SEJANUS. Cæsar doth wrong His dignity and safety thus to mourn The deserv’d end of so profest a traitor, And doth, by this his lenity, instruct Others as factious to the like offence. 

 TIBERIUS. The confiscation merely of his state Had been enough. 

 ARRUNTIUS. O, that was gaped for then?                          [Aside.] 

 VARRO. Remove the body. 

 SEJANUS. Let citation Go out for Sosia. 

 GALLUS. Let her be proscribed: And for the goods, I think it fit that half Go to the treasure, half unto the children. 

 LEPIDUS. With leave of Cæsar, I would think that fourth, The which the law doth cast on the informers, Should be enough; the rest go to the children. Wherein the prince shall shew humanity, And bounty; not to force them by their want, Which in their parents’ trespass they deserv’d, To take ill courses. 

 TIBERIUS. It shall please us. 

 ARRUNTIUS. Ay, Out of necessity. This Lepidus Is grave and honest, and I have observed A moderation still in all his censures. 

 SABINUS. And bending to the better—Stay, who’s this? 

 Enter Satrius and Natta, with Cremutius Cordus guarded.

Satrius

Natta

Cremutius Cordus

 Cremutius Cordus! What! is he brought in? 

 ARRUNTIUS. More blood into the banquet! Noble Cordus, I wish thee good: be as thy writings, free, And honest. 

 TIBERIUS. What is he? 

 SEJANUS. For the Annals, Cæsar. 

 Prev. P 63/205 next