TERENTIUS. I think them ominous; And would they had not happened! As, to-day, The fate of some your servants: who, declining Their way, not able, for the throng, to follow, Slipt down the Gemonies, and brake their necks! Besides, in taking your last augury, No prosperous bird appear’d; but croaking ravens Flagg’d up and down, and from the sacrifice Flew to the prison, where they sat all night, Beating the air with their obstreperous beaks! I dare not counsel, but I could entreat, That great Sejanus would attempt the gods Once more with sacrifice. SEJANUS. What excellent fools Religion makes of men! Believes Terentius, If these were dangers, as I shame to think them, The gods could change the certain course of fate! Or, if they could they would, now in a moment, For a beeve’s fat, or less, be bribed to invert Those long decrees? Then think the gods, like flies, Are to be taken with the steam of flesh, Or blood, diffused about their altars: think Their power as cheap as I esteem it small.— Of all the throng that fill th’ Olympian hall, And, without pity, lade poor Atlas’ back, I know not that one deity, but Fortune, To whom I would throw up, in begging smoke, One grain of incense; or whose ear I’d buy With thus much oil. Her I, indeed, adore; And keep her grateful image in my house, Sometime belonging to a Roman king. But now call’d mine, as by the better style: To her I care not, if, for satisfying Your scrupulous phant’sies, I go offer. Bid Our priest prepare us honey, milk, and poppy, His masculine odours, and night-vestments: say, Our rites are instant; which perform’d, you’ll see How vain, and worthy laughter, your fears be. [_Exeunt._] SCENE II.—Another Room in the same. Enter Cotta and Pomponius. COTTA. Pomponius, whither in such speed? POMPONIUS. I go To give my lord Sejanus notice— COTTA. What? POMPONIUS. Of Macro. COTTA. Is he come? POMPONIUS. Enter’d but now The house of Regulus COTTA. The opposite consul! POMPONIUS. Some half hour since. COTTA. And by night too! Stay, sir; I’ll bear you company. POMPONIUS. Along then— [_Exeunt._] SCENE III.—A Room in REGULUS’S House. Enter Macro, Regulus and Attendant. MACRO. Tis Cæsar’s will to have a frequent senate; And therefore must your edict lay deep mulct On such as shall be absent. REGULUS. So it doth. Bear it my fellow consul to adscribe. MACRO. And tell him it must early be proclaim’d: The place Apollo’s temple. [_Exit Attendant._] REGULUS. That’s remember’d. MACRO. And at what hour! REGULUS. Yes. MACRO. You do forget To send one for the provost of the watch. REGULUS. I have not: here he comes. Enter Laco. MACRO. Gracinus Laco, You are a friend most welcome: by and by, I’ll speak with you.—You must procure this list Of the prætorian cohorts, with the names Of the centurions, and their tribunes. REGULUS. Ay. MACRO. I bring you letters, and a health from Cæsar— LACO. Sir, both come well.