Enter Sabinus and Silius, followed by Latiaris. Sabinus Silius Latiaris SABINUS. Hail, Caius Silius! SILIUS. Titius Sabinus, hail! You’re rarely met in court. SABINUS. Therefore, well met. SILIUS. ’Tis true: indeed, this place is not our sphere. SABINUS. No, Silius, we are no good inginers. We want their fine arts, and their thriving use Should make us graced, or favour’d of the times: We have no shift of faces, no cleft tongues, No soft and glutinous bodies, that can stick, Like snails on painted walls; or, on our breasts, Creep up, to fall from that proud height, to which We did by slavery, not by service climb. We are no guilty men, and then no great; We have no place in court, office in state, That we can say, we owe unto our crimes: We burn with no black secrets, which can make Us dear to the pale authors; or live fear’d Of their still waking jealousies, to raise Ourselves a fortune, by subverting theirs. We stand not in the lines, that do advance To that so courted point. Enter Satrius and Natta, at a distance. Satrius Natta SILIUS. But yonder lean A pair that do. SABINUS. [salutes Latiaris.] Good cousin Latiaris.— SILIUS. Satrius Secundus, and Pinnarius Natta, The great Sejanus’ clients: there be two, Know more than honest counsels; whose close breasts, Were they ripp’d up to light, it would be found A poor and idle sin, to which their trunks Had not been made fit organs. These can lie, Flatter, and swear, forswear, deprave, inform, Smile, and betray; make guilty men; then beg The forfeit lives, to get their livings; cut Men’s throats with whisperings; sell to gaping suitors The empty smoke, that flies about the palace; Laugh when their patron laughs; sweat when he sweats; Be hot and cold with him;
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