to thank, but kill. It is your nature, to have all men slaves To you, but you acknowledging to none. The means that make your greatness, must not come In mention of it; if it do, it takes So much away, you think: and that which help’d, Shall soonest perish, if it stand in eye, Where it may front, or but upbraid the high. 

 COTTA. Suffer him speak no more. 

 VARRO. Note but his spirit. 

 AFER. This shews him in the rest. 

 LATIARIS. Let him be censured. 

 SEJANUS. He hath spoke enough to prove him Cæsar’s foe. 

 COTTA. His thoughts look through his words. 

 SEJANUS. A censure. 

 SILIUS. Stay, Stay, most officious senate, I shall straight Delude thy fury. Silius hath not placed His guards within him, against fortune’s spite, So weakly, but he can escape your gripe That are but hands of fortune: she herself, When virtue doth oppose, must lose her threats! All that can happen in humanity, The frown of Cæsar, proud Sejanus’ hatred, Base Varro’s spleen, and Afer’s bloodying tongue, The senate’s servile flattery, and these Muster’d to kill, I’m fortified against; And can look down upon: they are beneath me. It is not life whereof I stand enamour’d; Nor shall my end make me accuse my fate. The coward and the valiant man must fall, Only the cause and manner how, discerns them: Which then are gladdest, when they cost us dearest. Romans, if any here be in this senate, Would know to mock Tiberius’ tyranny, Look upon Silius, and so learn to die. 

 [Stabs himself.]

 VARRO. O desperate act! 

 ARRUNTIUS. An honourable hand! 

 TIBERIUS. Look, is he dead? 

 SABINUS. ’Twas nobly struck, and home. 

 ARRUNTIUS. My thought did prompt him to it. Farewell. Silius. Be famous ever for thy great example. 

 TIBERIUS. We are not pleased in this sad accident, That thus hath stalled, and abused our mercy, Intended to preserve thee, noble Roman, And to prevent thy hopes. 

 ARRUNTIUS. Excellent wolf! Now he is full he howls.                              [Aside.] 

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