Act 4 — [Scene III.][1503]

Lat. It is a service great Sejanus will See well requited, and accept of nobly. Here place yourselves between the roof and ceiling; And when I bring him to his words of danger, Reveal yourselves, and take him. Ruf. Is he come?5 Lat. I’ll now go fetch him. [Exit.] Ops. With good speed.—I long To merit from the state in such an action. Ruf. I hope it will obtain the consulship For one of us. Ops. We cannot think of less, To bring in one so dangerous as Sabinus.10 Ruf. He was a follower of Germanicus, And still is an observer[1504] of his wife And children, though they be declin’d in grace; A daily visitant, keeps them company In private and in public, and is noted15 To be the only client of the house: Pray Jove, he will be free to Latiaris. Ops. He ’s alli’d to him, and doth trust him well. Ruf. And he’ll requite his trust! Ops. To do an office So grateful to the state, I know no man20 But would strain nearer bands than kindred— Ruf. List! I hear them come. Ops. Shift to our holes with silence. [They retire.]

Lat. It is a noble constancy you show To this afflicted house; that not like others, The friends of season, you do follow fortune,25 And, in the winter of their fate, forsake The place whose glories warm’d you. You are just, And worthy such a princely patron’s love, As was the world’s renown’d Germanicus, Whose ample merit when I call to thought,30 And see his wife and issue objects made To so much envy, jealousy, and hate; It makes me ready to accuse the gods Of negligence, as men of tyranny. Sab. They must be patient, so must we. Lat. O Jove, What will become of us or of the times,36 When, to be high or noble, are made crimes, When land and treasure are most dangerous faults? Sab. Nay, when our table, yea our bed, assaults Our peace and safety? When our writings are By any envious instruments, that dare41 Apply them to the guilty, made to speak What they will have to fit their tyrannous wreak? When ignorance is scarcely innocence; And knowledge made a capital offence?45 When not so much, but the bare empty shade Of liberty, is reft[1505] us; and we made The prey to greedy vultures and vile spies, That first transfix us with their murdering eyes?49 Lat. Methinks the genius of the Roman race Should not be so extinct, but that bright flame Of liberty might be reviv’d again, (Which no good man but with his life should lose) And we not sit like spent and patient fools, Still puffing in the dark at one poor coal,55 Held on by hope, till the last spark is out. The cause is public, and the honour, name, The immortality of every soul, That is not bastard or a slave in Rome, Therein concern’d: whereto, if men would change60 The weari’d arm, and for the weighty shield So long sustain’d, employ the facile sword, We might have soon assurance of our vows. This ass’s fortitude doth tire us all: It must be active valour must redeem65 Our loss, or none. The rock and our hard steel Should meet t’ enforce those glorious fires again, Whose splendour cheer’d the world, and heat gave life No less than doth the sun’s. Sab. ’T were better stay In lasting darkness, and despair of day.70 No ill should force the subject undertake Against the sovereign, more than hell should make The gods do wrong. A good man should and must Sit rather down with loss than rise unjust; Though, when the Romans first did yield themselves75 To one man’s power, they did not mean their lives, Their fortunes, and their liberties should be His absolute spoil, as purchas’d by the sword. Lat. Why, we are worse, if to be slaves, and bond79 To Caesar’s slave, be such, the proud Sejanus! He that is all, does all, gives Caesar leave To hide his ulcerous and anointed face, With his bald crown at Rhodes, while he here stalks Upon the heads of Romans and their princes, Familiarly to empire. Sab. Now you touch84 A point indeed, wherein he shows his art, As well as power. Lat. And villany in both. Do you observe where Livia lodges? How Drusus came dead? What men have been cut off? Sab. Yes, those are things remov’d. I nearer lookt90 Into his later practice, where he stands Declar’d a master in his mystery. First, ere Tiberius went, he wrought his fear To think that Agrippina sought his death. Then put those doubts in her; sent her oft word,95 Under the show of friendship, to beware Of Caesar, for he laid to poison her: Drave them to frowns, to mutual jealousies, Which, now, in visible hatred are burst out. Since, he hath had his hired instruments100 To work on Nero, and to heave him up; To tell him Caesar’s old, that all the people, Yea, all the army have their eyes on him; That both do long to have him undertake104 Something of worth, to give the world a hope; Bids him to court their grace: the easy youth Perhaps gives ear, which straight he writes to Caesar; And with this comment: “See yon dangerous boy; Note but the practice of the mother, there; She’s tying him for purposes at hand,110 With men of sword.” Here’s Caesar put in fright ’Gainst son and mother. Yet he leaves not thus, The second brother, Drusus, a fierce nature, And fitter for his snares, because ambitious And full of envy, him he clasps and hugs,115 Poisons with praise, tells him what hearts he wears, How bright he stands in popular expectance; That Rome doth suffer with him in the wrong His mother does him, by preferring Nero:119 Thus sets he them asunder, each ’gainst other. Projects the course that serves him to condemn, Keeps in opinion of a friend to all, And all drives on to ruin. Lat. Caesar sleeps, And nods at this. Sab. Would he might ever sleep, Bogg’d in his filthy lusts! [Opsius and Rufus rush in.] Ops. Treason to Caesar!125 Ruf. Lay hands upon the traitor, Latiaris, Or take the name thyself. Lat. I am for Caesar. Sab. Am I then catch’d? Ruf. How think you, sir? You are. Sab. Spies of this head, so white, so full of years! Well, my most reverend monsters, you may live To see yourself thus snar’d. Ops. Away with him!131 Lat. Hale him away. Ruf. To be a spy for traitors, Is honourable vigilance. Sab. You do well, My most officious instruments of state, Men of all uses. Drag me hence, away.135 The year is well begun, and I fall fit To be an off’ring to Sejanus. Go! Ops. Cover him with his garments, hide his face. Sab. It shall not need. Forbear your rude assault. The fault’s not shameful, villany makes a fault. [Exeunt.]140