uncle, with this prayer, That though he ’d proper issue of his own, He would no less bring up, and foster these,70 Than that self-blood; and by that act confirm Their worths to him, and to posterity. Drusus ta’en hence, I turn my prayers to you, And ’fore our country and our gods, beseech You take, and rule Augustus’ nephew’s sons,75 Sprung of the noblest ancestors; and so Accomplish both my duty, and your own. Nero, and Drusus, these shall be to you In place of parents, these your fathers, these; And not unfitly: for you are so born,80 As all your good or ill ’s the commonwealth’s. Receive them, you strong guardians; and blest gods. Make all their actions answer to their bloods: Let their great titles find increase by them, Not they by titles. Set them, as in place,85 So in example, above all the Romans: And may they know no rivals but themselves. Let Fortune give them nothing, but attend Upon their virtue: and that still come forth89 Greater than hope, and better than their fame. Relieve me, fathers, with your general voice. Senators. “May all the gods consent to Caesar’s wish. And add to any honours that may crown The hopeful issue of Germanicus!” Tib. We thank you, reverend fathers, in their right.95 Arr. [Aside.] If this were true, now! but the space, the space Between the breast and lips! Tiberius’ heart Lies a thought farther than another man’s. Tib. My comforts are so flowing in my joys, As, in them, all my streams of grief are lost,100 No less than are land-waters in the sea, Or showers in rivers; though their cause was such, As might have sprinkled ev’n the gods with tears: Yet, since the greater doth embrace the less, We covetously obey. Arr. (Aside.)[1474] Well acted, Caesar.105 Tib. And now I am the happy witness made Of your so much desir’d affections To this great issue, I could wish the Fates Would here set peaceful period to my days; However, to my labours I entreat110 And beg it of this senate, some fit ease. Arr. (Aside.)[1474] Laugh, fathers, laugh: ha’ you no spleens[1475] about you? Tib. The burden is too heavy I sustain On my unwilling shoulders; and I pray It may be taken off, and reconferr’d115 Upon the consuls, or some other Roman, More able, and more worthy. Arr. (Aside.)[1474] Laugh on still. Sab. Why, this doth render all the rest suspected! Gal. It poisons all. Arr. O, do you taste it then? Sab. It takes away my faith to anything120 He shall hereafter speak. Arr. Ay, to pray that, Which would be to his head as hot as thunder, ’Gainst which he wears that charm,[1476] should but the court Receive him at his word. Gal. Hear! Tib. For myself I know my weakness, and so little covet,125 Like some gone past, the weight that will oppress me, As my ambition is the counter-point. Arr. (Aside.)[1474] Finely maintain’d; good still! Sej. But Rome, whose blood, Whose nerves, whose life, whose very frame relies On Caesar’s strength, no less than heaven on Atlas,130 Cannot admit it but with general ruin. Arr. (Aside.) Ah! are you there to bring him off? Sej. Let Caesar No more then urge a point so contrary To Caesar’s greatness, the griev’d senate’s vows, Or Rome’s necessity. Gal. (Aside.) He comes about——135 Arr. (Aside.) More nimbly than Vertumnus. Tib. For the public. I may be drawn to show I can neglect All private aims, though I affect my rest; But if the senate still command me serve, I must be glad to practise my obedience.140 Arr. (Aside.) You must and will, sir. We do know it. Senators. “Caesar, Live long and happy, great and royal Caesar; The gods preserve thee and thy modesty, Thy wisdom and thy innocence!” Arr. (Aside.) Where is ’t? The prayer is made before the subject. Senators. “Guard145 His meekness, Jove, his piety, his care, His bounty——” Arr. (Aside.) And his subtilty, I’ll put in: Yet he’ll keep that himself, without the gods. All prayers are vain for him. Tib. We will not hold Your patience, fathers, with long answer; but Shall still contend to be what you desire,151 And work to satisfy so great a hope. Proceed to your affairs. Arr. [Aside.] Now, Silius, guard thee; The curtain ’s drawing. Afer advanceth. Prae. Silence! Afer. Cite Caius Silius. Prae. Caius Silius! Sil. Here.155 Afer. The triumph that thou hadst in Germany For thy late victory on Sacrovir, Thou hast enjoy’d so freely, Caius Silius, As no man it envi’d thee; nor would Caesar159 Or Rome admit, that thou wert then defrauded Of any honours thy deserts could claim In the fair service of the commonwealth; But now, if after all their loves and graces, (Thy actions, and their courses being discover’d) It shall appear to Caesar and this senate,165 Thon hast defil’d those glories with thy crimes—— Sil. Crimes! Afer. Patience, Silius. Sil. Tell thy mule of patience; I am a Roman. What are my crimes? Proclaim them. Am I too rich, too honest for the times? Have I or treasure, jewels, land, or houses170 That some informer gapes for? Is my strength Too much to be admitted, or my knowledge? These now are crimes. Afer. Nay, Silius, if the name Of crime so touch thee, with what impotence Wilt thou endure the matter to be search’d?175 Sil. I tell thee, Afer, with more scorn than fear: Employ your mercenary tongue and art. Where ’s my accuser? Var. Here. Arr. Varro, the consul! Is he thrust in? Var. ’T is I accuse thee, Silius. Against the majesty of Rome and Caesar,180 I do pronounce thee here a guilty cause, First of beginning and occasioning, Next, drawing out the war in Gallia, For which thou late triumph’st; dissembling long That Sacrovir to be an enemy,185 Only to make thy entertainment more: Whilst thou, and thy wife Sosia, poll’d[1477] the province; Wherein, with sordid-base desire of gain, Thou hast discredited thy actions’ worth, And been a traitor to the state. Sil. Thou liest.190 Arr. I thank thee, Silius; speak so still and often. Var. If I not prove it, Caesar, but unjustly Have call’d him into trial, here I bind Myself to suffer what I claim ’gainst him;194 And yield to have what I have spoke, confirm’d By judgment of the court, and all good men. Sil. Caesar, I crave to have my cause deferr’d. Till this man’s consulship be out. Tib. We cannot, Nor may we grant it. Sil. Why? Shall he design[1478] My day of trial? Is he my accuser,200 And must he be my judge? Tib. It hath been usual, And is a right that custom hath allow’d The magistrate, to call forth private men And to appoint their day: which privilege We may not in the consul see infring’d,205 By whose deep watches and industrious care It is so labour’d, as the commonwealth Receive no loss, by any oblique course. Sil. Caesar, thy fraud is worse than violence. Tib. Silius, mistake us not, we dare not use The credit of the consul to thy wrong;211 But only do preserve his place and power, So far as it concerns the dignity And honour of the state. Arr. Believe him, Silius. Cot. Why, so he may, Arruntius. Arr. I say so;215 And he may choose too. Tib. By the Capitol, And all our gods, but that the dear republic, Our sacred laws, and just authority Are interess’d therein, I should be silent.219 Afer. Please Caesar to give way unto his trial, He shall have justice. Sil. Nay, I shall have law; Shall I not, Afer? Speak. Afer. Would you have moe? Sil. No, my well-spoken man, I would no more; Nor less: might I enjoy it natural, Not taught to speak unto your present ends,225 Free from thine, his, and all your unkind handling, Furious enforcing, most unjust presuming, Malicious, and manifold applying, Foul wresting, and impossible construction. Afer. He raves, he raves. Sil. Thou durst not tell me so,230 Hadst thou not Caesar’s warrant. I can see Whose power condemns me. Var. This betrays his spirit: This doth enough declare him what he is. Sil. What am I? speak. Var. An enemy to the state. Sil. Because I am an enemy to thee,235 And such corrupted ministers o’ the state. That here art made a present instrument To gratify it with thine own disgrace. Sej. This, to the consul, is most insolent, And impious! Sil. Ay, take part. Reveal yourselves.240 Alas! I scent not your confed’racies, Your plots, and combinations! I not know Minion Sejanus hates me; and that all This boast of law, and law, is but a form, A net of Vulcan’s filing, a mere ingine,245 To take that life by a pretext of justice, Which you pursue in malice! I want brain Or nostril to persuade me, that your ends And purposes are made to what they are, Before my answer! O, you equal gods,250 Whose justice not a world of wolf-turn’d men Shall make me to accuse (howe’er provoke), Have I for this so oft engag’d myself? Stood in the heat and fervour of a fight, When Phoebus sooner hath forsook the day255 Than I the field, against the blue-ey’d Gauls, And crisped Germans? when our Roman eagles Have fann’d the fire with their labouring wings, And no blow dealt, that left not death behind it? When I have charg’d, alone, into the troops260 Of curl’d Sicambrians, routed them, and came Not off with backward ensigns of a slave, But forward marks, wounds on my breast and face, Were meant to thee, O Caesar, and thy Rome? And have I this return! Did I, for this,265 Perform so noble, and so brave defeat, On Sacrovir! O Jove, let it become me To boast my deeds, when he, whom they concern, Shall thus forget them. Afer. Silius, Silius,269 These are the common customs of thy blood, 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 troops were prone To fall into rebellion, only yours275 Remain’d in their obedience. You were he That sav’d the Empire, which had then been lost Had but your legions there rebell’d, or mutin’d; Your virtue met, and fronted every peril.279 You gav’st to Caesar and to Rome their surety. Their name, their strength, their spirit, and their state, Their being was a donative from you. Arr. Well worded, and most like an orator. Tib. Is this true, Silius? Sil. Save thy question, Caesar, Thy spy of famous credit hath affirm’d it.285 Arr. Excellent Roman! Sab. He doth answer stoutly. Sej. If this be so, there needs no farther cause Of crime against him. Var. What can more impeach The royal dignity and state of Caesar, Than to be urged with a benefit290 He cannot pay. Cot. In this, all Caesar’s fortune Is made unequal to the courtesy. Lat. His means are clean destroy’d that should requite. Gal. Nothing is great enough for Silius’ merit. Arr. Gallus on that side too? Sil. Come, do not hunt, And labour so about for circumstance,296 To make him guilty, whom you have foredoom’d: Take shorter ways, I ’ll meet your purposes. The words were mine, and more I now will say: Since I have done thee that great service, Caesar,300 Thou still hast fear’d me; and, in place of grace, Return’d me hatred: so soon all best turns, With doubtful princes, turn deep injuries In estimation, when they greater rise Than can be answer’d. Benefits, with you,305 Are of no longer pleasure, than you can With ease restore them; that transcended once, Your studies are not how to thank, but kill. It is your nature, to have all men slaves To you, but you acknowledging to none.310 The means that makes your greatness, must not come In mention of it; if it do, it takes So much away, you think: and that which help’d Shall soonest perish, if it stand in eye,314 Where it may front, or but upbraid the high. Cot. Suffer him speak no more. Var. Note but his spirit. Afer. This shows him in the rest. Lat. Let him be censur’d.[1479] Sej. He hath spoke enough to prove him Caesar’s foe. Cot. His thoughts look through his words. Sej. A censure. Sil. Stay, Stay, most officious senate, I shall straight320 Delude thy fury. Silius hath not plac’d His guards within him, against fortune’s spite, So weakly but he can escape your gripe That are but hands of fortune: she herself,324 When virtue doth oppose, must lose her threats. All that can happen in humanity, The frown of Caesar, proud Sejanus’ hatred, Base Varro’s spleen, and Afer’s bloodying tongue, The senate’s servile flattery, and these Must’red to kill, I ’m fortified against,330 And can look down upon: 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,334 Only the cause, and manner how, discerns them: Which then are gladdest, when they cost us dearest. Romans, if any here be in this senate, Would know to mock Tiberius’ tyranny, Look upon Silius, and so learn to die. [Stabs himself.] Var. O desperate act! Arr. An honourable hand!340 Tib. Look, is he dead? Sab. ’T was nobly struck, and home. Arr. My thought did prompt him to it. Farewell, Silius. Be famous ever for thy great example. Tib. We are not pleas’d in this sad accident, That thus hath stalled,[1480] and abus’d our mercy, Intended to preserve thee, noble Roman,346 And to prevent thy hopes. Arr. Excellent wolf! Now he is full he howls. Sej. Caesar doth wrong His dignity and safety thus to mourn The deserv’d end of so profest a traitor;350 And doth, by this his lenity, instruct Others as factious to the like offence. Tib. The confiscation merely of his state Had been enough. Arr. O, that was gap’d for then? Var. Remove the body. Sej. Let citation355 Go out for Sosia. Gal. Let her be proscrib’d: And for the goods, I think it fit that half Go to the treasure, half unto the children. Lep. With leave of Caesar, I would think that fourth359 Part, which the law doth cast on the informers, Should be enough; the rest go to the children: Wherein the prince shall show humanity, And bounty; not to force them by their want, Which in their parent’s trespass they deserv’d, To take ill courses. Tib. It shall please us. Arr. Ay,366 Out of necessity. This Lepidus Is grave and honest, and I have observ’d A moderation still in all his censures,[1481] Sab. And bending to the better——Stay, who ’s this? Cremutius Cordus! What! is he brought in? Arr. More blood unto the banquet! Noble Cordus,371 I wish thee good; be as thy writings, free And honest. Tib. What is he? Sej. For th’ Annals, Caesar.

Prae. Cremutius Cordus! Cor. Here. Prae. Satrius Secundus, Pinnarius Natta, you are his accusers.375 Arr. Two of Sejanus’ blood-hounds, whom he breeds With human flesh, to bay at citizens. Afer. Stand forth before the Senate, and confront him. Sat. I do accuse thee here, Cremutius Cordus, To be a man factious and dangerous,380 A sower of sedition in the state, A turbulent and discontented spirit, Which I will prove from thine own writings, here, The Annals thou hast publish’d; where thou bit’st The present age, and with a viper’s tooth,385 Being a member of it, dar’st that ill Which never yet degenerous bastard did Upon his parent. Nat. To this I subscribe; And, forth[1482] a world of more particulars, Instance in only one: comparing men390 And times, thou praisest Brutus, and affirm’st That Cassius was the last of all the Romans. Cot. How! what are we then? Var. What is Caesar! Nothing? Afer. My lords, this strikes at every Roman’s private, In whom reigns gentry and estate of spirit,395 To have a Brutus brought in parallel, A parricide, an enemy of his country, Rank’d, and preferr’d to any real worth That Rome now holds. This is most strangely invective, Most full of spite, and insolent upbraiding.400 Nor is ’t the time alone is here dispriz’d, But the whole man of time, yea, Caesar’s self Brought in disvalue; and he aim’d at most, By oblique glance of his licentious pen. Caesar, if Cassius were the last of Romans,405 Thou hast no name. Tib. Let ’s hear him answer. Silence! Cor. So innocent I am of fact, my lords, As but my words are argu’d: yet those words Not reaching either prince or prince’s parent; The which your law of treason comprehends. Brutus and Cassius I am charg’d t’ have prais’d;411 Whose deeds, when many more, besides myself, Have writ, not one hath mention’d without honour. Great Titus Livius, great for eloquence And faith amongst us, in his History415 With so great praises Pompey did extol, As oft Augustus call’d him a Pompeian: Yet this not hurt their friendship. In his book He often names Scipio, Afranius, Yea, the same Cassius, and this Brutus too,420 As worthiest men; not thieves and parricides, Which notes upon their fames are now impos’d. Asinius Pollio’s writings quite throughout Give them a noble memory; so Messala424 Renown’d his general, Cassius: yet both these Liv’d with Augustus, full of wealth and honours. To Cicero’s book, where Cato was heav’d up Equal with heaven, what else did Caesar answer, Being then dictator, but with a penn’d oration, As if before the judges? Do but see430 Antonius’ letters; read but Brutus’ pleadings: What vile reproach they hold against Augustus, False, I confess, but with much bitterness. The epigrams of Bibaculus and Catullus Are read, full stuft with spite of both the Caesars;435 Yet deified Julius, and no less Augustus, Both bore them, and contemn’d them: I not know, Promptly to speak it, whether done with more Temper, or wisdom; for such obloquies If they despised be, they die supprest;440 But if with rage acknowledged, they are confest. The Greeks I slip, whose licence not alone, But also lust did scape unpunished: Or where some one, by chance, exception took, He words with words reveng’d. But, in my work,445 What could be aim’d more free,[1483] or farther off From the time’s scandal, than to write of those Whom death from grace or hatred had exempted? Did I, with Brutus and with Cassius, Arm’d and possess’d of the Philippi fields,450 Incense the people in the civil cause, With dangerous speeches? Or do they, being slain Seventy years since, as by their images, Which not the conqueror hath defac’d, appears, Retain that guilty memory with writers?455 Posterity pays every man his honour: Nor shall there want, though I condemned am, That will not only Cassius well approve, And of great Brutus’ honour mindful be, But that will also mention make of me.460 Arr. Freely and nobly spoken! Sab. With good temper; I like him, that he is not mov’d with passion. Arr. He puts ’em to their whisper. Tib. Take him hence; We shall determine of him at next sitting. [Exeunt Officers with Cordus.] Cot. Mean time, give order, that his books be burnt,465 To the aediles. Sej. You have well advis’d. Afer. It fits not such licentious things should live T’ upbraid the age. Arr. If th’ age were good, they might. Lat. Let ’em be burnt. Gal. All sought, and burnt to-day. Prae. The court is up; lictors, resume the fasces.470 [Exeunt all but] Arruntius, Sabinus, and Lepidus. Arr. Let them be burnt! O, how ridiculous Appear the senate’s brainless diligence, Who think they can, with present power, extinguish The memory of all succeeding times! Sab. ’T is true; when, contrary, the punishment475 Of wit doth make th’ authority increase. 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.480 Lep. It is an argument the times are sore, When virtue cannot safely be advanc’d, Nor vice reprov’d. Arr. Ay, noble Lepidus; Augustus well foresaw what we should suffer Under Tiberius, when he did pronounce485 The Roman race most wretched, that should live Between so slow jaws, and so long a bruising. [Exeunt.]