Nat.  Gentlemen, where’s my lord?

Tri.  We wait him here.

Cot.  The provost Laco! what’s the news?

Lat.  My lord—–­

Enter Sejanus.

Sej. 
   Now, my right dear, noble, and trusted friends,
   How much I am a captive to your kindness! 
   Most worthy Cotta, Latiaris, Laco,
   Your valiant hand; and, gentlemen, your loves. 
   I wish I could divide myself unto you;
   Or that it lay within our narrow powers,
   To satisfy for so enlarged bounty. 
   Gracinus, we must pray you, hold your guards
   Unquit when morning comes.  Saw you the consul?

Min.  Trio will presently be here, my lord.

Cot. 
   They are but giving order for the edict,
   To warn the senate.

Sej.  How! the senate?

Lac. 
   Yes. 
   This morning in Apollo’s temple.

Cot. 
   We
   Are charged by letter to be there, my lord.

Sej.  By letter! pray you, let’s see.

Lat.  Knows not his lordship?

Cot.  It seems so!

Sej. 
   A senate warn’d!  Without my knowledge! 
   And on this sudden!  Senators by letters
   Required to be there! who brought these?

Cot.  Macro.

Sej.  Mine enemy! and when?

Cot.  This midnight.

Sej. 
   Time,
   With every other circumstance, doth give
   It hath some strain of engine in’t!—–­How now? 
                                                 Enter Satrius. 
Sat. 
   My lord, Sertorius Macro is without,
   Alone, and prays t’ have private conference
   In business of high nature with your lordship,
   He says to me, and which regards you much.

Sej.  Let him come here.

Sat. 
   Better, my lord, Withdraw: 
   You will betray what store and strength of friends
   Are now about you; which he comes to spy.

Sej.  Is he not arm’d?

Sat.  We’ll search him.

Sej. 
   No; but take,
   And lead him to some room, where you conceal’d
   May keep a guard upon us. [Exit Sat.]
                              Noble Laco,
   You are our trust; and till our own cohorts
   Can be brought up, your strengths must be our guard. 
   Now, good Minutius, honour’d Latiaris,
                                          [He salutes them humbly. 
   Most worthy and my most unwearied friends: 
   I return instantly. [Exit.

Lat.  Most worthy lord.

Cot. 
   His lordship is turn’d instant kind, methinks;
   I have not observed it in him, heretofore.

1 Tri.  ’Tis true, and it becomes him nobly.

Min. 
   I
   Am wrapt withal.

2 Tri. 
   By Mars, he has my lives,
   Were they a million, for this only grace.

Lac.  Ay, and to name a man!