clemency would be
thought but wearied cruelty, if we should offer to exercise it."

Arr. I thank him; there I look'd for't. A good fox!

"Some there be that would interpret this his public severity to be
particular ambition, and that, under a pretext of service to us, he
doth but remove his own lets: alleging the strengths he hath made
to himself, by the praetorian soldiers, by his faction in court and
senate, by the offices he holds himself, and confers on others, his
popularity and dependents, his urging and almost driving us to this
our unwilling retirement, and, lastly, his aspiring to be our
son-in-law."

Sen. This is strange!

Arr. I shall anon believe your vultures, Marcus.

"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!

"Yet are they offered to be averred, and on the lives of the
informers. What we should say, or rather what we should not say,
lords of the senate, if this be true, our gods and goddesses
confound us if we know! Only we must think, we have placed our
benefits ill; and conclude, that in our choice, either we were
wanting to the gods, or the gods to us."
[The Senators shift their places.

Arr. The place grows hot; they shift.

"We have not been covetous, honourable fathers, to change, neither
is it now any new lust that alters our affection, or old lothing,
but those needful jealousies of state, that warn wiser princes
hourly to provide their safety, and do teach them how learned a
thing it is to beware of the humblest enemy; much more of those
great ones, whom their own employed favours have made fit for their
fears."

1 Sen. Away.

2 Sen. Sit farther.

Cot. Let's remove-

Arr. Gods! how the leaves drop off, this little wind!

"We therefore desire, that the offices he holds be first seized by
the senate, and himself suspended from all exercise of place or
power--"

Sen. How!

San. [thrusting by.] By your leave.

Arr.
Come, porpoise; where's Haterius?
His gout keeps him most miserably constant;
Your dancing shews a tempest.

Sej. Read no more.

Reg. Lords of the senate, hold your seats: read on.

Sej. These letters they are forged.

Reg. A guard! sit sti