Your wisdoms, conscript fathers, are able to examine, and censure these suggestions.  But, were they left to our absolving voice, we durst pronounce them, as we think them, most malicious.

Sen.  O, he has restored all; list! 
   And give last summons by the edict.

Prae. 
   Silence! 
   In name of Caesar, and the senate, silence! 
Memmius Regulus, and Fulcinius Trio, consuls, these present kalends of June, with the first light, shall hold a senate, in the temple of Apollo Palatine:  all that are fathers, and are registered fathers that have right of entering the senate, we warn or command you be frequently present, take knowledge the business is the commonwealth’s:  whosoever is absent, his fine or mulct will be taken, his excuse will not be taken.

Tri.  Note who are absent, and record their names.

Reg. 
   Fathers conscript, may what I am to utter
   Turn good and happy for the commonwealth! 
   And thou, Apollo, in whose holy house
   We here have met, inspire us all with truth,
   And liberty of censure to our thought! 
   The majesty of great Tiberius Caesar
   Propounds to this grave senate, the bestowing
   Upon the man he loves, honour’d Sejanus,
   The tribunitial dignity and power: 
   Here are his letters, signed with his signet. 
   What pleaseth now the fathers to be done?

Sen.  Read, read them, open, publicly read them.

Cot. 
   Caesar hath honour’d his own greatness much
   In thinking of this act.

Tri. 
   It was a thought
   Happy, and worthy Caesar.

Lat. 
   And the lord
   As worthy it, on whom it is directed!

Hat.  Most worthy!

San. 
   Rome did never boast the virtue
   That could give envy bounds, but his:  Sejanus—–­

1 Sen.  Honour’d and noble!

2 Sen.  Good and great Sejanus!

Arr.  O, most tame slavery, and fierce flattery!

Prae.  Silence!

Tiberius Caesar to the Senate, greeting.

“If you, conscript fathers, with your children, be in health, it is abundantly well:  we with our friends here are so.  The care of the commonwealth, howsoever we are removed in person, cannot be absent to our thought; although, oftentimes, even to princes most present, the truth of their own affairs is hid, than which, nothing falls out more miserable to a state, or makes the art of governing more difficult.  But since it hath been our easeful happiness to enjoy both the aids and industry of so vigilant a senate, we profess to have been the more indulgent to our pleasures, not as being careless of our office, but rather secure of the necessity.  Neither do these common rumours of many, and infamous libels published against our retirement, at all afflict us; being born more out of men’s ignorance than their malice:  and will, neglected, find their own grave quickly, whereas, too sensibly acknowledged, it would make their obloquy ours.  Nor do we desire their authors, though found, be censured, since in a free state, as ours, all men ought to enjoy both their minds and tongues free.”