Sejanus: His Fall

by Ben Jonson

SEJANUS.
Give leave.

LACO.
Stand, stand!
He comes upon his death, that doth advance
An inch toward my point.

SEJANUS.
Have we no friends here?

ARRUNTIUS.
Hush’d!
Where now are all the hails and acclamations?

Enter Macro.

MACRO.
Hail to the consuls, and this noble senate!

SEJANUS.
Is Macro here?
O, thou art lost, Sejanus! [Aside.]

MACRO.
Sit still, and unaffrighted, reverend fathers:
Macro, by Cæsar’s grace, the new-made provost,
And now possest of the prætorian bands,
An honour late belong’d to that proud man,
Bids you be safe: and to your constant doom
Of his deservings, offers you the surety
Of all the soldiers, tribunes, and centurions,
Received in our command.

REGULUS.
Sejanus, Sejanus, Stand forth, Sejanus!

SEJANUS.
Am I call’d?