TIBERIUS. So. 

 [Latiaris. gives him letters.]

 Whence these? 

 LATIARIS. From thence too. 

 TIBERIUS. Are they sitting now? 

 LATIARIS. They stay thy answer, Cæsar. 

 SILIUS. If this man Had but a mind allied unto his words, How blest a fate were it to us, and Rome! We could not think that state for which to change, Although the aim were our old liberty: The ghosts of those that fell for that, would grieve Their bodies lived not, now, again to serve. Men are deceived, who think there can be thrall Beneath a virtuous prince: Wish’d liberty Ne’er lovelier looks, than under such a crown. But, when his grace is merely but lip-good. And that, no longer than he airs himself Abroad in public, there, to seem to shun The strokes and stripes of flatterers, which within Are lechery unto him, and so feed His brutish sense with their afflicting sound, As, dead to virtue, he permits himself Be carried like a pitcher by the ears, To every act of vice: this is the case Deserves our fear, and doth presage the nigh And close approach of blood and tyranny. Flattery is midwife unto prince’s rage: And nothing sooner doth help forth a tyrant, Than that and whisperers’ grace, who have the time, The place, the power, to make all men offenders. 

 ARRUNTIUS. He should be told this; and be bid dissemble With fools and blind men: we that know the evil, Should hunt the palace-rats or give them bane; Fright hence these worse than ravens, that devour T he quick, where they but prey upon the dead: He shall be told it. 

 SABINUS. Stay, Arruntius, We must abide our opportunity; And practise what is fit, as what is needful. It is not safe t’ enforce a sovereign’s ear: Princes hear well, if they at all will hear. 

 ARRUNTIUS. Ha, say you so? well! In the mean time, Jove, (Say not, but I do call upon thee now,) 

 SILIUS. ’Tis well pray’d. 

 TIBERIUS. [having read the letters.] Return the lords this voice,— We are their creature, And it 

 Prev. P 35/205 next