dying yet would death have been the last of all evils had it not drawne along with it so much ignominy For finally to go out of life is necessary but to be driven from it is shamefull What may wee beleeve was the passage of this unhappy man from the Senate to the prison He endevoured to cover his head to desend himselfe I know not whether from shame or injury but as he could not hide himselfe from his owne conscience so they discoverd him to the eyes of others Fortune scorned to triumph over a man masked and heaven thought it not a punishment equall for demerit to hide him from those who had bin spectators of his crimes and were the remainders of his fury They all cryed out stormed and exclaimed to have him killed that he should be precipitated who was the death and ruine of the Empire The weakest cowards learnt courage from the example of the strongest the strongest envied the horror of the weakest finding themselves unable to maintaine that fury which stirred them up to revenge The brest of Sejanus would have been the sepulcher of a thousand swords nor would the souldiers who environed him have sufficed to preserve him had it not bin for fortune who was desirous also to enjoy this last delight to see a Hangman envied by a hundred Senators every step was a death every death was so much the more grievous as it had the more of life The passage of dying is a moment and that which is dispatched in a moment is no great evill but this was so much the greater an evill by how much the more they delayd him that death which might take him from the ignominy which the eies saw and from the torments which sense feared Being come to the prison either the frozen heart denied passage to the soule or else the soule oppressed with so many objects of stupifying paine found not out the way to liberty otherwise if we thinke how little experienced he was of sinister fortune or if we weigh the sorrow of losse by the value by the horror of death and by the feare of conscience it had beene impossible hee should have lived a moment Let him not compassionate the misery of this wretched Courtier who is not exposed to misfortune And who knoweth not that the most wretched manner of unhappinesse is to have once bin happy If he deserve not pity as Sejanus he deserves it as a man become miserable Every occasion should serve the just man to exercise his vertue Courtefie benefits and clemencie are the three means wherewith he who governeth ought to oblige the minds and affections of the people without which Empire is nought else but a perillous servitude It is true that discretion ought to be the distributresse of these treasures That overmuch curtesie begets contempt That benefits rather scattered than placed oblige not and indulgence not limited is a security in sinning it being ordinarily the condition of men not to know how to beare all slavery nor all liberty The neglect of these bounds not knowne or not observed afflicted the poore Sejanus the infelicity of whose pollicy had found more greatnesse than safety Never was that power either stable or lasting which was gained by wickednesse An Idaea cannot be framed in the minde of any mortall man of a more exact states-man then that which then in a Chymaera presented it selfe to the minde of Sejanus made wise by the unhappinesse of his fortune He abhorred his former pride it vexed him hee had set himselfe as the scope of Envy The Ostentation of Tiberius his favor the violence of emulators his having arrogated to himselfe Empire over that world that now refused to support him were such punishments as they were not onely preambles but lively touches of the Torments of hell affording no space either for hope or amendment Now although late hee saw how dangerous it was to play with the Lion who concludeth his daliances with his pawes Affections so long felt or to say better suffered made themselves understood to be lyers They a little before had the face of hopes and now were knowne to be dotages But what knew he not Vnhappinesse taught the miserable man that which prudence hath written in her books not at this time to make hâ—m cautious but rather so much the more sad From matters whence felicity drawes good misery derives evill nor can a greater mischiefe afflict a miserable man than to be reduced to that point that even prudence it selfe concurreth to render him unhappy In the meane space the Senate seeing none of the innovations then feared either from the souldiers who with hopes had beene brought by Macro to the Legions or from the people that followed his misery to whose Fortune they had tied themselves by an inviolable oath assembling together in the Temple of Concord that they might not be reduced to such straights as to desire that which now the people expected from them they condemned the miserable Sejanus to punishment Ah poore condition of man Beares and Lyons are fed for Gladiators and men are fatned for the sithe of death Tiberius durst not command the death of Sejanus and his servants durst execute it The people stormed at retardation finding more punishment in delay then the delinquent was to feele in the execution Every thing submits to fortune which never embraceth man but to strangle him One sole hower sufficed to accuse arraigne condemne and execute a monarch so much greater than others by how much they had commanded over an Empire he over the Emperour Among so many his allyes friends soldiers followers dependents ministers there was not one stirred a foot for him nay there was not one who stirred not against him Every one runnes for wood to the tree which the winde or hatchet hath layd along At this time there could bee no greater offence nor perill then fidelity He was a true servant who most speedily hastned the death of his Master to free him from those miseries which were not to moove mercie in any other Deity then death Concord was ashamed to bee at ods with Fortune and lent her her owne Temple to be a Theater where the Sentence of this mans death should bee pronounced and consequently the monitory of humane infelicity Betweene the condemnation and execution nothing interposed but the distance which was betwixt the prison and those staires from whence the condemned must dismount in a leap from supremest exaltation to the lowest misery He was taken from prison with such fury that we may rather say hee flew thence They dragged him to the precipice and threw him headlong from the top Let him imagine the manner who hath the heart to thinke of it No injury or possible cruelty was omitted to be used nay rather that was made possible which was not for to see the ally the obliged the servant the friend to lead triumphantly to death his greater his benefactor his Lord is a spectacle more true than
By these wayes Tiberius lessened the reputation of the Favorite with the people which useth to be the first and most grounded foundation of greatnesse The troope of attendants to wait on him from his house was not so frequent because some not to be suspected by Tiberius whose slie practises were now discovered certified Sejanus of their leaving him rather jealous of their owne good than of anothers The smokes as well of sacrifices on Altars as of Pride and Ambition in the head of Sejanus beganne to decline His favorites were no longer honoured and were they it was rather in respect of dignity than person Injustice dispoyled of the mantle of his authority walked no longer thorow Rome for Fortune having put guives upon it it could not freely stirre up downe without danger To these turmoyles so much weighty as they were new crosse omens of predictions were added A statue of Sejanus smoking the head taken off to discover the cause of it a great serpent was seene suddenly to issue forth and the head set on againe there was a knot found about the necke of it A while after hee sacrificing to a statue of Fortune she either not to see him or because she could not endure him turned her head away shewing this wretched Courtier how little he should confide in the vanity of that Fortune which knowes not how to be stable even in marble Among such hatefull prodigies a thousand torments vexed the soule of unhappy Sejanus Vaine and frustrate was now the thought of commotion hee understanding the aversion of the people from his affaires and knowing the Senates love towards Caius Great attempts are atchieved in the increase not diminution of fortune We must not hope for stability from this inconstant Lady whose favors are allwaies so much the more pernitious by how much the more they render us secure and confident He watched whole nights with his paines which could shew him nought else but Chymaeras He knew no other repose but that alone which the want of it in the bosome of toylesome wearinesse begat The morning aire that awakened him were his sighs which invited him to toyle He thought every day the last every last would have beene deare to him so it were not delayed For much more painfull is the feare of death than to die Poore Sejanus the heape of so many crimes never came to deserve that the punishment should so long be deferred A generous affection understanding it was nâ—cessary either to vanquish evils or end them awakned in his soule a purpose to withdraw himselfe from danger by death to tell the world Fortune had beene able to exalt not depresse him But the blinde warrioresse who would not bereave herselfe of the glory to have ruined him in such his sad agonies courted him with newes that Tiberius spake of conferring the Tribunitiall power upon him whereupon afflicting and comforting him at one and the same instant she armed him with hope peradventure because it should not bee thought a small glory to her to have cast downe a vanquished man and overcome one who begged mercy Tiberius nothing ignorant of publike affection and private suspition began not despairing to have the people and Senate on his part to mannage the conclusion of this affaire which carried in it selfe as much necessity as perill His designe was to levell the most grounded Fortresse of the Empire and to pluck up the best rooted Plant the Earth hath nourished The pretorian Cohorts honoured preferred united countenanced fortified by him depended all on his least commands The greatest men who governed in the Empire as Prefects Questors Tribunes Captaines and infinite other officers all raised by him owed their service estate to him The most inward and nearest servants of Tiberius had been by his meanes deputed to that service and intimacy The principall of the Nobility enriched with the best places either as his servants or Allyes were tied to him Of the multitude some were maintained in his house some were dependant some interessed so that many respectively and almost all by adherence waited on him Well might his ruine be commanded by Tiberius but not expected Princes are the heart Subjects the hands To confide was dangerous yet necessary Strangers were nothing fit for so great an affaire which required much knowledge of the fact and persons Familiars were to bee suspected as well for the reasons mentioned before as for that the most and best trusted servants are those who soonest sell their master Few were not sufficient for so great a businesse in many secrecy was unsafe To do it in Rome where Sejanus had the pulse of his power was to subject himselfe to sudden commotion of people which is in prudence so much to be avoided To doe it out of Rome was impossible or most difficult If hee should call him to Capreae hee would not come but upon sure conditions bringing along with him more perill for others than for himselfe Every thing was dangerous and laying private interest aside no other affection would have advised it In the end Tiberius excited put forward and enraged peradventure more by Sejanus his unhappinesse than out of his owne wisdome called Nervius Sertorius Macro and secretly constituting him Captaine of his Guard hee gave him the mannage of the whole matter advising him what hee was to doubt what to avoid what to accelerate or ponder He commanded him to conferre with Memmius Regulus whose fidelity was free from suspition he being an ancient rivall of Sejanus and shewed him the necessity of secrecy with the other Consull as being one of his enemies faction Then that he should ensnare and assault mindes with a thousand sorts of hopes and feares awaking the anger of the offended the hatred of the reconciled that hee should fight with gold promise dignities remove souldiers secure the armie from tumults and finally the matter not succeeding well at the first stirres which should oppose their designes he should introduce Drusus into the Senate for Emperour by him so declared and pronounced Macro departing with these instructions Tiberius to whom amongst so many vices pusillanimity was not wanting not trusting to the number of his people to the situation and straightnesse of that Iland easie to bee defended for a first assault by the souldiers of his guard nothing maintaining the majesty of his place but having prepared many ships timerously stood expecting opportunity of escape from the first notice that Sejanus foreknowing his designes might not prevent and oppresse him A bad Conscience is the Mother of Feare Feare the Father of those ignoble acts whose indignity is the Tombe of Râ—putation These were the afflictions of Tiberius the perills of Sejanus the endevors of Macro who with Tiberius his letters entring full of cares by night into Rome began the designed practise with Memmius Regulus and Gracilius Laco The next day the morning being come to shew the last Sunne to Sejanus whilst the Senate sate in the Temple of Apollo
suddenly puffed up with fresh favours and as suddenly stupified with these unaccustomed proceedings Conscience assailed him with suspition The memory of predictions surcharged his soule with impressions of horror It fell not into his thought to feare beholding himselfe so powerfull yet dared hee as little to confide in his power hearing such novelties Conscience the scourge of the wicked permitted not he should know that houre to become wherein he must either conquer or die He with all his might vapoured forth the smoke of his greatnesse He knew his practises were not unknowne to Tiberius he was therefore to attempt the issue with violence not expected though doubted For great actions should rather be speedily executed than consulted on Death was the head of the way flie it hee could not well might he ennoble it It was therefore better to meet it than expect it sell it than suffer it Who knew whether Fortune would not as heretofore favour sudden Counsels He must seale the conclusion with an act if not eminent for vertue yet memorable for hardinessâ— Dangers many times by encountring them are avoided Good Councels from delay wicked from violence take force But who understands not that heaven corrupteth the councels of him to whom the revolution of Fortune is destined In the meane time the multitude amongst which nothing is more easie than change of affections perceiving in so short a time so great alteration of affaires began to waver They failed not to spread rumours of innovation into the eares of the people to whom the power of Sejanus was either hatefull or suspected Each motion serveth for reason to just feare with long expectation every occasion finds favour Offences heretofore tollerated or dissembled began to be unmasked Woe to him who hath fulfilled his felicity There wanted not those who attributed to Sejanus the blame of all Tiberius his exorbitances compassionately deploring the memory of Caius Sillius of Titus Sabinus and Cremutius Cordus so unjustly deprived of life He that governeth another walketh on a rope which though made of golden threads is not the more stable not understanding how well to use the counterpoise of justice If he put one foot out of the right place the ordinary successe is to remaine hanged Many not to contradict rather than not to be silent added probability to truth Others hoping change of fortune with alteration of government seconded the beginning of his ruine whom themselves acknowledged for their raiser It is very likely hee could not have beene advanced without an infinite number of men obliged by his benefits and yet amongst so many publike invectives there was not any one that defended him But what Small benefits are easily forgotten great ordinarily surcharge Some cannot requite a good turne other know not how Of the ungratefull some neglect it other abhorre it The world is come to that passe that good turnes are thought dangerous The ungratefull man loth to repay a benefit would not there likewise should be any to whom he may account himselfe a debtor Thus hapend it to poore Sejanus The end of the obligation and of the obliger was esteemed an advantagious exchange Good as evill equally concurreth to the oppression of that unhappy man who once begins to be distasted All the motions of Sejanus breathed forth sadnesse Hee who heretofore haughty and proud accustomed arrogantly to vaunt supereminencie now wholly mortified shewed how much hee was burdened with weighty cares His eyes reconcentred with his imaginations manifested in their wannesse what anxieties tormented him At which time oppressed with griefe or through distracted thoughts not rendring salutes he seemed to despise those who saluted him so that his proper hurts unhappily conspiring with fortune he encreased the number of the malevolent and lessened the troops of partiall followers Tiberius thus judiciously spinning the web honoured both Sejanus and his sonne with the dignity of Priesthood as it were advising him to stand prepared to sacrifice a victim to Fortune To these honours he added the Proconsular dignity rather to augment doubt in the people than titles for Sejanus yet much would he have promised himselfe by his dexterous wit and Genius if he could have found means to present himselfe before Caesar whereupon under pretext to visit a beloved feminine singer of his afflicted with a certaine infirmitie having sought to come to Capreae hee was suspended by Tiberius who would not admit his presence more for feare of his force than that he refused the shortest and safest way to give an end to such dangers affording accesse for once to bereave him of it for ever So many times it is better to tolerate by dissembling than precipitate those councels which by delay are not wasted but fortified In infirmity there is not any thing more mortall than unseasonable medicines His eyes were darkned with horror and mind with terror seeing upon one side the occasions of bounty taken away on the other side those to whom he had beene bounteous now to pay him with ingratitude The errours committed in prosperous fortune threatned him with adverse Those that adhered to him told him many things variously related from the people but almost ever against him Whereupon astonished he lost courage But hope which never failes whilst life lasteth comforted him these feares were rather objects of conscience than incentives of prudence Tiberius by him unburdened from the greater toyles of Empire secured from his greatest enemies entertained and nousled in his chiefest delights Tiberius who found no quiet but in the bosome of his vigilance would not so soone said shee precipitate him whom hee so much had heretofore professed to affect The number of allyes obliged friends affectionare souldiers people who as yet adored him ministred rather matter to lessen sorrow than feare This verily was the beginning of the knowledge apprehension that Sejanus had of the instability of those things which are subject to Fortune Here beganne he discoursing with himselfe to derive consequences from seeing that Tiberius hitherto an impenetrable hider of his thoughts honoured Caius with Priestly dignity and praised him as one who should succeed him Here desperation began wholly to tyrannize over those reasons which in the minde of Sejanus were fed by that most tormenting desire of rule The certainty of the succession of a Prince is the oppression of his hopes who pretendeth to principalitie Here as Sejanus openly lost courage so fortune partiall to animosity began manifestly to presecute him A powerfull enemie of his Prefect of Spaine was freed from the heavie blame of exorbitant offences whether they were reall or objected by Sejanus The exaltation of enemies is the beginning of proper depresssion One scale of the ballance goes not up but the other sinks downe Tiberius wrote of the death of Nero to the Senate and naming Sejanus did it without usuall attributes Hee forbade that any man should hereafter dare to sacrifice to a man Poore is the God-head whose Deity rests upon an edict