The friends of season, you do follow fortune, Sab. They must be patient, so must we. What will become of us or of the times, The prey to greedy vultures and vile spies, (Which no good man but with his life should lose) Ne nox quidem secura, cum uxor (Neronis) vigilias, somnos, suspiria matri Livia, atque illa Sejano patefaceret. Tacit. Ann. Lib. iv. p. 92. The immortality of every soul, Therein concern'd: whereto, if men would change It must be active valour must redeem Our loss, or none. The rock and our hard steel Should meet to enforce those glorious fires again, Whose splendor cheer'd the world, and heat gave life, No less than doth the sun's. Sab. "Twere better stay In lasting darkness, and despair of day. To one man's power, they did not mean their lives, With his bald crown at 'Rhodes, while he here stalks z Facies ulcerosa ac plerumque medicaminibus interstincta. Tacit. Ann. Lib. iv. p. 91. 2 Tacit. ibid. Et Rhodi secreto, vitare cœtus, recondere voluptates insuerat. Whalley observes, that Jonson has confounded two events very distinct in time. The residence of Tiberius at Rhodes took place during the life of Augustus, and he was now at Capua, as the author well knew, and indeed expressly mentions just . Upon the heads of Romans, and their princes, Sab. Now you touch A point indeed, wherein he shews his art, Lat. And villainy in both. Do you observe where Livia lodges? how Drusus came dead? what men have been cut off? Into his later practice, where he stands First, ere Tiberius went, he wrought his fear below. Either this is one of the inadvertencies to which the correctest minds are occasionally subject; or, as I rather think, a line has dropped out, and been subsequently overlooked. Perhaps the passage might originally have stood somewhat in this way: gives Cæsar leave To hide his ulcerous and anointed face, With his bald crown, and ply his secret lusts, Whalley adds, that Tacitus, from whom Jonson derived most of his facts, is prejudiced against Tiberius. It cannot be denied; but, after full allowance is made for this, more than enough will remain to prove that at this period of his life he was one of the most detestable and dangerous characters with which the old world was acquainted. b Tacit. Ann. Lib. iv. p. 90. c Tacit. Lib. eod. pp. 91, 92, That both do long to have him undertake And with this comment; See yon dangerous boy; With men of sword. Here's Cæsar put in fright And all drives on to ruin. Lat. Cæsar 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 Cæsar! Ruf. Lay hands upon the traitor, Latiaris, Or take the name thyself. Lat. I am for Cæsar. 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 yourselves thus snared. Ops. Away with him. Tacit. Ann. Lib. iv. pp. 91, 92. Lat. Hale him away. Ruf. To be a spy for traitors, Is honourable vigilance. Sab. You do well, My most officious instruments of state; Ops. Cover him with his garments, hide his face." Sab. It shall not need. Forbear your rude assault. The fault's not shameful, villainy makes a fault. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. The Street before Agrippina's House. Enter MACRO and CALIGULA. Mac. Sir, but observe how thick your dangers meet In his clear drifts! your mother and your brothers, 2 Cover him with his garments, &c.] Alluding to the form by which a criminal was condemned to death; "I, lictor, colliga manus, caput obnubito," &c. e Tacit. Ann. Lib. iv. pp. 94, 95. f Tacit. Ann. Lib. v. p. 98. Asinium Gal. eodem die et convivam Tiberii fuisse et eo subornante damnatum narrat Dio. Lib. lviii. p. 713. |