Pop.(reads).To her dearest son. Ha! ha! ha!When last we met thou wilt remember to have confessed some shame for wrong done to me. The wrong I forgive, but eagerly seize on thy sorrow to ask of thee, in regard for thine own happiness, this only favour. ’Tis my earnest prayer and advice that thou dismiss Poppæa.2551Ner.Ha! writes she so?Pop.Attend, the reasons follow.(Reading.)Beware of her: nor think that I grudge thee the happiness which thou now findest in her. Marriage with her can lead only to thy misery. I know her well.Now hear my character.Ner.Give me the letter.Pop.She is vain, deceitful, self-seeking, and, being by nature cold, hath the art to assume the mask of passion; and ’neath the show of virtue designedly conceals her wickedness and mischief. She loves thee no better than she loves Otho.2561Ner.Give me the letter.Pop.Nay, one sentence more.Believe a woman sees further than a man, since to her eyes beauty is no veil.She grants me beauty then.[Gives letter to Nero.Ner.(reading). ’Tis so, ’tis so. Ye gods! and thouwert right.Poppæa, this is the end. Come not to Baiæ.Wait my return.Pop.What’s now to do, I pray?Ner.Ask not: when I return I shall be free.We will be married.Pop.Will you banish her?2570Ner.Ask nothing.Pop.From her exile still her plottingsWill reach to Rome.Ner.Not so, for she shall goWhence nothing reaches Rome.Pop.Oh, now I fearI have said too much; let not my love o’ercome thee.Maybe she meant not this.Ner.Thou meddle not!Pop.Oh, but at least no crimes, Nero, no crimes!Promise me that; rather I’ll fly to-night.Ner.Poppæa, in earnest of the happy dayWhen thou wilt be my wife, I bid thee now2580Depart.Pop.(kissing him). Husband, I go.[Exit.Ner.What ho! what ho!Enter a Servant.Is Anicetus in the palace?SERVANT.Ay, Cæsar.Ner.Go, bid him hither straight.[Exit Servant.It shall be done.Ay, now it shall be done. Let me consider;I must be cool, lest I be foiled once more.Where lies my hindrance? not in her; she has twiceDeceived me and escaped: now in my turnI steal her weapon, and can use it better,Having been plain before. Then Seneca ...He shall not know, so are his scruples quiet.For mine, they are hushed already; but ’twere best2591Recount the terms which reason can opposeTo too rebellious nature: first there’s my motive,Huge as the earth; liberty, happiness,Empire: that cannot slide, I fear not that.Then there’s the ground of justice; Claudius’ death,O’er which the executive too long hath sleptIn Cæsar’s piety: the sentence nowO’ertakes the murderess with a double score,Since she by her conspiracy contrived2600Britannicus should die ... ay, for his deathThe heavy penalty hangs o’er some head;Now let it fall on hers,—so I am quit.All this condemns her, long-expected justiceCries, and occasion hurries on the hand.Ay, ay, I am clear. Poppæa being my stake,I cannot shrink nor swerve. What was’t she wrote?Why here is more.[Reads.Be with me in this matter,But if thou should’st refuse, we are worse foes.She dares the threat.Enter Anicetus.ANICETUS.Cæsar hath summoned me.2610Ner.Good Anicetus, tell me, is there noneGreater than Cæsar?Anic.Nay, Cæsar, there is none.Ner.But were there one to whom it might be saidCæsar owed life and fortune—dost thou take me?Anic.Cæsar would say the Augusta.Ner.Nay, thou’rt dull:’Twas thee I meant.Anic.Me, Cæsar!Ner.Dost rememberBoasting to me that thou hadst sailor meansTo do a certain thing?Anic.Ay.Ner.Do it now.I’ll owe thee life and fortune. Canst thou be trusted?Anic.My love for Cæsar follows hand in handWith his command in this.Ner.Then do it, I say;2620No words, no explanation. AgrippinaWill come to Baiæ: there have thou thy ship.Anic.I will have one at Bauli, one at Baiæ:If she take either it shall serve the turn.Ner.Go now contrive thy means; let nothing ’scape theeTo me or any other: when ’tis doneHold thy head high.Anic.Cæsar, I go to do it.[Exit.Ner.Now comes my part: ay, though it vex my soulTo stoop; tho’ this be Cæsar’s greatest wrong,That he must patch his faultless power with guile,2631And having all command, miss of his willBut for a subterfuge .... yet for this onceI’ll do it—’tis little; but to write a letter,Feign to discard Poppæa, as mistrustingHer love and character; and from that vantageI surely win my mother to come forthAnd join the court at Baiæ—she will come.
Pop.(reads).To her dearest son. Ha! ha! ha!When last we met thou wilt remember to have confessed some shame for wrong done to me. The wrong I forgive, but eagerly seize on thy sorrow to ask of thee, in regard for thine own happiness, this only favour. ’Tis my earnest prayer and advice that thou dismiss Poppæa.2551Ner.Ha! writes she so?Pop.Attend, the reasons follow.(Reading.)Beware of her: nor think that I grudge thee the happiness which thou now findest in her. Marriage with her can lead only to thy misery. I know her well.Now hear my character.Ner.Give me the letter.Pop.She is vain, deceitful, self-seeking, and, being by nature cold, hath the art to assume the mask of passion; and ’neath the show of virtue designedly conceals her wickedness and mischief. She loves thee no better than she loves Otho.2561Ner.Give me the letter.Pop.Nay, one sentence more.Believe a woman sees further than a man, since to her eyes beauty is no veil.She grants me beauty then.[Gives letter to Nero.Ner.(reading). ’Tis so, ’tis so. Ye gods! and thouwert right.Poppæa, this is the end. Come not to Baiæ.Wait my return.Pop.What’s now to do, I pray?Ner.Ask not: when I return I shall be free.We will be married.Pop.Will you banish her?2570Ner.Ask nothing.Pop.From her exile still her plottingsWill reach to Rome.Ner.Not so, for she shall goWhence nothing reaches Rome.Pop.Oh, now I fearI have said too much; let not my love o’ercome thee.Maybe she meant not this.Ner.Thou meddle not!Pop.Oh, but at least no crimes, Nero, no crimes!Promise me that; rather I’ll fly to-night.Ner.Poppæa, in earnest of the happy dayWhen thou wilt be my wife, I bid thee now2580Depart.Pop.(kissing him). Husband, I go.[Exit.Ner.What ho! what ho!Enter a Servant.Is Anicetus in the palace?SERVANT.Ay, Cæsar.Ner.Go, bid him hither straight.[Exit Servant.It shall be done.Ay, now it shall be done. Let me consider;I must be cool, lest I be foiled once more.Where lies my hindrance? not in her; she has twiceDeceived me and escaped: now in my turnI steal her weapon, and can use it better,Having been plain before. Then Seneca ...He shall not know, so are his scruples quiet.For mine, they are hushed already; but ’twere best2591Recount the terms which reason can opposeTo too rebellious nature: first there’s my motive,Huge as the earth; liberty, happiness,Empire: that cannot slide, I fear not that.Then there’s the ground of justice; Claudius’ death,O’er which the executive too long hath sleptIn Cæsar’s piety: the sentence nowO’ertakes the murderess with a double score,Since she by her conspiracy contrived2600Britannicus should die ... ay, for his deathThe heavy penalty hangs o’er some head;Now let it fall on hers,—so I am quit.All this condemns her, long-expected justiceCries, and occasion hurries on the hand.Ay, ay, I am clear. Poppæa being my stake,I cannot shrink nor swerve. What was’t she wrote?Why here is more.[Reads.Be with me in this matter,But if thou should’st refuse, we are worse foes.She dares the threat.Enter Anicetus.ANICETUS.Cæsar hath summoned me.2610Ner.Good Anicetus, tell me, is there noneGreater than Cæsar?Anic.Nay, Cæsar, there is none.Ner.But were there one to whom it might be saidCæsar owed life and fortune—dost thou take me?Anic.Cæsar would say the Augusta.Ner.Nay, thou’rt dull:’Twas thee I meant.Anic.Me, Cæsar!Ner.Dost rememberBoasting to me that thou hadst sailor meansTo do a certain thing?Anic.Ay.Ner.Do it now.I’ll owe thee life and fortune. Canst thou be trusted?Anic.My love for Cæsar follows hand in handWith his command in this.Ner.Then do it, I say;2620No words, no explanation. AgrippinaWill come to Baiæ: there have thou thy ship.Anic.I will have one at Bauli, one at Baiæ:If she take either it shall serve the turn.Ner.Go now contrive thy means; let nothing ’scape theeTo me or any other: when ’tis doneHold thy head high.Anic.Cæsar, I go to do it.[Exit.Ner.Now comes my part: ay, though it vex my soulTo stoop; tho’ this be Cæsar’s greatest wrong,That he must patch his faultless power with guile,2631And having all command, miss of his willBut for a subterfuge .... yet for this onceI’ll do it—’tis little; but to write a letter,Feign to discard Poppæa, as mistrustingHer love and character; and from that vantageI surely win my mother to come forthAnd join the court at Baiæ—she will come.
Pop.(reads).To her dearest son. Ha! ha! ha!When last we met thou wilt remember to have confessed some shame for wrong done to me. The wrong I forgive, but eagerly seize on thy sorrow to ask of thee, in regard for thine own happiness, this only favour. ’Tis my earnest prayer and advice that thou dismiss Poppæa.2551Ner.Ha! writes she so?Pop.Attend, the reasons follow.(Reading.)Beware of her: nor think that I grudge thee the happiness which thou now findest in her. Marriage with her can lead only to thy misery. I know her well.Now hear my character.Ner.Give me the letter.Pop.She is vain, deceitful, self-seeking, and, being by nature cold, hath the art to assume the mask of passion; and ’neath the show of virtue designedly conceals her wickedness and mischief. She loves thee no better than she loves Otho.2561Ner.Give me the letter.Pop.Nay, one sentence more.Believe a woman sees further than a man, since to her eyes beauty is no veil.She grants me beauty then.[Gives letter to Nero.
Pop.(reads).To her dearest son. Ha! ha! ha!When last we met thou wilt remember to have confessed some shame for wrong done to me. The wrong I forgive, but eagerly seize on thy sorrow to ask of thee, in regard for thine own happiness, this only favour. ’Tis my earnest prayer and advice that thou dismiss Poppæa.2551
Ner.Ha! writes she so?
Pop.Attend, the reasons follow.(Reading.)Beware of her: nor think that I grudge thee the happiness which thou now findest in her. Marriage with her can lead only to thy misery. I know her well.Now hear my character.
Ner.Give me the letter.
Pop.She is vain, deceitful, self-seeking, and, being by nature cold, hath the art to assume the mask of passion; and ’neath the show of virtue designedly conceals her wickedness and mischief. She loves thee no better than she loves Otho.2561
Ner.Give me the letter.
Pop.Nay, one sentence more.Believe a woman sees further than a man, since to her eyes beauty is no veil.She grants me beauty then.[Gives letter to Nero.
Ner.(reading). ’Tis so, ’tis so. Ye gods! and thouwert right.Poppæa, this is the end. Come not to Baiæ.Wait my return.Pop.What’s now to do, I pray?Ner.Ask not: when I return I shall be free.We will be married.Pop.Will you banish her?2570Ner.Ask nothing.Pop.From her exile still her plottingsWill reach to Rome.Ner.Not so, for she shall goWhence nothing reaches Rome.Pop.Oh, now I fearI have said too much; let not my love o’ercome thee.Maybe she meant not this.Ner.Thou meddle not!Pop.Oh, but at least no crimes, Nero, no crimes!Promise me that; rather I’ll fly to-night.Ner.Poppæa, in earnest of the happy dayWhen thou wilt be my wife, I bid thee now2580Depart.Pop.(kissing him). Husband, I go.[Exit.Ner.What ho! what ho!Enter a Servant.Is Anicetus in the palace?SERVANT.Ay, Cæsar.Ner.Go, bid him hither straight.[Exit Servant.It shall be done.Ay, now it shall be done. Let me consider;I must be cool, lest I be foiled once more.Where lies my hindrance? not in her; she has twiceDeceived me and escaped: now in my turnI steal her weapon, and can use it better,Having been plain before. Then Seneca ...He shall not know, so are his scruples quiet.For mine, they are hushed already; but ’twere best2591Recount the terms which reason can opposeTo too rebellious nature: first there’s my motive,Huge as the earth; liberty, happiness,Empire: that cannot slide, I fear not that.Then there’s the ground of justice; Claudius’ death,O’er which the executive too long hath sleptIn Cæsar’s piety: the sentence nowO’ertakes the murderess with a double score,Since she by her conspiracy contrived2600Britannicus should die ... ay, for his deathThe heavy penalty hangs o’er some head;Now let it fall on hers,—so I am quit.All this condemns her, long-expected justiceCries, and occasion hurries on the hand.Ay, ay, I am clear. Poppæa being my stake,I cannot shrink nor swerve. What was’t she wrote?Why here is more.[Reads.Be with me in this matter,But if thou should’st refuse, we are worse foes.She dares the threat.Enter Anicetus.ANICETUS.Cæsar hath summoned me.2610Ner.Good Anicetus, tell me, is there noneGreater than Cæsar?Anic.Nay, Cæsar, there is none.Ner.But were there one to whom it might be saidCæsar owed life and fortune—dost thou take me?Anic.Cæsar would say the Augusta.Ner.Nay, thou’rt dull:’Twas thee I meant.Anic.Me, Cæsar!Ner.Dost rememberBoasting to me that thou hadst sailor meansTo do a certain thing?Anic.Ay.Ner.Do it now.I’ll owe thee life and fortune. Canst thou be trusted?Anic.My love for Cæsar follows hand in handWith his command in this.Ner.Then do it, I say;2620No words, no explanation. AgrippinaWill come to Baiæ: there have thou thy ship.Anic.I will have one at Bauli, one at Baiæ:If she take either it shall serve the turn.Ner.Go now contrive thy means; let nothing ’scape theeTo me or any other: when ’tis doneHold thy head high.Anic.Cæsar, I go to do it.[Exit.Ner.Now comes my part: ay, though it vex my soulTo stoop; tho’ this be Cæsar’s greatest wrong,That he must patch his faultless power with guile,2631And having all command, miss of his willBut for a subterfuge .... yet for this onceI’ll do it—’tis little; but to write a letter,Feign to discard Poppæa, as mistrustingHer love and character; and from that vantageI surely win my mother to come forthAnd join the court at Baiæ—she will come.
Ner.(reading). ’Tis so, ’tis so. Ye gods! and thouwert right.Poppæa, this is the end. Come not to Baiæ.Wait my return.Pop.What’s now to do, I pray?Ner.Ask not: when I return I shall be free.We will be married.Pop.Will you banish her?2570Ner.Ask nothing.Pop.From her exile still her plottingsWill reach to Rome.Ner.Not so, for she shall goWhence nothing reaches Rome.Pop.Oh, now I fearI have said too much; let not my love o’ercome thee.Maybe she meant not this.Ner.Thou meddle not!Pop.Oh, but at least no crimes, Nero, no crimes!Promise me that; rather I’ll fly to-night.Ner.Poppæa, in earnest of the happy dayWhen thou wilt be my wife, I bid thee now2580Depart.Pop.(kissing him). Husband, I go.[Exit.Ner.What ho! what ho!Enter a Servant.Is Anicetus in the palace?SERVANT.Ay, Cæsar.Ner.Go, bid him hither straight.[Exit Servant.It shall be done.Ay, now it shall be done. Let me consider;I must be cool, lest I be foiled once more.Where lies my hindrance? not in her; she has twiceDeceived me and escaped: now in my turnI steal her weapon, and can use it better,Having been plain before. Then Seneca ...He shall not know, so are his scruples quiet.For mine, they are hushed already; but ’twere best2591Recount the terms which reason can opposeTo too rebellious nature: first there’s my motive,Huge as the earth; liberty, happiness,Empire: that cannot slide, I fear not that.Then there’s the ground of justice; Claudius’ death,O’er which the executive too long hath sleptIn Cæsar’s piety: the sentence nowO’ertakes the murderess with a double score,Since she by her conspiracy contrived2600Britannicus should die ... ay, for his deathThe heavy penalty hangs o’er some head;Now let it fall on hers,—so I am quit.All this condemns her, long-expected justiceCries, and occasion hurries on the hand.Ay, ay, I am clear. Poppæa being my stake,I cannot shrink nor swerve. What was’t she wrote?Why here is more.[Reads.Be with me in this matter,But if thou should’st refuse, we are worse foes.She dares the threat.Enter Anicetus.ANICETUS.Cæsar hath summoned me.2610Ner.Good Anicetus, tell me, is there noneGreater than Cæsar?Anic.Nay, Cæsar, there is none.Ner.But were there one to whom it might be saidCæsar owed life and fortune—dost thou take me?Anic.Cæsar would say the Augusta.Ner.Nay, thou’rt dull:’Twas thee I meant.Anic.Me, Cæsar!Ner.Dost rememberBoasting to me that thou hadst sailor meansTo do a certain thing?Anic.Ay.Ner.Do it now.I’ll owe thee life and fortune. Canst thou be trusted?Anic.My love for Cæsar follows hand in handWith his command in this.Ner.Then do it, I say;2620No words, no explanation. AgrippinaWill come to Baiæ: there have thou thy ship.Anic.I will have one at Bauli, one at Baiæ:If she take either it shall serve the turn.Ner.Go now contrive thy means; let nothing ’scape theeTo me or any other: when ’tis doneHold thy head high.Anic.Cæsar, I go to do it.[Exit.Ner.Now comes my part: ay, though it vex my soulTo stoop; tho’ this be Cæsar’s greatest wrong,That he must patch his faultless power with guile,2631And having all command, miss of his willBut for a subterfuge .... yet for this onceI’ll do it—’tis little; but to write a letter,Feign to discard Poppæa, as mistrustingHer love and character; and from that vantageI surely win my mother to come forthAnd join the court at Baiæ—she will come.
Ner.(reading). ’Tis so, ’tis so. Ye gods! and thouwert right.Poppæa, this is the end. Come not to Baiæ.Wait my return.
Ner.(reading). ’Tis so, ’tis so. Ye gods! and thou
wert right.
Poppæa, this is the end. Come not to Baiæ.
Wait my return.
Pop.What’s now to do, I pray?
Pop.What’s now to do, I pray?
Ner.Ask not: when I return I shall be free.We will be married.
Ner.Ask not: when I return I shall be free.
We will be married.
Pop.Will you banish her?2570
Pop.Will you banish her?2570
Ner.Ask nothing.
Ner.Ask nothing.
Pop.From her exile still her plottingsWill reach to Rome.
Pop.From her exile still her plottings
Will reach to Rome.
Ner.Not so, for she shall goWhence nothing reaches Rome.
Ner.Not so, for she shall go
Whence nothing reaches Rome.
Pop.Oh, now I fearI have said too much; let not my love o’ercome thee.Maybe she meant not this.
Pop.Oh, now I fear
I have said too much; let not my love o’ercome thee.
Maybe she meant not this.
Ner.Thou meddle not!
Ner.Thou meddle not!
Pop.Oh, but at least no crimes, Nero, no crimes!Promise me that; rather I’ll fly to-night.
Pop.Oh, but at least no crimes, Nero, no crimes!
Promise me that; rather I’ll fly to-night.
Ner.Poppæa, in earnest of the happy dayWhen thou wilt be my wife, I bid thee now2580Depart.
Ner.Poppæa, in earnest of the happy day
When thou wilt be my wife, I bid thee now
Depart.
Pop.(kissing him). Husband, I go.[Exit.
Pop.(kissing him). Husband, I go.[Exit.
Ner.What ho! what ho!
Ner.What ho! what ho!
Enter a Servant.
Enter a Servant.
Is Anicetus in the palace?
Is Anicetus in the palace?
SERVANT.
SERVANT.
Ay, Cæsar.
Ay, Cæsar.
Ner.Go, bid him hither straight.[Exit Servant.It shall be done.Ay, now it shall be done. Let me consider;I must be cool, lest I be foiled once more.Where lies my hindrance? not in her; she has twiceDeceived me and escaped: now in my turnI steal her weapon, and can use it better,Having been plain before. Then Seneca ...He shall not know, so are his scruples quiet.For mine, they are hushed already; but ’twere best2591Recount the terms which reason can opposeTo too rebellious nature: first there’s my motive,Huge as the earth; liberty, happiness,Empire: that cannot slide, I fear not that.Then there’s the ground of justice; Claudius’ death,O’er which the executive too long hath sleptIn Cæsar’s piety: the sentence nowO’ertakes the murderess with a double score,Since she by her conspiracy contrived2600Britannicus should die ... ay, for his deathThe heavy penalty hangs o’er some head;Now let it fall on hers,—so I am quit.All this condemns her, long-expected justiceCries, and occasion hurries on the hand.Ay, ay, I am clear. Poppæa being my stake,I cannot shrink nor swerve. What was’t she wrote?Why here is more.[Reads.Be with me in this matter,But if thou should’st refuse, we are worse foes.She dares the threat.
Ner.Go, bid him hither straight.[Exit Servant.
It shall be done.
Ay, now it shall be done. Let me consider;
I must be cool, lest I be foiled once more.
Where lies my hindrance? not in her; she has twice
Deceived me and escaped: now in my turn
I steal her weapon, and can use it better,
Having been plain before. Then Seneca ...
He shall not know, so are his scruples quiet.
For mine, they are hushed already; but ’twere best
Recount the terms which reason can oppose
To too rebellious nature: first there’s my motive,
Huge as the earth; liberty, happiness,
Empire: that cannot slide, I fear not that.
Then there’s the ground of justice; Claudius’ death,
O’er which the executive too long hath slept
In Cæsar’s piety: the sentence now
O’ertakes the murderess with a double score,
Since she by her conspiracy contrived
Britannicus should die ... ay, for his death
The heavy penalty hangs o’er some head;
Now let it fall on hers,—so I am quit.
All this condemns her, long-expected justice
Cries, and occasion hurries on the hand.
Ay, ay, I am clear. Poppæa being my stake,
I cannot shrink nor swerve. What was’t she wrote?
Why here is more.[Reads.
Be with me in this matter,
But if thou should’st refuse, we are worse foes.
She dares the threat.
Enter Anicetus.
Enter Anicetus.
ANICETUS.
ANICETUS.
Cæsar hath summoned me.
Cæsar hath summoned me.
2610Ner.Good Anicetus, tell me, is there noneGreater than Cæsar?
Ner.Good Anicetus, tell me, is there none
Greater than Cæsar?
Anic.Nay, Cæsar, there is none.
Anic.Nay, Cæsar, there is none.
Ner.But were there one to whom it might be saidCæsar owed life and fortune—dost thou take me?
Ner.But were there one to whom it might be said
Cæsar owed life and fortune—dost thou take me?
Anic.Cæsar would say the Augusta.
Anic.Cæsar would say the Augusta.
Ner.Nay, thou’rt dull:’Twas thee I meant.
Ner.Nay, thou’rt dull:
’Twas thee I meant.
Anic.Me, Cæsar!
Anic.Me, Cæsar!
Ner.Dost rememberBoasting to me that thou hadst sailor meansTo do a certain thing?
Ner.Dost remember
Boasting to me that thou hadst sailor means
To do a certain thing?
Anic.Ay.
Anic.Ay.
Ner.Do it now.I’ll owe thee life and fortune. Canst thou be trusted?
Ner.Do it now.
I’ll owe thee life and fortune. Canst thou be trusted?
Anic.My love for Cæsar follows hand in handWith his command in this.
Anic.My love for Cæsar follows hand in hand
With his command in this.
Ner.Then do it, I say;2620No words, no explanation. AgrippinaWill come to Baiæ: there have thou thy ship.
Ner.Then do it, I say;2620
No words, no explanation. Agrippina
Will come to Baiæ: there have thou thy ship.
Anic.I will have one at Bauli, one at Baiæ:If she take either it shall serve the turn.
Anic.I will have one at Bauli, one at Baiæ:
If she take either it shall serve the turn.
Ner.Go now contrive thy means; let nothing ’scape theeTo me or any other: when ’tis doneHold thy head high.
Ner.Go now contrive thy means; let nothing ’scape thee
To me or any other: when ’tis done
Hold thy head high.
Anic.Cæsar, I go to do it.[Exit.
Anic.Cæsar, I go to do it.[Exit.
Ner.Now comes my part: ay, though it vex my soulTo stoop; tho’ this be Cæsar’s greatest wrong,That he must patch his faultless power with guile,2631And having all command, miss of his willBut for a subterfuge .... yet for this onceI’ll do it—’tis little; but to write a letter,Feign to discard Poppæa, as mistrustingHer love and character; and from that vantageI surely win my mother to come forthAnd join the court at Baiæ—she will come.
Ner.Now comes my part: ay, though it vex my soul
To stoop; tho’ this be Cæsar’s greatest wrong,
That he must patch his faultless power with guile,
And having all command, miss of his will
But for a subterfuge .... yet for this once
I’ll do it—’tis little; but to write a letter,
Feign to discard Poppæa, as mistrusting
Her love and character; and from that vantage
I surely win my mother to come forth
And join the court at Baiæ—she will come.