On your retentive wisdom: and because The business meant: though all by several letters Of what is purposed. Sej. You take pleasure, Macro, Like a coy wench, in torturing your lover. Mac. That which follows, The tribunitial dignity and power: Both which Sejanus is to have this day Sej. Fortune be mine again! thou hast satisfied For thy suspected loyalty. Mac. My lord, [Aside. I have no longer time, the day approacheth, Sej. Where's Caligula? Mac. That I forgot to tell your lordship. Why, He lingers yonder about Capreæ, Disgraced; Tiberius hath not seen him yet: Sej. Honest and worthy Macro; Your love and friendship. [Exit Macro.]-Who's there? Satrius, • Dio. Lib. lviii. p. 78. vid. Suet. de oppress. Sejan. Tib. c. 65. Attend my honourable friend forth.-O! Shake off the loosen'd globe from her long hinge, SCENE VII. Another Room in the same. [Exit. Enter TERENTIUS, MINUTIUS, LACO, COTTA, LATIARIS, and POMPONIUS; REGULUS, TRIO, and others, on different sides. Pom. Is not my lord here? Ter. Sir he will be straight. Cot. What news, Fulcinius Trio? Tri. Good, good tidings; But keep it to yourself. My lord Sejanus Is to receive this day in open senate The tribunitial dignity. Cot. Is't true? Tri. No words, not to your thought: but, sir, believe it. Lat. What says the consul? Cot. Speak it not again: He tells me, that to-day my lord Sejanus- Cot. On my life, sir. Lat. Say. Cot. Is to receive the tribunitial power. But, as you are an honourable man, Let me conjure you not to utter it; For it is trusted to me with that bond. Lat. I am Harpocrates. Ter. Can you assure it? Pom. The consul told it me; but keep it close. Min. Lord Latiaris, what's the news? Lat. I'll tell you; But you must swear to keep it secret. Enter SEJANUS. Sej. I knew the Fates had on their distaff left More of our thread, than so. Reg. Hail, great Sejanus! f Tri. Hail, the most honour'd! Cot. Happy! Lat. High Sejanus! Sej. Do you bring prodigies too? Tri. May all presage Turn to those fair effects, whereof we bring Your lordship news. Reg. May't please my lord withdraw. I will speak with you anon. Sej. Yes Ter. My lord, [To some that stand by. What is your pleasure for the tribunes? f Dio. Rom. Hist. Lib. lviii. p. 718. Sej. Why, Let them be thank'd and sent away. Min. My lord—— Lac. Will't please your lordship to command me Sej. No: You are troublesome. Min. The mood is changed. Tri. Not speak, Nor look! Lac. Ay, he is wise, will make him friends Of such who never love, but for their ends. SCENE VIII. [Exeunt. A Space before the Temple of Apollo. Enter ARRUNTIUS and LEPIDUS, divers Senators passing by them. Arr. Ay, go, make haste; take heed you be not last h To tender your All Hail in the wide hall Of huge Sejanus: run a lictor's pace: Stay not to put your robes on; but away, 2 Much of this speech is copied from Juvenal: Vocantur Ergo in concilium proceres, quos oderat ille, 8 Div. Rom. Hist. Lib. Iviii. p.718. h WHAL. Ave, matutina vox salutanti propria, apud Romanos, vid. Briss. de form. Lib. viii. Sejanus must go downward! You perceive Lep. Believe me, Lucius, Arr. Ay, and that we Must give our suffrage to it. You will say, See, see! what troops of his officious friends Haterius pass over the stage.] See, 'Sanquinius [Lictors, Regulus, Trio, Sejanus, Satrius, and many other Senators pass over the stage. Lict. Give way, make place, room for the consul! San. Hail, Hail, great Sejanus! iDe Sanquinio vid. Tacit. Ann. Lib. vi. et de Haterio, ibid. * Ex Liburnia, magnæ et proceræ staturæ mittebantur, qui erant Rom. Lecticarii; test. Juv. Sat. iii. v. 240. Turba cedente vehetur Dives, et ingenti curret super ora Liburno. |