the power to strike;
   And fury ever boils more high and strong,
   Heat with ambition, than revenge of wrong. 
   ’Tis then a part of supreme skill, to grace
   No man too much; but hold a certain space
   Between the ascender’s rise, and thine own flat,
   Lest, when all rounds be reach’d, his aim be that. 
   ’Tis thought. [Aside.]
   Is Macro in the palace? see: 
   If not, go seek him, to come to us.—–­ [Exit Offi.]
   He must be the organ we must work by now;
   Though none less apt for trust:  need doth allow
   What choice would not.  I have heard that aconite,
   Being timely taken, hath a healing might
   Against the scorpion’s stroke:  the proof we’ll give: 
   That, while two poisons wrestle, we may live. 
   He hath a spirit too working to be used
   But to the encounter of his like; excused
   Are wiser sov’reigns then, that raise one ill
   Against another, and both safely kill: 
   The prince that feeds great natures, they will slay him;
   Who nourisheth a lion must obey him.—–­
                                   Be-enter Officer, with macro. 
   Macro, we sent for you.

Mac.  I heard so, Caesar.

Tib. 
   Leave us awhile.—–­ [Exit Officer.]
   When you shall know. good Macro,
   The causes of our sending, and the ends,
   You will then hearken nearer; and be pleas’d
   You stand so high both in our choice and trust.

Mac. 
   The humblest place in Caesar’s choice or trust,
   May make glad Macro proud; without ambition. 
   Save to do Caesar service.

Tib. 
   Leave your courtings. 
   We are in purpose, Macro, to depart
   The city for a time, and see Campania;
   Not for our pleasures, but to dedicate
   A pair of temples, one to Jupiter
   At Capua; th’ other at Nola, to Augustus: 
   In which great work, perhaps our stay will be
   Beyond our will produced. . .Now since we are
   Not ignorant what danger may be born
   Out of our shortest absence in a state
   So subject unto envy, and embroil’d
   With hate and faction; we have thought on thee,
   Amongst a field of Romans, worthiest Macro,
   To be our eye and ear:  to keep strict watch
   On Agrippina, Nero, Drusus; ay,
   And on Sejanus:  not that we distrust
   His loyalty, or do repent one grace
   Of all that heap we have conferred on him;
   For that were to disparage our election,
   And call that judgment now in doubt, which then
   Seem’d as unquestion’d as an oracle-
   But, greatness hath his cankers.  Worms and moths
   Breed out of too much humour, in the things
   Which after they consume, transferring quite
   The substance of their makers into themselves. 
   Macro is sharp, and apprehends:  besides,
   I know him subtle, close, wise,