ARRUNTIUS. Well worded, and most like an orator. TIBERIUS. Is this true, Silius? SILIUS. Save thy question, Cæsar; Thy spy of famous credit hath affirm’d it. ARRUNTIUS. Excellent Roman! SABINUS. He doth answer stoutly. SEJANUS. If this be so, there needs no farther cause Of crime against him. VARRO. What can more impeach The royal dignity and state of Cæsar, Than to be urged with a benefit He cannot pay? COTTA. In this, all Ceesar’s fortune Is made unequal to the courtesy. LATIARIS. His means are clean destroyed that should requite. GALLUS. Nothing is great enough for Silius’ merit. ARRUNTIUS. Gallus on that side too! [_Aside_.] SILIUS. Come, do not hunt, And labour so about for circumstance, To make him guilty whom you have foredoom’d: Take shorter ways, I’ll meet your purposes. The words were mine, and more I now will say: Since I have done thee that great service, Cæsar, Thou still hast fear’d me; and in place of grace, Return’d me hatred: so soon all best turns, With doubtful princes, turn deep injuries In estimation, when they greater rise Than can be answer’d. Benefits, with you, Are of no longer pleasure, than you can With ease restore them; that transcended once, Your studies are not how to thank, but kill. It is your nature, to have all men slaves To you, but you acknowledging to none. The means that make your greatness, must not come In mention of it; if it do, it takes So much away, you think: and that which help’d, Shall soonest perish, if it stand in eye, Where it may front, or but upbraid the high. COTTA. Suffer him speak no more. VARRO. Note but his spirit. AFER. This shews him in the rest. LATIARIS. Let him be censured. SEJANUS. He hath spoke enough to prove him Cæsar’s foe. COTTA. His thoughts look through his words. SEJANUS. A censure. SILIUS. Stay, Stay, most officious senate, I shall straight Delude thy fury. Silius hath not placed His guards within him, against fortune’s spite, So weakly, but he can escape your gripe That are but hands of fortune: she herself, When virtue doth oppose, must lose her threats! All that can happen in humanity, The frown of Cæsar, proud Sejanus’ hatred, Base Varro’s spleen, and Afer’s bloodying tongue, The senate’s servile flattery, and these Muster’d to kill, I’m fortified against; And can look down upon: they are beneath me. It is not life whereof I stand enamour’d; Nor shall my end make me accuse my fate. The coward and the valiant man must fall, Only the cause and manner how, discerns them: Which then are gladdest, when they cost us dearest. Romans, if any here be in this senate, Would know to mock Tiberius’ tyranny, Look upon Silius, and so learn to die. [_Stabs himself._] VARRO. O desperate act! ARRUNTIUS. An honourable hand! TIBERIUS. Look, is he dead? SABINUS. ’Twas nobly struck, and home. ARRUNTIUS. My thought did prompt him to it. Farewell. Silius. Be famous ever for thy great example.