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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 swoln fortune's rage.
your

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.

с

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

p.

ACT II. SCENE I.

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.

Vid. Tacit. Ann. Lib. iv. p. 74-76.

• Tacit. ibidem.

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.

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

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

The emperor hath sent for you.

Sej. Ó! where is he?

With your fair leave, dear princess, I'll but ask A question, and return.

Eud. Fortunate princess!

How are you blest in the fruition.

[Exit.

Of this unequall'd man, the soul of Rome,
The empire's life, and voice of Cæsar'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 to-day?
Eud. Excellent clear, believe it. This same
fucus

Was well laid on.

Liv. Methinks 'tis here not white.

Eud. Lend me your scarlet, lady. 'Tis the sun, Hath giv❜n some little taint unto the ceruse; You should have used of the white oil I gave you. Sejanus, for your love! his very name Commandeth above Cupid or his shafts

[Paints her cheeks.

Cerussa (apud Romanos) inter fictitiores colores erat et quæ

solem ob calorem timebat. vid. Mart. Lib. ii. Epig. 41.

Quæ cretata timet Fabulla nimbum,

Cerussata timet Sabella solem.

Liv. Nay, now you've made it worse.
Eud. I'll help it straight-

And but pronounced, is a sufficient charm.
Against all rumour; and of absolute power
To satisfy for any lady's honour.

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,

Ift do not expiate?

Liv. Here, good physician.

Eud. I like this study to preserve the love
Of such a man, that comes not every hour
To greet the world.-'Tis now well, lady, you
should

Use of the dentifrice I prescribed you too,
To clear your teeth, and the prepared 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,
The trouble of his bed, and your delights,
Fair Apicata, and made spacious room
To your new pleasures.

Liv. Have not we return'd

i

That with our hate to Drusus, and discovery*
Of all his counsels?

Eud. Yes, and wisely, lady.

The ages that succeed, and stand far off

To gaze at your high prudence, shall admire,
And reckon it an act without your sex:'

An act without your sex.] i. e. an act beyond the weakness or fears of your sex. WHAL.

i Ex qua tres liberos genuerat, ne pellici suspectaretur. Tacit. Ann. Lib. iv. p. 74. Leg. Tacit. Ann. Lib. iv. p. 76.

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