In Pompey's theatre, (whose ruining fire
His vigilance and labour kept restrain'd
In that one loss,) they have therein out-gone
Their own great wisdoms, by their skilful choice,
And placing of their bounties on a man,
Whose merit more adorns the dignity,
Than that can him; and gives a benefit,
In taking, greater than it can receive.
Blush not, Sejanus," thou great aid of Rome,
Associate of our labours, our chief helper;
Let us not force thy simple modesty

With offering at thy praise, for more we cannot,
Since there's no voice can take it. No man here
Receive our speeches as hyperboles :

For we are far from flattering our friend,
Let envy know, as from the need to flatter.
Nor let them ask the causes of our praise:
Princes have still their grounds rear'd with them-
selves,

Above the poor low flats of common men;
And who will search the reasons of their acts,
Must stand on equal bases. Lead, away:

Our loves unto the senate.

[Exeunt Tib. Sejan. Natta, Hat. Lat. Officers, &c. Arr. Cæsar!

Sab. Peace.

Cor. Great Pompey's theatre was never ruin'd Till now, that proud Sejanus hath a statue Rear'd on his ashes.

Arr. Place the shame of soldiers,

Above the best of generals? crack the world,
And bruise the name of Romans into dust,
Ere we behold it!

Tacit. Ann. Lib. iv. p. 74-76. * Vid. Sen. Cons, ad. Marc. c. 22.

Sil. Check your passion; Lord Drusus tarries.

Dru. Is my father mad,"

Weary of life, and rule, lords? thus to heave
An idol up with praise! make him his mate,
His rival in the empire!

Arr. O, good prince.

Dru. Allow him statues, titles, honours, such As he himself refuseth!

Arr. Brave, brave Drusus!

Dru. The first ascents to sovereignty are hard; But, entered once, there never wants or means, Or ministers, to help the aspirer on.

Arr. True, gallant Drusus.

Dru. We must shortly pray

To Modesty, that he will rest contented-
Arr. Ay, where he is, and not write emperor.

Re-enter SEJANUS, SATRIUS, LATIARIS,
Clients, &c.

Sej. There is your bill, and yours; bring you your man. [to Satrius.]

I have moved for you, too, Latiaris.

Dru. What!

Is your vast greatness grown so blindly bold, That you will over us?

Sej. Why then give way.

Dru. Give way, Colossus! do you lift? advance you?

Take that!"

[Strikes him. Arr. Good! brave! excellent, brave prince !

▾ Tacit. Ann. Lib. iv. p. 76.

z Tacit. ibid.

• Tacit. sequimur Ann. Lib. iv. p. 74, quanquam apud Dionem et Zonaram aliter legitur.

Dru. Nay, come, approach. [Draws his sword.
What, stand you off? at gaze?

It looks too full of death for thy cold spirits.
Avoid mine eye, dull camel, or my sword
Shall make thy bravery fitter for a grave,
Than for a triumph. I'll advance a statue
O' your own bulk; but 't shall be on the cross;
Where I will nail your pride at breadth and length,
And crack those sinews, which are yet but stretch'd
With your swoln fortune's rage.

Arr. A noble prince!

All. A Castor, a Castor, a Castor, a Castor!
[Exeunt all but Sejanus.
Sej. He that, with such wrong moved, can
bear it through

With patience, and an even mind, knows how
To turn it back. Wrath cover'd carries fate:
Revenge is lost, if I profess my hate.
What was my practice late, I'll now pursue,
As my fell justice: this hath styled it new.
[Exit.

7 There is something very striking in the silence of Sejanus. -After this speech the quarto has, Mu. Chorus, which is repeated at the end of every succeeding act. As it seems to mean, in plain English, merely the music between the acts, I have not thought it worth preserving.

Servile, apud Romanos, et ignominiosissimum mortis genus erat supplicium crucis, ut ex Liv. ipso. Tacit. Dio. et omnibus fere antiquis, præsertim historicis constet. vid. Plaut. in. Mil. Amph. Aulii. Hor. Lib. i. Ser. 3. et Juv. Sat. vi. Pone crucem servo, &c.

Sic Drusus ob violentiam cognominatus, vid. Dion. Rom. Hist. Lib. lvii. p. 701.

ACT II. SCENE Í.

The Garden of Eudemus.

Enter SEJANUS, LIVIA, and 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,
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
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,

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 the undertaking, with some labour'd art.

Sej. Is he ambitious?

Liv. No.

Sej. Or covetous?

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 loved you long, and with that height
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
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
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 Cæsar, and Augusta's star
Be dimm'd with glory of a brighter beam:
When Agrippina's fires are quite extinct,
And the scarce-seen Tiberius borrows all
His little light from us, whose folded arms
Shall make one perfect orb. [knocking within.]
Who's that? Eudemus,

Look. [Exit Eudemus.] 'Tis not Drusus, lady, do not fear.

Spadonis animum stupro devinxit. Tacit. ibid.
Germanici vidua.