[]

SEJANUS, A TRAGEDY. As it was intended for the STAGE.

WITH A PREFACE, wherein the Manager's Reaſons for refuſing it are ſet forth.

By MR. GENTLEMAN.

—Qui nimios optabat honores,

Et nimios poſcebat opes, numeroſa parabat

Excelſae turris tabulata, unde altior eſſet

Caſus, & impulſae praeceps immane ruinae.

JUVENAL.

LONDON: Printed for R. MANBY and H. S. Cox on Ludgate-Hill. MDCCLII. [Price 1s. 6d.]

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, JOHN EARL of ORRERY.

[iii]

WHEN awful Virtue adds to Grandeur's Blaze,
She truly then deſerves the Stretch of Praiſe,
Then like the Sun's, her Beams ſtrike ev'ry Eye,
By her ſupported Fame can never die.
Great in her own Exiſtence ſhe aſpires,
And fills th' immortal Soul with glowing Fires.
Superior ſtill to popular Applauſe,
Preſiding Genius o'er each glorious Cauſe,
She ſtands the Baſe, of Liberty and Laws.
She dares be juſt, and vigorouſly bold,
Nor wink at Vice, behind the Glare of Gold.
[iv] The ſubtleſt Schemes of wily Stateſmen trace,
Tho' lur'd by proffer'd Titles, and a Place.
She bids BRITANNIA's Sons be bravely free,
And ſhews her native Worth in — ORRERY.
A Muſe unſkill'd in all the Arts of Praiſe,
Thus boldly dares her honeſt Voice to raiſe,
Ne'er tainted yet by proſtituted Lays.

Tho' young, ambitious to arrive at Fame,
She ſtrives to emulate a laſting Name;
Yet ſelf convicted in the fond Deſire,
Trembles and fears, with Juſtice to expire.
To ſhield from Fate, and critic Rage to foil,
She flies for Refuge to illuſtrious BOYLE.

FRANCIS GENTLEMAN.

PREFACE.

[v]

IT were an Impoſition on the Town, and an In⯑juſtice to the Memory of the inimitable BEN JOHNSON; ſhould I publiſh this Play, without acknowledging that moſt part of the Plot, ſome of the Scenes, and many of the Speeches, are almoſt literally copied from a dramatic Work of his, with the ſame Title. An Attempt at altering a Piece of his, is, I believe, unprecedented, and indeed bold, for one who never before, either burthen'd the Preſs with his Labours, or dar'd the Critic's Cenſure. I was allur'd to the Taſk, by a Number of very noble Sentiments, which are ſcattered through the Original in many Lines, neither harſh or unmuſical; wherein there ſeems to breath the true inſpir'd Spirit of Poetry; and fancy plays within her proper Sphere, under the Reſtraint of a well temper'd critical Judgment; but much more by the ſtrong Contraſt of virtuous and vi⯑cious Characters, with which I found it adorn'd; which is the moſt uſeful, laudable, and conſequently the funda⯑mental Part of the DRAMA.

[vi] To reduce the Multiplicity of Characters, the Train of Incidents, to make the Parts of LIVIA, and AGRIP⯑PINA, ſomewhat intereſting, which in JOHNSON are very near deſpicable; to ſelect his Beauties, and by pro⯑per Means to bring about the Cataſtrophe; ſeem'd, at firſt, an Enterprize as difficult, as toiling for Wealth in a Mine; and almoſt ſtartled me from my Deſign; But however, as I had begun, I determined to pro⯑ceed; and of my Succeſs, the Peruſal of the Piece will make you a Judge.

JOHNSON's ſtrict Adherence to Hiſtory, in his two Plays of SEJANUS and Catiline, would have been highly commendable, had it not been manifeſtly preju⯑dicial to him; ſince he has been ſo ſcholaſtically nice, as ſcarcely to omit a ſingle Perſon or Incident, mention'd in the Lives of theſe great wicked Men; nay he has even tranſlated literally, in his SEJANUS, ſeveral Lines from CORNELIUS TACITUS: By this Means his Tragedies became rather dramatic Hiſtories, than Entertainments ſuited to a modern Theatre. From this I have ventur'd to deviate; I have kept CAESAR at ROME, to preſide at the Conviction of SEJANUS; as I think it adds much Spirit, to the cloſing the Ca⯑taſtrophe; I have drawn him of a Diſpoſition much milder than he was in Reality. The pious Reſolution of repealing the Oppreſſions, and healing the conſtitutional Wounds made by SEJANUS, which I have put into his Mouth, in the laſt Speech of the Play, I thought ne⯑ceſſary [vii] to preſerve Poetical Juſtice; to which I think Hiſtory ſhould give Way; for the real Uſe of dramatic Performances is, to inſtil Virtue, and raiſe an Ab⯑horrence of Vice. Example is a ſtrong Argument; nothing conduces ſo much to our Reformation, as pu⯑niſhing the Wicked and rewarding the Virtuous, 'tis then that the Moral is truly ſtrong, indeed the Guilt⯑leſs muſt ſometimes fall, to heighten the Diſtreſs, and impreſs us with a juſt Pity.

If theſe Liberties ſhould to the Critics appear Er⯑rors, I honeſtly confeſs them Errors of my Judgment; and for my Confeſſion expect to be mildly treated. By the Critics, I would be underſtood to mean only the judici⯑ous, not ſuch teizing Inſects, ſuch buzzing Drones of Society, as thoſe at preſent diſtinguiſh'd by that Name.

Who fret and ſtrut their Hour upon the Stage,

And then are heard no more.

SHAKESPEARE.

Each Wight who reads not, and but ſcans and ſpell,

Each Word-catcher that lives on Syllables.

POPE.

From ſuch I neither wiſh or expect Indulgence, let them be ridiculous at my Expence, if they pleaſe; my Pity they may move, but not my Anger. From the Penetration of the Judicious, I ſhall be glad to meet Correction, their Clemency I doubt not, for ſtill like the Brave, they chuſe rather to ſpare than deſtroy. My [viii] aſſerting that I had a national Advantage in View, in this Subject may be thought chimerical, at firſt, but when the following Abſtract from Hiſtory, of the Life of SEJANUS, is conſidered, what I have advanced may perhaps be allowed.

AELIUS SEJANUS the Son of SEIUS STRABO was born in TUSCANY. He ſerved, when young, with ſome Reputation, under CAIUS CAESAR, Nephew to AUGUSTUS, and afterwards in the Praetorian Band under the Command of TIBERIUS; to the various Turns of whoſe Diſpoſition by conforming, he gradually crept into his cloſeſt Secrets, and was the firſt in his Eſteem. When TIBERIUS mounted the Imperial Throne, he allowed this his favourite, ſuch an Extent of Power, as rendered him the Terror of honeſt Men, and the Idol of Sycophants. The taking off GERMA⯑NICUS, Huſband to the AGRIPPINA, who is intro⯑duced in this Play, and Nephew to the Emperor, a Prince remarkable for the greateſt Virtues, though the Odium of it was artfully flung on GNEIUS PISO, GERMANICUS's Lieutenant, was generally and juſtly attributed to him: This was his firſt cloſe Attack upon the LIBERTY of ROME, and procured him the Hatred of the People. After this by the Means of LIVIA, Wife to DRUSUS, EUDEMUS her Phyſician, and Lygdus an Eunuch, who was SEJANUS's CATAMITE, he contrived and effected the Death of DRUSUS, Son to TIBERIUS, and Heir apparent to the Empire. The [ix] Reaſon aſſigned for his Hatred, was a Blow which DRUSUS one Day gave him; but his future Proceed⯑ings ſhewed, Ambition, not Revenge, was the Motive which urg'd to the Deed; for he had determin'd to remove every Bar, which lay between him and the Throne. This was but a Prelude to his future Vil⯑lainies. AGRIPPINA, her Sons, and all who were Friends to the Family of the dead GERMANICUS, were next to be diſpoſed of. This was effected by re⯑preſenting them to CAESAR, who was naturally of a jealous Diſpoſition, as aſpiring and ambitious, and conſequently dangerous. CAIUS SILIUS was firſt mark'd out for Sacrifice; who being, before the Se⯑nate, criminated by VARRO the Conſul, and finding his Death had been premeditately reſolved on; by a voluntary Wound anticipated a public Execution.

SABINUS, another Adherent to the Family of GERMANICUS, was next taken off, by the Means of LATIARIS, his Relation and profeſs'd Friend: who having often, with much ſeeming Sincerity, rail'd at the Oppreſſions and Tyranny of SEJANUS, and thus, by touching him,

Ev'n on the tend'reſt Point, the Maſter String

Which made moſt Harmony, or Diſcord in him.

ROWE.

Having wrought him up to join in his Invectives, He fix'd two Senators, who were Creatures to [x] SEJANUS, in a ſecret Place, whence they might overhear the Diſcourſe between SABINUS and him; who, on his too freely cenſuring the Conduct of CAESAR, ruſh'd from their Ambuſh, accuſed him of Treaſon, and after a formal Proceſs, he was, by Death, eaſed of the Pains which he endured, for the Sufferings of his Country.

SEJANUS next, with the Concurrence of TIBERIUS, removed AGRIPPINA and her Sons, ſo that he had none now left to oppoſe his Intereſt with CAESAR, or Deſigns upon the Throne. Her he had baniſh'd to PANDATERIA an Iſland in the TYRRHENE Sea, NERO to the Iſland of PONTIA near NAPLES, and DRUSUS confined in the moſt abject Part of the Palace.

Being thus ſucceſsful in all his Schemes, what he aimed at became more and more apparent. To faci⯑litate his Deſigns on the EMPEROR, he endeavoured to demean him in the Opinion of the People, by ridi⯑culing his Defects and Imperfections on the public Theatre. This firſt induced CAESAR to examine more nearly into his Conduct; and he ſoon found it was ab⯑ſolutely neceſſary for his own Safety, to hurl this COLOSSUS of the ROMAN STATE, ſuddenly down the Steep of Fate. To effect this appeared ſcarcely practicable, ſince he feared the Fall of this ſtupendous Pile, would drag down with it contiguous Ruin, in which he himſelf might be involved. However he at [xi] laſt compaſſed this coveted end, by the Aſſiſtance of MACRO, and a Shew of encreaſing Friendſhip and Truſt, which rendered SEJANUS ſtill more ſecure, when his Glory was on the Verge of expiring: He was, when even ſuch an Attempt muſt have ſeem'd impoſ⯑ſible, accuſed by a Letter from TIBERIUS then in CAPREA, ſupported by Proofs in full Senate, of the moſt flagitious Crimes; condemned with Ignominy, and to the unexpected Joy and Surprize of every honeſt Roman, precipitated from the topmoſt Height of For⯑tune to the loweſt Depth of Adverſity and a ſhameful Death. It is generally and juſtly remarked, that the Sunſhine of Proſperity animates a Number of buzzing Flies, who diſappear with its Decline. The Truth of this Obſervation was never more apparent than in the Caſe of SEJANUS, for not one of the Number of Syco⯑phants and Dependants, who had been the Inſtruments of his villanies, and who held large Fortunes and Titles from his Bounty, offered to defend him at his Fall, or even wore the Face of Concern; nay ſo far from it, they were his moſt ſanguine Enemies, and hurried him onward to his Fate.

SEJANUS ſeemed to have been mark'd out by Pro⯑vidence as an Example to Futurity, of that Juſtice which will at one Time or other overtake the Great bad Man who uſes his Power to oppreſs, or to curtail the Liberties of his Country. And were this his Hiſtory [xii] to be performed either publicly or privately for mini⯑ſterial Amuſement, an excellent and perſuaſive In⯑ſtruction muſt enſue from it.

The ſame Soil which was bleſſed with a BRUTUS, a CATO and a GERMANICUS, was curſed with a SE⯑JANUS: BRITAIN who feels herſelf happy in an ORRERY, a CHESTERFIELD, and had in the Perſon of her late generally and juſtly lamented PRINCE of WALES, all that ROME boaſted in her GERMANICUS, knows not what SEJANUS may riſe in future Times to wound her Peace.

Buſineſs detaining me in the Country, I requeſted my Friend Mr. DERRICK to preſent this Play to Mr. GARRICK, which he accordingly did, and was pro⯑miſed by him an Anſwer in four or five Days. Mr. DERRICK waited on him again about that Time, when with a Punctuality, which is not at all anſwer⯑able to the Character generally given of theatrical Managers, he returned the Piece with ſome Compli⯑ments as to its Merits, alledging, that it had too much Declamation in it, to ſucceed on the Stage; and I am induced to believe, that though this Play was not in⯑troduced to Mr. GARRICK under any particular pre⯑vailing Influence, he took the Trouble to peruſe it, and on that alone founded his Anſwer.

[xiii] However I ſuppoſe you expect to find me ſevere on the Manager, for preſuming to repulſe my Offspring; but you are miſtaken; I am ever ready to receive, and thankful for Inſtruction. It being an approved Maxim with me, that Approbation is very pleaſing; but Correction more profitable; and therefore ſay with SHAKESPEARE's BRUTUS, though more in earneſt,

I ſhall be glad to learn of able Men.

SHAKESPEARE.

PROLOGUE.

[xiv]

WHEN Vice corrupts and cankers in a State,
It ſurely brings, tho' ſlow, the Frowns of Fate.
When plodding Miniſters by wicked Arts,
Can blind the Eyes, and rule a People's Hearts;
Then Tyranny and Faction rage around,
And lawleſs Acts eternally abound.

The Nation groans beneath indignant Chains,

Where proud ambitious Stateſmen hold the Reins.

Such was SEJANUS, ſuch he flouriſh'd long,
For Patriot Oppoſition much too ſtrong.
By direſt Means and Artifice he roſe,
And ſtep'd tow'rds Empire on the Necks of Foes.
No Honeſty before his Pow'r could ſtand,
Poor haraſs'd Virtue fled the ſuff'ring Land;
Wounded, ſhe labour'd for a ſafe Retreat,
And weeping Blood forſook her ancient Seat:
While Vice, in all the Pomp and Pow'r of Pride,
Did at ROME's venerable State preſide.
Yet tho' thus deck'd, with moſt alluring Charms,
Who would not fly to baniſh'd Virtue's Arms?
Titles like Bubbles that on Waters play,
Are by a Breath both rais'd and puff'd away,
'Tis Virtue that alone feels no Decay.

[xv]

She gives her Proſelytes a laſting Store;

Beyond the Worth of ſordid glitt'ring Ore;

Her Joys are of a higher nobler Bent,

They balm the Mind, adminiſtring Content.

Thus much it neceſſary ſeem'd to ſay,
Concerning the chief Purport of the Play.
And now a ſecond Charge I muſt fulfill,
Our Author, Alterer, or what you will,
Humbly requeſts the Critics may be ſtill.
Not that he fears;—the ſnarling Train he ſlights,
For under JOHNSON's laurell'd Shade he writes.
If you will damn, he ſays, his Fall is great,
Since honeſt BEN muſt e'en participate,
And ſo ally'd he dares the Frowns of Fate.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

[]

MEN.

TIBERIUS, Emperor of ROME.
DRUSUS, His Son.
SEJANUS, Chief Favourite to the Emperor.
VARRO, The Conſul.
- AFER,
- NATTA,
- SATRIUS,
- LATIARIS,
Senators, Creatures to SEJANUS.
EUDEMUS, A Phyſician.
- SILIUS,
- SABINUS,
- ARRUNTIUS,
- LEPIDUS.
Senators of Patriot Principles, Enemies to SEJANUS.

WOMEN.

LIVIA, DRUSUS's Princeſs, in Love with SEJANUS.
A GRIPPINA, Relict of GERMANICUS.

Guards, Lictors, &c. Prieſts and Choriſters.

Scene ROME:

[1] SEJANUS.

ACT I. SCENE I.

SILIUS meeting SABINUS.

Sab.

HAIL CAIUS SILIUS.

Sili.

TITUS SABINUS Hail.

You're rarely met at Court.

Sab.

— Therefore well met.

Sili.

'Tis true: A Court of Vice is not our Sphere.

We want the gloſſy Arts and thriving Uſe,

Should make us ſhare the Sun-ſhine of this Place:

Which is the Soil of Flatt'ry and Deceit.

It is a Garden full of baneful Herbs,

Known by the Names of Sycophants and Slaves.

No Roman Spirit here could dwell at Eaſe,

Among the buſy Herd of Knaves and Fools.

Sab.

We have no Change of Faces, no cleft Tongues,

No ſoft and glutinous Bodies, that can ſtick

Like Snails on painted Walls, or on our Breaſts

Creep up, to fall from that proud Height, to which

We did by Slavery not Service climb.

We burn with no black Secrets, that can make

Us dear to the pale Authors, or live fear'd

Of their ſtill waking Jealouſy, to raiſe

Ourſelves a Fortune by ſubverting theirs.

We ſtand not in the Lines that do advance,

To that ſo coveted Point.

Sili.

Heav'n forefend we ſhould.

Yet here dwell ſome that do. SATRIUS SECUNDUS

[2] And PINNARIUS NATTA, two of the ſervile Herd,

The great SEJANUS' Creatures. Theſe are Men

Know more than honeſt Councils; whoſe Breaſts

Were they rip'd up to Light, would plain appear,

The gloomy Cabinets of ev'ry Vice.

It is a ſimple Sin, to which their Trunks

Have not been made the Organs; they can lie,

Smile and betray, impeach the guiltleſs Man;

Sell to their Suitors, (ſhallow grapling Fools,)

The empty Smoak that flies about the Palace.

Laugh when their Patron laughs, frown as he frowns,

Change every Mood as often as he varies—

Gods! are theſe Men? Suffer ye Slaves like theſe,

To take your own great Likeneſs on themſelves,

And act ſuch Baſeneſs in a human Shape!

Why are they not diſtinguiſh'd by a Form,

Vile and abhorred as their treach'rous Souls?

Then Honeſty might ſeek a different Clime,

Divided from theſe Proſelytes of Hell.

Sab.

Nay ſo univerſal is the Malady,

That all our Conſuls, and no little part

Of ſuch as have been Praetors; yea the moſt

Of Senators, ſo worthy is our State,

Start up in public Council, and there ſtrive,

Who ſhall propoſe moſt abject things and baſe.

So much, that even TIBERIUS hath been heard,

Leaving the Court, to cry, "Oh Race of Men

"Prepar'd for Servitude"—Why ev'n he,

Who leaſt the public Liberty ſhould like,

Is ſham'd, and bluſhes at their ſervile Deeds.

Sili.

Well, we deſerve it all, nay and much more;

Who with our Riots, Pride and Civil Hate,

Have ſo provok'd the Vengeance of the Gods.

We who within theſe fourſcore Years were born

Free, equal Lords of the ſubjected World,

And knew no Maſters but Affections:

To which, betraying firſt our Liberties,

We ſince became the Slaves to one Man's Luſt,

[3] And now to many.—Ev'ry miniſtring Spy

That will accuſe and ſwear, is Lord of you,

Of me, of all our Fortunes, nay our very Lives:

Our Looks are call'd in queſtion, and our Words,

(How innocent ſoever) are made Crimes.

We ſhall not ſhortly dare to tell our Dreams,

Or think, but 'twill be Treaſon,—Where is now

The Soul which animated Godlike CATO,

Who durſt oppoſe, when CAESAR dar'd do wrong?

Or where the conſtant BRUTUS, who being proof

Againſt the Charm of Benefits, did ſtrike

So brave a Blow into the Tyrant's Heart,

That baſely meant to captivate his Country?

Thoſe mighty Spirits now are fled the Light,

And not a Spark of their eternal Fires,

Glows in a preſent Boſom.

Sab.

It pains to think,

How much beneath our Anceſtors we fall;

Who guarded ſacred Virtue with their Lives,

And dy'd with Honour, or liv'd ever free.

Sil.

Oh good SABINUS let Remembrance ceaſe.

'Twere better be incapable to think,

Than thro' Reflection to obſerve theſe Times.

See the great Miſtreſs of the World enſlav'd,

Oppreſs'd with Woes and haraſs'd out with Cares,

While her abandon'd Sons (quite loſt to Fame)

Who ſhould her ſacred Liberty defend,

In Luxury and Riot ſpend their Time.

Become the voluntary Tools of Pow'r,

And work the Chains to manacle themſelves.

Sab.

The only Spark of Virtue, that remains

Within the Verge of this deteſted Court,

Dwells in the noble DRUSUS' God-like Soul.

He with a Heart of Heavineſs and Woe,

Beholds the Vices which inhabit here,

Reluctant Views his Father's abject State,

Not Emperor, but Pandar to SEJANUS.

Sil.

[4]

'Tis true in DRUSUS Center all our Hopes,

I love him for oppoſing this SEJANUS,

This mighty Giant that o'ertops us all.

In him the Sons of good GERMANICUS,

Find a ſure Refuge from oppreſſive Pow'r.

GERMANICUS—To think of that great Man,

To think how much our Country loſt in him,

How with him fled all Honour from our Court;

Howe'er unworthy Tears may ſeem in Man,

My Eyes will pay ſome tributary Drops.

Sab.

No more, here comes that Poiſon to our Souls,

The great SEJANUS and his vaſſal Crew.

Now mark the Stoops, the Bendings and the Falls.

SIL. and SAB. retire.

Enter SEJANUS, SATRIUS NATTA, Attendants, &c.

Satr.

My Lord, a Gentleman of Rome would buy,

Seja.

How call you him, you ſpoke with even now?

Satr.

It is EUDEMUS Phyſician to the Princeſs?

Seja.

What, DRUSUS' Princeſs?

Satr.

Aye, my good Lord.

Seja.

On with your Suit, would buy you ſay—

Satr.

A Tribune's Place, my Lord.

Seja.

What will he give?

Satr.

Fifty Seſtertia.

Seja.

LIVIA's Phyſician, ſay you, is that Fellow?

Satr.

Aye my honour'd Lord, your Lordſhip's An⯑ſwer,

'Tis for a Gentleman you will approve;

And one the Grant will certainly make yours.

Seja.

Well, let him bring the Money and his Name;

Know you this ſame EUDEMUS, is he learn'd?

Satr.

Reputed ſo, and held in high Eſteem.

Seja.

Then go and bring him to my Chamber ſtraight,

I would confer with him about a Grief.

Exeunt Sej. Satr. &c.

[5] SILIUS and SABINUS come forward.

Sili.

Gods! What a Train of Baſeneſs there moves on:

Oh deſperate State of Honour in Decay.

Doſt thou ſee this, oh Sun! And wilt thou ſhine?

Methinks 'twere juſt the Day ſhould loſe its Light,

When worthleſs Men have loſt the Senſe of Shame,

And for the empty Circumſtance of Life,

Betray their Cauſe of living.—Let us retire.

The Time at laſt may come, when we ſhall ſtand,

Aſſerting Freedom for our native Land,

In bold Defiance to all ſlaviſh Ties;

And Virtue once again triumphant riſe.

Exeunt.

SCENE changes. Enter SEJANUS ſolus.
Seja.
That DRUSUS views me with an hateful Eye,
Is plain evinc'd by ev'ry Act and Word.
His ſharp Invectives 'gainſt my growing Pow'r,
Declare and prove, he is an envious Foe.
Beſides, he ſtands a Bar to ſtop my Courſe;
Remove him then—oh ſtudy that, my Soul!—
Let not Thought reſt, till he can think no more.
Plot Brain with direſt Vengeance fraught,
To fix my Fortune on a ſtedfaſt Baſe.
Ambition places in my raptur'd View,
The ſov'reign Rule, the Empire of the World;
And ſhall this DRUSUS cloud the gilded Scene?
No, firſt be Rome and all her Sons extinct;
If he is mortal, I will rule his Fate.
This ſame EUDEMUS muſt tranſact the Deed,
Whom I will quicken with inſpiring Gold,
That certain ſpur—The Bait of ſordid Fools;
That ſureſt Med'cine to enſlave the Soul,
And drive away each conſcientious Qualm.
Conſcience, the Deity of tim'rous Hearts,
Still rules predominant o'er ſickly Minds,
A terrible tho' but an empty Shade.
[6] Why ſhould the Scarecrow of each languid Soul,
Aw'd by Religion and her phantom Laws,
Be ever ſuffer'd to aſſail the Great?
No, let the Poor be ſubject to her Sway,
Whilſt Men, like me, poſſeſt of towring Souls,
O'erleap all Bounds at great Ambition's Call.
Enter EUDEMUS with SATRIUS.
Satr.
This is the Gentleman, my Lord.
Seja.
Is this? Exit SATRIUS.
Give me your Hand, we muſt be better known,
And nearer yet acquainted with each other.
Report hath, Sir, been laviſh in your Praiſe,
And I am glad I have ſo needful Cauſe,
(However painful in itſelf and hard)
To make me known to one of ſo much Worth.
Eude.
Your Lordſhip binds me ever to your Service,
To think me worthy of your ſmalleſt Truſt.
Seja.
You are Phyſician to the Princeſs,
Are you not?
Eude.
I am, my gracious Lord.
Seja.
So ſhalt thou be to me, but in ſuch ſort,
As will for ever eternize thy Fame.
Thou ſhalt do more than Phyſic ever did.
For thou ſhalt heal a Fever in my Mind.
Eude.
My Lord, the Man now breaths not vital Air,
Whom Inclination would direct me ſerve,
(In any Act that leaves my Honour free,)
Before our Country's Glory—great SEJANUS.
Seja.
Thou can'ſt no Honour loſe in ſerving me.
What in the Eyes of Men would ſeem moſt vile,
Done for my Service, I can ſo requite,
As all the World ſhall ſtile it honourable.
Knoweſt thou the vaſt Extention of my Pow'r,
That I can even make and unmake Kings?
Who is there dares accuſe a Friend of mine?
To be a Perſon fix'd in my Eſteem,
Will clear thy Character from ev'ry Stain.
[7] Therefore inform me, what I long to know,
(Not that I fear the Danger of his Hate,
But as I ſtudy for the Love of all,
And hourly labour to promote his Sway,)
Do'ſt thou not ſometimes hear the haughty Prince,
Condemn my Character in abject Phraſe?
To thee his Converſe and his Thoughts are known,
Then frankly ſpeak—it never ſhall eſcape,
But lie as deeply, hidden in this Breaſt,
As if 'twere center'd in the Womb of Earth.
Eude.
Oh my good Lord, if I ſhould ſo betray
Their Councils, by whoſe Bounty I am fed,
What would your Highneſs think then of my Faith?
A Breach of Confidence 'twixt Man and Man,
Betrays a ſhallow and abandon'd Soul,
As ſuch, could I ſeem worthy of Repoſe?
Seja.
I believe thou art ſecret—and I'll truſt thee.
Yet I muſt charge thee to be juſt and true,
For if by any Means thou ſhould'ſt diſcloſe;
Expect a Storm to pour upon thy Head,
From which, with leſs than Life, thou can'ſt not 'ſcape.
Eude.
Doubt not, my Lord, moſt ſteady Faith and Love.
By all the Pow'rs which rule the World, I ſwear,
As I ſhall hope to live beneath your Smiles,
And taſte the Bounty of your noble Soul,
I'll act with utmoſt Secrecy and Care.
Seja.
Would'ſt thou be great, and ſoar on Fortune's Wing,
E'er idly, drudge an abject Life away?
Would'ſt thou be liſted in the Rolls of Fame,
And like a Comet ſhine to wond'ring Eyes;
Obſerve me well—And I'll point out the Way?
Know that the Princeſs holds my Heart in Chains,
(As thou ha'ſt Opportunity and Time,
To ſound the Inclination of her Soul)
Would'ſt thou but be the Herald of my Love,
And gain Admittance, for my fervent Vows,
[8] Such Wealth, ſuch Pow'r, ſuch Honour ſhalt thou wear,
As none beneath Regality e'er held.
Eude.
Happy am I, my Lord, in this Employ,
The Princeſs oft' to me has ſigh'd your Name,
And languiſhingly wiſh'd ſhe had been yours.
DRUSUS her preſent Lord ſhe holds in Scorn,
Nor does indeed, my Love attend him much;
Not only for he treats me with Contempt,
But ſtill your Lordſhip has engag'd my Heart.
Seja.
Let me embrace thee, pull thee to my Breaſt,
Thou in fond Love ſhalt be my other ſelf.
But ſay, thou deareſt Patron of my Wiſhes,
How I in private may the Princeſs ſee,
Declare my Love, and offer up my Heart.
Eude.
My Lord, this Day you ſecretly ſhall meet
Within my Gardens, there I'll lead your Lordſhip,
And when Succeſs ſhall all your Wiſhes crown,
Then think, my Lord, how much I prove me yours.
Seja.
Uſe thy beſt Speed to find the beauteous fair;
And but affect her with SEJANUS Love,
Thou art a Man, made to make Conſuls.
Eude.
I promiſe you, my Lord, your utmoſt Wiſh.
Seja.
Let me adore my AESCULAPIUS,
Why this is truly Phyſic to the Mind,
Beyond the Worth of poor corporeal Drugs,
This miniſters Content, and would be cheaply bought
With an imperial Crown—fly my Friend,
Not barely ſtiled, but created ſo.
Expect Things greater than thy boldeſt Hopes
To overtake thee. Fortune ſhall be taught,
How ill ſhe has behav'd, thus long to lag
Behind thy Wiſhes and Deſerts—haſte and proſper.
Exit Eudemus.
Why this looks well, my Schemes run nobly on,
The Structure of my Greatneſs riſes faſt,
And ſoon will hide its Head among the Clouds.
If DRUSUS Wiſe, as he ſays, holds me dear,
(And I have Reaſon to believe it true,)
[9] The Way lies plain to circumvent my Foe.
This Wretch, whom I have gain'd with fine ſpun Phraſe,
And puff'd with Promiſes of large Extent,
Shall be the Inſtrument to gain my Ends.
What's he, that ſays, I act a Villain's Part,
Would not all act the ſame with equal Pow'r?
Let none but timid Proſelytes obey
Where ſtinted Maxims circumſcribe the Way,
Do thou SEJANUS follow Glory's Call,
Nor ſlack thy Pace, till thou art Lord of all.
Exit SEJANUS.

SCENE CHANGES. Enter TIBERIUS, DRUSUS, SILIUS SABINUS. LATIARIS meeting them, kneels to TIBERIUS.
Tib.
LATIARIS riſe, I will not have thee kneel.
Our Empire, Enſigns, Axes, Rods and State,
Take not away our human Nature from us,
Look up on us, and fall before the Gods.
Lat.
Right mighty Lord—
Tib.
I prithee Peace,
Theſe Flatteries do much offend mine Ears,
They are moſt irkſome to a gen'rous Soul,
Baſe ſordid Minds are fed with empty Praiſe,
And fondly dwell upon a Train of Titles,
Mere Trinkets of a childiſh Vanity.
Whence are thoſe Diſpatches? (Gives Papers.)
Lat.
From the Senate.
Tib.
Are they ſitting now?
Lat.
They wait your Anſwer, CAESAR.
(Aſide to Sabi.)
Sili.
Were this Man's Mind but equal to his Words,
How great a Bleſſing would he prove to Rome?
But when his Grace is merely but Lip good,
And that no longer than he airs himſelf
Abroad in public Eyes; this is a Caſe
Deſerves our Fears, and doth preſage but Ill.
Tib.
[10]This Anſwer to the rev'rend Senate bear.
I ſtill ſhall labour to deſerve their Loves,
And ſay there can be nothing in their Thoughts,
Shall fail to pleaſe us, once approv'd by them.
Our Suff'rage rather ſhall prevent, than lag,
Behind their Wills; 'Tis Empire to obey,
Where ſuch ſo great, ſo grave, ſo good determine.
Lati.
What ſays your Highneſs to the Suit of Spain,
Does your high Will accord with their Requeſt,
T'erect a Temple dedicate to you?
Tib.
The Offer merits, and has gain'd our Thanks,
But potent Reaſons loudly ſpeak againſt it.
We muſt (with Pardon of the Senate) not
Aſſent thereto, Compliance were a Fault.
Lat.
My Royal Lord, 'twere beſt aſſign ſome Cauſe,
The ASIAN Cities gain'd a like Requeſt,
And this Denial may create a Jealouſy.
Tib.
Let our Defence for ſuffering that be known,
Since deify'd AUGUSTUS hinder'd not,
(In Honour of himſelf and ſacred ROME)
A Temple to be built at PERGAMUM,
We who have choſe to copy all his Deeds
Follow'd that pleaſing Precedent, becauſe
With ours, the Senate's Approbation join'd.
But as t've once receiv'd it, may deſerve
The Gain of Pardon, ſo to be ador'd
Thro' all the Provinces, were wild Ambition
And unbounded Pride.—'Tis ample Glory
To deſerve the Name of King.—They ſhall add,
Abounding Grace unto our Memory,
Who ſhall report us worthy our Forefathers,
Careful of State Affairs, conſtant in Dangers,
And not afraid of any private Loſs,
For public Good, ſuch Attributes will be,
Temples and Statues fix'd upon your Minds;
The faireſt, and moſt laſting Imag'ery.
Lat.
Divinely ſpoke—the ORACLES are ceas'd,
That only CAESAR with their Tongues ſhould ſpeak.
Tib.
[11]Their Choice of ANTIUM, there to place the Gift,
Vow'd to the Goddeſs for my Mother's Health,
We will the Senate know, we much approve.
As alſo of their Grant to LEPIDUS,
For his repairing the AEMILIAN Place,
And Reſtoration of thoſe Monuments.
But for the Honours which they have decreed
For our SEJANUS; to advance his Statue
In POMPEY's Theatre, they have outgone
Their own great Wiſdom in ſuch ſkillful 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.
I am much pleas'd that they ſo honour him.—
Haſte, and to the Senate bear our kindeſt Love.
Exit LATIARIS.
Druſ.
Moſt noble Father, whom my Soul reveres,
With ſtrict Sincerity and filial Love,
Let it not ſeem Preſumption in a Son
To ſpeak, where public Good ſo loudly calls.
I fear the Conſequence of Honours heap'd
In ſuch abundance on this artful Man,
Who creeps into your Breaſt, but with Deſign
When Time may ſerve, to ſting you to the Heart.
Tib.
I ſtill have us'd thee with paternal Care;
Bred thee to Honour, and a laſting Fame,
Then let me not be fruſtrate in my Hopes.
The gen'rous Mind above pale Envy ſoars,
And ſmiles when Merit meets a juſt Reward.
I charge thee then repeat thy Fears no more,
They are unworthy of a kingly Soul,
Of Inconſiſtencies and Vapours form'd.
SEJANUS more deſerves than I can give,
If thou would'ſt keep a Place in my Eſteem,
United ſtill in ſtricteſt Friendſhip move,
Careſs and think him worthy of thy Love.
Exit TIBERIUS.
Druſ.
[12]Then has my Father loſt all Senſe of Fame,
He is of Life grown weary, and of Rule.
To dreſs an Idol up with Pomp and Praiſe,
Give Honours to a ſycophantic Slave:
Make him his Mate to rival him in Empire.
A Serpent too that labours to deſtroy,
And gorge his Hunger in his Patron's Blood.
Sil.
True, noble Prince, it is a dang'rous Slave,
And wants not Inclination, but the Pow'r,
To prey on all, who dare oppoſe his Will;
But if with theſe high Honours he is crown'd,
Then Honeſty muſt quickly fly this Land,
Or elſe in Tortures it will meet Reward.
Druſ.
The firſt Aſcents to Empire ſtill are hard,
But enter'd once, there never wants, or Means,
Or Miniſters to help th' Aſpirer on.
Nay even thoſe my Father furniſhes.
So ſtudious is he to prefer this Man,
That Favours ſtill outſoar Ambition's Wing.
SEJANUS croſſes the Stage attended, joſtles DRUSUS.
Druſ.
What, is your Highneſs grown ſo blindly bold,
That you will make us Foot-ſteps for your Pride?
Seja.
Give Way then.
Druſ.
What to ſuch a Peaſant Slave as thou?
A Serpent that is gilded all without,
Within all Poiſon and Corruption.
Seja.
Rail on, for I can tamely hear and ſcorn,
The empty Satire of thy headlong Youth,
Which knows not how to judge of Noblemen.
Druſ.
Thou Noble, Reptile, thou art all that's baſe,
Envy, pale Envy and her ghaſtly Train,
For ever dwell within thy gloomy Breaſt.
When thou wert born, each Virtue frighted fled,
And left thy Frame the Citadel of Vice.
Seja.
Thou know'ſt my Duty bids me not revenge,
Therefore no more.
Druſ.
Ha! dar'ſt thou frown at me,
And come ye here to brave me to my Face? (Strikes him.)
[13] Be taught by this, how I regard your Highneſs,
Nay come, approach. What ſtand ye off at gaze?
It looks too full of Death for thy baſe Soul.
Avoid my Sight, vile Caitiff, or my Sword
Shall make your Greatneſs fitter for a Grave,
Than for a Triumph; your Pile of Greatneſs,
And all the partial Honours you enjoy,
By me ſhall ſoon be levell'd to the Duſt,
A dread Example of ambitious Pride.
(Exeunt DRUSUS, SILIUS and SABINUS.)
Seja.
A Blow—raſh Youth—that Stroke thou'lt dear⯑ly pay,
For if the ſubtle Engine of my Brain,
Can work a Tangle to enſnare thy Life,
By great Revenge thou ſhalt not live a Day.
Before I had reſolv'd upon thy Doom;
But this ſhall be a Spur to urge it on.
He who can bear ſuch Wrong with ſteady Mind,
Knows how with fit Occaſion to retort.
Wrath wrap'd in Darkneſs carries certain Fate,
Revenge were loſt, ſhould I profeſs my Hate.
Vengeance ſhall gather like a Summer Storm,
No Clouds ſhall low'r, till Fiends the Deed perform.
Take him, when unprepar'd to ſtand the Blaſt,
And make one fatal Stroke, the firſt and laſt.

END OF THE FIRST ACT.

ACT II. SCENE I.SEJANUS, LIVIA and EUDEMUS.
Seja.
PHyſician, thou art worthy of an Empire,
For the great Service done unto our Loves,
And but that faireſt LIVIA, bears a Part
In the Requital of thy Faith and Care,
I ſhould deſpair of having Means or Pow'r,
To make thy Friendſhip ample Recompence.
Livi.
[14]EUDEMUS, I will ſee it, ſhall receive
A fit and full Reward, for his large Merit,
In gaining me the great SEJANUS Love.
Which more than tributary Worlds I prize.
Seja.
Thou brighteſt Object of my panting Heart,
Thou Joy and Source of ev'ry pleaſing Thought;
Not Glory, Fame, or ought on Earth to me,
Can hold a Balance equal to thy Love.
By Heav'n I ne'er knew Tranſport till this Hour;
My Days have all been idly ſpent till now.
Like one without the Uſe of precious Sight,
Long have I ſtumbled thro' a gloomy Shade;
But now thy Day breaks in upon my Soul,
The Clouds diſperſe and all around is bright.
Livi.
How pleaſing is the Sound of ſoothing Words,
From the dear Object of one's tender Love.
But will this ardent Paſſion ne'er expire;
Can'ſt thou tranſgreſs the Rule of all thy Sex,
So conſtant prove to keep thy promis'd Faith,
Nor ſlight Poſſeſſion of a doating Fool?
Oh! ſhould'ſt thou negligently fly my Arms,
Should in thy Breaſt the Flame of Love expire,
Life would no longer then be worth my Care.
Seja.
Do not my Eyes unfold my inmoſt Thoughts,
Do they not ſpeak thee Empreſs of my Soul?
Oh! beauteous Princeſs, whoſe tranſcendent Form
Strikes with Aſtoniſhment each wond'ring Eye.
And like the SUN great Nature's Source of Life,
Indulgent Beams to gladden all around.
How dark is all, when thou art from my Eyes?
How tedious Time when thou art from my Arms?
With thee he leaves his Inſtruments of Flight,
Nor ſeems to move, when uninſpir'd by thee.
Then if in Abſence I do ever mourn,
Nor taſte of Comfort but when thou art nigh,
Thou need'ſt not ſure ſuſpect declining Love?
Livi.
Think if I fear 'tis only for thy Sake,
So much thou art the God of my Deſires,
[15] So much the Joy and Comfort of my Life,
So much the Object of my hourly Thoughts,
That I would grudge ev'n Heav'n it's Part of thee,
And have thee hail no other Shrine but Love.
Seja.
It is too much, by all the Pow'rs I ſwear,
Empires are poor to ſuch Expence of Love,
Nor can a Mortal the large Boon repay.
Nay it would taſk the mighty Pow'r of Gods,
To give a Bleſſing of an equal Worth.
Livi.
Had lov'd SEJANUS been my wedded Lord,
Then had my Hours in Joys tranſporting paſs'd.
But cruel Fate ran counter to my Will,
Join'd me to one, who never ſhar'd my Heart,
For it has ever waited upon thee.
Seja.
Why here thou ſpeak'ſt the Malice of our Fate;
Oh! Gentle Love, were but one Bar remov'd,
The Road to perfect Happineſs is plain.
Livi.
DRUSUS I know thou mean'ſt, and much I wiſh,
For thy dear Sake, he now ſurviv'd no more.
He is thy Enemy, a deadly Foe.
Yet more; ſhould he e'er note our ſecret Loves,
What ſure Deſtruction muſt that Period bring?
Heav'ns how I tremble at the riſing Thought,
It ſtrikes a Terror to my ſhiv'ring Heart.
Seja.
One Way there is quite open to Repoſe;
If thou doſt hold SEJANUS in thy Love,
Nay if thy Life or Peace be worth thy Care,
Thou wilt adventure what I ſhall propoſe.
Thou haſt the Pow'r, the Means to fix our Peace,
And bid Defiance to the Frowns of Fate.
Livi.
If I have Pow'r, then Safety is our own.
Seja.
Liſt then to what Precaution does adviſe.
In DRUSUS' Death alone our Fears can end.
EUDEMUS ſhall prepare a potent Draught,
Which thou with Care muſt mix in DRUSUS Cup:
'Twill give quick Paſſage to his fleeting Soul,
And we ſhall taſte uninterrupted Joys.
Livi.
Yet think a little, I'm his wedded Wife,
[16] And tho' he ſtands not fix'd in my Eſteem,
I ſhould not be the Miniſter of Fate.
'Tis barbarous, nay terrible to think,
And makes my Blood run chilly thro' my Veins.
Is there no gentler Means of Safety left,
But muſt I perpetrate the horrid Act?
Seja.
Nature commands us to protect ourſelves,
Undaunted then th' important Taſk perform,
Nor let ſuch pallid Fears aſſail thy Breaſt,
Think, if once done, 'twill fix thee ſafely mine.
Livi.
Thy Arguments o'er Nature have prevail'd,
Nor will I live with Happineſs in View,
And thro' vain Fears reject the hop'd for Bliſs.
Fate ſhall not bar me from my Wiſh's Lord.
So to preſerve SEJANUS wholly mine,
I will adminiſter the fatal Draught,
The Potion which EUDEMUS ſhall prepare.
Seja.
Thou bright and reigning Miſtreſs of my Heart,
So much thy Beauty had enflam'd my Soul,
I thought no Pow'r could have enhanc'd my Zeal.
But now I ſee your Readineſs and Will
To execute the ſure and only Means
Will fix thy future Happineſs and mine,
I own the Conſtancy inſpires my Breaſt,
And fires my Heart with yet more ardent Love.
A Spirit ſo aſpiring great as thine,
Was ne'er created for an idle Second,
To DRUSUS' languid Flame,—'twas form'd 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 CAESAR, and AUGUSTA's Star
Be dim'd with Glory of a brighter Flame.
When AGRIPPINA's Fires are quite extinct,
And the ſcarce ſeen TIBERIUS borrows all
His Light from us, whoſe folded Arms
Shall make one perfect Orb.
Livi.
[17]My noble Lord,
To fix our Safety calls for utmoſt Speed;
Therefore we'll haſte to baniſh anxious Fears:
For ſince it muſt be done, it ſhould be ſoon;
While now the total Softneſs of my Sex,
Is fled far off, on thy Perſuaſion's Wing.
Farewell, when next we meet, expect with Joy to hear,
That he who bars thy Way to Empire is no more,
Then judge how far I venture for your Sake.
Seja.
This one embrace and then, farewell my Love,
Till that bleſt Hour that makes thee wholly mine,
No perfect Joy can dwell within my Breaſt.
Livi.
I will but change your Words, my Lord farewell.
(Exeunt LIVI. and EUDEM.)
Sej.
If this be not Revenge, when it is done,
And made quite perfect; let AEGYPTIAN ſlaves,
PARTHIANS and barefoot HEBREWS brand my Face,
And mark my Body full of Injuries.
Thou loſt'ſt thyſelf, Boy DRUSUS, for to think
Thou could'ſt outſtrip my Vengeance, or withſtand
The Pow'r I have to cruſh thee into Air.
Thy Follies now ſhall feel what kind of Man
They have provok'd, and thy fond Father's Houſe
Crack in the Flame of my incenſed Rage;
Whoſe Fury ſhall admit no Shame or Mean.
Adultery?—It is the lighteſt Ill
I will commit. A Race of wicked Acts
(Such as are ſtil'd ſo by your virtuous Fools)
Shall flow out of my Anger, and o'erſpread
The World's wide Face; which to Poſterity
Shall thunder out the mighty Deeds and Daring,
Of great SEJANUS, Fortune's darling Son.
On then my Soul, nor ſtop thou in thy Courſe,
Tho' Heav'n drop Sulphur, and Hell belch out Fire;
Laugh at their idle Terrors; tell proud JOVE,
Between thy Pow'r and his, there are no Odds,
'Twas only Fear, that firſt created Gods.
(Exit SEJANUS.)
[18] Enter SILIUS and SABINUS.
Sil.
Mark ye how the Beagles of SEJANUS,
Keep beating round the Houſe of AGRIPPINA?
There is ſome Game here lodg'd, which they muſt rouſe
To make their Maſter ſport.
Sab.
I note them well.
Did you perceive how much they rail'd at CAESAR?
Sil.
Meer Gudgeon Baits for us to take the Hook;
If on the Tide of Vice one Virtue floats
Th' induſtrious Crew catch quickly the Alarm,
And angle for it with their utmoſt Skill.
AFER their Orator I well obſerv'd,
He that hath Phraſes, Figures and fine Flow'rs
To ſtrew his Rhetoric with, he who flies,
And ever is the foremoſt to get Note
Where Blood and Gain be Objects, ſteeps his Words,
(When he would kill) in artificial Tears,
Deceitful as the Crocodile of Nile.
Sab.
And yet this Man's a Senator of Rome,
And holds a Place among the foremoſt Rank.
Sil.
The foremoſt, now, is a diſgraceful Rank,
The very Title Senator a Shame.
By Heav'n 'twere better be a Peaſant Drudge,
To toil and labour in the Summer Sun,
Or freeze and ſhiver 'midſt the Winter's Cold,
Than ſhare the Grandeur of our wicked Court.
If I but thought we might not hope a Change,
A Reformation in the State of Things:
I wear a friendly Weapon by my Side,
Should rip out Life, and eaſe me of the Pain.
Sab.
A Pain indeed to every noble Mind,
But Hopes muſt give us Patience to endure.
Sil.
And they alone can ſhew the Way to reſt.
Say who would ſuffer the tormenting Pangs,
Which oft attend on bodily Diſeaſe,
But thro' the Hopes of freſh returning Health,
To heal their Pains and give them Life anew?
Sab.
[19]Behold the noble AGRIPPINA comes.
(Enter AGRIPPINA.)
Agr.
Whither, my Friends, oh whither ſhall I fly?
No longer can I find Repoſe at home;
The Slaves of Power cluſter all around,
And watch with haggard Eyes each Step I take.
I fear my Children ſtand on ſlipp'ry Ground,
For them a thouſand anxious Thoughts crowd in.
I fear thoſe Fiends who boldly dar'd to ſtrike
At ſo exampleſs and unblam'd a Life,
As that of the renown'd GERMANICUS,
Will not ſit eaſy with his Death alone.
Sil.
If, righteous Heav'n, pure Virtue be thy Care,
Why fell GERMANICUS a Villain's Prey?
Who was a Man of ever ſpotleſs Fame,
In ev'ry Action nearer to the Gods,
Than Men in Nature by their outward Forms.
The crowding Virtues mingled all in him
So perfect, that he ſeem'd deſign'd by Heav'n,
A bright Example for th' admiring World.
Agr.
And yet this great, and Godlike Hero fell,
A Prey to Treaſon, and the Foes of Rome.
Oh! that my Eyes had ſhut out Light with him,
Nor liv'd to ſhed ſo many widow'd Tears;
Nor to behold ſuch harſh Oppreſſions riſe,
As now weigh heavy on each ROMAN Breaſt.
Dark lurking Daggers wait for honeſt Hearts,
Nor can we claim a certain Day of Life:
Like poor deſpairing Mariners we roll,
Amidſt the Surges of an angry Sea,
And view around a Group of horrid Rocks,
Which, low'ring, fright our Tempeſt-ſhaken Souls.
I could with Eaſe ſhake off the Load of Life,
And huſh my Sorrows in the friendly Grave.
Death has no Terror, in its Sting, to me.
But then, my Sons, they ſummon all my Care,
Thoſe deareſt Pledges of my much lov'd Lord.
The rav'nous Vultures hover o'er their Heads,
[20] And hourly ſeek to ſeize them for their Prey.
Sil.
Firſt periſh all, each Traitor piece-meal die.
By all the Love I ever bore GERMANICUS,
By his great Soul, and all we hold moſt dear,
Long as the Tide of Life ſhall ſwell my Veins,
My ev'ry Care ſhall wait your Royal Race.
Nor ſhall the laſt Remains of ROMAN Virtue,
Be ſacrific'd, while I have Pow'r to ſave.
Agr.
Much am I bound to thank your friendly Zeal,
Thou ha'ſt a Soul, unfit for modern Days,
And 'ſpite of Powr ar't Virtue's ſtedfaſt Friend.
Sil.
Such let me ever be, or be no more.
I ſwerve not ſo from Honour's rugged Path,
To loll ſupine upon the Down of Vice,
Or ſmoothly glide upon her icy Way.
Whene'er I fall to ſuch an abject State.
Let Shame and Poverty o'ertake my Steps.
Sab.
Such likewiſe be the Lot mark'd out for me,
When I prefer not Honeſty to Gain,
Empire, or ought that Greatneſs can beſtow.
Moſt gracious Princeſs, here I offer up
My Life, my Fortune, all I can command,
To ſave the ſacred Lives of you and yours.
Agr.
Alas, I fear, my Friends, our Strength muſt fail,
Before the great SEJANUS' Giant Pow'r.
He with his Graſp can cruſh the State of ROME,
And all our Lives depend upon his Nod.
Sil.
'Tis true, great Princeſs, he o'ertops us all,
They only flouriſh who enjoy his Smiles.
Gods! that TIBERIUS can be ſo miſled,
To let this Minion lord it o'er the State.
Nay o'er himſelf, and Royal Kindred too.
With Patience ſee him undermine his Throne,
And ſubtly ſteal its chief Supports away.
Agr.
Then have I not juſt Cauſe to fear, my Friends,
That he, who views me with an envious Eye,
And knows my Children lie acroſs his Way,
The Bars to Empire; will by direſt Means,
[21] Strive to deſtroy, and triumph in our Fall?
There is no Safety where Ambition rules.
Sil.
Ambition is indeed an helliſh Fiend;
Where that inſatiate ſavage Fury dwells,
A Train of Vices bear unrival'd Sway,
And ſuch we ſee preſiding now at ROME.
Yet in one Place you have ſome Safety left.
The noble DRUSUS with ſincereſt Love
Eſpouſes ſtill the Intereſt of your Sons.
Therefore be comforted, nor doubt but Heav'n
Will keep them ſafe from cruel Violation,
As ſome Attonement for their Father's Death.
Agr.
When will my niggard Fortune pay your Loves?
Oh! gentle Friends, may thoſe juſt Powers above,
That read the Hearts of Men, reward your Faith.
Your Words have much compos'd my lab'ring Soul,
And Comfort's Smiles diſpel the Gloom of Woe.
Still then remain the Pillars of my Hope,
To you I truſt the Safety of my Sons.
Each with an ARGUS Care obſerve his Charge,
For Tyranny is watchful o'er its Prey.
Sil.
We will not fail in Duty, or in Love,
Our Loyalty let future Actions prove;
We'll guard 'em ſafely on the hoſtile Shore,
And Freedom to this ſuff'ring Land reſtore,
Or drag the galling Chain of Life no more.
(Exeunt.)

SCENE CHANGES, enter TIBERIUS and SEJANUS.

Tib.

When Fears aſſail the Monarch of the World,

SEJANUS, Is't not fatal?

Sej.

Yes, to thoſe fear'd.

Tib.

And not to him?

Sej.

That is impoſſible,

If, royal Sir, he wiſely turns on them

That Part of Fate which in his Pow'r he holds.

Tib.

That, Nature, Blood, and Laws of kind forbid.

Seja.

Do Policy and State forbid it?

Tib.

No.

Sej.

[22]

Then ought beſide is quite unworthy Note,

They muſt be criminal, if once your Foes.

Tib.

Think but the Hate which on ſuch Acts attends.

Sej.

If Hatred frights, think not of ſov'reign Pow'r.

All ſickly Qualms of Conſcience muſt give Way,

To him that, ſafely, would poſſeſs a Crown.

God's! ſhould the World's great Maſter be confin'd,

By pedant Rules of Piety and Love,

Nor ſtop the Progreſs of aſpiring Foes,

Becauſe forbidden by a ſoft Remorſe?

Conſider why the Gods have giv'n you Pow'r,

Why plac'd you high on an Imperial Throne,

And made the World dependant on your Nod,

But for your Pow'r to make that World obey?

Tib.

Know'ſt thou, SEJANUS, where our Fears ariſe?

Sej.

If my Suſpicions but accord with yours,

From AGRIPPINA?

Tib.

Her, and her proud Race.

Sej.

Proud—nay, CAESAR full of Danger and Diſtruſt,

For full in them GERMANICUS appears.

The ſame ſeditious and repining Spirit,

Dwells in their Breaſts, and cankers in their Hearts.

They live t'upbraid us with their Father's Death,

And (if Prevention waits not on our Councils)

My Fears interpret to revenge the ſame.

Tib.

There I think thy Fears are without Grounds,

The Act's not known.

Sej.

Not prov'd, as yet, I grant,

But bab'ling Fame, that buſy, meddling Fiend,

Knowledge and Proof does to the Jealous give.

It is not fit the Children long remain,

Who ſuck in Fury from a Parent's Death.

The latent Sparks may lurk a while unſeen,

But once inkindled by ſeditious Breath,

Burſting to Flame they'll rage deſtructive round,

And dart at all, nay, CAESAR's ſacred Head.

Tib.

Ha!—Think'ſt thou, my SEJANUS, they will dare?

Sej.

The Thunderbolt is never ſeen till felt,

[23] And then it wounds beyond the Reach of Cure.

Be not ſecure; none ſooner are undone,

Than thoſe whom Confidence betrays to Reſt;

Let not your daring make your Danger ſuch;

All Pow'r is fearful once it grows too great:

CAESAR, 'tis Age in all Things breeds Neglect,

And Princes that would keep old Dignity,

Muſt not admit too youthful Heirs ſtand by,

Not their own Iſſue,—but ſo darkly ſet,

As Shadows are in Pictures—to give Height

And advantageous Luſtre to the reſt.

Tib.

Thou haſt convinc'd me of the lurking Danger.

And to prevent the Stroke of ambuſh'd Fate,

I will command their rank Thoughts lower down,

And with a ſtricter Hand than yet put forth,

Will bate their Titles, Feaſts and Factions.

Sej.

How thinks your Highneſs to proceed therein,

The Point is critical, and Care requires?

Tib.

Confinement ſhall impending Ills remove.

Their cloſe Cabals, Sedition's Nurſery,

Shall be diſſolv'd, to fruſtrate all their Hopes.

Sej.

They are too great, and that too faint a Blow,

To give them now; it would have ſerv'd at firſt,

When with the weakeſt Blow their Knot had loos'd:

But now your Care muſt be to keep conceal'd,

Your juſt Suſpicions, from their wary Eyes;

For ſuch who know the Weight of Prince's Pow'r,

If once the leaſt Diſcovery they note,

Like the ſeen Snakes will raiſe their Stings to wound,

Who elſe had folded in their Circles lain.

The Courſe muſt be to let them ſtill ſwell more,

Riot and ſurfeit on blind Fortune's Cup.

Give them more Place, more Dignity, more Stile,

A Shew of Friendſhip is the ſureſt Snare.

Then by ſome Means take off their ſtrongeſt Friends;

The Lyon once of Teeth and Fangs bereft,

May roar and rage, to feel th' indignant Laſh,

But has no longer Pow'r to oppoſe.

Tib.

[24]

We would not kill, could we with Safety ſpare;

But yet 'tis better give a Grave than Throne.

Is there no Way to bind them by Deſerts?

Sej.

Wolves change their Hair but never change their Hearts.

While a relenting Weakneſs ſways your Mind,

Your erring Reaſon Safety does oppoſe:

Self Preſervation is the firſt of Laws.

Tib.

SEJANUS, thou art ſtill my better Angel,

And I'll no longer maſk my Thoughts from thee.

Thy Sentiments accord with mine in all,

And we but prove their Voice in our Deſigns.

Which by aſſenting thou haſt more confirm'd,

Than if great JOVE, to countenance the Deed,

Had from his hundred Statues bid us ſtrike.—

But ſay, thou Guide of all our deareſt Councils,

Who of the Liſt ſhall firſt become our Prey?

Sej.

If I may rule, 'tis CAIUS SILIUS firſt;

He is our ſureſt Mark, moſt full of Danger.

Firſt hurl him down the Precipice of Fate.

By how much his Fall does give the louder Crack,

'Twill ſend more wounding Terror to the reſt:

Command them ſtand aloof, and make more way

To our ſurprizing of the Principals.

Tib.

Were it not well to lop SABINUS off?

Sej.

Let him grow awhile—he's but a weakly Branch,

He is not ripe for Fate, we muſt not pluck

At all together; leſt we cruſh ourſelves.

Tib.

Have we the Ground for SILIUS' Accuſation?

Sej.

Truſt that to me; let CAESAR by his Pow'r

Command a formal Meeting of the Senate;

I will have Matters and Accuſers there.

Tib.

But how? Were it not better we ſhould conſult?

Sej.

We ſhall by ſuch Delay (needleſs to our End)

Loſe the Time of Action. Councils are unfit,

In Deeds, where Reſt may prove pernicious.

Actions of this cloſe Kind, if once propos'd,

Thrive more by Execution than Advice.

Tib.

[25]

Do thou prepare the Subject of Conviction,

The Senate ſhall be ſummon'd ſtrait to meet.

(Exit. TIBERIUS.)

Sej.

Thus far each ſubtle Artifice prevails,

And Fortune's Current in my Favour flows:

Like an indulgent Mother ſtill ſhe ſmiles,

And guards me from the Outrages of Fate.—

The ſureſt Way to ſet a Prince in Blood,

Is to make Dangers greater than they are,

By huge Deſcription and the Pomp of Words;

As ſetting Suns protract the Evening Shades.

Fears are the ſureſt Spur to Cruelty.

Work then my Arts on CAESAR's Fears, till they,

Who ſtop my Way to Greatneſs are—remov'd,

Enter EUDEMUS.

Now my EUDEMUS, what's the News thou bear'ſt?

Sure 'tis important, for thy eager Eyes,

Seem ſtriving to anticipate thy Tongue.

Eud.

The fatal Draught which I with Care prepar'd,

Was ſecretly convey'd to DRUSUS' Cup,

Which when receiv'd began to operate.

To countenance the Deed, I ſtrove to help,

And ſeem'd to wonder at the deadly Fit:

But ſuch the forceful Poiſon I'd prepar'd,

No human Art the Torments could remove.

So 'ſpite of all my ſeeming earneſt Care,

His Pain-rack'd Soul burſt from its earthly Cage,

And fleeting left the breathleſs Coarſe behind.

Sej.

Then the chief Pillar of my Fear is fallen.

Now my EUDEMUS think of a Reward,

And taſk SEJANUS' utmoſt Means and Pow'r.

Obſerve that thou in Public mourn his Fate,

And frame by Art ſome probable Excuſe,

To make the People think 'twas Nature's Act;

So diſſipate Suſpicion of our Guilt.

Eud.

Doubt not, my Lord, my utmoſt Art ſhall work,

To blind Suſpicion's penetrating Eye.

(Exit EUDEMUS.)

Sej.

[26]

Away then, to be ſeen with me may cauſe Diſtruſt,

The lordly Oak has felt the biting Axe,

Whoſe tow'ring Branches kept me in their Shade.

My Soul diſburthen'd of a cumb'rous Weight,

Now lightly bounds, and ſoars to regal Sway.

Oh! great Ambition (thirſt of noble Souls,

Th' inſpiring Parent of heroic Deeds)

Do'ſt thou not ſmile upon thy awful Throne,

To ſee the glorious Sacrifice I make,

In adoration of thy Pow'r divine?

If then thy Votary deſerves thy Grace,

If I have ever waited on thy Nod,

And bent obedient to thy pow'rful Sway,

Now aid me to the glorious End propos'd.

With Eagle's Wings aſſiſt my tow'ring Flight,

Let ſubject Worlds derive from me their Light;

To fill my Coffers Nature's Riches drain,

Make tributary Kings compoſe my Train,

And let SEJANUS Lord of Mankind reign.

(Exit SEJANUS.)

END OF THE SECOND ACT.

ACT III. SCENE I.

Enter SEJANUS, VARRO, AFER.

Seja.

'TIS only you muſt urge againſt him, VARRO,

Nor I, nor CAESAR may appear therein,

Unleſs in your Defence, who are the CONSUL.

Here are the Notes what Points to touch on, read;

Be ſubtle in them, AFER has them too.

Var.

But is he ſummon'd?

Sej.

No, CAESAR has concluded it moſt fit

To take him unprepar'd.

Afer.

And proſecute all under Treaſon's ame.

(They retire conferring.)

[27] Enter SABINUS, ARRUNTIUS, LEPIDUS.

Sab.

What ſhould this Meeting of the Senate be?

Arrun.

That can yon ſubtle Whiſperers tell ye;

We are the good, dull, noble Lookers on,

And only call'd to keep the Marble warm.

What ſhould we do with thoſe deep Myſteries,

Proper to ſuch fine Heads?

Lepid.

See their Action.

Sil.

Ay! now their Brains are lab'ring, now they work;

Their Souls the Looms of Vice are ſubtly weaving

Some curious Cobweb, to entangle Flies.—

(Trumpets.

Hark, this Trumpet ſpeaks TIBERIUS near.

Now they take their Places, mark them well,

And you ſhall ſee 'em flatter CAESAR's Grief,

With pageant Sorrow, for his noble Son.

The good SEJANUS too will mourn his Fate.

Enter (to them) TIBERIUS, SATRIUS, NATTA, LATIA⯑RIS, &c. The Senate ſits.

Tib.

Hail to the Senate and the State of Rome.

Sej.

Great Emperor to whom our inmoſt Souls,

With zealous Love and ſtrict Obedience bend;

With weeping Hearts and bitter Pangs of Woe,

Your faithful Senate mourn great DRUSUS Loſs.

But Sighs and Tears are poor in ſuch a Cauſe;

Were it not certain that we all muſt die,

This Stroke of Fate would claim eternal Woe.

The righteous Gods are juſt in their Decrees,

They may recal the Bleſſings they have giv'n,

And Mortals, tho' oppreſs'd, ſhould not complain.

Tib.

Much I am bound to thank ye for your Loves,

'Tis true the Loſs as Father claims my Tears;

But as the Public is my chiefeſt Care,

To ROME's Advantage private Griefs give Way.

Our Mother now is ſtruck with hoary Time;

Ourſelf with aged Characters impreſs'd,

And DRUSUS gone. We muſt betimes reflect,

On thoſe that may a timely Succour bring:

[28] Therefore our only glad ſurviving Hope,

The noble Iſſue of GERMANICUS,

We to the Senate's Care do recommend,

Var.

May all the GODS conſent to CAESAR's Wiſh,

And add to any Honours that may crown,

The Royal Iſſue of GERMANICUS.

Tib.

I thank ye, noble Fathers, in their Right,

And ſince I've been the happy Inſtrument,

Of your ſo much deſired Affection

To this great Iſſue; I could wiſh, the Fates

Would here ſet peaceful Period to my Days.

However to my Labours, I intreat,

(And beg it of the Senate) ſome fit Eaſe.

The Burden is too heavy I ſuſtain,

(On my unwilling Shoulders) And I pray

It may be taken off, and reconfer'd,

Upon the CONSUL or ſome other ROMAN,

More able, and more worthy than myſelf.

To be ſo held, in Guardianſhip and Truſt,

Till the young Princes gain a proper Age.

I know my Weakneſs and ſo little covet,

(Like ſome gone paſt) that Weight which will oppreſs,

That my Ambition is the counter Part.

Sej.

But ROME the mighty Miſtreſs of the World,

Whoſe Nerves, whoſe very Life, relies no leſs

On CAESAR's Strength, than Heav'n on ATLAS,

Cannot admit it without general Ruin.

Arrun.

Ah! Are you there to bring his Highneſs off.

(A [...]

Sej.

Let CAESAR then no more decline to rule,

Nor urge a Point that doth ſo much oppoſe

His People's Welfare, and his Country's Good.

Tib.

Though I could wiſh, nay long to be at Reſt;

Yet if Rome's Senators command me ſerve,

I muſt be glad to practiſe my Obedience,

And ſtrive to be whatever they ordain.

Sej.

Words are but poor to ſpeak our grateful Hearts,

For all thoſe Bleſſings which you ſpread around.

[29] Oh! may your Influence continue long,

Still may Proſperity attend your Reign,

Be ſtill our Guardian Angel and our God.

Tib.

Proceed to the Affairs which call us here.

Afer.

Stand forth CAIUS SILIUS.

Sil.

On what Cauſe?

Afer.

That thou ſhalt hear.

Sab.

What can this mean?

Sil.

Speak on.

Afer.

CAIUS SILIUS, for thy late Victory,

Gain'd on SACROVIR thou had'ſt a Triumph,

Which no Man envied thee; nor would CAESAR or ROME

Admit thee, then to be defrauded

Of any Honours thy Deſerts could claim;

In the fair Service of the Common-wealth.

But if—after all theſe Inſtances of Love,

It ſhall appear to CAESAR and the Senate,

Thou haſt defil'd theſe Glories with thy Crimes?

Sil.

Ha! Say'ſt thou Crimes?

Afer.

Patience SILIUS.

Sil.

Preach Patience to thy Slaves, and not to me,

I am a ROMAN—What are my Crimes?—Pro⯑claim 'em

Am I too rich, too honeſt for theſe Times?

Have I or Treaſures, Jewels, Houſe or Lands,

Which ſome Informer gapes for? Is my Strength

Too much to be admitted, or my Knowledge?

Theſe, in our preſent State, are counted Crimes.

Afer.

Nay if the Name of Crimes touch thee ſo near,

With what Impotence and feeble Vindication,

Wilt thou endure the Matter to be ſearch'd?

Sil.

I tell thee, AFER, more with Scorn than Fear.

Tho' I'm to ſtand againſt thy Heart and Tongue,

Thoſe mercenary Tools of bribing Knaves:

Where's my Accuſer of theſe mighty Crimes?

Var.

Here, 'tis I that will accuſe thee, SILIUS

Againſt the Majeſty of ROME and CAESAR,

[30] I do pronounce thee a moſt guilty Cauſe,

Of drawing out the War in GALLIA,

For which thou late did'ſt triumph, diſſembling long

That SACROVIR to be an Enemy,

Only to make thy Entertainment more,

Whilſt thou tyrannically poll'd the Province.

Wherein by baſe Deſires of ſordid Gain,

Thou haſt diſcredited thy Actions worth,

And been a Traitor to the State.

Sil.

'Tis falſe.

Var.

If I not prove it, CAESAR, but unjuſtly

Have call'd him unto Trial here; I bind

Myſelf to ſuffer what I claim 'gainſt him,

And yield, to have what I have ſpoke confirm'd,

By Judgment of the Court and all good Men.

Sil.

CAESAR I move to have my Cauſe deferr'd,

Till this Man's Conſulſhip be out.

Tib.

We cannot,

Muſt not grant it.

Sil.

Why ſhall he mark out

My Day of Trial? Is he my Accuſer?

And ſhall he be my Judge?

Tib.

It hath been uſual,

And is a Right which Cuſtom hath allow'd

The Magiſtrate, to call forth private Men,

And to appoint the Day,—which Privilege

We muſt not in the CONSUL ſee infring'd.

Sil.

CAESAR, this Fraud is worſe than Violence,

Tib.

SILIUS, miſtake us not, we dare not uſe

The Credit of the CONSUL, to thy Wrong:

But only do preſerve his Place and Pow'r,

So far as it concerns the Dignity

And Honour of the State,—by the CAPITOL!

And all the Gods I ſwear—but that the dear Republic,

Our ſacred Laws and juſt Authority,

Are intereſs'd therein, I ſhould be ſilent.

Afer.

Pleaſe, CAESAR, to give Way unto his Trial.

He ſhall have Juſtice.

Sil.

[31]

Nay I ſhall have Law,

Shall I not, AFER? Speak.

Afer.

Would you have more?

Sil.

No! My fine Orator, I would no more,

Nor leſs, might I enjoy it natural.

Diveſted of your undermining Arts;

Not taught to ſpeak unto your preſent Ends,

Free from thine, his, and all your cruel handling,

Foul wreſting, and impoſſible Conſtruction.

Afer.

He raves! He raves!

Sil.

Thou durſt not tell me ſo,

Had'ſt thou not CAESAR's Warrant; I can ſee

Whoſe Pow'r condemns me.

Var.

This betrays his Spirit,

This doth enough declare him what he is.

Sil.

What am I? ſpeak.

Var.

An Enemy to the State.

Sil.

What? becauſe I am an Enemy to thee,

And ſuch corrupted Miniſters of th' State,

That here art made a preſent Inſtrument,

To gratify it, by thy own Diſgrace?

Sej.

This to the CONSUL is moſt inſolent,

And impious. if Magiſtrates are thus deſpis'd!

If the rude Tongue of Slander thus may wound,

Where reverential Awe ſhould Duty pay,

Bondmen and Slaves may rule it o'er the State?

Ev'n this alone is criminal enough.

It ſpeaks aloud a daring Rebel Mind.—

A Pride above Authority ſhould fall.

Sil.

Right, vindicate your Deeds, reveal yourſelves.

Alas! I ſcent not your Confederacies,

Your Plots and ſubtle Combinations.

Think'ſt thou COLOSSUS of the ROMAN State,

I am ſo blind as not to ſee thy Hate?

To know that all this Boaſt of Law's, but form,

A Net of VULCAN's filing, a meer Engine,

To take that Life, by a Pretext of Juſtice,

Which you purſue in Malice?—Oh! ye GODS!

[32] Whom not a World of wolf-turn'd Men,

Shall make me to accuſe, howe'er provok'd.

Have I for this ſo oft' engag'd myſelf?

Stood in the Heat and Fervour of the Fight,

When PHAEBUS ſooner has forſook the Sky,

Than I the Field?—Againſt the blue-ey'd GAULS,

And criſped GERMANS; when our ROMAN EAGLES,

Have fann'd the Fires of War with lab'ring Wings,

And no Blow dealt, that left not Death behind it.

When I have charg'd, alone, into the Troops

Of curled SICAMBRIANS, routed them, and came

Not off with backward Enſigns of a Slave,

But Marks, in Front; Wounds on this faithful Breaſt,

Were feſt for thee, O CAESAR, and thy ROME.

And have I this Return?—did I for this,

Perform ſo noble and ſo brave Defeat

On SACROVIR? Great JOVE! Let it become me

To boaſt my Deeds, when they whom they concern,

Can thus forget them.

Afer.

SILIUS, SILIUS,

Theſe are the common Cuſtoms of thy Blood,

When it is high with Wine, as now with Rage.

This well agrees with the intemperate Vaunt,

Which late thou mad'ſt at Agrippina's Houſe.

That when all other of the Troops were prone

To fall into Rebellion, only yours

Remain'd in their Obedience.—You were he

That ſav'd the Empire—which had elſe been loſt,

Had but your Legions at that Time rebell'd.

Your Virtue met, and fronted ev'ry Peril,

You gave to CAESAR and to ROME their Safety.

Their Name, their Strength, their Spirit and their State,

Their very Being's Donative from you.

Tib.

Is this true, SILIUS?

Sil.

Save thy Queſtion, CAESAR,

Thy Spy of matchleſs Credit has affirm'd it.

Seja.

If this be ſo, there needs no farther Cauſe

Of Crime againſt him?—What can more impeach

[33] The royal Dignity and State of CAESAR,

Than to be urged with a Benefit

He cannot pay?—In this, all CAESAR's Pow'r

Is made unequal to the Courteſy.

Var.

His Means are all deſtroy'd, that ſhould requite.

Afer.

Nothing is great enough for SILIUS Merit.

Sat.

His huge Deſerts not Royalty can pay.

Sil.

Why do ye ſtrain Invention—thus hunt

And labour ſo about for Circumſtance

To prove him guilty whom ye have foredoom'd?

Take ſhorter Ways—I'll meet your Purpoſes.

The Words were mine,—and now I more will ſay,

Since I have done thee ſuch great Service, CAESAR,

Thou ſtill haſt fear'd me, and inſtead of Grace

Return'd me Hatred—ſo ſoon all Deſerts,

With jealous Princes, turn deep Injuries

In Eſtimation when they higher riſe,

Than can be anſwer'd, with your utmoſt Eaſe.

Your Studies are not how to thank, but kill.

It is your Nature to have all Men Slaves,

And he that might your deareſt Friendſhip claim,

Shall ſooneſt periſh, if he ſtand in View,

Where he but front, or may oppoſe the Great.

Var.

Suffer him ſpeak no more,—mark well his Spirit.

Afer.

This ſhews him in the reſt, let him be cenſur'd,

For proud Rebellion ſpeaks in ev'ry Word.

Sej.

He hath ſaid enough to prove him CAESAR's Foe.

Such ſelf Sufficiency and vaunting Pride,

Will ever hold the State in Diſregard.

A turbulent and ſtill repining Spirit,

Is to the Conſtitution a Diſeaſe,

And may prove mortal, if not quickly mov'd.

Therefore 'tis juſt immediate Cenſure paſs.

Sil.

Stay, buſy Senate, yet a Moment ſtay.

Since I muſt fall a Prey to factious Vice,

And feel th' Effect of great SEJANUS Pow'r,

'Tis fit I eaſe the Burden of my Mind,

And hold a Mirror to your dazzled Eyes.

[34] That you are ROMANS, being Sons of ROME,

The World allows; and therefore ſo are ſtil'd:

But where's the ROMAN Attributes my Friends

The Virtues which ſhould ever wait the Name?

That Independency, and Juſtice uncorrupt,

Which plac'd your Anceſtors in Rolls of Fame,

And ſet them up ſo high to mate with Gods?

Would they have been the Inſtruments of Pow'r,

And taught their Voices to obey Command?—

But I have done,—yet think not I have plac'd,

My Guards within me, againſt Fortune's Spite,

So weakly, but I can eſcape your Gripe,

That are but Hands of Fortune—ſhe herſelf

When Virtue does oppoſe, muſt loſe her Force.

All that can happen in this brittle Life,

The Frown of CAESAR, great SEJANUS Hatred,

Baſe VARRO's Spleen and AFER's bloodying Tongue [...]

The Senate's ſervile Flatt'ry—all theſe,

Muſter'd to kill, I'm fortified againſt,

And can look down upon, they are beneath me.

It is not Life whereof I ſtand enamour'd,

Nor ſhall my End make me accuſe my Fate.

The Coward and the Brave muſt one Time fall,

Only the Cauſe and Manner how, diſtinguiſh,

ROMANS if any be in this aſſembled SENATE,

Who'd know to mock TIBERIUS Tyranny?

Look upon SILIUS, and, ſo, learn to die.

(Stabs himſelf.)

Var.

Oh! Deſperate Rage.

Arr.

An honourable Hand.

My Thought did prompt him, SILIUS farewel,

Be ever famous for this glorious Deed.

Tib.

Is he dead?

Sil.

Ay! to thy Vengeance CAESAR,

Thus hath my Arm for Freedom, ever ſtruck;

And been ſucceſsful in the noble Cauſe.

Thus do I end an honourable Life;

Nor would I, to exiſt in ſuch bad Times,

[35] Had I the Pow'r; prevent the Ebb of Life.

Oh! Death thy Terrors are transform'd to Smiles,

And thy harſh Gripe, now, proves a fond Embrace.

(Dies.)

Tib.

We are not pleas'd with this ſad Accident,

Which hath ſo ſuddenly prevented Mercy,

That we intended to this noble ROMAN.

Arr.

Excellent Wolf, now, he is full, he howls.

Sej.

Moſt mighty CAESAR's Clemency doth Wrong,

His Dignity,—nay Safety, thus to mourn,

The End deſerv'd of ſo profeſs'd a Traitor.

An ill tim'd Lenity doth ſtill inſtruct,

Others as factious to the like Offence.

Remove the Body—let Citation

Be iſſu'd for his Wife—let her be proſcrib'd—

And for the Goods, I think it meet, that half

Go to the Publick, and to his Children half.

Tib.

Let this be ratified in our Decree,

Other Offenders we'll at Leiſure try.

And for this Meeting break the Senate up.

Father's I do commend me to your Loves.

(Exeunt Senators.)

SEJANUS and TIBERIUS remain.

Tib.

This, my SEJANUS, hath ſucceeded well,

And quite remov'd all jealouſy of Practice,

'gainſt AGRIPPINA and our Nephews—: Now

We muſt bethink us how to plant our Engines.

For t'other Pair, SABINUS and ARRUNTIUS,

Nay and GALLUS too. Howe'er he flatters us,

His Heart we know.

Sej.

Give it ſome Reſpite, CAESAR,

Time ſhall mature and bring to perfect End,

What with ſuch goodly Vizors we've begun.

SABINUS ſhall be next.

Tib.

Thou deareſt Friend,

To thy ſage Council will TIBERIUS yield:

For well thy Zeal and Loyalty we know.

[36] Go forward in our main Deſign, and proſper.

(Exit TIBERIUS.)

Seja.

The chief of my Deſigns, I hope, will thrive,

Nor can it fail, while thou art thus miſled.

Hear then my Flatteries digeſt my Schemes,

And may they lay that Hold upon thy Senſes,

As thou had'ſt ſnuff'd up Hemlock, or ta'en down

The Juice of Poppy and MANDRAGORA.

Think me the chief Foundation of thy Throne,

And lean ſecure thy Weight upon my Care:

Till ſubtle Artifice can find a Time

To ſlip—and let thee tumble from thy Height.

Then on thy Ruins ſoar to regal Sway,

And ſmile in Triumph at thy abject Fall.

Already by Hypocriſy I've gain'd,

A Knowledge of his ſecreteſt Affairs.

Drawn all Diſpatches through my private Hands,

Know his Deſignments, and purſue my own.

Make my own Strength by giving ſecret Bribes,

Conferring Dignities and Offices.

The Miniſter who would betray his Prince

Muſt many large Dependencies appoint,

And thoſe through Int'reſt will defend his Cauſe.

When once I clap my Foot upon the Throne,

Even thoſe who hate me now, will own my Sway;

For when they ſee me Arbiter of all,

They muſt obſerve, or elſe with CAESAR fall.

END OF THE THIRD ACT.

ACT IV. SCENE I.[37]SEJANUS SOLUS.
WHY are my Thoughts ſtill miniſtring freſh Pain?
Why are new Cares ſtill rank'ling in my Mind?
Nature aloud calls out for balmy Reſt,
But all in vain. My ever waking Soul,
Sits brooding o'er a Train of Images,
That conſtant riſe in terrible Array,
And ſhrink my Reſolution into Fears.
But wherefore ſhould vain Fancies thus appall?
Is not an Empire ſubject to my Rule?
Have I not all that Fortune could beſtow;
In ev'ry Thing but Name, an Emperor!
Is not Ambition glutted with my Store?
And yet that faithful Mirror of the Mind,
Reflection, ſtill a gloomy Proſpect ſhews.
Remorſe the Raven of a guilty Mind,
Is ever croaking horrid in my Ear;
Often I rouſe to baniſh it away,
But the Tormentor ſtill returns again,
And like PROMETHES' Vulture, ever gnaws.
What then is Glory, without ſoft Repoſe?
If ſweet Content is baniſh'd from my Soul,
Life grows a Burden, and a Weight of Woe.
Oh! that I could run o'er my Race again,
Then would I chuſe to tread the humble Vale,
Nor lab'ring climb up Greatneſs painful Hill.
But my paſt Deeds have ſet me beyond Cure,
And I muſt ſtill go on or worſe endure.
Aſſiſt me, Furies, with your helliſh Aid,
Nor let the Tyrant Conſcience more invade;
Since I am ſtain'd with Blood, thro' Blood I'll wade.
[38] Enter EUDEMUS.
Sej.
Wherefore, EUDEMUS, are theſe earneſt Looks?
Eud.
My Lord, the Princeſs LIVIA—
Seja.
What of her?
Eude.
Struck with Remorſe now flies diſtracted round,
And vows ſhe'll ſpeak the Cauſe of DRUSUS' Death.
Sej.
From whence this unexpected curſt Miſchance?
Eud.
She ſays that DRUSUS' Shade appear'd laſt Night,
And charg'd her all your Actions to reveal;
As ſome Attonement for her guilty Life.
Poſſeſs'd of this ſhe flies o'er all the Houſe,
Crying aloud for Vengeance on SEJANUS.
Sej.
A Tongue whoſe Words are of ſuch dire Import,
Should not be ſuffer'd to have Motion free;
She muſt be ſilenc'd or ſhe ruins all.
They ſhall be try'd, and tho' I loath her Sight,
(So much Enjoyment has pall'd all Deſire)
Yet I will ſpeak to her in raptur'd Phraſe.
If the diſſembl'd Paſſion can prevail,
No farther we'll proceed—but if it fails,
Then our own Safety loudly claims her Death.
But ſee, ſhe comes—EUDEMUS thou retire.
Exit EUDEMUS.
Enter LIVIA.
Liv.
Where is the Monſter that enſnar'd my Soul?
Oh thou Fiend of Mankind, moſt accurſt,
Death of my Honour, Inſtrument of Shame,
How can'ſt thou ſtand in open Face of Day?
Thou ſhould'ſt cohabit with the Gloom of Night,
Emblem and Picture of thy Cloud wrap'd Soul.
Doth not the Sound of Murder haunt thine Ear,
And lawleſs Love invade thy helliſh Heart?
Or can the Fiends, Projectors of thy Deeds,
Afford thee Strength of Mind at all to ſmile,
And brave the Juſtice of avenging Heav'n?
Hark! the murder'd DRUSUS calls upon thee,
And groans for Vengeance from the Womb of Earth.
Sej.
[39]Does LIVIA then upbraid the Act of Love,
What but thy Beauty could provoke that Deed?
For thee I would have ſacrific'd the World,
And with the World have thought thee cheaply won;
That art the Joy and Comfort of my Life.
Imbitter not thy Sweetneſs with Reproach;
But calm the raging Tempeſt of thy Soul,
Nor let theſe phantom Thoughts diſturb thy Mind.
Thro' me the God of Love invites to Peace,
And, ſmiling, gently wooes thee to be bleſt.
Liv.
Too well I know thy baſe deſigning Heart,
And the diſſembling of thy fine ſpun Phraſe,
To fall a ſecond Time thy eaſy Prey.
I have already loſt my Peace of Mind.
Quick crowding Horrors compaſs me around,
And Life is burthenſome with cumbrous Pain.
Reflection makes me curſe my natal Hour,
The hallow'd Womb of her who gave me Birth;
The Pow'rs who have permitted me to live,
The Day, the Night, the Race of human Kind,
But chiefly thee, who led me firſt aſtray.
Sej.
Thou could'ſt not ſtray and find ſuch ardent Love.
The Gods are envious of our perfect Bliſs,
Thinking it more than Mortals ſhould poſſeſs
They mingle this Perplexity of Mind,
To diſconcert, and bitter all our Joys.
Liv.
What Joys? Do any Joys remain in Hell,
Or what's the ſame, a Croud of guilty Thoughts?
Who can repoſe upon a Bed of Thorns?
Yet that were Pleaſures to the Pangs I feel.
Envelop'd with Deſpair, I wiſh to die:
But Conſcience whiſpers to my lab'ring Soul,
I ſhall not reſt from Torture in the Grave;
But find that awful, ſilent Bed of Death,
The gloomy Manſion of eternal Woe.
Sej.
I'll fondly ſooth the Sorrows of thy Breaſt,
If thou wilt kindly take me for thy Guide,
And ſhew the Way to Comfort and to Peace:
[40] Nor ſhalt thou labour thro' a thorny Path.
Let not SEJANUS plead his Cauſe in vain,
But as he claims in thy Affection place,
As thou haſt bleſt him with thy heavenly Charms,
And once did liſten mildly to his Vows.—
Liv.
Blaſt the Remembrance of the hateful Time,
Oh! that great Jove upon that curſed Day,
Wherein I gave up Innocence and Fame,
Had ſtruck me with a Thunderbolt to Earth.
I then had been a Subject of the Grave,
And never known a Guilt ſo great, ſo dire.
But wherefore ſhould I thus protract thy Life?
Great CAESAR ſhall behold thy worthy Deeds,
'Tis he ſhall thank thee for his murder'd Son.
He ſhall behold thee in thy proper Light,
Juſt as thou art, the Serpent of his Blood.
Sej.
Stay yet a Moment, lovely Princeſs, ſtay,
Why would you ſtrive to ruin thus the Man,
That knows no Bleſſing equal to thy Smiles?
Nay on thy ſelf bring dreadful Ruin down,
For ſuch muſt wait thy unadviſed Tale.
If thou can'ſt bid me die, then Life farewell,
For all is loſt, if I am loſt to thee.
Nor would I live to hear thee wiſh me dead,
Were I convinc'd thy cooler Reaſon rul'd.
But well I know the Fever of the Mind,
This ſudden Guſt that irritates thy Soul,
On calm Reflection will abate and ceaſe.
Go in, my Love, enjoy a ſhort Repoſe,
And lull thy ruffled Thoughts with healing Reſt.
I'll bring a Cordial ſhall compoſe thy Cares,
And baniſh all Phantaſmas from thy Brain.
Liv.
I gueſs the friendly Purpoſe of your Heart,
And know the healing Balm you have prepar'd.
It is a Med'cine I'd receive with Joy,
If thou wer't not to triumph in my Fall,
And longer live a Burden to the Earth.
Think not thy Cobweb Arts ſhall now prevail,
[41] They are too flimſy to oppoſe my Rage.
Heav'n is grown weary with thy num'rous Crimes,
Which cry aloud, and bellow for Revenge.
The Arm of Fate now brandiſhes her Dart,
That is to mark thy Body for the Grave,
And hurl thy impious Soul to blackeſt Hell.
Then ſince thy Reign is drawing near a Cloſe,
I will be foremoſt to compleat thy Fall.
This to my injur'd Huſband here I vow.
Sej.
It muſt be ſo—I'll ſtab her treach'rous Heart,
Her Death till proper Time may be conceal'd.
(Aſide.
Since then relentleſs Rage thus rules thy Breaſt,
And thy SEJANUS muſt a Victim fall,
Give one Embrace to comfort him in Death.
When thou ſhalt ſee me in my dying Pangs,
Drop but one Tear in Pity to my Fate,
And that will ſmooth her moſt tormenting Frowns.
Liv.
If ev'ry Joy were only in my Gift,
I would diſperſe them among common Slaves,
And laviſh them on ev'ry abject Wretch,
E'er give a Grain of Happineſs to thee.
Therefore expect the dread Approach of Fate,
When thou wilt curſe thy horrid Crimes too late:
When thou ſhalt be expos'd to public Shame,
And hear the Rabble Crowds revile thy Name.
Blaſted by me, thou ſhalt fall headlong down,
And Tortures meet, for an imperial Crown.
All thy ambitious Hopes in Death ſhall end,
Without the Comfort of one pitying Friend.
As thou haſt ever labour'd to enthral,
And hated liv'd, deſpis'd by Slaves thou'lt fall.
With Rapture all muſt view thee Gaſp in Death,
And bleſs the Moment of thy parting Breath.
Sej.
Nay then I will prevent thy purpos'd Tale.—
[42] LIVIA goes out, he draws his Sword to follow her, and the Ghoſt of DRUSUS riſing prevents him.
Sej.
Ha! What Daemon has the Sorcereſs rais'd?
Ghoſt.
SEJANUS, from the Cave of Death I'm come,
To wound thy Heart with thy approaching Doom.
Sej.
Why am I thus! all Pow'r of Motion loſt.
My Limbs deny their Office and are numb'd,
My throbbing Heart, leaps as 'twould break its Bounds,
My Eye-ſtrings ſtrain with Horror at the Sight,
And ev'ry Nerve is touch'd with the Surprize.
Art thou in Subſtance real, or a Shade,
Which troubled Fancy raiſes to my View?
Gho.
I am the murder'd DRUSUS' vengeful Shade,
By thy vile Plots to ſudden Death betray'd.
Tremble to hear the Hour is drawing nigh,
Wherein thou wilt, bereft of Greatneſs, die.
Thy Titles, Pomp and Heaps of ſordid Gain
Will then be found moſt tranſitory vain,
Nor give thee aught but everlaſting Pain.
Like an ill-founded Fabrick ſhalt thou fall,
And with Fate ſtruggling, may'ſt for Mercy call;
But no one God will take the ſmalleſt Care,
To eaſe: the racking Torments of Deſpair.
A guilty Mind ſhall pain thy lateſt Hour,
And Conſcience all thy future Peace devour.
When down the Precipice of Fate thou'rt hur'ld,
I'll meet and hunt thee thro' the future World.
(Sinks.)
Sej.
Oh! Reſolution whither art thou fled?
Why is my Soul thus ſhook with abject Fear?
Why does my Blood run chilly thro' my Veins,
As if the Spectre ſtill remain'd in View?
What, ho' EUDEMUS, come thou to my Aid.
Enter EUDEMUS.
Eud.
Why looks, my Lord, ſo much appall'd with Fear?
Why ſpeak your Eyes ſuch Terror and Amaze?
Sej.
[43]Oh! my EUDEMUS, they've beheld a Sight
Enough to turn Spectators into Stone.
The Shade of DRUSUS came before me here,
And ſpoke ſuch Words of Terror to my Soul,
That much I fear, Content will ne'er return.
Eud.
My Lord, encourage not ſuch idle Dreams
Unleſs you mean to ſacrifice yourſelf.
Sej.
What doſt thou call a Dream? Is't poſſible
My Eyes could err with ev'ry Senſe awake,
And all my Intellects in order rang'd?
As plain as thou, he ſtood before me here.
I am not eaſily o'ercome with Fear,
But when the ſilent Tomb yields up its Store,
Nature will ſtart, and tremble to behold.
Eud.
But what deſign you with the Princeſs, Sir?
Sej.
Ha! Midſt my Fears, ſhe had eſcap'd my Thoughts.
Has ſhe got forth to blaſt us with her Tongue,
Muſt all our Glory earn'd with Pains and Care,
Our Greatneſs' Structure fall a Woman's Prey?
Eud.
She ſtruggl'd to get forth, but, knowing well
How fatal that might prove, I croſs'd her Way.
Sej.
And by ſo doing thou haſt baffled Fate,
For with her Breath we'll ſtop her bab'ling Tongue.
No living Foes ſhall whiſper dangerous Tales,
If the Dead ſpeak, 'tis what we can't prevent.
Therefore come thou aſſiſt me in this Deed.
E'er we will fail, let wounded Nature bleed,
And tho' Stars frighted drop from out their Spheres,
We'll drown in Blood, all our convulſive Fears.
Spite of the thund'ring Gods we'll ſtem the Tide,
And caſt Adverſity on either Side:
Till Fate, thus conquer'd, ſhall be forc'd to own,
That daring Minds reign, uncontroul'd, alone,
And ev'ry Act is juſt to gain a Throne.
(Exeunt.)
Enter ARRUNTIUS.
Arr.
Still doſt thou ſuffer Heav'n?—Will no Flame,
[44] No Heat of Guilt make thy juſt Rage to boil,
In thy diſtemper'd Boſom, and o'erflow
The pitchy Blazes of Impiety,
Kindled beneath thy Throne?—Still can'ſt thou ſleep
Patient, while Vice doth make an antick Face,
At thy dread Pow'r?—JOVE, will nothing wake thee?
Muſt vile SEJANUS pull thee by the Beard,
E'er thou wilt ope thy ſtern-lidded Eye,
And frown him dead?—we'll ſnore on dreaming Gods,
And let the laſt of the proud Giant Race,
Heave Mountain upon Mountain 'gainſt your State.—
Pardon me Fortune and ye ſacred Pow'rs,
Whom I expoſtulating have profan'd.
I ſee what's equal to a Prodigy,
A great, an honeſt and a noble ROMAN
Live an old Man—Oh MARCUS LEPIDUS,
When is our Turn to bleed—thou and I
Without a Boaſt are almoſt all the few
Left to be honeſt in theſe impious Times.
Enter LEPIDUS.
Lep.
What we are left to be, we'll be, ARRUNTIUS,
Tho' Tyranny did ſtare as wide as Death
To fright us from it.
Arr.
It hath ſo on SABINUS.
Lep.
I ſaw him now drawn from the GEMONIES
A piteous Object of tyrannic Hate.
Arr.
We are the next, the Hook lays hold on MARCUS,
What are thy Arts, good Patriot, tell them me,
That have preſerv'd thy Hairs to that white Dye,
And kept ſo reverend and ſo good a Head,
Safe on its comely Shoulders.
Lep.
Arts, ARRUNTIUS,
None but the plain and paſſive Fortitude,
To ſuffer and be ſilent, never to ſtretch theſe Arms,
Againſt the Torrent, live at home
With my own Thoughts and Innocence about me.
Arr.
[45]I would begin to ſtudy them, if I thought
Security were worth the ſmalleſt Care.
Lep.
There is a Piece of News, thou haſt not heard,
Which were we not enur'd ſo much to Pain,
Thy honeſt Boſom would, I am certain, feel.
But we have almoſt loſt the Senſe of Ills,
Our young Prince NERO is by a ſudden Order
Of his good Uncle's baniſh'd into PONTIA.
Arr.
How! Has the Wolf then got among the Lambs.
Lep.
And DRUSUS the younger Brother's Priſoner here.
But ſoft the wretched AGRIPPINA comes.
Moſt injur'd Princeſs of all Joys bereft.
Enter AGRIPPINA.
Agr.
Oh! all ye Pow'rs that rule this nether World,
Why have I liv'd to ſee this woeful Day?
To have my Blood ta'en from me Drop by Drop,
To have my Children torn away by Force,
And made the Prey of baſe SEJANUS Pow'r?
Arr.
You muſt have Patience, royal AGRIPPINA,
Agr.
Who can have Patience 'midſt ſuch Shocks of Fate?
Philoſophy is vanquiſh'd in the Strife,
And Ills conflicting rouſe the Paſſions up.
Not only Nature calls upon me now,
But e'en Humanity demands my Rage.
Who that is juſt can ſee Oppreſſion Fall,
And cruſh the Innocent, with equal Mind?
Patience were now unworthy of my Soul:
I will have Vengeance, and that were Nectar
To my famiſh'd Spirits—Oh! my Fortune!
Let it be ſudden thou prepar'ſt againſt me,
And eaſe me from the Torments of Suſpence,
If my poor Children are to fall in Death,
Strike all my Pow'rs of Underſtanding blind:
[46] Let me not fear that cannot hope.
Lep.
Dear Princeſs!
Theſe Torments on yourſelf are worſe than CAESAR's.
Agr.
Was it to make them Priſoners and Slaves,
He gave his Nephews to the Senate's Care?
Curſt be the Arts of all ſuch wicked Men.
Juſt Heav'n with Patience hear my humble Pray'r,
May baſe SEJANUS feel thy Wrath divine,
Make him a dire Example amongſt Men;
Let but his Fate be equal to his Crimes,
And keeneſt Malice could not wiſh for more.
Arr.
To that all honeſt Souls will ſay AMEN.
Agr.
Is it the Happineſs of being great,
Still to be aim'd at, ſtill to be ſuſpected?
To live the Subject of all Jealouſies?
Of ev'ry painted Danger? Who would not chuſe
Once to fall, than thus to hang for ever?
Arr.
In all things we are taught to hope the beſt,
'Tis true the monſtrous Actions of theſe Times,
The daily Cruelties that wound our Eyes,
Have left us but the Shadow of faint Hopes.
Agr.
Nay not ſo much, 'tis vaniſh'd all and fled.
Hope to a Flatterer is now transform'd,
A perfect Courtier to betray with Smiles,
And if encourag'd, would ſecure us ſtill,
To deeper Ruin in the Gulph of Fate.
We therefore muſt expect the worſt can come,
And that will as a Preparation ſerve,
To mitigate the Torments we may feel.
As for my Part I think of nought but Woes,
For oh! moſt ſure, the fatal Trap is laid,
And the next Step may nooſe us in the Snare.
Lep.
'Tis true the Terrors which afflict this Land,
Seem to point out the Cave of dark Deſpair;
Yet Heav'n in Pity to our Suff'rings here,
I doubt not will clear up the preſent Gloom,
And in its gracious providential Care,
Make you and yours, in Joy and Safety live.
Agr.
[47]To that our Expectation cannot ſtrain,
No Place is ſafe, but that where nothing is:
While thus you ſtand by me, you are not ſafe,
Was SILIUS ſafe? or poor SABINUS ſafe?
They were the ſtrict Eſpouſers of my Cauſe,
And therefore fell to rav'nous Wolves a Prey.
Therefore away, no long Stay by me.
Here to be ſeen is Danger, to ſpeak, Treaſon,
To do me leaſt Obſervance, is call'd Faction,
Leave me I pray, and let us live apart,
Nor in my Ruin ſepulchre my Friends.
In Separation all our Safety dwells.
Then let's divide the Children of Deſpair,
To ſigh in Shades, and ruminate on Care.
If the juſt Gods in Pity to our State,
Kindly avert the dreadful Frowns of Fate,
(And free us from theſe arbitrary Slaves,)
Like Mariners eſcap'd tempeſtuous Waves,
Smiling we'll meet upon the friendly Shore,
Nor longer dread the angry Waters Roar;
But praiſing Heav'n for all our Dangers paſt,
Implore its Aid to make the Bleſſing laſt.
(Exeunt.)
Enter SEJANUS.
Sej.
The Deed is done, and LIVIA breaths no more,
Now all my Fears in her are ſafe ſecur'd.
Hark! methought I heard her Voice—it cannot be,
Unleſs the Daemons have reſtor'd her Life.
Enter NATTA.
Nat.
Safety to great SEJANUS.
Sej.
Now NATTA?
Nat.
Hear's not, my Lord, the Wonder?
Sej.
No! ſpeak it.
Nat.
I meet it violent in the People's Mouths,
Who run in Crowds to POMPEY's Theatre,
To view your Statue; which they ſay ſends forth
[48] A Smoak, as from a Furnace black and dreadful.
Sej.
Some Traitor has put Fire in to ſtir the People.
Some Slave has practis'd an Impoſture on't.
Go,—order the Head be inſtantly ta'en off.
Enter SATRIUS.
Sat.
My Lord! the Head's already taken off,
I ſaw it, and at the opening there leap'd forth
A great, and monſt'rous Serpent.
Sej.
Monſt'rous! why monſt'rous?
Had it a Head and Horns? No Heart—a Tongue,
Forked as Flattery? Look'd it of the Hue
To ſuch as live in great Men's Boſoms?
Sat.
May it pleaſe the moſt divine SEJANUS,
I have not ſeen one more extended,
Foul, venomous and hateful to the Sight.
If I may judge, it is a Prodigy,
And other Omens do concur therein.
My Lord, in taking your laſt Augury,
No proſp'rous Bird appear'd—ill-boding Ravens
Hover'd up and down—and from the Sacrifice,
Flew to the Priſon, where they perch'd all Night,
Flapping the Air with their expanded Wings.
I dare not counſel, but I could entreat,
That great SEJANUS would attempt the Gods,
Once more with Sacrifice.
Sej.
Of all the Throng that fills th' OLYMPIAN Hall,
I know not that one Deity but FORTUNE,
To whom I would throw up in begging Smoak
One Grain of Incenſe; Or whoſe Favour buy
At ſmalleſt Coſt. Her I indeed adore,
And always keep her Image in my Houſe.
Then bid the Prieſt for Sacrifice prepare,
Theſe Omens ſoon we'll vaniſh into Air,
And you with Shame your idle Fears confeſs,
When Fortune ſmiling ſhall my Off'ring bleſs.
(Exeunt.)

END OF THE FOURTH ACT.

ACT V. SCENE I.

[49]

SCENE A HALL, with the IMAGE of FORTUNE, SEJANUS, SATRIUS, NATTA, PRIESTS, &c.

ODE.

FORTUNE, pow'rful Goddeſs hail,
To our Off'rings now attend;
To thee in all Things we appeal,
And to thy Shrine thus humbly bend.

CHORUS.Raiſe, raiſe, your Voices raiſe,
Loudly ſing the Goddeſs Praiſe,
And let the ſprightly Notes reſound,
Thro' the Vaulted Roof around.

Crown with Bliſs thy darling Son,
On our great SEJANUS Smile;
Bleſs the Works he has begun,
And Glory ſtill on Glory pile.

CHORUS.So we will rejoice in thee,
Hail thy Name,
And ſound thy Fame,
While the Years in Tranſport flee.

[50] After the ODE SEJANUS ſpeaks.

THOU darling Goddeſs of my Soul,

Who can the Frowns of Fate controul;

As on thee I ever call,

Selected from th' OLYMPIAN Hall.

And to thee conſtant Homage pay,

Grant the Things which now I pray.

Ne'er let Adverſity preſume,

To cloud with worſe than STYGIAN GLOOM:

But crown his Hopes with high Succeſs,

Who does thy boundleſs Pow'r confeſs.

And off'ring Incenſe at thy Shrine,

Pays thee Homage moſt Divine.

Some there are of human-kind,

Will madly vouch that thou art blind,

To real Merit ſtill unkind.

Such empty bab'ling Fools there are,

The Children of dark brooding Care.

But I adore thy juſt Decrees,

And therefore ſtill deſire to pleaſe.

Then as a Token of thy Love,

Smile propitious from above.

Brighteſt Goddeſs of the Skies,

Accept and grace my Sacrifice.

(Thunder and Lightning, the Image turns away.)

Sat.

Behold! the Image ſtarts, and turns away.

Prieſt.

Avert this dreadful Omen, ſacred Powers,

Somewhat the anger'd Goddeſs does diſpleaſe.

Sej.

Hold, babling Prieſt, your vile Conſtructions hold.

Can it not thunder but you ſhake with Fear?

[51] Why ſhould you ſtill interpret things the worſt?

This Riddle I can eaſily expound.

FORTUNE's aſham'd to ſee me bend and pray,

That am more like a Deity than her.

She always hath my faithful Servant been;

Would not a Bondman bluſh, and turn away,

If he beheld his Lord and Maſter kneel,

Praying for that which he might well command?

Goddeſs, I thank thee for this juſt Rebuke,

And will poſſeſs the Honours thou haſt giv'n,

Untainted by Religion's ſickly Qualms.

I bluſh to think Credulity could move,

Or win me to ſuch baſe Servility.

Thunder and Lightning, the Image of Fortune breaks to Pieces, and DRUSUS' Ghoſt appears on the Pedeſtal in its Room.

Sat.

Behold, my Lord, this ſudden wond'rous Change.

Nat.

The very Form of DRUSUS as he liv'd,

It is an Object terrible to Sight.

Sej.

Wherefore ſhould this be, or whence the Cauſe?

Our Eyes deceive us and there's no ſuch thing.

Sat.

Nay, my Lord, the Viſion is moſt plain,

The Proof ſpeaks loudly in the dread Effects;

The Blood hath left your Cheeks, mine too runs cold,

And all around are ſtruck with wild Amaze.

Sej.

Why ſhould it thus appall?—Hence pale Shade,

Nor longer ſhake our Souls with abject Fears;

Make not our Eyes thus Poinards to our Hearts.

Hence to the gloomy Cave of ſilent Death,

And wrap thyſelf in everlaſting Night.

(Ghoſt ſinks.)

Sat.

[52]

Lo! Behold it vaniſheth.

Sej.

So, 'tis gone,

The Gods have ſent this Phantom to affright,

And puniſh for miſtruſting of their Care.

Prieſt.

My Lord, 'twere beſt the AUGURS were con⯑ſulted,

It hap'ly may prevent approaching Ills.

When the Gods threaten thus, they ſhould be fear'd.

Sej.

I tell thee, Prieſt, I have explain'd the Cauſe,

Why ſhould we pray who never yet have fail'd?

Let them implore who labour under Ills;

When FORTUNE freely gives us all we wiſh,

'Tis Avarice to importune for more.

This, and this only cauſes her to frown.

Nat.

'Tis wonderful.

Sat.

And fatal much I fear.

Sej.

Give to the Winds your Fears, they're idly vain,

And ſerve but for unneceſſary Pain.

Let us ſuch phantom Prodigies deſpiſe,

They never ſhould appall the bold and Wiſe,

Howe'er my Nerves may tremble at the ſight,

My daring Soul it never ſhall affright.

(Exeunt.)

Enter TIBERIUS, SENATORS, LICTORS, &c.

Tib.

Hath our moſt dear SEJANUS yet been call'd,

Our Court were vacant ſhould he not appear;

He is the very Baſis of our Throne,

And valu'd Partner of our inmoſt Thoughts.

Var.

'Tis true, moſt mighty, and Imperial CAESAR,

He is much more than Eloquence can ſpeak.

His Boſom glows with firmeſt Patriot Zeal,

His King and Country are his chiefeſt Care.

Tib.

[53]

VARRO, thou ſpeak'ſt the Meaning of my Heart:

For ſuch he always has appear'd to me.

Therefore I've labour'd to advance him high,

And ſtill my Favours ſhall in Bounty flow;

Let him be ſummon'd with the utmoſt Speed

To meet the Senate.

Afer.

I'll wait upon his Lordſhip,

And ſpeak great CAESAR's Meſſage, whoſe Com⯑mands

I'm well aſſur'd are Muſick to his Ears,

And utmoſt Pleaſure to his loyal Heart.

I ſhall gain ſome Advancement by my Care.

(Aſide.

Tib.

We ſhall expect him on the Inſtant—Lead.

Exeunt.)

SCENE CHANGES, enter SEJANUS.
If in hereafter I could meet with Eaſe,
Were it not well to caſt off loathſome Life?
If it were good, the Change is eaſy wrought.
Would Being end with our expiring Breath,
How ſoon Misfortune could be puff'd away?
A trifling Shock can ſhiver us to Duſt.
But the Exiſtence of the immortal Soul,
Futurities dark Road perplexes ſtill.
Tho' in fair Liberty's and Virtue's Cauſe
'Tis Honour's chiefeſt, faireſt Deed to die,
To me 'twould furniſh everlaſting Pain.
If the frail Body feels diſorder'd Pangs,
Then Drugs medicinal can give us Eaſe;
The Soul, no AESCULAPIAN Medicine can cure,
And 'tis the Soul that ever muſt ſurvive;
Therefore who dies to eaſe a guilty Soul,
Flies like the Moth into a deadly Flame.
Where is the Refuge then for wretched Man,
[54] Loaded with Guilt and circled round with Crimes,
Reflective Thought adminiſtring freſh Pain?
Plung'd in the Gulph of Miſery ſo far,
That ſtrugling, ſerves but to immerge him more.
I am ſo tangled in the Meſh of Fate,
I cannot fortify my Breaſt, nor guard
Againſt the Horrors of beſieging Crimes,
They will ruſh in, in ſpite of all my Cares,
Crowding they tear, and harraſs my rack'd Soul.
Oh! that Oblivion could with Crowns be bought,
Then, and then only can I hope for Eaſe.
But I muſt bear me up to public View,
Or all will be inevitably loſt.
Enter AFER.
Af.
Hail to the nobleſt, moſt renown'd of ROME.
By CAESAR's Order is the Senate met.
Greeting he ſends a Summons to SEJANUS.
Sej.
The Senate call'd ſo ſuddenly to meet,
And I not pre-acquainted with the Cauſe;
Sure CAESAR's Love decays, or my fell Foes
Have o'er his Soul acquir'd ſome ſecret Pow'r.
Hear'ſt thou the Cauſe of their aſſembling thus?
Afer.
To try CREMUTIUS CORDUS and the reſt,
Whoſe Trials the laſt Senate were put off.
Nay AGRIPPINA now will be impeach'd,
And all Things ſettled to our utmoſt Wiſh.
Sej.
Thou bring'ſt me Tydings which revive my Soul,
And ſhalt receive a fit and juſt Reward.
Nay all my Friends ſhall Fortune's Bounties ſhare.
Why this indeed outſtrips the ſwifteſt Hope,
CAESAR doth labour in SEJANUS' Cauſe,
But come let's wing our Steps with utmoſt Speed,
[55] The ſwifteſt Haſte is laggard to the Deed.
(Exeunt.)

SCENE the laſt, TIBERIUS in the SENATE ſeated.]

Tib.

I doubt not, Fathers, but it gives Surprize,

To be thus ſummon'd with unuſual Haſte.

But where there is a mortifying Limb,

Quick Amputation muſt the Body ſave;

So in a State whoſe Health your Wiſdoms rule,

All tainted Members ſhould be ſoon cut off,

Leſt vile Contagion might o'erſpread the Land.

This to prevent are ye aſſembled here.

Var.

Your Highneſs ſtill has been moſt juſt and wiſe.

Tib.

Where is our ſkillful Miniſter SEJANUS?

He did not uſe to ſhun our Councils thus.

Hath he been ſummon'd to Attendance here?

Var.

AFER hath Charge to bring his Lordſhip hither,

And well I know his Love will give him Wings,

When he doth hear dread CAESAR needs his Preſence.

Tib.

Why doubt we his Fidelity and Love?

Var.

His Lordſhip comes—room for the great SEJANUS.

Enter SEJANUS, AFER, and LATIARIS, &c.

Arr.

Now LEPIDUS behold the ſervile Crew,

How, Spaniel-like, they cringe and fawn and bow.

(Aſide.)

Sej.

Health to great CAESAR and the State of ROME.

Tib.

That to preſerve, are we aſſembled here,

And tho' perhaps not plain to public View,

Yet, Rev'rend fathers, 'tis endanger'd much.

Such helliſh Practices are hourly wrought,

[56] As to be told will ſtrike ye with Surprize:

The wife SEJANUS can unfold them all.

Speak then, our deareſt Counſellor and Friend,

Of what you know concerns the ROMAN State,

Nor fear to pain in probing of our Wounds.

I know thy tender and relenting Heart,

Feels utmoſt Pangs for ſuch abhorred Crimes;

But yet would ſmooth th' Offences of my Blood,

Nor give true Colour to my Kinſmen's Guilt,

Leſt it ſhould fix a Stain upon my Name.

But as thou hold'ſt thy Prince and Country dear,

Speak ev'n thy Fears without the leaſt Diſguiſe.

Sej.

To be thus honour'd by my ſov'reign Lord,

To have ſuch Confidence repos'd in me,

Is more than all my Services can claim,

But what I can, I will, with Duty pay.

Since I muſt ſpeak, (yet would 'twere not my Taſk)

In AGRIPPINA all our Dangers lurk.

She madly thirſting for Imperial Sway,

Doth hourly plot among conſpiring Friends,

To place her darling Son upon the Throne,

New mould and overturn the preſent State.

With ſpecious Promiſes, fallacious Tears,

Many ſhe gains to her rebellious Ends;

Such diſcontented and repining Slaves,

As hope by Revolution to amend.

Already ſome have ſuffer'd for the Cauſe,

As SILIUS and SABINUS—more remain,

Which as they merit will I hope be us'd.

Tib.

I hope ſo too, and ſhall if I have Pow'r.

Var.

My Lord SEJANUS ſhall determine all,

His Voice ſhall cruſh theſe Cankers of the State.

Afe.

He is a worthy, and right noble Lord.

Lat.

Determinate and juſt in his Decrees.

Arr.

Hark, the Court Birds now all in Chorus join,

SEJANUS whiſtles, and they learn the Tune.

(Aſide.

Sej.

[57]

Moſt Reverend Fathers, for my ſingle ſelf,

I could be moſt content with private Life,

Abſtracted from the Turmoils of the State.

Peaceful Retirement beſt would ſuit my Mind.

But for my Emperor's and your lov'd Sakes,

What Pains, what Perils would I not endure?

I have not ſought the Honours I enjoy.

Nor yet impreſs'd by intereſted Views,

My weak Ambition never ſoar'd more high

Than to approve me loyal to my Prince,

And ſtill induſtrious for my Country's Good.

Theſe were the Principles I ſtill preſerv'd,

While overflowing Bounties paid my Deeds.

Afe.

They have been all deſerv'd and many more.

Fathers let's build a Temple to his Fame,

He is the great Protector of our State,

And therefore ſhould be rank'd amongſt the Gods.

Var.

AFER, well mov'd—the Senate will approve.

Tib.

Fathers, forbear, ye know not what ye do,

The ſwelling Tide of unreſtrain'd Succeſs,

Has flow'd ſo high, as near to break its Bounds,

And Deluge in Deſtruction o'er the State.

I will remove the Blind which ſtands before

And ſtops the Penetration of your Sight,

Shew you this Traytor 'circled round with Guilt,

Whom I have rais'd upon the Wing of Hope;

More to torment him with the Shock of Fate,

Which like the unſeen Thunderbolt now falls

To cruſh this Heap of Villainy to Earth.

Behold this Slave as Serpent to my Breaſt,

He is the VULTURE would devour us all.

Omnes.

How's this SEJANUS?

Tib.

Ay that very Slave,

Whom I have nurs'd and foſter'd with my Blood,

Whom rais'd to higheſt Honour and Renown,

Fathers, ye all ſeem much amaz'd—he looks ſurpriz'd.

[58] As if that Guilt were foreign to his Soul,

Diſſimulation ſhall not ſave thee now.

Where is my Son, thou Traitor? turn'ſt thou pale.

What Fate will your grave Wiſdoms here decree

To him, who robb'd my noble Son of Life?

Sej.

With ſudden Accuſation thus ſurpriz'd,

I know not what to anſwer to my Prince,

'Tis hard that Suppoſition ſhould condemn,

And blaſt my faithful Services at once.

May I not hope ſo much your Highneſs' Grace,

As Time of Preparation for Defence?

Tib.

Too well I know thee to let Favour ſmile

Or give thee Opportunity to 'ſcape.

Thou would'ſt have Time t' alarm the ſervile Herd

Which by the Pow'r I gave, thou haſt obtain'd,

As ſlaviſh Sycophants to aid thy Cauſe.

I have ta'en Care to ſeize thee unprepar'd;

And by our awful CAPITOL I ſwear,

Thou ſhalt meet Fate before an Hour's Space.

If any here oppoſe the juſt Decree,

He ſhall be deem'd a Traitor and my Foe.

Sej.

Will then great CAESAR ſentence me to Death,

And criminate without an Evidence?

Tib.

To ſtrike him dumb bring that EUDEMUS forth.

Var.

This is moſt wonderful.

Afe.

Beyond all Belief.

Arr.

Now LEPIDUS behold the Courtier fry,

How prone they are, how liable to change.

Enter EUDEMUS.

Tib.

This was the Slave by thee ſuborn'd to act,

This was the Pandar of thy Helliſh Schemes.

Who now repenting has confeſs'd it all,

In Hopes to gain a Pardon from the State;

For ſhewing the Diſtemper of our Blood,

And bringing Juſtice on thy wicked Head.

[59] (Aſide)

Sej.

Nay then I am undone.—This is no Proof.

Brib'd by my Enemies he will ſay aught,

Thoſe Enemies I made by ſerving you.

Eud.

Moſt grave and reverend Senators of ROME,

For ſtricteſt Juſtice in your Councils fam'd;

You ſee me here a moſt unhappy Wretch,

Stung with Remorſe, abhorring my own Guilt,

Of baſely joining in ſuch wicked Acts,

As this SEJANUS won me to perform.

Great DRUSUS fell by our complotted Schemes,

And I've, for ever, loſt my Peace of Mind.

Sej.

And will a Tale form'd by an artful Slave,

Without Foundation, and devoid of Truth;

So ſway where awful Juſtice ſhould preſide,

As to aſſail my Life and rule my Fate?

Tib.

Can'ſt thou ſo bravely then deny the Fact?

Var.

The Guilt is plainly pictur'd in his Look.

Lat.

He is a Monſter fraught with foul Deceit.

Arr.

Oh! do the Birds begin to change their Notes?

(Aſide

Eud.

Since he has Confidence to brave his Guilt,

And to arraign the Juſtice of the Court.

Fathers but ſend a Meſſenger with me,

I will produce an Object ſhall declare,

And ſpeak ſo loud in Proof of his Miſdeeds,

Evaſion will no longer find a Plea.

Tib.

Say what thou can'ſt produce.

Eud.

Moſt mighty CAESAR,

The faithleſs LIVIA, our loſt Prince's Wife,

Betray'd by him to Infamy and Shame,

Now lies expiring by his murderous Hands,

Leſt ſhe ſhould all his Villainies reveal.

Tib.

Go thou, ARRUNTIUS, prove the Truth of this.

Sej.

Then Fate conſpires againſt me, and I muſt fall.

[60] This Trouble ſpare, I now confeſs it all,

And think it is but juſt, Guilt ſhould be found,

That took no better Care to ſilence bab'ling Tongues.

Tib.

Art thou not terrify'd, abandon'd Wretch,

To think what Tortures wait upon thy Crimes?

Henceforth no Truſt be held, 'twixt Man and Man,

Since he, whom I ſtill labour'd to promote,

Rais'd from Obſcurity to mate with Kings,

Could uſe that Pow'r unto ſuch wicked Ends.

Had'ſt thou no grateful Feeling of my Love?

Wretch! whence could all thy Villainies derive?

Sej.

Since they are found, what Matter whence they ſprung;

But if thou wilt be told, know from Ambition.

Your Folly rais'd me to ſuch glaring Height,

As made me hope to ſtep into a Throne,

And my Thoughts ſoar'd to univerſal Sway,

Which I had nearly brought within my Graſp.

Now the gay Dream is vaniſh'd from my Sight.

The Clouds of Fortune to the Glare ſucceed.—

Yet I complain not—had I been a King,

Death muſt one Day have ſeiz'd upon my Crown—

But come, ye thirſty Bloodhounds of the State,

I ſee ye long to lap my vital Stream,

Diſpatch then, and at once my Fate decree.

Var.

Let him be ſtripp'd of all his Honours firſt.

Afe.

His Images diſrob'd and ſtrait defac'd.

Lat.

Moſt bloody Villain!

Sat.

Moſt abandon'd Traitor!

Var.

Then let him be led forth to publick Death.

Afe.

Such as his Crimes deſerve.

Lat.

To the moſt ſhameful!

Nat.

Aye, and cruel.

Sej.

Right, ye time-ſerving Sycophants and Slaves,

But now ye were dependant on my Nod,

Baſk'd in my Looks, and dwelt upon my Smiles:

Nay ſtrove with Emulation, how to raiſe

[61] Such Trophies as might eternize my Name.

Now with full Cry ye run me to a bay,

And ſnarling ſtrive who takes the foremoſt Bite;

Nor would TIBERIUS meet a better Fate,

Were he but once within your curriſh Fangs.

Ye all are juſt and wiſe to publick View,

While Villainy lies lurking in your Hearts.

Ye are my Judges who were once my Slaves.

Baſe veering Weathercocks of ev'ry Blaſt,

Who have not Stedfaſtneſs to brave a Gale;

But on the Centers of your Intereſt turn.

Your rotten Hearts ſtill float with Fortune's Tide,

But never dare run counter to the Stream.

Which of ye all, when I had Pow'r to ſerve,

And feed with Bribes your avaritious Souls,

But would with Pleaſure have obey'd Command;

Nor ever felt a conſcientious Qualm?

It is a Comfort at the Cloſe of Life,

That with my Life ſuch Reptiles I forſake.

Thus then I take my everlaſting Leave.

May all your Tongues, as ye together cry,

Together rot, and in Oblivion lie,

All Plagues that Heav'n can ſend to human Kind,

All Pangs of Body and all Racks of Mind,

With Jars inteſtine, Diſcontents and Strife

Be your Tormenters thro' each Scene of Life,

May Tyranny and Blood o'erwhelm ye all,

And may ye like the curs'd SEJANUS fall.

(Exit.)

Tib.

O Miracle of Villainy confeſs'd,

Audacious and abandon'd to the laſt.

Fathers, break up the Senate for To-day,

To-morrow we'll aſſemble here again,

To heal thoſe Wounds by baſe SEJANUS made;

To free my Nephews, AGRIPPINA's Sons,

And all whoſe Virtues have of late been preſs'd,

Beneath the Pow'r of this tyrannic Slave.

[62] Thus thro' Reflection's Mirror we may view

What dire Effects from lawleſs Acts enſue,

Heav'n for ſome Space may ſuffer Vice to reign,

But her Foundation cannot long remain,

When once the Gods their awful Pow'r aſſume

She meets a certain, and a horrid Doom,

The ſolid Bliſs which never feels Decay,

Can only flouriſh warm'd by Virtue's Ray.

FINIS.

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Zitationsvorschlag für dieses Objekt: TextGrid Repository (2020). TEI. 4253 Sejanus a tragedy As it was intended for the stage With a preface wherein the manager s reasons for refusing it are set forth By Mr Gentleman. University of Oxford Text Archive. . https://hdl.handle.net/21.T11991/0000-001A-5F8B-E