Act 5 — [Scene IV.][1524]

Fla. We have been faulty, but repent us now. And bring pure hands, pure vestments, and pure minds. 4

Fla. Bestow your garlands: and, with reverence place The vervain[1527] on the altar.

Fla. Great mother Fortune, queen of human state, Rectress of action, arbitress of fate, To whom all sway, all power, all empire bows, Be present, and propitious to our vows! 11 Prae. Favour it with your tongues. Min. Be present, and propitious to our vows! Accept our off’ring, and be pleas’d, great goddess. 14 Ter. See, see, the image stirs! Sat. And turns away! Nat. Fortune averts her face! Fla. Avert, you gods, The prodigy. Still! still! some pious rite We have neglected. Yet, heav’n be appeas’d, And be all tokens false or void, that speak 19 Thy present wrath! Sej. Be thou dumb, scrupulous priest: And gather up thyself, with these thy wares, Which I, in spite of thy blind mistress, or Thy juggling mystery, religion, throw Thus scorned on the earth. [Overturns the statue and the altar.] Nay, hold thy look Averted till I woo thee turn again; 25 And thou shalt stand, to all posterity, Th’ eternal game and laughter, with thy neck Writh’d to thy tail, like a ridiculous cat. Avoid[1528] these fumes, these superstitious lights, And all these cos’ning[1529] ceremonies; you, 30 Your pure and spiced[1530] conscience! [Exeunt all but Sejanus, Terentius, Satrius, and Natta.] I, the slave And mock of fools, (scorn on my worthy head!) That have been titled and ador’d a god, Yea sacrific’d unto, myself, in Rome, No less than Jove: and I be brought to do 35 A peevish giglot[1531] rites! Perhaps the thought And shame of that made Fortune turn her face, Knowing herself the lesser deity, And but my servant.—Bashful queen, if so, Sejanus thanks thy modesty.—Who’s that? 40

Pom. His fortune suffers, till he hears my news: I have waited here too long. Macro, my lord—— Sej. Speak lower and withdraw. [Takes him aside.] Ter. Are these things true? Min. Thousands are gazing at it in the streets. Sej. What’s that? Ter. Minutius tells us here, my lord,45 That a new head being set upon your statue, A rope is since found wreath’d about it! and, But now, a fiery meteor in the form Of a great ball was seen to roll along49 The troubled air, where yet it hangs unperfect, The amazing wonder of the multitude! Sej. No more. That Macro ’s come, is more than all! Ter. Is Macro come? Pom. I saw him. Ter. Where? with whom? Pom. With Regulus. Sej. Terentius! Ter. My lord. Sej. Send for the tribunes, we will straight have up55 More of the soldiers for our guard. [Exit Ter.] Minutius, We pray you go for Cotta, Latiaris, Trio the consul, or what senators You know are sure, and ours. [Exit Min.] You, my good Natta, For Laco, provost of the watch. [Exit Nat.] Now, Satrius,60 The time of proof comes on; arm all our servants, And without tumult. [Exit Sat.] You, Pomponius, Hold some good correspondence with the consul: Attempt him, noble friend. [Exit Pomp.] These things begin To look like dangers, now, worthy my fates.65 Fortune, I see thy worst: let doubtful states, And things uncertain hang upon thy will; Me surest death shall render certain still. Yet, why is now my thought turn’d toward death, Whom fates have let go on so far in breath,70 Uncheck’d or unreprov’d? I, that did help To fell the lofty cedar of the world Germanicus; that at one stroke cut down Drusus, that upright elm; wither’d his vine; Laid Silius and Sabinus, two strong oaks,75 Flat on the earth; besides those other shrubs, Cordus and Sosia, Claudia Pulchra, Furnius and Gallus, which I have grubb’d up; And since, have set my axe so strong and deep Into the root of spreading Agrippine;80 Lopt off and scatter’d her proud branches, Nero, Drusus; and Caius too, although replanted. If you will, Destinies, that after all, I faint now ere I touch my period. You are but cruel; and I already have done85 Things great enough. All Rome hath been my slave; The senate sate an idle looker-on, And witness of my power; when I have blush’d More to command than it to suffer:[1532] all The fathers have sat ready and prepar’d90 To give me empire, temples, or their throats, When I would ask ’em; and, what crowns the top, Rome, senate, people, all the world have seen Jove but my equal; Caesar but my second. ’T is then your malice, Fates, who, but your own,95 Envy and fear t’ have any power long known. [Exit.]