Actii
scene I.—–­The Garden of Eudemus. 
Enter Sejanus, Livia, and Eudemus.

Sej. 
   Physician, thou art worthy of a province. 
   For the great favours done unto our loves;
   And, but that greatest Livia bears a part
   In the requital of thy services,
   I should alone despair of aught, like means,
   To give them worthy satisfaction.

Liv. 
   Eudemus, I will see it, shall receive
   A fit and full reward for his large merit.—–­
   But for this potion we intend to Drusus,
   No more our husband now, whom shall we choose
   As the most apt and able instrument,
   To minister it to him?

Eud.  I say, Lygdus.

Sej.  Lygdus what’s he?

Liv.  An eunuch Drusus loves.

Eud.  Ay, and his cup-bearer.

Sej. 
   Name not a second. 
   If Drusus love him, and he have that place,
   We cannot think a fitter.

Eud. 
   True, my lord. 
   For free access and trust are two main aids.

Sej.  Skilful physician!

Liv. 
   But he must be wrought
   To the undertaking, with some labour’d art.

Sej.  Is he ambitious?

Liv.  No.

Sej.  Or covetous?

Liv.  Neither.

Eud.  Yet, gold is a good general charm.

Sej.  What is he, then?

Liv.  Faith, only wanton, light.

Sej.  How! is he young and fair?

Eud.  A delicate youth.

Sej. 
   Send him to me, I’ll work him.—–­Royal lady,
   Though I have loved you long, and with that height
   Of zeal and duty, like the fire, which more
   It mounts it trembles, thinking nought could add
   Unto the fervour which your eye had kindled;
   Yet, now I see your wisdom, judgment, strength,
   Quickness, and will, to apprehend the means
   To your own good and greatness, I protest
   Myself through rarified, and turn’d all flame
   In your affection:  such a spirit as yours,
   Was not created for the idle second
   To a poor flash, as Drusus; but to shine
   Bright as the moon among the lesser lights,
   And share the sov’reignty of all the world. 
   Then Livia triumphs in her proper sphere,
   When she and her Sejanus shall divide
   The name of Caesar, and Augusta’ s star
   Be dimm’d with glory of a brighter beam: 
   When Agrippina’s fires are quite extinct,
   And the scarce-soon Tiberius borrows all
   His little light from us, whose folded arms
   Shall make one perfect orb. [Knocking within.]
   Who’s that!  Eudemus, Look. [Exit Eudemus.]
   ’Tis not Drusus, lady, do not fear.

Liv. 
   Not I, my lord:  my fear and love of him
   Left me at once.

Sej.  Illustrious lady, stay—–­

Eud. [within.] I’ll tell his lordship. [Re-enter Eudemus.