Sejanus His Fall Act 5. Scene 5

A Room in the same.

Enter TERENTIUS and Tribunes.

Ter.
Stay here: I'll give his lordship, you are come.

Enter MINUTIUS, with COTTA and LATIARIS.
Min.
Marcus Terentius, 'pray you tell my lord
Here's Cotta, and Latiaris.

Ter.
Sir, I shall.

Cot.
My letter is the very same with yours;
Only requires me to be present there,
And give my voice to strengthen his design.

Lat.
Names he not what it is?

Cot.
No, nor to you.

Lat.
'Tis strange and singular doubtful!

Cot.
So it is.
It may be all is left to lord Sejanus.

Enter NATTA and GRACINUS LACO.

Nat.
Gentlemen, where's my lord?

Tri.
We wait him here.

Cot.
The provost Laco! what's the news?

Lat.
My lord——

Enter SEJANUS.

Sej.
Now, my right dear, noble, and trusted friends,
How much I am a captive to your kindness!
Most worthy Cotta, Latiaris, Laco,
Your valiant hand; and, gentlemen, your loves.
I wish I could divide myself unto you;
Or that it lay within our narrow powers,
To satisfy for so enlarged bounty.
Gracinus, we must pray you, hold your guards
Unquit when morning comes. Saw you the consul?

Min.
Trio will presently be here, my lord.

Cot.
They are but giving order for the edict,
To warn the senate.

Sej.
How! the senate?

Lac.
Yes.
This morning in Apollo's temple.

Cot.
We
Are charged by letter to be there, my lord.

Sej.
By letter! pray you, let's see.

Lat.
Knows not his lordship?

Cot.
It seems so!

Sej.
A senate warn'd! Without my knowledge!
And on this sudden! Senators by letters
Required to be there! who brought these?

Cot.
Macro.

Sej.
Mine enemy! and when?

Cot.
This midnight.

Sej.
Time,
With every other circumstance, doth give
It hath some strain of engine in't!——How now?

Enter SATRIUS.

Sat.
My lord, Sertorius Macro is without,
Alone, and prays t' have private conference
In business of high nature with your lordship,
He says to me, and which regards you much.

Sej.
Let him come here.

Sat.
Better, my lord, Withdraw:
You will betray what store and strength of friends
Are now about you; which he comes to spy.

Sej.
Is he not arm'd?

Sat.
We'll search him.

Sej.
No; but take,
And lead him to some room, where you conceal'd
May keep a guard upon us.

[Exit Sat.]

Noble Laco,
You are our trust; and till our own cohorts
Can be brought up, your strengths must be our guard.
Now, good Minutius, honour'd Latiaris,

[He salutes them humbly.

Most worthy and my most unwearied friends:
I return instantly.

[Exit.

Lat.
Most worthy lord.

Cot.
His lordship is turn'd instant kind, methinks;
I have not observed it in him, heretofore.

1 Tri.
'Tis true, and it becomes him nobly.

Min.
I
Am wrapt withal.

2 Tri.
By Mars, he has my lives,
Were they a million, for this only grace.

Lac.
Ay, and to name a man!

Lat.
As he did me!

Min.
And me!

Lat.
Who would not spend his life and fortunes,
To purchase but the look of such a lord?

Lac.
He that would nor be lord's fool, nor the world's.

[Aside.