Sejanus: His Fall Part 25

Mac.

These to Arruntius, these to Lepidus; This bear to Cotta, this to Latiaris.

If they demand you of me, say I have ta'en Fresh horse, and am departed. [Exeunt Servants.

You, my lord, To your colleague, and be you sure to hold him With long narration of the new fresh favours, Meant to Seja.n.u.s, his great patron; I, With trusted Laco, here, are for the guards: Then to divide. For, night hath many eyes, Whereof, though most do sleep, yet some are spies. [Exeunt

SCENE IV.-A Sacellum (or Chapel) in SEJa.n.u.s'S House.

Enter Praecones, Flamen, Tubicines, Tibicines, Ministri, SEJa.n.u.s, TERENTIUS, SATRIUS, NATTA, etc.

Prae.

Be all profane far hence; fly, fly far off: Be absent far; far hence be all profane!

[Tub. and Tib. sound while the Flamen washeth.

Fla.

We have been faulty, but repent us now, And bring pure hands, pure vestments, and pure minds.

1 Min. Pure vessels.

2 Min. And pure offerings.

3 Min. Garlands pure.

Fla.

Bestow your garlands: and, with reverence, place The vervin on the altar.

Prae. Favour your tongues.

[While they sound again, the Flamen takes of the honey with his finger, and tastes, then ministers to all the rest; so of the milk, in an earthen vessel, he deals about; which done, he sprinkleth upon the altar, milk; then imposeth the honey, and kindleth his gums, and after censing about the altar, placeth his censer thereon, into which they put several branches of poppy, and the music ceasing, proceeds.

Fla.

Great mother Fortune, queen of human state, Redress of action, arbitress of fate, To whom all sway, all power, all empire bows, Be present; and propitious to our vows!

Prae. Favour it with your tongues.

Min. Be present and propitious to our vows!

Omnes. Accept our offering and be pleased, great G.o.ddess.

Ter. See, see, the image stirs!

Sat. And turns away!

Nat. Fortune averts her face.

Fla.

Avert, you G.o.ds, The prodigy. Still! still, some pious rite We have neglected. Yet, heaven be appeased, And be all tokens false and void, that speak Thy present wrath!

Sej.

Be thou dumb, scrupulous priest: And gather up thyself, with these thy wares Which I, in spite of thy blind mistress, or Thy juggling mystery, religion, throw Thus scorned on the earth.

[Overturns the statue and the altar.

Nay, hold thy look Averted till I woo thee turn again And thou shalt stand to all posterity, The eternal game and laughter, with thy neck Writh'd to thy tail, like a ridiculous cat.

Avoid these fumes, these superst.i.tious lights, And all these cozening ceremonies: you, Your pure and spiced conscience!

[Exeunt all but Seja.n.u.s, Terent., Satri., and Natta.

I, the slave And mock of fools, scorn on my worthy head!

That have been t.i.tled and adored a G.o.d, Yea, sacrificed unto, myself, in Rome, No less than Jove: and I be brought to do A peevish giglot, rites! perhaps the thought And shame of that, made fortune turn her face, Knowing herself the lesser deity, And but my servant.-Bashful queen, if so, Seja.n.u.s thanks thy modesty.----Who's that?

Enter POMPONIUS and MINUTIUS.

Pom.

His fortune suffers, till he hears my news: I have waited here too long. Macro, my lord----

Sej. Speak lower and withdraw. [Takes him aside.

Ter. Are these things true?

Min. Thousands are gazing at it in the streets.

Sej. What's that?

Ter.

Minutius tells us here, my lord, That a new head being set upon your statue, A rope is since found wreath'd about it! and, But now a fiery meteor in the form Of a great ball was seen to roll along The troubled air, where yet it hangs unperfect, The amazing wonder of the mult.i.tude!

Sej. No more. That Macro's come, is more than all!

Ter. Is Macro come?

Pom. I saw him.

Ter. Where? with whom?

Pom. With Regulus.

Sej. Terentius!

Per. My lord.

Sej.

Send for the tribunes, we will straight have up More of the soldiers for our guard. [Exit Per.] Minutius, We pray you go for Cotta, Latiaris, Trio, the consul, or what senators You know are sure, and ours. [Exit Min.] You, my good Natta, For Laco, provost of the watch. [Exit Nat.] Now, Satrius, The time of proof comes on; arm all our servants, And without tumult. [Exit Sat.] You, Pomponius, Hold some good correspondence with the consul: Attempt him, n.o.ble friend. [Exit Pomp.] These things begin To look like dangers, now, worthy my fates.

Fortune, I see thy worst: let doubtful states, And things uncertain, hang upon thy will: Me surest death shall render certain still.

Yet, why is now my thought turn'd toward death, Whom fates have let go on, so far in breath, Uncheck'd or unreproved? I that did help To fell the lofty cedar of the world, Germanicus; that at one stroke cut down Drusus, that upright elm; wither'd his vine; Laid Silius and Sabinus, two strong oaks, Flat on the earth; besides those other shrubs, Cordus and Sosia, Claudia Pulchra, Furnius and Gallus, which I have grubb'd up; And since, have set my axe so strong and deep Into the root of spreading Agrippina; Lopt off and scatter'd her proud branches, Nero. Drusus; and Caius too, although re-planted.

If you will, Destinies, that after all, I faint now ere I touch my period, You are but cruel; and I already have done Things great enough. All Rome hath been my slave; The senate sate an idle looker on, And witness of my power; when I have blush'd More to command than it to suffer: all The fathers have sate ready and prepared.

To give me empire, temples, or their throats.

When I would ask 'em; and what crowns the top, Rome, senate, people, all the world have seen Jove, but my equal; Caesar, but my second.

'Tis then your malice, Fates, who, but your own, Envy and fear to have any power long known.