Sejanus His Fall Act 2. Scene 4

Another Apartment in the same.

Enter SILIUS, AGRIPPINA, NERO, and SOSIA.

Sil.
May't please your highness not forget yourself;
I dare not, with my manners, to attempt
Your trouble farther.

Agr.
Farewell, noble Silius!

Sil.
Most royal princess.

Agr.
Sosia stays with us?

Sil.
She is your servant, and doth owe your grace
An honest, but unprofitable love.

Agr.
How can that be, when there's no gain but virtue's?

Sil:
You take the moral, not the politic sense.
I meant, as she is bold, and free of speech,
Earnest to utter what her zealous thought
Travails withal, in honour of your house;
Which act, as it is simply born in her,
Partakes of love and honesty; but may,
By the over-often, and unseason'd use,
Turn to your loss and danger: for your state
Is waited on by envies, as by eyes;
And every second guest your tables take
Is a fee'd spy, to observe who goes, who comes;
What conference you have, with whom, where, when.
What the discourse is, what the looks, the thoughts
Of every person there, they do extract,
And make into a substance.

Agr.
Hear me, Silius.
Were all Tiberius' body stuck with eyes,
And every wall and hanging in my house
Transparent, AS this lawn I wear, or air;
Yea, had Sejanus both his ears as long
As to my inmost closet, I would hate
To whisper any thought, or change an act,
To be made Juno's rival. Virtue's forces
Shew ever noblest in conspicuous courses.

Sil:
'Tis great, and bravely spoken, like the spirit
Of Agrippina: yet, your highness knows,
There is nor loss nor shame in providence;
Few can, what all should do, beware enough.
You may perceive with what officious face,
Satrius, and Natta, Afer, and the rest.
Visit your house, of late, to enquire the secrets;
And with what bold and privileged art, they rail
Against Augusta, yea, and at Tiberius;
Tell tricks of Livia, and Sejanus; all
To excite, and call your indignation on,
That they might hear it at more liberty.

Agr.
You're too suspicious, Silius.

Sil:
Pray the gods,
I be so, Agrippina; but I fear
Some subtle practice. They that durst to strike
At so exampless, and unblamed a life,
As that of the renowned Germanicus,
Will not sit down with that exploit alone:
He threatens many that hath injured one.

Nero.
'Twere best rip forth their tongues, sear out their eyes.
When next they come.

Sos.
A fit reward for spies.

Enter Drusus, jun.

Dru.
jun. Hear you the rumour?

Agr.
What?

Dru.
jun. Drusus is dying.

Agr.
Dying!

Nero.
That's strange!

Agr.
You were with him yesternight.

Dru.
One met Eudemus the physician,
Sent for, but now; who thinks he cannot live.

Sil.
Thinks! if it be arrived at that, he knows,
Or none.

Agr.
'Tis quick! what should be his disease?

Sil.
Poison, poison-

Agr.
How, Silius!

Nero.
What's that?

Sil.
Nay, nothing. There was late a certain blow
Given o' the face.

Nero.
Ay, to Sejanus.

Sil.
True!

Dru.
jun. And what of that?

Sil.
I'm glad I gave it not.

Nero.
But there is somewhat else?

Sil.
Yes, private meetings,
With a great lady [sir], at a physician's,
And a wife turn'd away.

Nero.
Ha!

Sil.
Toys, mere toys:
What wisdom's now in th' streets, in the common mouth?

Dru.
fun.
Fears, whisperings, tumults, noise,
I know not what: They say the Senate sit.

Sil.
I'll thither straight;
And see what's in the forge.

Agr.
Good Silius do; Sosia and I will in.

Sil.
Haste you, my lords, I
To visit the sick prince; tender your loves,
And sorrows to the people. This Sejanus,
Trust my divining soul, hath plots on all:
No tree, that stops his prospect, but must fall.

[Exeunt.