SEIANVS

his

 FALL.

A Tragoedie.

Acted in the yeere 1603.
By the K. M
AIESTIES
SERVANTS.



TO THE NOBLEST
NOVRCERIES OF HVMA-
NITY, AND LIBERTY,
IN THE KINGDOME:

The Innes of Court.

  IVnderstand you, Gentlemen, not your houses : and a worthy succession of you, to all time, as being borne the Iudges of these studies. When J wrote this Poeme, J had friendship with diuers in your societies ; who, as they were great Names in learning, so they were no lesse Examples of liuing. Of them, and then (that J say no more) it was not despis'd. Now that the Printer, by a doubled charge, thinkes it worthy a longer life, then commonly the ayre of such things doth promise ; J am carefull to put it a seruant to their pleasures, who are the inheriters of the first fauour borne it. Yet, J command, it lye not in the way of your more noble, and vse-full studies to the publike. For so I shall suffer for it : But, when the gowne and cap is off, and the Lord of liberty raignes ; then, to take it in your hands, perhaps may make some Bencher, tincted with humanity, reade : and not repent him.

                     By your true Honorer,  
BEN.  IONSON.
 


Headpiece

SEIANVS.



Act.  I.

SABINVS, SILIVS, NATTA, LATIARIS, CORDVS, SATRIVS, ARRVNTIVS, EVDEMVS, HATERIVS, &c.

HAile, CAIVS SILIVS.   SIL. TITIVS SABINVS, Haile.
Yo'are rarely met in court !   SAB. Therefore, well met.
SIL. 'Tis true : Indeed, this place is not our sphaere.
SAB. No, SILIVS, wee are no good inginers ;
We want the fine arts, & their thriuing vse,
Should make vs grac'd, or fauour'd of the times
:
We haue no shift of faces, no cleft tongues,
No soft, and glutinous bodies, that can sticke,
Like snailes, on painted walls ; or, on our brests,
Creepe vp, to fall, from that proud height, to which
We did by slauerie, not by seruice, clime.
We are no guilty men, and then no great ;
We haue nor place in court, office in state,
That we can say, we owe vnto our crimes :
We burne with no black secrets, which can make
Vs deare to the pale authors ; or liue fear'd
Of their still waking iealosies, to raise
Our selues a fortune, by subuerting theirs.
We stand not in the lines, that doe aduance
To that so courted point.
[@ Jonson, Workes 360]

 


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