parricides,
   Which notes upon their fames are now imposed. 
   Asinius Pollio’s writings quite throughout
   Give them a noble memory; so Messala
   Renown’d his general Cassius:  yet both these
   Lived with Augustus, full of wealth and honours,
   To Cicero’s book, where Cato was heav’d up
   Equal with Heaven, what else did Caesar answer,
   Being then dictator, but with a penn’d oration,
   As if before the judges?  Do but see
   Antonius’ letters; read but Brutus’ pleadings: 
   What vile reproach they hold against Augustus,
   False, I confess, but with much bitterness. 
   The epigrams of Bibaculus and Catullus
   Are read, full stuft with spite of both the Caesars;
   Yet deified Julius, and no less Augustus,
   Both bore them, and contemn’d them:  I not know,
   Promptly to speak it, whether done with more
   Temper, or wisdom; for such obloquies
   If they despised be, they die supprest;
   But if with rage acknowledg’d, they are confest. 
   The Greeks I slip, whose license not alone,
   But also lust did scape unpunished: 
   Or where some one, by chance, exception took,
   He words with words revenged.  But, in my work,
   What could be aim’d more free, or farther off
   From the time’s scandal, than to write of those,
   Whom death from grace or hatred had exempted? 
   Did I, with Brutus and with Cassius,
   Arm’d, and possess’d of the Philippi fields,
   Incense the people in the civil cause,
   With dangerous speeches?  Or do they, being slain
   Seventy years since, as by their images,
   Which not the conqueror hath defaced, appears,
   Retain that guilty memory with writers? 
   Posterity pays every man his honour;
   Nor shall there want, though I condemned am,
   That will not only Cassius well approve,
   And of great Brutus’ honour mindful be,
   But that will also mention make of me.

Arr.  Freely and nobly spoken!

Sab. 
   With good temper;
   I like him, that he is not moved with passion.

Arr.  He puts them to their whisper.

Tib. 
   Take him hence;
   We shall determine of him at next sitting.
                                    [Exeunt Officers with Cordus. 
Cot. 
   Mean time, give order, that his books be burnt,
   To the aediles.

Sej.  You have well advised.

Afer. 
   It fits not such licentious things should live
   T’upbraid the age.

Arr.  If the age were good, they might.

Lat.  Let them be burnt.

Gal.  All sought, and burnt to-day.

Prae.  The court is up; lictors, resume the fasces.
                [Exeunt all but Arruntius, Sabinus, and Lepidus. 
Arr. 
   Let them be burnt!  O, how ridiculous
   Appears the senate’s brainless diligence,
   Who think they can, with present power, extinguish
   The memory of all succeeding times!