Sejanus: His Fall

by Ben Jonson

POMPONIUS.
I saw him.

TERENTIUS.
Where? with whom?

POMPONIUS.
With Regulus.

SEJANUS.
Terentius!

TERENTIUS.
My lord.

SEJANUS.
Send for the tribunes, we will straight have up
More of the soldiers for our guard. [Exit Terentius.] Minutius,
We pray you go for Cotta, Latiaris,
Trio, the consul, or what senators
You know are sure, and ours. [Exit Minutius.] You, my good Natta,
For Laco, provost of the watch. [Exit Natta.] Now, Satrius,
The time of proof comes on; arm all our servants,
And without tumult. [Exit Satrius.] You, Pomponius,
Hold some good correspondence with the consul:
Attempt him, noble friend. [Exit Pomponius.] 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; Cæsar, but my second.
’Tis then your malice, Fates, who, but your own,
Envy and fear to have any power long known.

[Exit.]

SCENE V.—A Room in the same.

Enter Terentius and Tribunes.

TERENTIUS.
Stay here: I’ll give his lordship, you are come.