_and himself suspended from all exercise of place or power, but till due and mature trial be made of his innocency, which yet we can faintly apprehend the necessity to doubt. If, conscript fathers, to your more searching wisdoms, there shall appear farther cause—or of farther proceeding, either to seizure of lands, goods, or more—it is not our power that shall limit your authority, or our favour that must corrupt your justice: either were dishonourable in you, and both uncharitable to ourself. We would willingly be present with your counsels in this business, but the danger of so potent a faction, if it should prove so, forbids our attempting it: except one of the consuls would be entreated for our safety, to undertake the guard of us home; then we should most readily adventure. In the mean time, it shall not be fit for us to importune so judicious a senate, who know how much they hurt the innocent, that spare the guilty; and how grateful a sacrifice to the gods is the life of an ingrateful person, We reflect not, in this, on Sejanus, (notwithstanding, if you keep an eye upon him-and there is Latiaris, a senator, and Pinnarius Natta, two of his most trusted ministers, and so professed, whom we desire not to have apprehended,) but as the necessity of the cause exacts it._ REGULUS. A guard on Latiaris! ARRUNTIUS. O, the spy, The reverend spy is caught! who pities him? Reward, sir, for your service: now, you have done Your property, you see what use is made! [_Exeunt Latiaris and Natta, guarded._] Hang up the instrument. SEJANUS. Give leave. LACO. Stand, stand! He comes upon his death, that doth advance An inch toward my point. SEJANUS. Have we no friends here? ARRUNTIUS. Hush’d! Where now are all the hails and acclamations? Enter Macro. MACRO. Hail to the consuls, and this noble senate! SEJANUS. Is Macro here? O, thou art lost, Sejanus! [_Aside_.] MACRO. Sit still, and unaffrighted, reverend fathers: Macro, by Cæsar’s grace, the new-made provost, And now possest of the prætorian bands, An honour late belong’d to that proud man, Bids you be safe: and to your constant doom Of his deservings, offers you the surety Of all the soldiers, tribunes, and centurions, Received in our command. REGULUS. Sejanus, Sejanus, Stand forth, Sejanus! SEJANUS. Am I call’d? MACRO. Ay, thou, Thou insolent monster, art bid stand. SEJANUS. Why, Macro. It hath been otherwise between you and I; This court, that knows us both, hath seen a difference, And can, if it be pleased to speak, confirm Whose insolence is most. MACRO. Come down, Typhoeus. If mine be most, lo! thus I make it more; Kick up thy heels in air, tear off thy robe, Play with thy beard and nostrils. Thus ’tis fit (And no man take compassion of thy state) To use th’ ingrateful viper, tread his brains Into the earth. REGULUS. Forbear.