[Aside.]
SENATORS. Guard His meekness, Jove; his piety, his care, His bounty—
ARRUNTIUS. And his subtility, I’ll put in: Yet he’ll keep that himself, without the gods. All prayers are vain for him. [Aside.]
TIBERIUS. We will not hold Your patience, fathers, with long answer; but Shall still contend to be what you desire, And work to satisfy so great a hope. Proceed to your affairs.
ARRUNTIUS. Now, Silius, guard thee; The curtain’s drawing. Afer advanceth. [Aside.]
PRÆCONES. Silence!
AFER. Cite Caius Silius.
PRÆCONES. Caius Silius!
SILIUS. Here.
AFER. The triumph that thou hadst in Germany For thy late victory on Sacrovir, Thou hast enjoy’d so freely, Caius Silius, As no man it envied thee; nor would Cæsar, Or Rome admit, that thou wert then defrauded Of any honours thy deserts could claim, In the fair service of the common-wealth: But now, if, after all their loves and graces, (Thy actions, and their courses being discover’d) It shall appear to Cæsar and this senate, Thou hast defiled those glories with thy crimes—
SILIUS. Crimes!
AFER. Patience, Silius.
SILIUS. Tell thy mule of patience; I am a Roman. What are my crimes? proclaim them. Am I too rich, too honest for the times? Have I or treasure, jewels, land, or houses That some informer gapes for? is my strength Too much to be admitted, or my knowledge? These now are crimes.
AFER. Nay, Silius, if the name Of crime so touch thee, with what impotence Wilt thou endure the matter to be search’d?
SILIUS. I tell thee, Afer, with more scorn than fear: Employ your mercenary tongue and art. Where’s my accuser?
VARRO. Here.
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