Sej.  Where’s Caligula?

Mac. 
   That I forgot to tell your lordship.  Why,
   He lingers yonder about Capreae,
   Disgraced; Tiberius hath not seen him yet: 
   He needs would thrust himself to go with me,
   Against my wish or will; but I have quitted
   His forward trouble, with as tardy note
   As my neglect or silence could afford him. 
   Your lordship cannot now command me aught,
   Because I take no knowledge that I saw you;
   But I shall boast to live to serve your lordship: 
   And so take leave.

Sej. 
   Honest and worthy Macro;
   Your love and friendship. [Exit Macro.]
                               —–­Who’s there?  Satrius,
   Attend my honourable friend forth.-O! 
   How vain and vile a passion is this fear,
   What base uncomely things it makes men do! 
   Suspect their noblest friends, as I did this,
   Flatter poor enemies, entreat their servants,
   Stoop, court, and catch at the benevolence
   Of creatures, unto whom, within this hour,
   I would not have vouchsafed a quarter-look,
   Or piece of face!  By you that fools call gods,
   Hang all the sky with your prodigious signs,
   Fill earth with monsters, drop the scorpion down,
   Out of the zodiac, or the fiercer lion,
   Shake off the loosen’d globe from her long hinge,
   Roll all the world in darkness, and let loose
   The enraged winds to turn up groves and towns! 
   When I do fear again, let me be struck
   With forked fire, and unpitied die: 
   Who fears, is worthy of calamity. [Exit.

Scene VIl.-Another Room in the same.

Enter Terentius, Minutius, Laco, Cotta, Latiaris,
and Pomponius; Regulus, trio, and others, on different sides.

Pom.  Is not my lord here?

Ter.  Sir, he will be straight.

Cot.  What news, Fulcinius Trio?

Tri. 
   Good, good tidings;
   But keep it to yourself.  My lord Sejanus
   Is to receive this day in open senate
   The tribunitial dignity.

Cot.  Is’t true?

Tri.  No words, not to your thought:  but, sir, believe it.

Lat.  What says the consul?

Cot. 
   Speak it not again: 
   He tells me, that to-day my lord Sejanus—–­

Tri. 
   I must entreat you, Cotta, on your honour
   Not to reveal it.

Cot.  On my life, sir.

Lat.  Say.

Cot. 
   Is to receive the tribunitial power. 
   But, as you are an honourable man,
   Let me conjure you not to utter it;
   For it is trusted to me with that bond.

Lat.  I am Harpocrates.

Ter.  Can you assure it?

Pom.  The consul told it me, but keep it close.

Min.  Lord Latiaris, what’s the news?