Arr.  Laugh, fathers, laugh:  have you no spleens about you?
          
                                              [Aside. 
Tib. 
    The burden is too heavy I sustain
    On my unwilling shoulders; and I pray
    It may be taken off, and reconferred
    Upon the consuls, or some other Roman,
    More able, and more worthy.

Arr.  Laugh on still. [Aside.

Sab.  Why this doth render all the rest suspected!

Gal.  It poisons all.

Arr.  O, do you taste it then?

Sab. 
   It takes away my faith to any thing,
   He shall hereafter speak.

Arr. 
   Ay, to pray that,
   Which would be to his head as hot as thunder,
   ’Gainst which he wears that charm should but the court
   Receive him at his word.

Gal.  Hear!

Tib. 
   For myself
   I know my weakness, and so little covet,
   Like some gone past, the weight that will oppress me,
   As my ambition is the counter-point.

Arr.  Finely maintained; good still!

Sej. 
   But Rome, whose blood,
   Whose nerves, whose life, whose very frame relies
   On Caesar’s strength, no less than heaven on Atlas,
   Cannot admit it but with general ruin.

Arr.  Ah! are you there to bring him off? [Aside.

Sej. 
   Let Caesar
   No more then urge a point so contrary
   To Caesar’s greatness, the grieved senate’s vows,
   Or Rome’s necessity.

Gal.  He comes about—–­

Arr.  More nimbly than Vertumnus.

Tib. 
   For the publick,
   I may he drawn to shew I can neglect
   All private aims, though I affect my rest;
   But if the senate still command me serve,
   I must be glad to practise my obedience.

Arr.  You must and will, sir.  We do know it. [Aside.

Senators. 
   Caesar,
   Live long and happy, great and royal Caesar;
   The gods preserve thee and thy modesty,
   Thy wisdom and thy innocence

Arr. 
   Where is’t? 
   The prayer is made before the subject. [Aside.

Senators. 
   Guard
   His meekness, Jove; his piety, his care,
   His bounty—–­

Arr. 
   And his subtility, I’ll put in: 
   Yet he’ll keep that himself, without the gods. 
   All prayers are vain for him. [Aside. 
Tib. 
   We will not hold
   Your patience, fathers, with long answer; but
   Shall still contend to be what you desire,
   And work to satisfy so great a hope. 
   Proceed to your affairs.

Arr. 
   Now, Silius, guard thee;
   The curtain’s drawing.  Afer advanceth. [Aside.

Prae.  Silence!

Afer.  Cite Caius Silius.

Prae.  Caius Silius!

Sil.  Here.