YOUNG MARIUS. O, stay him, good Lectorius, for me-seems His great post-haste some pleasure should present.
LECTORIUS. Without perhaps, say, sirrah, is it so?
SLAVE. This is Lectorius, Marius' friend, I trow; Yet were I best to learn the certainty, Lest some dissembling foes should me descry. [_Aside_.
YOUNG MARIUS. Sirrah, leave off this foolish dalliance, Lest with my sword I wake you from your trance.
SLAVE. O happy man, O labours well-achiev'd! How hath this chance my weary limbs revived: O noble Marius! O princely Marius!
YOUNG MARIUS. What means this peasant by his great rejoice?
SLAVE. O worthy Roman, many months have past Since Cinna, now the consul and my lord, Hath sent me forth to seek thy friends and thee. All Lybia, with our Roman presidents, Numidia, full of unfrequented ways, These weary limbs have trod to seek you out, And now, occasion pitying of my pains, I late arriv'd upon this wished shore, Found out a sailor born in Capua, That told me how your lordship pass'd this way.
YOUNG MARIUS. A happy labour, worthy some reward. How fares thy master? What's the news at Rome?
SLAVE. Pull out the pike from off this javelin-top, And there are tidings for these lords and thee.
YOUNG MARIUS. A policy beseeming Cinna well: Lectorius, read, and break these letters up.[118]
To his Honourable friend Marius the younger, greeting.
_Being consul (for the welfare both of father and son, with other thy accomplices), I have, under an honest policy, since my instalment in the consulship, caused all Sylla's friends that were indifferent, with the other neighbouring cities, to revolt. Octavius, my fellow-consul, with the rest of the senate, mistrusting me, and hearing how I sought to unite the old citizens with the new, hath wrought much trouble, but to no effect. I hope the soldiers of Capua shall follow our faction, for Sylla, hearing of these hurly-burlies, is hasting homeward, very fortunate in his wars against Mithridates. And it is to be feared that some of his friends here have certified him of my proceedings, and purpose to restore you. Cethegus and Lectorius I hear say are with you. Censorinus and Albinovanus will shortly visit you. Therefore haste and seek out your father, who is now, as I hear, about Minturnum. Levy what power you can with all expedition, and stay not_.