Chapter XLIV: Act II: Scene I.1440

[_Enter_] SEJANUS, LIVIA, EUDEMUS.

_Sej._ Physician, thou art worthy of a province,
For the great favours done unto our loves;
And, but that greatest Livia bears a part
In the requital of thy services,
I should alone despair of aught like means 5
To give them worthy satisfaction.

_Liv._ Eudemus, I will see it, shall receive
A fit and full reward for his large merit.—
But for this potion we intend to Drusus,
(No more our husband, now) whom shall we choose 10
As the most apt and abled instrument,
To minister it to him?

_Eud._ I say, Lygdus.

_Sej._ Lygdus? What’s he?

_Liv._ An eunuch Drusus loves.

_Eud._ Ay, and his cup-bearer.

_Sej._ Name not a second.
If Drusus love him, and he have that place, 15
We cannot think a fitter.

_Eud._ True, my lord;
For free access and trust are two main aids.

_Sej._ Skilful physician!

_Liv._ But he must be wrought
To th’ undertaking, with some labour’d art.

_Sej._ Is he ambitious?

_Liv._ No.

_Sej._ Or covetous? 20

_Liv._ Neither.

_Eud._ Yet, gold is a good general charm.

_Sej._ What is he, then?

_Liv._ Faith, only wanton, light.

_Sej._ How! is he young? and fair?

_Eud._ A delicate youth.

_Sej._ Send him to me, I’ll work him.—Royal lady,
Though I have lov’d you long, and with that height 26
Of zeal and duty, like the fire, which more
It mounts it trembles, thinking nought could add
Unto the fervour which your eye had kindled;
Yet, now I see your wisdom, judgment, strength,
Quickness, and will, to apprehend the means 30
To your own good and greatness, I protest
Myself through rarified, and turn’d all flame
In your affection. Such a spirit as yours,
Was not created for the idle second
To a poor flash, as Drusus; but to shine 35
Bright as the moon among the lesser lights,
And share the sov’reignty of all the world.
Then Livia triumphs in her proper sphere,
When she and her Sejanus shall divide
The name of Caesar, and Augusta’s star 40
Be dimm’d with glory of a brighter beam:
When Agrippina’s fires are quite extinct,
And the scarce-seen Tiberius borrows all
As little light from us, whose folded arms
Shall make one perfect orb! [_Knocking within._]
Who ’s that? Eudemus, 45
Look. [_Exit_ EUDEMUS.] ’T is not Drusus, lady, do not fear.

_Liv._ Not I, my lord: my fear and love of him
Left me at once.

_Sej._ Illustrious lady, stay——

_Eud._ [_within._] I’ll tell his lordship.

[_Re-enter_ EUDEMUS.]

_Sej._ Who is it, Eudemus?

_Eud._ One of your lordship’s servants brings you word 50
The emp’ror hath sent for you.

_Sej._ O! where is he?—
With your fair leave, dear princess, I’ll but ask
A question, and return. _He goes out._

_Eud._ Fortunate princess!
How are you blest in the fruition
Of this unequall’d man, the soul of Rome, 55
The Empire’s life, and voice of Caesar’s world!

_Liv._ So blessed, my Eudemus, as to know
The bliss I have, with what I ought to owe
The means that wrought it. How do I look today?

_Eud._ Excellent clear, believe it. This same fucus[1441] 60
Was well laid on.

_Liv._ Methinks ’t is here not white.

_Eud._ Lend me your scarlet, lady. ’T is the sun,
Hath giv’n some little taint unto the ceruse;[1442]
You should have us’d of the white oil I gave you.
Sejanus for your love! his very name 65
Commandeth above Cupid or his shafts——
[_Paints her cheek._]

_Liv._ Nay, now you’ve made it worse.

_Eud._ I’ll help it straight——
And but pronounc’d, is a sufficient charm
Against all rumour; and of absolute power
To satisfy for any lady’s honour.—— 70

_Liv._ What do you now, Eudemus?

_Eud._ Make a light fucus,
To touch you o’er withal.—Honour’d Sejanus!
What act, though ne’er so strange and insolent,
But that addition will at least bear out,
If ’t do not expiate?

_Liv._ Here, good physician. 75

_Eud._ I like this study to preserve the love
Of such a man, that comes not every hour
To greet the world.—’T is now well, lady; you should
Use of the dentifrice I prescrib’d you too, 79
To clear your teeth, and the prepar’d pomatum,
To smooth the skin.—A lady cannot be
Too curious of her form, that still would hold
The heart of such a person, made her captive,
As you have his; who, to endear him more
In your clear eye, hath put away his wife, 85
The trouble of his bed and your delights,
Fair Apicata, and made spacious room
To your new pleasures.

_Liv._ Have not we return’d[1443]
That with our hate to Drusus, and discovery
Of all his counsels?

_Eud._ Yes, and wisely, lady. 90
The ages that succeed, and stand far off
To gaze at your high prudence, shall admire,
And reckon it an act without[1444] your sex:
It hath that rare appearance. Some will think
Your fortune could not yield a deeper sound, 95
Than mixt with Drusus; but, when they shall hear
That and the thunder of Sejanus meet,
Sejanus, whose high name doth strike the stars,
And rings about the concave; great Sejanus,
Whose glories, style, and titles are himself, 100
The often iterating of Sejanus;
They then will lose their thoughts, and be asham’d
To take acquaintance of them.

[_Re-enter_ SEJANUS.]

_Sej._ I must make
A rude departure, lady; Caesar sends 104
With all his haste both of command and prayer.
Be resolute in our plot; you have my soul,
As certain yours as it is my body’s.
And, wise physician, so prepare the poison,
As you may lay the subtile operation
Upon some natural disease of his: 110
Your eunuch send to me. I kiss your hands,
Glory of ladies, and commend my love
To your best faith and memory.

_Liv._ My lord,
I shall but change[1445] your words. Farewell. Yet, this
Remember for your heed, he loves you not; 115
You know what I have told you; his designs
Are full of grudge and danger; we must use
More than a common speed.

_Sej._ Excellent lady,
How you do fire my blood!

_Liv._ Well, you must go?
The thoughts be best, are least set forth to show. [_Exit_ SEJANUS.]

_Eud._ When will you take some physic, lady?

_Liv._ When 121
I shall, Eudemus: but let Drusus’ drug
Be first prepar’d.

_Eud._ Were Lygdus made,[1446] that’s done;
I have it ready. And, to-morrow morning
I’ll send you a perfume, first to resolve 125
And procure sweat, and then prepare a bath
To cleanse and clear the cutis;[1447] against when
I’ll have an excellent new fucus made,
Resistive ’gainst the sun, the rain, or wind,
Which you shall lay on with a breath, or oil, 130
As you best like, and last some fourteen hours.
This change came timely, lady, for your health,
And the restoring your complexion,
Which Drusus’ choler had almost burnt up;
Wherein your fortune hath prescrib’d you better 135
Than art could do.

_Liv._ Thanks, good physician,
I’ll use my fortune, you shall see, with reverence.
Is my coach ready?

_Eud._ It attends your highness.
[_Exeunt._]

[SCENE II.][1448]

[_Enter_] SEJANUS.

_Sej._ If this be not revenge, when I have done
And made it perfect, let Egyptian slaves,
Parthians, and barefoot Hebrews brand my face,
And print my body full of injuries.
Thou lost thyself, child Drusus, when thou thought’st 5
Thou couldst outskip my vengeance, or outstand
The power I had to crush thee into air.
Thy follies now shall taste what kind of man
They have provok’d, and this thy father’s house
Crack in the flame of my incensed rage, 10
Whose fury shall admit no shame or mean.—
Adultery! it is the lightest ill
I will commit. A race of wicked acts
Shall flow out of my anger, and o’erspread
The world’s wide face, which no posterity 15
Shall e’er approve, nor yet keep silent: things,
That for their cunning, close,[1449] and cruel mark
Thy father would wish his, and shall, perhaps,
Carry the empty name, but we the prize.
On, then, my soul, and start not in thy course;
Though heav’n drop sulphur, and hell belch out fire, 21
Laugh at the idle terrors: tell proud Jove,
Between his power and thine there is no odds:
’T was only fear first in the world made gods.

[_Enter_] TIBERIUS [_attended_.]

_Tib._ Is yet Sejanus come?

_Sej._ He’s here, dread Caesar.

_Tib._ Let all depart that chamber, and the next. 25
[_Exeunt_ Attendants.]
Sit down, my comfort. When the master prince
Of all the world, Sejanus, saith he fears,
Is it not fatal?

_Sej._ Yes, to those are fear’d.

_Tib._ And not to him?

_Sej._ Not if he wisely turn 30
That part of fate he holdeth, first on them.

_Tib._ That nature, blood, and laws of kind forbid.

_Sej._ Do policy and state forbid it?

_Tib._ No.

_Sej._ The rest of poor respects, then let go by;
State[1450] is enough to make th’ act just, them guilty. 35

_Tib._ Long hate pursues such acts.

_Sej._ Whom hatred frights,
Let him not dream of sov’reignty.

_Tib._ Are rites
Of faith, love, piety, to be trod down,
Forgotten, and made vain?

_Sej._ All for a crown.
The prince who shames a tyrant’s name to bear,
Shall never dare do anything but fear; 41
All the command of sceptres quite doth perish,
If it begin religious thoughts to cherish:
Whole empires fall, sway’d by those nice[1451] respects;
It is the licence of dark deeds protects 45
Ev’n states most hated, when no laws resist
The sword, but that it acteth what it list.

_Tib._ Yet so, we may do all things cruelly,
Not safely.

_Sej._ Yes, and do them thoroughly.

_Tib._ Knows yet Sejanus whom we point at?

_Sej._ Ay, 50
Or else my thought, my sense, or both do err:
’T is Agrippina.

_Tib._ She, and her proud race.

_Sej._ Proud! dangerous, Caesar: for in them apace
The father’s spirit shoots up. Germanicus
Lives in their looks, their gait, their form, t’ upbraid us 56
With his close death, if not revenge the same.

_Tib._ The act’s not known.

_Sej._ Not prov’d; but whisp’ring Fame
Knowledge and proof doth to the jealous[1452] give,
Who, than to fail,[1453] would their own thought believe.
It is not safe the children draw long breath, 60
That are provoked by a parent’s death.

_Tib._ It is as dangerous to make them hence,
If nothing but their birth be their offence.

_Sej._ Stay, till they strike at Caesar; then their crime
Will be enough; but late and out of time 65
For him to punish.

_Tib._ Do they purpose it?

_Sej._ You know, sir, thunder speaks not till it hit.
Be not secure;[1454] none swiftlier are opprest
Than they whom confidence betrays to rest.
Let not your daring make your danger such: 70
All power ’s to be fear’d, where ’t is too much.
The youths are of themselves hot, violent,
Full of great thought; and that male-spirited dame,
Their mother, slacks no means to put them on,
By large allowance, popular presentings, 75
Increase of train and state, suing for titles;
Hath them commended with like prayers, like vows,
To the same gods, with Caesar: days and nights
She spends in banquets and ambitious feasts
For the nobility; where Caius Silius, 80
Titius Sabinus, old Arruntius,
Asinius Gallus, Furnius, Regulus,
And others of that discontented list,
Are the prime guests. There, and to these, she tells
Whose niece she was, whose daughter, and whose wife. 85
And then must they compare her with Augusta,
Ay, and prefer her too; commend her form,
Extol her fruitfulness, at which a shower
Falls for the memory of Germanicus,
Which they blow over straight with windy praise 90
And puffing hopes of her aspiring sons;
Who, with these hourly ticklings, grow so pleas’d,
And wantonly conceited of themselves,
As now they stick not to believe they ’re such
As these do give them out; and would be thought 95
More than competitors,[1455] immediate heirs.
Whilst to their thirst of rule, they win the rout
(That’s still the friend of novelty) with hope
Of future freedom, which on every change
That greedily, though emptily expects. 100
Caesar, ’t is age in all things breeds neglects,
And princes that will keep old dignity
Must not admit too youthful heirs stand by;
Not their own issue; but so darkly set
As shadows are in picture, to give height 105
And lustre to themselves.

_Tib._ We will command
Their rank thoughts down, and with a stricter hand
Than we have yet put forth; their trains must bate,[1456]
Their titles, feasts, and factions.

_Sej._ Or your state.
But how, sir, will you work?

_Tib._ Confine ’em.

_Sej._ No. 110
They are too great, and that too faint a blow
To give them now; it would have serv’d at first,
When with the weakest touch their knot had burst.
But now, your care must be, not to detect
The smallest cord, or line of your suspect; 115
For such, who know the weight of princes’ fear,
Will, when they find themselves discover’d, rear
Their forces, like seen snakes, that else would lie
Roll’d in their circles, close. Nought is more high,
Daring, or desperate, than offenders found; 120
Where guilt is, rage and courage doth abound.
The course must be, to let ’em still swell up,
Riot, and surfeit on blind Fortune’s cup;
Give ’em more place, more dignities, more style,
Call ’em to court, to senate; in the while, 125
Take from their strength some one or twain or more,
Of the main fautors[1457] (it will fright thy store),
And, by some by-occasion. Thus, with sleight
You shall disarm first; and they, in night
Of their ambition,[1458] not perceive the train, 130
Till in the engine[1459] they are caught and slain.

_Tib._ We would not kill, if we knew how to save;
Yet, than a throne, ’t is cheaper give a grave.
Is there no way to bind them by deserts?

_Sej._ Sir, wolves do change their hair, but not their hearts. 135
While thus your thought unto a mean[1460] is tied,
You neither dare enough, nor do provide.
All modesty is fond,[1461] and chiefly where
The subject is no less compell’d to bear,
Than praise his sov’reign’s acts.

_Tib._ We can no longer 140
Keep on our mask to thee, our dear Sejanus;
Thy thoughts are ours, in all, and we but prov’d
Their voice, in our designs, which by assenting
Hath more confirm’d us, then if heart’ning Jove
Had, from his hundred statues, bid us strike, 145
And at the stroke clickt all his marble thumbs.
But who shall first be struck?

_Sej._ First, Caius Silius;
He is the most of mark, and most of danger:
In power and reputation equal strong,
Having commanded an imperial army 150
Seven years together, vanquish’d Sacrovir
In Germany, and thence obtain’d to wear
The ornaments triumphal. His steep fall,
By how much it doth give the weightier crack,
Will send more wounding terror to the rest, 155
Command them stand aloof, and give more way
To our surprising of the principal.

_Tib._ But what, Sabinus?

_Sej._ Let him grow awhile,
His fate is not yet ripe: we must not pluck
At all together, lest we catch ourselves. 160
And there’s Arruntius too, he only talks.
But Sosia, Silius’ wife, would be wound in
Now, for she hath a fury in her breast,
More than hell ever knew: and would be sent
Thither in time. Then is there one Cremutius
Cordus, a writing fellow, they have got 166
To gather notes of the precedent times,
And make them into Annals; a most tart
And bitter spirit, I hear: who, under colour 169
Of praising those, doth tax[1462] the present state,
Censures[1463] the men, the actions, leaves no trick,
No practice unexamin’d, parallels
The times, the governments; a profest champion
For the old liberty——

_Tib._ A perishing wretch!
As if there were that chaos bred in things, 175
That laws and liberty would not rather choose
To be quite broken, and ta’en hence by us,
Than have the stain to be preserv’d by such.
Have we the means to make these guilty first?

_Sej._ Trust that to me: let Caesar, by his power, 180
But cause a formal meeting of the senate,
I will have matter and accusers ready.

_Tib._ But how? Let us consult.

_Sej._ We shall misspend
The time of action. Counsels are unfit
In business where all rest is more pernicious 185
Than rashness can be. Acts of this close kind
Thrive more by execution than advice.
There is no ling’ring in that work begun,
Which cannot praised be, until through done.

_Tib._ Our edict shall forthwith command a court. 190
While I can live, I will prevent earth’s fury:
Ἐμοῦ θανόντος γαῑα μιχθήτω πυρί.[1464]
[_Exit._]

[_Enter_ JULIUS] POSTHUMUS.

_Pos._ My lord Sejanus——

_Sej._ Julius Posthumus!
Come with my wish! What news from Agrippina’s?

_Pos._ Faith, none. They all lock up themselves a’ late, 195
Or talk in character; I have not seen
A company so chang’d. Except they had
Intelligence by augury of our practice—

_Sej._ When were you there?

_Pos._ Last night.

_Sej._ And what guests found you?

_Pos._ Sabinus, Silius, (the old list,) Arruntius, Furnius, and
Gallus.

_Sej._ Would not these talk?

_Pos._ Little. 201
And yet we offered choice of argument.[1465]
Satrius was with me.

_Sej._ Well: ’t is guilt enough
Their often meeting. You forgot t’ extol
The hospitable lady?

_Pos._ No; that trick 205
Was well put home, and had succeeded too,
But that Sabinus cough’d a caution out;
For she began to swell.

_Sej._ And may she burst!
Julius, I would have you go instantly
Unto the palace of the great Augusta, 210
And, by your kindest friend, get swift access;
Acquaint her with these meetings: tell the words
You brought me th’ other day, of Silius,
Add somewhat to ’em. Make her understand
The danger of Sabinus, and the times, 215
Out of his closeness. Give Arruntius’ words
Of malice against Caesar; so, to Gallus:
But, above all, to Agrippina. Say,
As you may truly, that her infinite pride,
Propt with the hopes of her too fruitful womb,
With popular studies gapes for sovereignty, 221
And threatens Caesar. Pray Augusta then,
That for her own, great Caesar’s, and the public
Safety, she be pleas’d to urge these dangers.
Caesar is too secure,[1466] he must be told, 225
And best he’ll take it from a mother’s tongue.
Alas! what is ’t for us to sound, t’ explore,
To watch, oppose, plot, practise, or prevent,
If he, for whom it is so strongly labour’d,
Shall, out of greatness and free spirit, be 230
Supinely negligent? Our city ’s now
Divided as in time o’ th’ civil war,
And men forbear not to declare themselves
Of Agrippina’s party. Every day
The faction multiplies; and will do more, 235
If not resisted: you can best enlarge it,
As you find audience. Noble Posthumus,
Commend me to your Prisca: and pray her,
She will solicit this great business
To earnest and most present execution, 240
With all her utmost credit with Augusta.

_Pos._ I shall not fail in my instructions. [_Exit._]

_Sej._ This second, from his mother, will well urge
Our late design, and spur on Caesar’s rage;
Which else might grow remiss. The way to put
A prince in blood, is to present the shapes 245
Of dangers greater than they are, like late
Or early shadows: and, sometimes, to feign
Where there are none, only to make him fear.
His fear will make him cruel: and once ent’red
He doth not easily learn to stop, or spare 251
Where he may doubt. This have I made my rule
To thrust Tiberius into tyranny,
And make him toil to turn aside those blocks,
Which I alone could not remove with safety. 255
Drusus once gone, Germanicus’ three sons
Would clog my way; whose guards have too much faith
To be corrupted: and their mother known
Of too unreprov’d[1467] a chastity
To be attempted, as light Livia was. 260
Work then, my art, on Caesar’s fears, as they
On those they fear, till all my lets[1468] be clear’d,
And he in ruins of his house, and hate
Of all his subjects, bury his own state;
When with my peace, and safety, I will rise, 265
By making him the public sacrifice. [_Exit._]

[SCENE III.][1469]

[_Enter_] SATRIUS, NATTA.

_Sat._ They ’re grown exceeding circumspect, and wary.

_Nat._ They have us in the wind: and yet Arruntius
Cannot contain himself.

_Sat._ Tut, he ’s not yet
Look’d after; there are others more desir’d,
That are more silent.

_Nat._ Here he comes. Away! [_Exeunt._]

[_Enter_] SABINUS, ARRUNTIUS, CORDUS.

_Sab._ How is it, that these beagles haunt the house 6
Of Agrippina?

_Arr._ O, they hunt, they hunt!
There is some game here lodg’d, which they must rouse,
To make the great ones sport.

_Cor._ Did you observe
How they inveigh’d ’gainst Caesar?

_Arr._ Ay, baits, baits,
For us to bite at: would I have my flesh 11
Torn by the public hook, these qualified hangmen
Should be my company.

_Cor._ Here comes another.
[DOM. AFER _passes over the stage_.]

_Arr._ Ay, there’s a man, Afer the orator! 14
One that hath phrases, figures, and fine flowers,
To strew his rhetoric with, and doth make haste,
To get him note or name by any offer
Where blood or gain be objects; steeps his words,
When he would kill, in artificial tears:
The crocodile of Tiber! him I love, 20
That man is mine; he hath my heart and voice
When I would curse! he, he.

_Sab._ Contemn the slaves,
Their present lives will be their future graves.
[_Exeunt._]

[SCENE IV.][1470]

[_Enter_] SILIUS, AGRIPPINA, NERO, SOSIA.

_Sil._ May’t please your highness not forget yourself:
I dare not, with my manners, to attempt
Your trouble farther.

_Agr._ Farewell, noble Silius!

_Sil._ Most royal princess.

_Agr._ Sosia stays with us?

_Sil._ She is your servant, and doth owe your grace 5
An honest, but unprofitable love.

_Agr._ How can that be, when there’s no gain but virtue’s?

_Sil._ You take the moral, not the politic sense.
I meant, as she is bold, and free of speech,
Earnest to utter what her zealous thought 10
Travails withal, in honour of your house;
Which act, as it is simply borne in her,
Partakes of love and honesty; but may,
By th’ over-often, and unseason’d use,
Turn to your loss and danger: for your state 15
Is waited on by envies, as by eyes;
And every second guest your tables take
Is a fee’d spy, to observe who goes, who comes;
What conference you have, with whom, where, when,
What the discourse is, what the looks, the thoughts 20
Of ev’ry person there, they do extract,
And make into a substance.

_Agr._ Hear me, Silius.
Were all Tiberius’ body stuck with eyes,
And ev’ry wall and hanging in my house
Transparent, as this lawn I wear, or air; 25
Yea, had Sejanus both his ears as long
As to my inmost closet, I would hate
To whisper any thought, or change an act,
To be made Juno’s rival. Virtue’s forces
Show ever noblest in conspicuous courses. 30

_Sil._ ’T is great, and bravely spoken, like the spirit
Of Agrippina: yet, your highness knows,
There is nor loss nor shame in providence;[1471]
Few can, what all should do, beware enough.
You may perceive with what officious face, 35
Satrius, and Natta, Afer, and the rest
Visit your house of late, t’ inquire the secrets;
And with what bold and privileg’d art, they rail
Against Augusta, yea, and at Tiberius;
Tell tricks of Livia, and Sejanus: all 40
T’ excite, and call your indignation on,
That they might hear it at more liberty.

_Agr._ You’re too suspicious, Silius.

_Sil._ Pray the gods,
I be so, Agrippina; but I fear 44
Some subtile practice. They that durst to strike
At so exampless, and unblam’d a life,
As that of the renown’d Germanicus,
Will not sit down with that exploit alone:
He threatens many that hath injur’d one.

_Nero._ ’T were best rip forth their tongues, sear out their eyes, 50
When next they come.

_Sos._ A fit reward for spies.

[_Enter_] DRUSUS JUN.

_Dru. jun._ Hear you the rumour?

_Agr._ What?

_Dru. jun._ Drusus is dying.

_Agr._ Dying!

_Nero._ That’s strange!

_Agr._ You were with him yesternight.

_Dru. jun._ One met Eudemus the physician,
Sent for, but now; who thinks he cannot live. 55

_Sil._ Thinks! If it be arriv’d at that, he knows,
Or none.

_Agr._ ’T is quick! What should be his disease?

_Sil._ Poison, poison——

_Agr._ How, Silius!

_Nero._ What’s that?

_Sil._ Nay, nothing. There was late a certain blow
Giv’n o’ the face.

_Nero._ Ay, to Sejanus.

_Sil._ True. 60

_Dru. jun._ And what of that?

_Sil._ I’m glad I gave it not.

_Nero._ But there is somewhat else?

_Sil._ Yes, private meetings,
With a great lady at a physician’s,
And a wife turn’d away—

_Nero._ Ha!

_Sil._ Toys, mere toys:
What wisdom’s now i’ th’ streets, i’ th’ common mouth? 66

_Dru. jun._ Fears, whisp’rings, tumults, noise, I know not what:
They say the Senate sit.

_Sil._ I’ll thither straight;
And see what’s in the forge.

_Agr._ Good Silius, do;
Sosia and I will in.

_Sil._ Haste you, my lords,
To visit the sick prince; tender your loves, 70
And sorrows to the people. This Sejanus,
Trust my divining soul, hath plots on all:
No tree, that stops his prospect, but must fall.
[_Exeunt._]

CHORUS—of Musicians.