AGRIPPINA. Good Silius do; Sosia and I will in. SILIUS. Haste you, my lords, I To visit the sick prince; tender your loves, And sorrows to the people. This Sejanus, Trust my divining soul, hath plots on all: No tree, that stops his prospect, but must fall. [_Exeunt._] ACT III SCENE I.—The Senate-House Enter Præcones, Lictores, Sejanus, Varro, Latiaris, Cotta and Afer. SEJANUS. ’Tis only you must urge against him, Varro; Nor I nor Cæsar may appear therein, Except in your defence, who are the consul; And, under colour of late enmity Between your father and his, may better do it, As free from all suspicion of a practice. Here be your notes, what points to touch at; read: Be cunning in them. Afer has them too. VARRO. But is he summon’d? SEJANUS. No. It was debated By Cæsar, and concluded as most fit To take him unprepared. AFER. And prosecute All under name of treason. VARRO. I conceive. Enter Sabinus, Gallus, Lepidus and Arruntius. SABINUS. Drusus being dead, Cæsar will not be here. GALLUS. What should the business of this senate be? ARRUNTIUS. That can my subtle whisperers tell you: we That are the good-dull-noble lookers on, Are only call’d to keep the marble warm. What should we do with those deep mysteries, Proper to these fine heads? let them alone. Our ignorance may, perchance, help us be saved From whips and furies. GALLUS. See, see, see their action! ARRUNTIUS. Ay, now their heads do travail, now they work; Their faces run like shittles; they are weaving Some curious cobweb to catch flies. SABINUS. Observe, They take their places. ARRUNTIUS. What, so low! GALLUS. O yes, They must be seen to flatter Cæsar’s grief, Though but in sitting. VARRO. Bid us silence. PRÆCONES. Silence! VARRO. Fathers conscript, may this our present meeting, Turn fair, and fortunate to the common-wealth! Enter Silius and other Senators. SEJANUS. See, Silius enters. SILIUS. Hail, grave fathers! LICTORES. Stand. Silius, forbear thy place. SENATORS. How! PRÆCONES. Silius, stand forth, The consul hath to charge thee. LICTORES. Room for Cæsar. ARRUNTIUS. Is he come too! nay then expect a trick. SABINUS. Silius accused! sure he will answer nobly. Enter Tiberius, attended.