SEJANUS.
You take pleasure, Macro,
Like a coy wench, in torturing your lover.
What can be worth this suffering?
MACRO.
That which follows,
The tribunitial dignity and power:
Both which Sejanus is to have this day
Conferr’d upon him, and by public senate.
SEJANUS.
Fortune be mine again! thou hast satisfied
For thy suspected loyalty. [Aside.]
MACRO.
My lord,
I have no longer time, the day approacheth,
And I must back to Cæsar.
SEJANUS.
Where’s Caligula?
MACRO.
That I forgot to tell your lordship. Why,
He lingers yonder about Capreae,
Disgraced; Tiberius hath not seen him yet:
He needs would thrust himself to go with me,
Against my wish or will; but I have quitted
His forward trouble, with as tardy note
As my neglect or silence could afford him.
Your lordship cannot now command me aught,
Because I take no knowledge that I saw you;
But I shall boast to live to serve your lordship:
And so take leave.
SEJANUS.
Honest and worthy Macro;
Your love and friendship.
[Exit Macro.]
—Who’s there? Satrius,
Attend my honourable friend forth.—O!
How vain and vile a passion is this fear,
What base uncomely things it makes men do!
Suspect their noblest friends, as I did this,
Flatter poor enemies, entreat their servants,
Stoop, court, and catch at the benevolence
Of creatures, unto whom, within this hour,
I would not have vouchsafed a quarter-look,
Or piece of face! By you that fools call gods,
Hang all the sky with your prodigious signs,
Fill earth with monsters, drop the scorpion down,
Out of the zodiac, or the fiercer lion,
Shake off the loosen’d globe from her long hinge,
Roll all the world in darkness, and let loose
The enraged winds to turn up groves and towns!
When I do fear again, let me be struck
With forked fire, and unpitied die:
Who fears, is worthy of calamity.
[Exit.]