Which puts her teeth off, with her clothes, in court? That might, perhaps, have put your gravity Methinks Augusta should be most perverse, Eud. She's so, my lord. Sej. I knew it and Mutilia the most jocund. Sej. And why would you Conceal this from me, now? Come, what is Livia? I know she's quick and quaintly spirited, And will have strange thoughts, when she is at leisure: She tells them all to you. Eud. My noblest lord, He breathes not in the empire, or on earth, In any act, that may preserve mine honour, Sej. Sir, you can lose no honour, By trusting aught to me. The coarsest act As all the world shall style it honourable: Keep honour poor, and are as scorn'd as vain : Who presently are to trust me with your own, VOL. III. D Sej. Only the best, I swear. Say now that I should utter you my grief, Eud. Happily, my lord, I could in time tell you as much and more; Sej. As safely, my Eudemus, I now dare call thee so, as I have put Eud. My lord Sej. Protest not, Thy looks are vows to me; use only speed, Thou art a man, made to make consuls. Go. Sej. Canst thou? Eud. Yes. Sej. The place? Eud. My gardens, whither I shall fetch your lordship. Sej. Let me adore my Esculapius. Why, this indeed is physic! and outspeaks Expect things greater than thy largest hopes, To overtake thee: Fortune shall be taught с [Exit Eudemus.* Ambition makes more trusty slaves than need. These fellows, by the favour of their art, Have still the means to tempt; oft-times the power. If Livia will be now corrupted, then Thou hast the way, Sejanus, to work out His secrets, who, thou know'st, endures thee not, Enter TIBERIUS and DRUSUs, attended, Tib. [to Haterius, who kneels to him.] We not endure these flatteries; let him stand; Our empire, ensigns, axes, rods and state Take not away our human nature from us: Look up on us, and fall before the gods. Sej. How like a god speaks Cæsar! Arr. There, observe! He can endure that second, that's no flattery. *Exit Eudemus.] Sejanus plays on the vanity of this man, with singular cunning and dexterity. SO, what is it proud slime, &c.] -" nihil est quod credere de se "Non possit, cum laudatur Diis æqua potestas? Juv. Sat. iv. Eud. specie artis frequens secretis. Tacit. ibid. Vid. Plin. Nat. Hist. Lib. xxix. c. 1. in criminat. medicorum. De initio Tiberii principatus vid. Tacit. Ann. Lib. i. p. 23, Lib. iv. p. 75. et Suet. Tib. c. 27. De Haterio vid. Tacit. Ann. Lib. i. p. 6. Of his own worth, to hear it equal praised Cor. He did not hear it, sir. Arr. He did not! Tut, he must not, we think meanly. 'Tis your most courtly known confederacy, Hat. Right mighty lord-- [Gives him letters. assaults Of charming tongues; we pray you use no more Or lord, or mighty, who profess ourself Arr. Prince-like to the life. Sab. When power that may command, so much descends, Their bondage, whom it stoops to, it intends. Hat. From the senate. Tib. So. Whence these? Lat. From thence too. [Lat. gives him letters. Tib. Are they sitting now. Lat. They stay thy answer, Cæsar. Sil. If this man Had but a mind allied unto his words, How blest a fate were it to us, and Rome! We could not think that state for which to change, • Cons. Tacit. Ann. Lib. ii. p. 50, et Suet. Tib. c. 27 et 29. Nullam æque Tiberius ex virtutibus suis quam dissimulationem diligebat. Tacit. Ann. Lib. iv. p. 95. Although the aim were our old liberty: His brutish sense with their afflicting sound, And nothing sooner doth help forth a tyrant, Than that and whisperers' grace, who have the time, The place, the power, to make all men offenders. Arr. He should be told this; and be bid dis semble With fools and blind men: we that know the evil, Should hunt the palace-rats, or give them bane; • Wish'd liberty, &c.] -Nunquam libertas gratior exstat, "Quam sub rege pio." Bruti, Cassii, Catonis, &c. Claud de laud. Stil. Lib. iii. h Vid. Dio. Hist. Lib. lvii. de moribus Tiberii. Tyrannis fere oritur ex nimia procerum adulatione în principem. Arist. Pol. Lib. v. c. 10, 11. et delatorum auctoritate. Leg. Tacit. Dio. Suet. Tib. per totum. Sub quo decreta accusatoribus præcipua præmia. Vid. Suet. Tib. c. 61. et Sen. Benef. Lib. iii. * Tineas soricesque Palatii vocat istos Sex. Aurel. Vict. et Tacit. |