Chapter 9

470Sen.O, I can do it, Burrus, trust to me.I place them all as chessmen, and I findDelight in difficulty: but ’tis hard,When one has chosen, strengthened a position,To change the value of a piece. I thinkMuch of your judgment, and I ask you nowWhat you would do. I must decide to-day.Bur.Why must?Sen.As if you knew not.Bur.If your artBe to adapt yourself to every change ....Sen.You know ’tis not. I say, should Nero nowBanish his mother?Bur.Hark ye, Seneca,480If you remember, I foresaw this trouble.I know no remedy, nor is’t my officeTo arrange the affairs of the palace, gods be praised.But this is clear to me, that our three friendsWill never live together: what I urgeIs, separate them: if you cannot that,We must not stick in balance when they break.Whene’er that happens, our pre-eminent duty489Lies in our oath to Cæsar, and our secondMay be his mother’s pleasure, to whose schemesWe owe our place.[Knocking heard.Sen.Who’s there? come in.Enter Servant.SERVANT.The AugustaHas come in private, and desires an audience.Sen.Again, you see, the Augusta.Bur.Eh! I’ll be off.Sen.One moment, pray. (To Servt.) Beg her bepleased to enter.[Exit Servt.Burrus, I adjure you not to go, your presenceMay moderate her passion: or, if not,’Twere best you saw it.Bur.Well, all’s one to me.Enter Agrippina.AGRIPPINA.Be not surprised that I so soon return:I have repented. Ha! the general here!500Thou seest me, Burrus, on a woman’s errand.Nay, no apology; thou hast o’erheardMy merit, not my fault.Bur.I thank your majesty.I will withdraw.Agr.Nay, I desire thee stay.I came not here to find thee; but thy presenceMends my intention. Let us hold a council.’Tis not the first time our triumvirate,Secretly gathered in the nick of time,Hath preordained the changes which should fallUpon the earth like fate. To-day’s decree,510If we combine, will be as big with actionAs any we have uttered.Bur.I fear I standIn ignorance of the question.Sen.I will explain.Agr.Listen to me. We three who here are metStand in such place, that, if we but unite,There’s none can say us nay. I do not askWho raised thee, Burrus, or thee, Seneca,To where ye are: nay, if I asked you thatI’d look for no more answer than if askingWhat two and two make; ’tis self-evident,520Unquestioned; it was I; and if you oweAllegiance to another, ’tis to oneWhom I made more than I made you; ay, oneWho has nothing but what was mine, and is mine:His body mine, his life and being mine,His power, his place, his honour mine, my son,My Nero, who, when my husband late deceased,The honest Claudius, passed to join the gods,Was raised and set by me under your guidance,To share with me the empire of the world.530Now what it may be that hath warped his heartIs from the matter: enough that so it is.I might blame one of you, sure not myself,Who have ever held in love and kindness towards himThe same intention; nay, and from my kindnessI swerve not now, though for a wholesome endI mask that kindness in severity.There’s but this choice, I must withdraw my favour,Or suffer my disgrace: ay, and for you,Burrus and Seneca, be sure, the same.540If I fall, ye will fall. Therefore being oneIn interest with me, I look to find you readyTo stand by me in any scheme of actionWhich may preserve our station, while we may.Sen.Your majesty says well. We have hithertoAll held one purpose, and if now we are foiledOr thwarted, none is thwarted more than I.And since it is my pride, in the high placeWhereto your judgment called me, to exceedThe measure which might justify your choice,550I shall not fail. In these new difficultiesI would make no display of fresh resource;Full means there will be, yet what means it isI am not ripe to say.Agr.What say’st thou, Burrus?The matter Seneca avoids is this:Shall I be driven to exile, or will yeJoin with me to forbid it?Bur.Hath your majesty,In urging opposition, any schemeThat might give life to policy?Agr.Ay, something.I would protect Britannicus: his claim560And popularity being pressed, must driveNero upon my side.Bur.Such act were merelyThe boy’s destruction, were’t not done in earnestAnd backed by force.Agr.Then, since the case demandsAll earnestness, and since we lack not force .....Bur.Between your son’s rule and your stepson’s claimThere lies no middle way.Agr.I never heldThat a stout purpose chose a middle way.Sen.What, what! Consider, madam, what you urgeIs to dethrone your son.Agr.I am desperate.Sen.Indeed, indeed!570Agr.What say’st thou, Burrus? Hast thou not a hopeThe rightful heir might prove the better Cæsar?Bur.Were this in earnest, yet my oath to CæsarForbids me even to think the thing you say.Agr.Thy oath to him! Rather to me ’twas sworn;Who raised thee up to swear, and made the CæsarFor thee to swear to? I can dispense your oaths:Or rather, since they were unjustly sworn,Justice dispenses them. ’Twould be a deed580Truer than oaths to break the oaths ye swore.Bur.Justice is still against you. ’Twas unjustTo burn the will of Claudius; ’twas unjustTo hide Britannicus, and to bring forthYour own son in his place: these things were wrongs,And these old wrongs would you redub with new.For when upon your wrongs Rome set her seal,Her choice made right of wrong, and we that swore,Swore not to Nero or Britannicus,589But unto Rome and to her chosen Cæsar.Agr.Nay, Seneca, I think, will scarce say thus.Sen.Burrus is right; and were he wrong, your schemeBut complicates the mischief.Agr.Then ye desert me?Sen.Nay, nay, in other ways I may do much.I may win Nero back.Agr.The thought is folly;We fight against him.Sen.Oh! ’tis open treason.Agr.Eh! Why, I think my son’s ingratitudeIs nought to this; he had the right to expectMy favours: but for you, whom I chose outAnd set above the rest because I chose,600Made you my friends because I chose, for youThere is no excuse. Had ye no motive, yetTo see a woman in distress like mine,Wronged by her son, and injured as no womanHas ever been, should rouse a manly spirit,Ay, make a coward burn to do me right.But ye stand there aloof, and not a word.O good Seneca,Rememberest thou thy days in Corsica?The stoic letters of thine exile, writ610With Naso’s pang, and that exuberant pageTo me, at the first tidings of recall.I have it still, the letter, superscribedYour most devoted slave.Was not that felt?Had’st thou not cause? Now is the opportunityOf my distress, now I stand to lose all,All that those hard times strove for, all they won.The faith thou owest me, still may make all mine;Wilt thou deny it me?Sen.Alas, good lady!Agr.Alas!Is this the vein? Think you I come to hear620Your lamentations? Ah! ye dare, I see,Pity me while ye wrong me: but the truthYe dare not say. Ye dare not say, Lo, we,Raised by your clemency, sworn to your service,Seeing your fair wind is changed, and there’s no hopeLeft to your following, do as all knaves do,Leave you to perish. Ah, all’s lost, all’s lost![Weeps.Bur.(to Sen.). Business attending me at home, I go.[Going.Agr.Thou goest! Then go, thou wooden counterfeit.Nay, I’ll be with thee yet. (Exit Bur.) Pooh! let him go,630An ugly, one-armed, upstart, sneaking knave:A title seeker, a subservient villain.And thou,Philosopher! come, teach me thy philosophy.Tell me how I may be a dauntless StoicAnd a most pitiful ass. Show me thy methodOf magnanimity and self-denial,Which makes of slaves the richest men in Rome.Philosopher! Ay, thou that teachest youthDishonesty, and coinest honied speeches640To gloss iniquity, sand without lime.Out, out upon thee!Thou miserable, painful, hackney-themedBotcher of tragedies, that deem’st thyselfA new Euripides, a second Cato:A pedant rather, pander and murderer.I’ll let Rome know how pumpkin Claudius died;I’ll not be ashamed to say, ’twas I that spicedHis fatal mushroom. Honest SenecaStood by and smiled. True, true! I’ll be true yet;650I’ll right Britannicus. I’ll tell the soldiersWhat they should look for. Hear’st thou not their shouts?Seneca to the Tiber! the philosopher,The murderer to the Tiber! Fulvia, Fulvia!—Fulvia, I go. Come, I will leave; lead on.[Exit.Sen.And I to train the cub of such a dam![Exit.SCENE · 2Room in Domitia’s house. Enter DOMITIA and SELEUCUS.DOMITIA.’Tis a most shrewd surmise, but nothing more;I cannot listen to it. Though I hateMy sister, and would take some risk to crush her,Yet must I set my foot on surer ground.660My better engine is Poppæa’s dream,Of which thou’st told me: I can build on that.Thou should’st be there, I think, to-night.SELEUCUS.Ay, madam.I go at once.Dom.Speak nothing waveringly.Sel.Nay, madam.Dom.’Tis her fate to marry Cæsar.Sel.My art needs no instruction.Dom.It must be so.Sel.It is so, madam.Dom.See, thy prophecyIs that which should determine it. Go now.[To door.Her purse will satisfy thee well.Sel.Yet onceEre I be gone, madam, I’ll make a stand670To win thy credit.Dom.Thou must show me cause.Thou say’st the Augusta plots against her son,Supports Britannicus, tampers with Burrus.How know’st thou this?Sel.Why should I lie?Dom.I thinkThere may be some who make it worth thy while.Sel.I would not meddle in this thing for money.Dom.Why tell me then at all?Sel.To win thy help.Dom.To what?Sel.To save the prince.Dom.If thou’rt in earnest,Where is thy confidence? Assure me first,680At least, of what thou say’st. Whence know’st thou this?Sel.Fulvia, thy sister’s maid, rewards my loveWith many trifles: what she overhearsI piece together.Dom.What of this was heard,And how much pieced?Sel.The Augusta sent all out,And spake long time in private with the prince.What passed I guess from this; that ere she left,Being risen to go, as Fulvia at the doorStood just without, she heard her voice most plainlyAngrily entreating, saying, that though he doubted,690Yet she would still with him regain her power:If he held off yet he so far was right,As that ’twas best to speak with Burrus first.Dom.And has she since seen Burrus?Sel.I think she hath.He lately came from Seneca’s, and thereThe Augusta must have met with him.Dom.What passed?Sel.I know not yet. Fulvia will know and tell me.Dom.But can’st thou trust her?Sel.Ay, she hath no purpose.Whate’er she hears is mine.Dom.Then make this thine.Her tampering with Britannicus is nought:700But if she speak with Burrus, there is matterThat I can work on. Ay, if that should be—Make sure of that, and bring me word at once.To-night thou hast thy business; go and do it.Poppæa marries Cæsar.Sel.Madam, I go.[Exit.Dom.Now, my good sister, if this tale is true,Thy fortune turns: I trample on thee now.Ay, if she have spoke with Burrus, then one wordTo Nero, and she is doomed. Patience and timeBring us all opportunities: we need710But watch and wait. The way I least expectedShe runs within the reach of my revenge.[Exit.SCENE · 3Room in Otho’s house. Enter POPPÆA.POPPÆA.My dream was strange: but why of all strange dreamsStands forth this dream, to say it hath a meaning?There lies the mystery: the dream were nothing.’Tis such a dream as I have prayed to dream.’Tis such a dream as an astrologerMust love to interpret. Nay, there’s but one waySeleucus can explain it.Enter Seleucus.I looked for theeAn hour ago: thou’rt late.SELEUCUS.The seasons, lady,720Of divination are determinateBy stars and special omens: ’tis our skillTo observe their presage. The hour is favourable.Thy dream ...Pop.Is’t good?Sel.Beyond thy hope.Pop.Then tell it.Sel.Two thousand sesterces ....Pop.I have it here.See! I was ready for thee.[Gives him a purse.Sel.I thank thee, lady.Pop.Now for thy message.Sel.I have sought out thy dreamBy every means our art ....Pop.Mind not the means.Sel.There is one interpretation clear throughout....Pop.And that?730Sel.Thou shalt be wife unto two Cæsars.Pop.Two! Now be Isis praised. Two! O, Seleucus,Thou’rt an astrologer. Two! this is life,Seleucus; this is life as well as fortune.What are the names?Sel.There ends my message, lady.Pop.’Tis good so far, but stays unkindly. Search,I must know more. Above all things, the affairIs secret. (Knocking heard.) I will send my servant to thee.Thou must be gone: our business will not sufferMy husband stumbling on thee here. This way.[Exit Seleucus, being put out.My dream was true: my hopes and schemes inspired741Of heaven; yet this is far beyond them all.Wife to two Cæsars; maybe, mother of Cæsars.[Noise at door.To sit upon their rare, successive thrones,A manifold Augusta! Here’s my husband.What would he say? Two Cæsars, ay, two Cæsars![Laughing heard without.Enter Otho.OTHO.Good evening, love.Pop.Who laughed with thee without?Oth.Lucan. He walked with me from Cæsar’s supper.Pop.Was Cæsar riotous?Oth.Beyond all bounds.Pop.See what you husbands are. You go abroad750For pleasure, and when met among yourselvesPush all to excess, and never think how patientlyYour wives must mope at home, and wait your coming.And when you do return, up to the doorYou bring your merriment; but at the door’Tis left, and in you come, in solemn glumness,To vent the sour reaction of your revelsUpon your housekeeper.Oth.Enough, Poppæa;I would be cheered.Pop.Then I will cheer thee, love.But what’s the matter?Oth.Listen. Thou hast reproached me760With going forth alone. What else could be?Would’st thou consent to sit there at my side,Where I, a man, am oft ashamed to sit?Would’st thou, could’st thou be one among the womenOf Cæsar’s fancy?Pop.I spake not seriously.Oth.See, but I do. I tell thee, love, this nightThou wert invited.Pop.I!Oth.He would have pressed it.Pop.Who would have pressed it?Oth.Cæsar.Pop.What dost thou say?(Aside.) He treads on prophecy.Oth.Knowing thy mind,And mine, I begged him for our friendship’s sakeUrge me no further.Pop.Thou did’st well, and he?770Oth.Again to-night he asked for thee. ’Twas thisWhich made me sad and thoughtful.Pop.Why be sad?Oth.The meaning, love, the meaning: thou must guess it.Pop.The very reason, Otho, which thou urgestAgainst my going, is in truth the reasonWhy such as I should go. As Cæsar’s friend,Thou would’st do well to save him from the sloughHe daily sinks in.Oth.Nay, but such a stakeFor such a flimsy hope.Pop.I see a hope780In the invitation. Otho, let us seeWhat may be done among his friends.Oth.Poppæa,’Tis generously thought, but ’tis a thingMust not be thought. Trust to my judgment, love.’Tis Cæsar’s love of power that threats us here;He would have nought held from him. Thee I hold,And most because I know thou would’st be mine.Pop.Then thou must trust me, Otho.Oth.And so I do.Pop.Why, I were well his match. Let us go in.[Exeunt.SCENE · 4Room in the Palace. Enter AGRIPPINA and PALLAS.AGRIPPINA.Pallas, thy date is out: thou art dismissed;790Thou goest from the court: yet what thou takestMay soften thy regrets. Thy shiny daysWere not misspent, and thou may’st live like Cæsar.Farewell, we still are friends: the debt I oweI shall remember: ’twas thy power that firstGave root to mine: for thee, I think my favoursWere once thy pleasure. If those days are gone,We can look time in the face; we have not wastedThe days that flew: ’tis now with what remainStill to be careful. Friends and firm allies.Pal.Ay, firm as ever.Agr.Nay, though thou goest first,801That is not much: even that I cannot save theeIs sign that I am fallen ere thou could’st fall:A deeper, deadlier fall, unless indeedMy wit can save me still.Pal.Alas, dear queen,Fear makes this parting sad. But if there’s hope,’Tis this, to gain thy son.Agr.Ay, till our schemes be ripe;And even though Seneca betray me,—and thatIs sure,—I fear not him. I know my sonBetter than he, and I shall win him yet.810My plan is now to seem resigned to all:I will pretend my purpose is to leave him,And fly from Rome to voluntary exile.’Twill work upon his fear and duty both,To cut himself quite off from me, and allThat goes with me. He will entreat me stay;And if I stay—Pal.Ay, if this storm go by,The turns of time may offer us reprisals.At present use all means to gain thy son.Agr.I shall. Farewell.Pal.Be bold. The gods protect you.820Farewell.Agr.Farewell.[Exeunt severally.Enter Tigellinus and Paris.TIGELLINUS.Look from the window: thou wilt see ’tis true;He takes all with him.PARIS.Nay, if this is all.Tig.This much were all: and yet this caravanIs but the least of six; His monstrous GraceBrings up the rear.Par.’Tis nobly done of Cæsar.Tig.’Tis noble, say you, that the thief go quitWith all his plunder from the house he plundered?Par.Hark how the weasel can upbraid the fox!Good Tigellinus, there’s no need to grudge830Pallas his scrapings; the sea is full of fish:Rather thou should’st rejoice because thou seestThy probable hap. Pray that as many mules,Litters and bags and bales, women and slavesMay comfort thee.Enter Nero with Domitia.NERO.Paris, what do you here?Par.I comfort Tigellinus on the fateOf his predecessor.Ner.(at window). Gods! see what a trainDrags out the very bowels of the palace.No wonder my good mother’s man resignsWith resignation.Tig.Ha! ha!Ner.I seek the Augusta.840She late was here; go find her; say I wait her.[Exeunt Tigellinus and Paris.DOMITIA.Through my discovery, Nero, thy good fortuneLifts thee a corner of the veil whereunderThy mother plots. Be not thou now deceivedTo further trust. She is bent upon thy ruin.Ner.Though it be true she urged BritannicusEven in those words, we lack the surety yetShe spoke them in good faith.Dom.O, there’s no doubt.Ner.My mother is very deep, and often looksFar from her meaning. She will use this way850To worm a confidence.Dom.She did not then.Ner. Yet must the boy have thought so, for you saidThat what she urged he took not all in kindness.Dom.He bade her speak with Burrus.Ner.The villainous brat!Dom.Drive not the fault on him. Did Burrus waver,Nothing could save thee. And it seems thy motherHad hope to win him. She comes; now be thou firm.I will be gone.[Exit..Ner.(solus). Now she cannot deceive me.Enter Agrippina.Agr.My son, thy mother comes at thy command.Ner.O excellent mother!Agr.What would’st thou with me, son?860I come to hear, and yet I scarce am fitFor banter or abuse. I am ill to-day.Ner.No wonder; ’tis you do too much. ’Twere betterYou spared yourself. Go rest; my businessWill not cure headaches.Agr.Speak whate’er it be.Ner.Nay, if you’re ill—Agr.My sickness will not pass.To-morrow I shall leave thee; that last griefWill soon engulph the rest: speak while thou may’st.Ner.What’s this! leave me to-morrow?Agr.I would spare theeThat worst disgrace of sending me away.870I go of myself.Ner.What now?Agr.’Tis well resolved.I have been foolish; ’twas a mother’s fault,A tender fault: forget it, and hereafterKnow my love better. If my presence bredDislike, thy kinder mind may yet returnWhen I am gone.Ner.Why, what has happed, I pray?Agr.Nothing. I have only come to see my error.I thought, ’twas I that gave him all....Ner.Tut! tut!’Tis the old story told a thousand times.Agr.Ay, and forgot as oft. Thy constant wrongs,I think, have dug my grave. Dost thou remember881What answer once I made the sorcererWho prophesied thy fortune? Thy son, he said,Shall reign, and kill his mother. Let him kill me,So that he reign, I cried. He spake the truth,But ’tis by grief thou slay’st me.Ner.That old rubbishWere best forgotten.Agr.Indeed, I had forgot it:But yesternight I dreamed it all again;A frightful dream: plain as I see thee nowStood’st thou before me thus, with angry words[She acts.890Mocking, until I wept for shame; but thouDid’st only laugh the more. Then ran I to thee,And bared my breast, and cried, Kill me, O son!And thou fastened’st thy snaky eyes upon me,So that I could not see what thy hand did.But, oh! I knew. I heard thy weapon grateLeaving the scabbard, and a fiery pangPierced through my heart. Ah!Ner.(aside). Heavens, is she mad?—899Mother, good mother, mother!Agr.’Twas nothing. Nay, where am I? I was comeTo hear thy speech. What is’t thou hast to say?Ner.(aside). If this were trickery? Let the fact try.—’Twas this: what speech you held the other morningWith young Britannicus.Agr.(aside).Ah! knows he that?—Thy spies are most alert. This time, at least,I praise their zeal: though thou art slow to thank meFor my kind service done to thee and him.Ner.Whether is it kinder, say you, to him to urge himTo embrace the desperate plot, of which already910He stood suspected, or more kind to meTo water this rebellion with the tearsOf your insidious passion?Agr.Your man’s a fool: I heardYour quarrel, and took pains to sound the boy.Ner.Next you saw Burrus.Agr.Well, and what said he?Ner.Nay, that’s for you to tell.Agr.’Twas this: BritannicusMost truly said that nought could help his claim,Except the guards and Burrus: at which wordI flew to Burrus, offered him the bait;And when he showed the scruple of his oath,920Three words from me confirmed him.Ner.If this were true!Agr.How much you need me, Nero, will be plainWhen I am gone. Who has deceived you now?Who works this madness in you, to conceiveThat your disaster could be gain to me?Have you believed what angry words I spokeWere born of purpose, that my threats against youWere aught but passion? You count not the tears,The bitter, secret tears, for every pangYour wrongs have wrought in me; and bitterer far,930The sharp remorse for each retaliationOf speech provoked in anger. Let it end;’Tis best I go.Ner.See! if you had gone beforeWe had never quarrelled; now there’s nought to loseBy going, ’tis a quarrel that you go.Agr.No quarrel, nay. ’Tis only this: I thoughtThat in your love I held perpetual office.’Tis not so. Now my time is out: I goAs Pallas goes.Ner.The sleek, extortionate Pallas,Dost thou defend the despicable Pallas?940Agr.I would be kind to friends; none will stand by you,If you cast off those to whom most you owe.’Twas first through him I came to seize the powerThat made you Cæsar. Look! you have lost a friend.Be wiser when I am gone.Ner.I have good friends,Burrus and Seneca: I trust them both.Agr.Cannot you read the cause why still they urge youTo cast me off?Ner.’Tis the disgrace they feelTo see the empire managed by a woman.Agr.’Tis the constraint they feel in all their actions950Being overruled by me. Do you not seeThey are my ministers, and you are ruledBy them in all they counsel? Rid of me,They rule the world. Think you, when they have castWhat was above them underneath their feet,They will have care to exalt what was below?Ner.They both are honest men; you chose them well.Agr.You are too trustful, Nero. As you loveYour life, I say, be jealous of these men;These men that now would rule thee but to take960The empire from thy hands. They may speak illOf me,—believe that if thou list,—but oh!If once they seem to encroach, delay not then;Hear no excuse nor explanation; strike,Kill them, I say, before they murder thee.Ner.But, mother, Seneca loves me.Agr.As a masterWill love a pupil while he takes instruction.He’ll love you while you let him reign. Alas!I scarce dare leave you to him. You are too kind;Will shrink to use the sword as it is needfulFor one who rules to wield.Ner.You cannot think970These men would serve me so.Agr.What is my purpose?My life’s one object, my supreme ambition?Was’t not to raise thee where thou art, and nowIs’t not to keep thee there?Ner.So once I thought.Agr.O think it yet. Look! there is none can love you,Nero, as I must love you; there’s not oneCan guard you as I can. Have I not provedMy power? While I am by you, it is yours.Ner.Stay then.Agr.O that it might be!Ner.Thou shalt not go.980Resign thy outward power; be in all elseAs heretofore. Forget what I suspected.Be still my mother.Agr.Alas!Ner.Yea, I will have it.Agr.It cannot be.Ner.Why not?Agr.Seneca, my son,Will not permit it.Ner.Who is SenecaTo say me nay?Agr.Unless you join with meHe will o’errule you.Ner.He shall not o’errule me.Agr.For that I’d stay. I would give up all elseTo stand by you: ay, and be happy so.Ner.And so it shall be. Have thy private fortune,Remain in Rome.Agr.But can you trust me, Nero?990Ner.Nay, I will never more suspect thee. Kiss me.Agr.O, now you are good and kind. Tell me, who was itDid me this wrong?Ner.It was Domitia told me.She spied on thee.Agr.My sister! ha! you know notThe grudge between us?Ner.Yes, I know of that.Agr.And not suspect her slander? Did she alsoCommit Britannicus?Ner.She cast all blameOn thee.Agr.I feared she might have wronged the boy.Ner.Is he, then, innocent?Agr.I went so far1000In sounding him as even to risk my credit.Let not unjust suspicion add a weightTo the just blame we bear. You must protect him.Promise me that.Ner.I will ask Seneca.Agr.Forgive, at least, his foolish indiscretion.He begged me make his peace. Now have I made it?Ner.I’ll think no more of that.Agr.My dearest son,The joy of a good action will be yoursAs well as mine. O, I am happy now—Indeed, most happy now.Ner.Come then, dear mother.[Exeunt.

Sen.O, I can do it, Burrus, trust to me.

I place them all as chessmen, and I find

Delight in difficulty: but ’tis hard,

When one has chosen, strengthened a position,

To change the value of a piece. I think

Much of your judgment, and I ask you now

What you would do. I must decide to-day.

Bur.Why must?

Sen.As if you knew not.

Bur.If your artBe to adapt yourself to every change ....

Bur.If your art

Be to adapt yourself to every change ....

Sen.You know ’tis not. I say, should Nero nowBanish his mother?

Sen.You know ’tis not. I say, should Nero now

Banish his mother?

Bur.Hark ye, Seneca,480If you remember, I foresaw this trouble.I know no remedy, nor is’t my officeTo arrange the affairs of the palace, gods be praised.But this is clear to me, that our three friendsWill never live together: what I urgeIs, separate them: if you cannot that,We must not stick in balance when they break.Whene’er that happens, our pre-eminent duty489Lies in our oath to Cæsar, and our secondMay be his mother’s pleasure, to whose schemesWe owe our place.[Knocking heard.

Bur.Hark ye, Seneca,480

If you remember, I foresaw this trouble.

I know no remedy, nor is’t my office

To arrange the affairs of the palace, gods be praised.

But this is clear to me, that our three friends

Will never live together: what I urge

Is, separate them: if you cannot that,

We must not stick in balance when they break.

Whene’er that happens, our pre-eminent duty

Lies in our oath to Cæsar, and our second

May be his mother’s pleasure, to whose schemes

We owe our place.[Knocking heard.

Sen.Who’s there? come in.

Enter Servant.

SERVANT.

The AugustaHas come in private, and desires an audience.

The Augusta

Has come in private, and desires an audience.

Sen.Again, you see, the Augusta.

Bur.Eh! I’ll be off.

Sen.One moment, pray. (To Servt.) Beg her bepleased to enter.[Exit Servt.

Sen.One moment, pray. (To Servt.) Beg her be

pleased to enter.[Exit Servt.

Burrus, I adjure you not to go, your presenceMay moderate her passion: or, if not,’Twere best you saw it.

Burrus, I adjure you not to go, your presence

May moderate her passion: or, if not,

’Twere best you saw it.

Bur.Well, all’s one to me.

Enter Agrippina.

AGRIPPINA.

Be not surprised that I so soon return:I have repented. Ha! the general here!500Thou seest me, Burrus, on a woman’s errand.Nay, no apology; thou hast o’erheardMy merit, not my fault.

Be not surprised that I so soon return:

I have repented. Ha! the general here!

Thou seest me, Burrus, on a woman’s errand.

Nay, no apology; thou hast o’erheard

My merit, not my fault.

Bur.I thank your majesty.I will withdraw.

Bur.I thank your majesty.

I will withdraw.

Agr.Nay, I desire thee stay.I came not here to find thee; but thy presenceMends my intention. Let us hold a council.’Tis not the first time our triumvirate,Secretly gathered in the nick of time,Hath preordained the changes which should fallUpon the earth like fate. To-day’s decree,510If we combine, will be as big with actionAs any we have uttered.

Agr.Nay, I desire thee stay.

I came not here to find thee; but thy presence

Mends my intention. Let us hold a council.

’Tis not the first time our triumvirate,

Secretly gathered in the nick of time,

Hath preordained the changes which should fall

Upon the earth like fate. To-day’s decree,

If we combine, will be as big with action

As any we have uttered.

Bur.I fear I standIn ignorance of the question.

Bur.I fear I stand

In ignorance of the question.

Sen.I will explain.

Agr.Listen to me. We three who here are metStand in such place, that, if we but unite,There’s none can say us nay. I do not askWho raised thee, Burrus, or thee, Seneca,To where ye are: nay, if I asked you thatI’d look for no more answer than if askingWhat two and two make; ’tis self-evident,520Unquestioned; it was I; and if you oweAllegiance to another, ’tis to oneWhom I made more than I made you; ay, oneWho has nothing but what was mine, and is mine:His body mine, his life and being mine,His power, his place, his honour mine, my son,My Nero, who, when my husband late deceased,The honest Claudius, passed to join the gods,Was raised and set by me under your guidance,To share with me the empire of the world.530Now what it may be that hath warped his heartIs from the matter: enough that so it is.I might blame one of you, sure not myself,Who have ever held in love and kindness towards himThe same intention; nay, and from my kindnessI swerve not now, though for a wholesome endI mask that kindness in severity.There’s but this choice, I must withdraw my favour,Or suffer my disgrace: ay, and for you,Burrus and Seneca, be sure, the same.540If I fall, ye will fall. Therefore being oneIn interest with me, I look to find you readyTo stand by me in any scheme of actionWhich may preserve our station, while we may.

Agr.Listen to me. We three who here are met

Stand in such place, that, if we but unite,

There’s none can say us nay. I do not ask

Who raised thee, Burrus, or thee, Seneca,

To where ye are: nay, if I asked you that

I’d look for no more answer than if asking

What two and two make; ’tis self-evident,

Unquestioned; it was I; and if you owe

Allegiance to another, ’tis to one

Whom I made more than I made you; ay, one

Who has nothing but what was mine, and is mine:

His body mine, his life and being mine,

His power, his place, his honour mine, my son,

My Nero, who, when my husband late deceased,

The honest Claudius, passed to join the gods,

Was raised and set by me under your guidance,

To share with me the empire of the world.

Now what it may be that hath warped his heart

Is from the matter: enough that so it is.

I might blame one of you, sure not myself,

Who have ever held in love and kindness towards him

The same intention; nay, and from my kindness

I swerve not now, though for a wholesome end

I mask that kindness in severity.

There’s but this choice, I must withdraw my favour,

Or suffer my disgrace: ay, and for you,

Burrus and Seneca, be sure, the same.

If I fall, ye will fall. Therefore being one

In interest with me, I look to find you ready

To stand by me in any scheme of action

Which may preserve our station, while we may.

Sen.Your majesty says well. We have hithertoAll held one purpose, and if now we are foiledOr thwarted, none is thwarted more than I.And since it is my pride, in the high placeWhereto your judgment called me, to exceedThe measure which might justify your choice,550I shall not fail. In these new difficultiesI would make no display of fresh resource;Full means there will be, yet what means it isI am not ripe to say.

Sen.Your majesty says well. We have hitherto

All held one purpose, and if now we are foiled

Or thwarted, none is thwarted more than I.

And since it is my pride, in the high place

Whereto your judgment called me, to exceed

The measure which might justify your choice,

I shall not fail. In these new difficulties

I would make no display of fresh resource;

Full means there will be, yet what means it is

I am not ripe to say.

Agr.What say’st thou, Burrus?The matter Seneca avoids is this:Shall I be driven to exile, or will yeJoin with me to forbid it?

Agr.What say’st thou, Burrus?

The matter Seneca avoids is this:

Shall I be driven to exile, or will ye

Join with me to forbid it?

Bur.Hath your majesty,In urging opposition, any schemeThat might give life to policy?

Bur.Hath your majesty,

In urging opposition, any scheme

That might give life to policy?

Agr.Ay, something.I would protect Britannicus: his claim560And popularity being pressed, must driveNero upon my side.

Agr.Ay, something.

I would protect Britannicus: his claim

And popularity being pressed, must drive

Nero upon my side.

Bur.Such act were merelyThe boy’s destruction, were’t not done in earnestAnd backed by force.

Bur.Such act were merely

The boy’s destruction, were’t not done in earnest

And backed by force.

Agr.Then, since the case demandsAll earnestness, and since we lack not force .....

Agr.Then, since the case demands

All earnestness, and since we lack not force .....

Bur.Between your son’s rule and your stepson’s claimThere lies no middle way.

Bur.Between your son’s rule and your stepson’s claim

There lies no middle way.

Agr.I never heldThat a stout purpose chose a middle way.

Agr.I never held

That a stout purpose chose a middle way.

Sen.What, what! Consider, madam, what you urgeIs to dethrone your son.

Sen.What, what! Consider, madam, what you urge

Is to dethrone your son.

Agr.I am desperate.

Sen.Indeed, indeed!570

Agr.What say’st thou, Burrus? Hast thou not a hopeThe rightful heir might prove the better Cæsar?

Agr.What say’st thou, Burrus? Hast thou not a hope

The rightful heir might prove the better Cæsar?

Bur.Were this in earnest, yet my oath to CæsarForbids me even to think the thing you say.

Bur.Were this in earnest, yet my oath to Cæsar

Forbids me even to think the thing you say.

Agr.Thy oath to him! Rather to me ’twas sworn;Who raised thee up to swear, and made the CæsarFor thee to swear to? I can dispense your oaths:Or rather, since they were unjustly sworn,Justice dispenses them. ’Twould be a deed580Truer than oaths to break the oaths ye swore.

Agr.Thy oath to him! Rather to me ’twas sworn;

Who raised thee up to swear, and made the Cæsar

For thee to swear to? I can dispense your oaths:

Or rather, since they were unjustly sworn,

Justice dispenses them. ’Twould be a deed

Truer than oaths to break the oaths ye swore.

Bur.Justice is still against you. ’Twas unjustTo burn the will of Claudius; ’twas unjustTo hide Britannicus, and to bring forthYour own son in his place: these things were wrongs,And these old wrongs would you redub with new.For when upon your wrongs Rome set her seal,Her choice made right of wrong, and we that swore,Swore not to Nero or Britannicus,589But unto Rome and to her chosen Cæsar.

Bur.Justice is still against you. ’Twas unjust

To burn the will of Claudius; ’twas unjust

To hide Britannicus, and to bring forth

Your own son in his place: these things were wrongs,

And these old wrongs would you redub with new.

For when upon your wrongs Rome set her seal,

Her choice made right of wrong, and we that swore,

Swore not to Nero or Britannicus,

But unto Rome and to her chosen Cæsar.

Agr.Nay, Seneca, I think, will scarce say thus.

Sen.Burrus is right; and were he wrong, your schemeBut complicates the mischief.

Sen.Burrus is right; and were he wrong, your scheme

But complicates the mischief.

Agr.Then ye desert me?

Sen.Nay, nay, in other ways I may do much.I may win Nero back.

Sen.Nay, nay, in other ways I may do much.

I may win Nero back.

Agr.The thought is folly;We fight against him.

Agr.The thought is folly;

We fight against him.

Sen.Oh! ’tis open treason.

Agr.Eh! Why, I think my son’s ingratitudeIs nought to this; he had the right to expectMy favours: but for you, whom I chose outAnd set above the rest because I chose,600Made you my friends because I chose, for youThere is no excuse. Had ye no motive, yetTo see a woman in distress like mine,Wronged by her son, and injured as no womanHas ever been, should rouse a manly spirit,Ay, make a coward burn to do me right.But ye stand there aloof, and not a word.O good Seneca,Rememberest thou thy days in Corsica?The stoic letters of thine exile, writ610With Naso’s pang, and that exuberant pageTo me, at the first tidings of recall.I have it still, the letter, superscribedYour most devoted slave.Was not that felt?Had’st thou not cause? Now is the opportunityOf my distress, now I stand to lose all,All that those hard times strove for, all they won.The faith thou owest me, still may make all mine;Wilt thou deny it me?

Agr.Eh! Why, I think my son’s ingratitude

Is nought to this; he had the right to expect

My favours: but for you, whom I chose out

And set above the rest because I chose,

Made you my friends because I chose, for you

There is no excuse. Had ye no motive, yet

To see a woman in distress like mine,

Wronged by her son, and injured as no woman

Has ever been, should rouse a manly spirit,

Ay, make a coward burn to do me right.

But ye stand there aloof, and not a word.

O good Seneca,

Rememberest thou thy days in Corsica?

The stoic letters of thine exile, writ

With Naso’s pang, and that exuberant page

To me, at the first tidings of recall.

I have it still, the letter, superscribed

Your most devoted slave.Was not that felt?

Had’st thou not cause? Now is the opportunity

Of my distress, now I stand to lose all,

All that those hard times strove for, all they won.

The faith thou owest me, still may make all mine;

Wilt thou deny it me?

Sen.Alas, good lady!

Agr.Alas!Is this the vein? Think you I come to hear620Your lamentations? Ah! ye dare, I see,Pity me while ye wrong me: but the truthYe dare not say. Ye dare not say, Lo, we,Raised by your clemency, sworn to your service,Seeing your fair wind is changed, and there’s no hopeLeft to your following, do as all knaves do,Leave you to perish. Ah, all’s lost, all’s lost![Weeps.

Agr.Alas!

Is this the vein? Think you I come to hear

Your lamentations? Ah! ye dare, I see,

Pity me while ye wrong me: but the truth

Ye dare not say. Ye dare not say, Lo, we,

Raised by your clemency, sworn to your service,

Seeing your fair wind is changed, and there’s no hope

Left to your following, do as all knaves do,

Leave you to perish. Ah, all’s lost, all’s lost![Weeps.

Bur.(to Sen.). Business attending me at home, I go.[Going.

Agr.Thou goest! Then go, thou wooden counterfeit.Nay, I’ll be with thee yet. (Exit Bur.) Pooh! let him go,630An ugly, one-armed, upstart, sneaking knave:A title seeker, a subservient villain.And thou,Philosopher! come, teach me thy philosophy.Tell me how I may be a dauntless StoicAnd a most pitiful ass. Show me thy methodOf magnanimity and self-denial,Which makes of slaves the richest men in Rome.Philosopher! Ay, thou that teachest youthDishonesty, and coinest honied speeches640To gloss iniquity, sand without lime.Out, out upon thee!Thou miserable, painful, hackney-themedBotcher of tragedies, that deem’st thyselfA new Euripides, a second Cato:A pedant rather, pander and murderer.I’ll let Rome know how pumpkin Claudius died;I’ll not be ashamed to say, ’twas I that spicedHis fatal mushroom. Honest SenecaStood by and smiled. True, true! I’ll be true yet;650I’ll right Britannicus. I’ll tell the soldiersWhat they should look for. Hear’st thou not their shouts?Seneca to the Tiber! the philosopher,The murderer to the Tiber! Fulvia, Fulvia!—Fulvia, I go. Come, I will leave; lead on.[Exit.

Agr.Thou goest! Then go, thou wooden counterfeit.

Nay, I’ll be with thee yet. (Exit Bur.) Pooh! let him go,

An ugly, one-armed, upstart, sneaking knave:

A title seeker, a subservient villain.

And thou,

Philosopher! come, teach me thy philosophy.

Tell me how I may be a dauntless Stoic

And a most pitiful ass. Show me thy method

Of magnanimity and self-denial,

Which makes of slaves the richest men in Rome.

Philosopher! Ay, thou that teachest youth

Dishonesty, and coinest honied speeches

To gloss iniquity, sand without lime.

Out, out upon thee!

Thou miserable, painful, hackney-themed

Botcher of tragedies, that deem’st thyself

A new Euripides, a second Cato:

A pedant rather, pander and murderer.

I’ll let Rome know how pumpkin Claudius died;

I’ll not be ashamed to say, ’twas I that spiced

His fatal mushroom. Honest Seneca

Stood by and smiled. True, true! I’ll be true yet;

I’ll right Britannicus. I’ll tell the soldiers

What they should look for. Hear’st thou not their shouts?

Seneca to the Tiber! the philosopher,

The murderer to the Tiber! Fulvia, Fulvia!—

Fulvia, I go. Come, I will leave; lead on.[Exit.

Sen.And I to train the cub of such a dam![Exit.SCENE · 2Room in Domitia’s house. Enter DOMITIA and SELEUCUS.DOMITIA.’Tis a most shrewd surmise, but nothing more;I cannot listen to it. Though I hateMy sister, and would take some risk to crush her,Yet must I set my foot on surer ground.660My better engine is Poppæa’s dream,Of which thou’st told me: I can build on that.Thou should’st be there, I think, to-night.SELEUCUS.Ay, madam.I go at once.Dom.Speak nothing waveringly.Sel.Nay, madam.Dom.’Tis her fate to marry Cæsar.Sel.My art needs no instruction.Dom.It must be so.Sel.It is so, madam.Dom.See, thy prophecyIs that which should determine it. Go now.[To door.Her purse will satisfy thee well.Sel.Yet onceEre I be gone, madam, I’ll make a stand670To win thy credit.Dom.Thou must show me cause.Thou say’st the Augusta plots against her son,Supports Britannicus, tampers with Burrus.How know’st thou this?Sel.Why should I lie?Dom.I thinkThere may be some who make it worth thy while.Sel.I would not meddle in this thing for money.Dom.Why tell me then at all?Sel.To win thy help.Dom.To what?Sel.To save the prince.Dom.If thou’rt in earnest,Where is thy confidence? Assure me first,680At least, of what thou say’st. Whence know’st thou this?Sel.Fulvia, thy sister’s maid, rewards my loveWith many trifles: what she overhearsI piece together.Dom.What of this was heard,And how much pieced?Sel.The Augusta sent all out,And spake long time in private with the prince.What passed I guess from this; that ere she left,Being risen to go, as Fulvia at the doorStood just without, she heard her voice most plainlyAngrily entreating, saying, that though he doubted,690Yet she would still with him regain her power:If he held off yet he so far was right,As that ’twas best to speak with Burrus first.Dom.And has she since seen Burrus?Sel.I think she hath.He lately came from Seneca’s, and thereThe Augusta must have met with him.Dom.What passed?Sel.I know not yet. Fulvia will know and tell me.Dom.But can’st thou trust her?Sel.Ay, she hath no purpose.Whate’er she hears is mine.Dom.Then make this thine.Her tampering with Britannicus is nought:700But if she speak with Burrus, there is matterThat I can work on. Ay, if that should be—Make sure of that, and bring me word at once.To-night thou hast thy business; go and do it.Poppæa marries Cæsar.Sel.Madam, I go.[Exit.Dom.Now, my good sister, if this tale is true,Thy fortune turns: I trample on thee now.Ay, if she have spoke with Burrus, then one wordTo Nero, and she is doomed. Patience and timeBring us all opportunities: we need710But watch and wait. The way I least expectedShe runs within the reach of my revenge.[Exit.SCENE · 3Room in Otho’s house. Enter POPPÆA.POPPÆA.My dream was strange: but why of all strange dreamsStands forth this dream, to say it hath a meaning?There lies the mystery: the dream were nothing.’Tis such a dream as I have prayed to dream.’Tis such a dream as an astrologerMust love to interpret. Nay, there’s but one waySeleucus can explain it.Enter Seleucus.I looked for theeAn hour ago: thou’rt late.SELEUCUS.The seasons, lady,720Of divination are determinateBy stars and special omens: ’tis our skillTo observe their presage. The hour is favourable.Thy dream ...Pop.Is’t good?Sel.Beyond thy hope.Pop.Then tell it.Sel.Two thousand sesterces ....Pop.I have it here.See! I was ready for thee.[Gives him a purse.Sel.I thank thee, lady.Pop.Now for thy message.Sel.I have sought out thy dreamBy every means our art ....Pop.Mind not the means.Sel.There is one interpretation clear throughout....Pop.And that?730Sel.Thou shalt be wife unto two Cæsars.Pop.Two! Now be Isis praised. Two! O, Seleucus,Thou’rt an astrologer. Two! this is life,Seleucus; this is life as well as fortune.What are the names?Sel.There ends my message, lady.Pop.’Tis good so far, but stays unkindly. Search,I must know more. Above all things, the affairIs secret. (Knocking heard.) I will send my servant to thee.Thou must be gone: our business will not sufferMy husband stumbling on thee here. This way.[Exit Seleucus, being put out.My dream was true: my hopes and schemes inspired741Of heaven; yet this is far beyond them all.Wife to two Cæsars; maybe, mother of Cæsars.[Noise at door.To sit upon their rare, successive thrones,A manifold Augusta! Here’s my husband.What would he say? Two Cæsars, ay, two Cæsars![Laughing heard without.Enter Otho.OTHO.Good evening, love.Pop.Who laughed with thee without?Oth.Lucan. He walked with me from Cæsar’s supper.Pop.Was Cæsar riotous?Oth.Beyond all bounds.Pop.See what you husbands are. You go abroad750For pleasure, and when met among yourselvesPush all to excess, and never think how patientlyYour wives must mope at home, and wait your coming.And when you do return, up to the doorYou bring your merriment; but at the door’Tis left, and in you come, in solemn glumness,To vent the sour reaction of your revelsUpon your housekeeper.Oth.Enough, Poppæa;I would be cheered.Pop.Then I will cheer thee, love.But what’s the matter?Oth.Listen. Thou hast reproached me760With going forth alone. What else could be?Would’st thou consent to sit there at my side,Where I, a man, am oft ashamed to sit?Would’st thou, could’st thou be one among the womenOf Cæsar’s fancy?Pop.I spake not seriously.Oth.See, but I do. I tell thee, love, this nightThou wert invited.Pop.I!Oth.He would have pressed it.Pop.Who would have pressed it?Oth.Cæsar.Pop.What dost thou say?(Aside.) He treads on prophecy.Oth.Knowing thy mind,And mine, I begged him for our friendship’s sakeUrge me no further.Pop.Thou did’st well, and he?770Oth.Again to-night he asked for thee. ’Twas thisWhich made me sad and thoughtful.Pop.Why be sad?Oth.The meaning, love, the meaning: thou must guess it.Pop.The very reason, Otho, which thou urgestAgainst my going, is in truth the reasonWhy such as I should go. As Cæsar’s friend,Thou would’st do well to save him from the sloughHe daily sinks in.Oth.Nay, but such a stakeFor such a flimsy hope.Pop.I see a hope780In the invitation. Otho, let us seeWhat may be done among his friends.Oth.Poppæa,’Tis generously thought, but ’tis a thingMust not be thought. Trust to my judgment, love.’Tis Cæsar’s love of power that threats us here;He would have nought held from him. Thee I hold,And most because I know thou would’st be mine.Pop.Then thou must trust me, Otho.Oth.And so I do.Pop.Why, I were well his match. Let us go in.[Exeunt.SCENE · 4Room in the Palace. Enter AGRIPPINA and PALLAS.AGRIPPINA.Pallas, thy date is out: thou art dismissed;790Thou goest from the court: yet what thou takestMay soften thy regrets. Thy shiny daysWere not misspent, and thou may’st live like Cæsar.Farewell, we still are friends: the debt I oweI shall remember: ’twas thy power that firstGave root to mine: for thee, I think my favoursWere once thy pleasure. If those days are gone,We can look time in the face; we have not wastedThe days that flew: ’tis now with what remainStill to be careful. Friends and firm allies.Pal.Ay, firm as ever.Agr.Nay, though thou goest first,801That is not much: even that I cannot save theeIs sign that I am fallen ere thou could’st fall:A deeper, deadlier fall, unless indeedMy wit can save me still.Pal.Alas, dear queen,Fear makes this parting sad. But if there’s hope,’Tis this, to gain thy son.Agr.Ay, till our schemes be ripe;And even though Seneca betray me,—and thatIs sure,—I fear not him. I know my sonBetter than he, and I shall win him yet.810My plan is now to seem resigned to all:I will pretend my purpose is to leave him,And fly from Rome to voluntary exile.’Twill work upon his fear and duty both,To cut himself quite off from me, and allThat goes with me. He will entreat me stay;And if I stay—Pal.Ay, if this storm go by,The turns of time may offer us reprisals.At present use all means to gain thy son.Agr.I shall. Farewell.Pal.Be bold. The gods protect you.820Farewell.Agr.Farewell.[Exeunt severally.Enter Tigellinus and Paris.TIGELLINUS.Look from the window: thou wilt see ’tis true;He takes all with him.PARIS.Nay, if this is all.Tig.This much were all: and yet this caravanIs but the least of six; His monstrous GraceBrings up the rear.Par.’Tis nobly done of Cæsar.Tig.’Tis noble, say you, that the thief go quitWith all his plunder from the house he plundered?Par.Hark how the weasel can upbraid the fox!Good Tigellinus, there’s no need to grudge830Pallas his scrapings; the sea is full of fish:Rather thou should’st rejoice because thou seestThy probable hap. Pray that as many mules,Litters and bags and bales, women and slavesMay comfort thee.Enter Nero with Domitia.NERO.Paris, what do you here?Par.I comfort Tigellinus on the fateOf his predecessor.Ner.(at window). Gods! see what a trainDrags out the very bowels of the palace.No wonder my good mother’s man resignsWith resignation.Tig.Ha! ha!Ner.I seek the Augusta.840She late was here; go find her; say I wait her.[Exeunt Tigellinus and Paris.DOMITIA.Through my discovery, Nero, thy good fortuneLifts thee a corner of the veil whereunderThy mother plots. Be not thou now deceivedTo further trust. She is bent upon thy ruin.Ner.Though it be true she urged BritannicusEven in those words, we lack the surety yetShe spoke them in good faith.Dom.O, there’s no doubt.Ner.My mother is very deep, and often looksFar from her meaning. She will use this way850To worm a confidence.Dom.She did not then.Ner. Yet must the boy have thought so, for you saidThat what she urged he took not all in kindness.Dom.He bade her speak with Burrus.Ner.The villainous brat!Dom.Drive not the fault on him. Did Burrus waver,Nothing could save thee. And it seems thy motherHad hope to win him. She comes; now be thou firm.I will be gone.[Exit..Ner.(solus). Now she cannot deceive me.Enter Agrippina.Agr.My son, thy mother comes at thy command.Ner.O excellent mother!Agr.What would’st thou with me, son?860I come to hear, and yet I scarce am fitFor banter or abuse. I am ill to-day.Ner.No wonder; ’tis you do too much. ’Twere betterYou spared yourself. Go rest; my businessWill not cure headaches.Agr.Speak whate’er it be.Ner.Nay, if you’re ill—Agr.My sickness will not pass.To-morrow I shall leave thee; that last griefWill soon engulph the rest: speak while thou may’st.Ner.What’s this! leave me to-morrow?Agr.I would spare theeThat worst disgrace of sending me away.870I go of myself.Ner.What now?Agr.’Tis well resolved.I have been foolish; ’twas a mother’s fault,A tender fault: forget it, and hereafterKnow my love better. If my presence bredDislike, thy kinder mind may yet returnWhen I am gone.Ner.Why, what has happed, I pray?Agr.Nothing. I have only come to see my error.I thought, ’twas I that gave him all....Ner.Tut! tut!’Tis the old story told a thousand times.Agr.Ay, and forgot as oft. Thy constant wrongs,I think, have dug my grave. Dost thou remember881What answer once I made the sorcererWho prophesied thy fortune? Thy son, he said,Shall reign, and kill his mother. Let him kill me,So that he reign, I cried. He spake the truth,But ’tis by grief thou slay’st me.Ner.That old rubbishWere best forgotten.Agr.Indeed, I had forgot it:But yesternight I dreamed it all again;A frightful dream: plain as I see thee nowStood’st thou before me thus, with angry words[She acts.890Mocking, until I wept for shame; but thouDid’st only laugh the more. Then ran I to thee,And bared my breast, and cried, Kill me, O son!And thou fastened’st thy snaky eyes upon me,So that I could not see what thy hand did.But, oh! I knew. I heard thy weapon grateLeaving the scabbard, and a fiery pangPierced through my heart. Ah!Ner.(aside). Heavens, is she mad?—899Mother, good mother, mother!Agr.’Twas nothing. Nay, where am I? I was comeTo hear thy speech. What is’t thou hast to say?Ner.(aside). If this were trickery? Let the fact try.—’Twas this: what speech you held the other morningWith young Britannicus.Agr.(aside).Ah! knows he that?—Thy spies are most alert. This time, at least,I praise their zeal: though thou art slow to thank meFor my kind service done to thee and him.Ner.Whether is it kinder, say you, to him to urge himTo embrace the desperate plot, of which already910He stood suspected, or more kind to meTo water this rebellion with the tearsOf your insidious passion?Agr.Your man’s a fool: I heardYour quarrel, and took pains to sound the boy.Ner.Next you saw Burrus.Agr.Well, and what said he?Ner.Nay, that’s for you to tell.Agr.’Twas this: BritannicusMost truly said that nought could help his claim,Except the guards and Burrus: at which wordI flew to Burrus, offered him the bait;And when he showed the scruple of his oath,920Three words from me confirmed him.Ner.If this were true!Agr.How much you need me, Nero, will be plainWhen I am gone. Who has deceived you now?Who works this madness in you, to conceiveThat your disaster could be gain to me?Have you believed what angry words I spokeWere born of purpose, that my threats against youWere aught but passion? You count not the tears,The bitter, secret tears, for every pangYour wrongs have wrought in me; and bitterer far,930The sharp remorse for each retaliationOf speech provoked in anger. Let it end;’Tis best I go.Ner.See! if you had gone beforeWe had never quarrelled; now there’s nought to loseBy going, ’tis a quarrel that you go.Agr.No quarrel, nay. ’Tis only this: I thoughtThat in your love I held perpetual office.’Tis not so. Now my time is out: I goAs Pallas goes.Ner.The sleek, extortionate Pallas,Dost thou defend the despicable Pallas?940Agr.I would be kind to friends; none will stand by you,If you cast off those to whom most you owe.’Twas first through him I came to seize the powerThat made you Cæsar. Look! you have lost a friend.Be wiser when I am gone.Ner.I have good friends,Burrus and Seneca: I trust them both.Agr.Cannot you read the cause why still they urge youTo cast me off?Ner.’Tis the disgrace they feelTo see the empire managed by a woman.Agr.’Tis the constraint they feel in all their actions950Being overruled by me. Do you not seeThey are my ministers, and you are ruledBy them in all they counsel? Rid of me,They rule the world. Think you, when they have castWhat was above them underneath their feet,They will have care to exalt what was below?Ner.They both are honest men; you chose them well.Agr.You are too trustful, Nero. As you loveYour life, I say, be jealous of these men;These men that now would rule thee but to take960The empire from thy hands. They may speak illOf me,—believe that if thou list,—but oh!If once they seem to encroach, delay not then;Hear no excuse nor explanation; strike,Kill them, I say, before they murder thee.Ner.But, mother, Seneca loves me.Agr.As a masterWill love a pupil while he takes instruction.He’ll love you while you let him reign. Alas!I scarce dare leave you to him. You are too kind;Will shrink to use the sword as it is needfulFor one who rules to wield.Ner.You cannot think970These men would serve me so.Agr.What is my purpose?My life’s one object, my supreme ambition?Was’t not to raise thee where thou art, and nowIs’t not to keep thee there?Ner.So once I thought.Agr.O think it yet. Look! there is none can love you,Nero, as I must love you; there’s not oneCan guard you as I can. Have I not provedMy power? While I am by you, it is yours.Ner.Stay then.Agr.O that it might be!Ner.Thou shalt not go.980Resign thy outward power; be in all elseAs heretofore. Forget what I suspected.Be still my mother.Agr.Alas!Ner.Yea, I will have it.Agr.It cannot be.Ner.Why not?Agr.Seneca, my son,Will not permit it.Ner.Who is SenecaTo say me nay?Agr.Unless you join with meHe will o’errule you.Ner.He shall not o’errule me.Agr.For that I’d stay. I would give up all elseTo stand by you: ay, and be happy so.Ner.And so it shall be. Have thy private fortune,Remain in Rome.Agr.But can you trust me, Nero?990Ner.Nay, I will never more suspect thee. Kiss me.Agr.O, now you are good and kind. Tell me, who was itDid me this wrong?Ner.It was Domitia told me.She spied on thee.Agr.My sister! ha! you know notThe grudge between us?Ner.Yes, I know of that.Agr.And not suspect her slander? Did she alsoCommit Britannicus?Ner.She cast all blameOn thee.Agr.I feared she might have wronged the boy.Ner.Is he, then, innocent?Agr.I went so far1000In sounding him as even to risk my credit.Let not unjust suspicion add a weightTo the just blame we bear. You must protect him.Promise me that.Ner.I will ask Seneca.Agr.Forgive, at least, his foolish indiscretion.He begged me make his peace. Now have I made it?Ner.I’ll think no more of that.Agr.My dearest son,The joy of a good action will be yoursAs well as mine. O, I am happy now—Indeed, most happy now.Ner.Come then, dear mother.[Exeunt.

Sen.And I to train the cub of such a dam![Exit.

SCENE · 2Room in Domitia’s house. Enter DOMITIA and SELEUCUS.

Room in Domitia’s house. Enter DOMITIA and SELEUCUS.

DOMITIA.

’Tis a most shrewd surmise, but nothing more;I cannot listen to it. Though I hateMy sister, and would take some risk to crush her,Yet must I set my foot on surer ground.660My better engine is Poppæa’s dream,Of which thou’st told me: I can build on that.Thou should’st be there, I think, to-night.

’Tis a most shrewd surmise, but nothing more;

I cannot listen to it. Though I hate

My sister, and would take some risk to crush her,

Yet must I set my foot on surer ground.

My better engine is Poppæa’s dream,

Of which thou’st told me: I can build on that.

Thou should’st be there, I think, to-night.

SELEUCUS.

Ay, madam.I go at once.

Ay, madam.

I go at once.

Dom.Speak nothing waveringly.

Sel.Nay, madam.

Dom.’Tis her fate to marry Cæsar.

Sel.My art needs no instruction.

Dom.It must be so.

Sel.It is so, madam.

Dom.See, thy prophecyIs that which should determine it. Go now.[To door.Her purse will satisfy thee well.

Dom.See, thy prophecy

Is that which should determine it. Go now.[To door.

Her purse will satisfy thee well.

Sel.Yet onceEre I be gone, madam, I’ll make a stand670To win thy credit.

Sel.Yet once

Ere I be gone, madam, I’ll make a stand

To win thy credit.

Dom.Thou must show me cause.Thou say’st the Augusta plots against her son,Supports Britannicus, tampers with Burrus.How know’st thou this?

Dom.Thou must show me cause.

Thou say’st the Augusta plots against her son,

Supports Britannicus, tampers with Burrus.

How know’st thou this?

Sel.Why should I lie?

Dom.I thinkThere may be some who make it worth thy while.

Dom.I think

There may be some who make it worth thy while.

Sel.I would not meddle in this thing for money.

Dom.Why tell me then at all?

Sel.To win thy help.

Dom.To what?

Sel.To save the prince.

Dom.If thou’rt in earnest,Where is thy confidence? Assure me first,680At least, of what thou say’st. Whence know’st thou this?

Dom.If thou’rt in earnest,

Where is thy confidence? Assure me first,

At least, of what thou say’st. Whence know’st thou this?

Sel.Fulvia, thy sister’s maid, rewards my loveWith many trifles: what she overhearsI piece together.

Sel.Fulvia, thy sister’s maid, rewards my love

With many trifles: what she overhears

I piece together.

Dom.What of this was heard,And how much pieced?

Dom.What of this was heard,

And how much pieced?

Sel.The Augusta sent all out,And spake long time in private with the prince.What passed I guess from this; that ere she left,Being risen to go, as Fulvia at the doorStood just without, she heard her voice most plainlyAngrily entreating, saying, that though he doubted,690Yet she would still with him regain her power:If he held off yet he so far was right,As that ’twas best to speak with Burrus first.

Sel.The Augusta sent all out,

And spake long time in private with the prince.

What passed I guess from this; that ere she left,

Being risen to go, as Fulvia at the door

Stood just without, she heard her voice most plainly

Angrily entreating, saying, that though he doubted,

Yet she would still with him regain her power:

If he held off yet he so far was right,

As that ’twas best to speak with Burrus first.

Dom.And has she since seen Burrus?

Sel.I think she hath.He lately came from Seneca’s, and thereThe Augusta must have met with him.

Sel.I think she hath.

He lately came from Seneca’s, and there

The Augusta must have met with him.

Dom.What passed?

Sel.I know not yet. Fulvia will know and tell me.

Dom.But can’st thou trust her?

Sel.Ay, she hath no purpose.Whate’er she hears is mine.

Sel.Ay, she hath no purpose.

Whate’er she hears is mine.

Dom.Then make this thine.Her tampering with Britannicus is nought:700But if she speak with Burrus, there is matterThat I can work on. Ay, if that should be—Make sure of that, and bring me word at once.To-night thou hast thy business; go and do it.Poppæa marries Cæsar.

Dom.Then make this thine.

Her tampering with Britannicus is nought:

But if she speak with Burrus, there is matter

That I can work on. Ay, if that should be—

Make sure of that, and bring me word at once.

To-night thou hast thy business; go and do it.

Poppæa marries Cæsar.

Sel.Madam, I go.[Exit.

Dom.Now, my good sister, if this tale is true,Thy fortune turns: I trample on thee now.Ay, if she have spoke with Burrus, then one wordTo Nero, and she is doomed. Patience and timeBring us all opportunities: we need710But watch and wait. The way I least expectedShe runs within the reach of my revenge.[Exit.

Dom.Now, my good sister, if this tale is true,

Thy fortune turns: I trample on thee now.

Ay, if she have spoke with Burrus, then one word

To Nero, and she is doomed. Patience and time

Bring us all opportunities: we need

But watch and wait. The way I least expected

She runs within the reach of my revenge.[Exit.

SCENE · 3Room in Otho’s house. Enter POPPÆA.

Room in Otho’s house. Enter POPPÆA.

POPPÆA.

My dream was strange: but why of all strange dreamsStands forth this dream, to say it hath a meaning?There lies the mystery: the dream were nothing.’Tis such a dream as I have prayed to dream.’Tis such a dream as an astrologerMust love to interpret. Nay, there’s but one waySeleucus can explain it.

My dream was strange: but why of all strange dreams

Stands forth this dream, to say it hath a meaning?

There lies the mystery: the dream were nothing.

’Tis such a dream as I have prayed to dream.

’Tis such a dream as an astrologer

Must love to interpret. Nay, there’s but one way

Seleucus can explain it.

Enter Seleucus.

I looked for theeAn hour ago: thou’rt late.

I looked for thee

An hour ago: thou’rt late.

SELEUCUS.

The seasons, lady,720Of divination are determinateBy stars and special omens: ’tis our skillTo observe their presage. The hour is favourable.Thy dream ...

The seasons, lady,720

Of divination are determinate

By stars and special omens: ’tis our skill

To observe their presage. The hour is favourable.

Thy dream ...

Pop.Is’t good?

Sel.Beyond thy hope.

Pop.Then tell it.

Sel.Two thousand sesterces ....

Pop.I have it here.See! I was ready for thee.[Gives him a purse.

Pop.I have it here.

See! I was ready for thee.[Gives him a purse.

Sel.I thank thee, lady.

Pop.Now for thy message.

Sel.I have sought out thy dreamBy every means our art ....

Sel.I have sought out thy dream

By every means our art ....

Pop.Mind not the means.

Sel.There is one interpretation clear throughout....

Pop.And that?730

Sel.Thou shalt be wife unto two Cæsars.

Pop.Two! Now be Isis praised. Two! O, Seleucus,Thou’rt an astrologer. Two! this is life,Seleucus; this is life as well as fortune.What are the names?

Pop.Two! Now be Isis praised. Two! O, Seleucus,

Thou’rt an astrologer. Two! this is life,

Seleucus; this is life as well as fortune.

What are the names?

Sel.There ends my message, lady.

Pop.’Tis good so far, but stays unkindly. Search,I must know more. Above all things, the affairIs secret. (Knocking heard.) I will send my servant to thee.Thou must be gone: our business will not sufferMy husband stumbling on thee here. This way.[Exit Seleucus, being put out.

Pop.’Tis good so far, but stays unkindly. Search,

I must know more. Above all things, the affair

Is secret. (Knocking heard.) I will send my servant to thee.

Thou must be gone: our business will not suffer

My husband stumbling on thee here. This way.

[Exit Seleucus, being put out.

My dream was true: my hopes and schemes inspired741Of heaven; yet this is far beyond them all.Wife to two Cæsars; maybe, mother of Cæsars.[Noise at door.

My dream was true: my hopes and schemes inspired

Of heaven; yet this is far beyond them all.

Wife to two Cæsars; maybe, mother of Cæsars.

[Noise at door.

To sit upon their rare, successive thrones,A manifold Augusta! Here’s my husband.What would he say? Two Cæsars, ay, two Cæsars![Laughing heard without.

To sit upon their rare, successive thrones,

A manifold Augusta! Here’s my husband.

What would he say? Two Cæsars, ay, two Cæsars!

[Laughing heard without.

Enter Otho.

OTHO.

Good evening, love.

Pop.Who laughed with thee without?

Oth.Lucan. He walked with me from Cæsar’s supper.

Pop.Was Cæsar riotous?

Oth.Beyond all bounds.

Pop.See what you husbands are. You go abroad750For pleasure, and when met among yourselvesPush all to excess, and never think how patientlyYour wives must mope at home, and wait your coming.And when you do return, up to the doorYou bring your merriment; but at the door’Tis left, and in you come, in solemn glumness,To vent the sour reaction of your revelsUpon your housekeeper.

Pop.See what you husbands are. You go abroad

For pleasure, and when met among yourselves

Push all to excess, and never think how patiently

Your wives must mope at home, and wait your coming.

And when you do return, up to the door

You bring your merriment; but at the door

’Tis left, and in you come, in solemn glumness,

To vent the sour reaction of your revels

Upon your housekeeper.

Oth.Enough, Poppæa;I would be cheered.

Oth.Enough, Poppæa;

I would be cheered.

Pop.Then I will cheer thee, love.But what’s the matter?

Pop.Then I will cheer thee, love.

But what’s the matter?

Oth.Listen. Thou hast reproached me760With going forth alone. What else could be?Would’st thou consent to sit there at my side,Where I, a man, am oft ashamed to sit?Would’st thou, could’st thou be one among the womenOf Cæsar’s fancy?

Oth.Listen. Thou hast reproached me

With going forth alone. What else could be?

Would’st thou consent to sit there at my side,

Where I, a man, am oft ashamed to sit?

Would’st thou, could’st thou be one among the women

Of Cæsar’s fancy?

Pop.I spake not seriously.

Oth.See, but I do. I tell thee, love, this nightThou wert invited.

Oth.See, but I do. I tell thee, love, this night

Thou wert invited.

Pop.I!

Oth.He would have pressed it.

Pop.Who would have pressed it?

Oth.Cæsar.

Pop.What dost thou say?

(Aside.) He treads on prophecy.

Oth.Knowing thy mind,And mine, I begged him for our friendship’s sakeUrge me no further.

Oth.Knowing thy mind,

And mine, I begged him for our friendship’s sake

Urge me no further.

Pop.Thou did’st well, and he?770

Oth.Again to-night he asked for thee. ’Twas thisWhich made me sad and thoughtful.

Oth.Again to-night he asked for thee. ’Twas this

Which made me sad and thoughtful.

Pop.Why be sad?

Oth.The meaning, love, the meaning: thou must guess it.

Pop.The very reason, Otho, which thou urgestAgainst my going, is in truth the reasonWhy such as I should go. As Cæsar’s friend,Thou would’st do well to save him from the sloughHe daily sinks in.

Pop.The very reason, Otho, which thou urgest

Against my going, is in truth the reason

Why such as I should go. As Cæsar’s friend,

Thou would’st do well to save him from the slough

He daily sinks in.

Oth.Nay, but such a stakeFor such a flimsy hope.

Oth.Nay, but such a stake

For such a flimsy hope.

Pop.I see a hope780In the invitation. Otho, let us seeWhat may be done among his friends.

Pop.I see a hope

In the invitation. Otho, let us see

What may be done among his friends.

Oth.Poppæa,’Tis generously thought, but ’tis a thingMust not be thought. Trust to my judgment, love.’Tis Cæsar’s love of power that threats us here;He would have nought held from him. Thee I hold,And most because I know thou would’st be mine.

Oth.Poppæa,

’Tis generously thought, but ’tis a thing

Must not be thought. Trust to my judgment, love.

’Tis Cæsar’s love of power that threats us here;

He would have nought held from him. Thee I hold,

And most because I know thou would’st be mine.

Pop.Then thou must trust me, Otho.

Oth.And so I do.

Pop.Why, I were well his match. Let us go in.[Exeunt.

Pop.Why, I were well his match. Let us go in.

[Exeunt.

SCENE · 4Room in the Palace. Enter AGRIPPINA and PALLAS.

Room in the Palace. Enter AGRIPPINA and PALLAS.

AGRIPPINA.

Pallas, thy date is out: thou art dismissed;790Thou goest from the court: yet what thou takestMay soften thy regrets. Thy shiny daysWere not misspent, and thou may’st live like Cæsar.Farewell, we still are friends: the debt I oweI shall remember: ’twas thy power that firstGave root to mine: for thee, I think my favoursWere once thy pleasure. If those days are gone,We can look time in the face; we have not wastedThe days that flew: ’tis now with what remainStill to be careful. Friends and firm allies.

Pallas, thy date is out: thou art dismissed;

Thou goest from the court: yet what thou takest

May soften thy regrets. Thy shiny days

Were not misspent, and thou may’st live like Cæsar.

Farewell, we still are friends: the debt I owe

I shall remember: ’twas thy power that first

Gave root to mine: for thee, I think my favours

Were once thy pleasure. If those days are gone,

We can look time in the face; we have not wasted

The days that flew: ’tis now with what remain

Still to be careful. Friends and firm allies.

Pal.Ay, firm as ever.

Agr.Nay, though thou goest first,801That is not much: even that I cannot save theeIs sign that I am fallen ere thou could’st fall:A deeper, deadlier fall, unless indeedMy wit can save me still.

Agr.Nay, though thou goest first,

That is not much: even that I cannot save thee

Is sign that I am fallen ere thou could’st fall:

A deeper, deadlier fall, unless indeed

My wit can save me still.

Pal.Alas, dear queen,Fear makes this parting sad. But if there’s hope,’Tis this, to gain thy son.

Pal.Alas, dear queen,

Fear makes this parting sad. But if there’s hope,

’Tis this, to gain thy son.

Agr.Ay, till our schemes be ripe;And even though Seneca betray me,—and thatIs sure,—I fear not him. I know my sonBetter than he, and I shall win him yet.810My plan is now to seem resigned to all:I will pretend my purpose is to leave him,And fly from Rome to voluntary exile.’Twill work upon his fear and duty both,To cut himself quite off from me, and allThat goes with me. He will entreat me stay;And if I stay—

Agr.Ay, till our schemes be ripe;

And even though Seneca betray me,—and that

Is sure,—I fear not him. I know my son

Better than he, and I shall win him yet.

My plan is now to seem resigned to all:

I will pretend my purpose is to leave him,

And fly from Rome to voluntary exile.

’Twill work upon his fear and duty both,

To cut himself quite off from me, and all

That goes with me. He will entreat me stay;

And if I stay—

Pal.Ay, if this storm go by,The turns of time may offer us reprisals.At present use all means to gain thy son.

Pal.Ay, if this storm go by,

The turns of time may offer us reprisals.

At present use all means to gain thy son.

Agr.I shall. Farewell.

Pal.Be bold. The gods protect you.820Farewell.

Pal.Be bold. The gods protect you.

Farewell.

Agr.Farewell.[Exeunt severally.

Enter Tigellinus and Paris.

TIGELLINUS.

Look from the window: thou wilt see ’tis true;He takes all with him.

Look from the window: thou wilt see ’tis true;

He takes all with him.

PARIS.

Nay, if this is all.

Tig.This much were all: and yet this caravanIs but the least of six; His monstrous GraceBrings up the rear.

Tig.This much were all: and yet this caravan

Is but the least of six; His monstrous Grace

Brings up the rear.

Par.’Tis nobly done of Cæsar.

Tig.’Tis noble, say you, that the thief go quitWith all his plunder from the house he plundered?

Tig.’Tis noble, say you, that the thief go quit

With all his plunder from the house he plundered?

Par.Hark how the weasel can upbraid the fox!Good Tigellinus, there’s no need to grudge830Pallas his scrapings; the sea is full of fish:Rather thou should’st rejoice because thou seestThy probable hap. Pray that as many mules,Litters and bags and bales, women and slavesMay comfort thee.

Par.Hark how the weasel can upbraid the fox!

Good Tigellinus, there’s no need to grudge

Pallas his scrapings; the sea is full of fish:

Rather thou should’st rejoice because thou seest

Thy probable hap. Pray that as many mules,

Litters and bags and bales, women and slaves

May comfort thee.

Enter Nero with Domitia.

NERO.

Paris, what do you here?

Par.I comfort Tigellinus on the fateOf his predecessor.

Par.I comfort Tigellinus on the fate

Of his predecessor.

Ner.(at window). Gods! see what a trainDrags out the very bowels of the palace.No wonder my good mother’s man resignsWith resignation.

Ner.(at window). Gods! see what a train

Drags out the very bowels of the palace.

No wonder my good mother’s man resigns

With resignation.

Tig.Ha! ha!

Ner.I seek the Augusta.840She late was here; go find her; say I wait her.

Ner.I seek the Augusta.

She late was here; go find her; say I wait her.

[Exeunt Tigellinus and Paris.

DOMITIA.

Through my discovery, Nero, thy good fortuneLifts thee a corner of the veil whereunderThy mother plots. Be not thou now deceivedTo further trust. She is bent upon thy ruin.

Through my discovery, Nero, thy good fortune

Lifts thee a corner of the veil whereunder

Thy mother plots. Be not thou now deceived

To further trust. She is bent upon thy ruin.

Ner.Though it be true she urged BritannicusEven in those words, we lack the surety yetShe spoke them in good faith.

Ner.Though it be true she urged Britannicus

Even in those words, we lack the surety yet

She spoke them in good faith.

Dom.O, there’s no doubt.

Ner.My mother is very deep, and often looksFar from her meaning. She will use this way850To worm a confidence.

Ner.My mother is very deep, and often looks

Far from her meaning. She will use this way

To worm a confidence.

Dom.She did not then.

Ner. Yet must the boy have thought so, for you saidThat what she urged he took not all in kindness.

Ner. Yet must the boy have thought so, for you said

That what she urged he took not all in kindness.

Dom.He bade her speak with Burrus.

Ner.The villainous brat!

Dom.Drive not the fault on him. Did Burrus waver,Nothing could save thee. And it seems thy motherHad hope to win him. She comes; now be thou firm.I will be gone.[Exit..

Dom.Drive not the fault on him. Did Burrus waver,

Nothing could save thee. And it seems thy mother

Had hope to win him. She comes; now be thou firm.

I will be gone.[Exit..

Ner.(solus). Now she cannot deceive me.

Enter Agrippina.

Agr.My son, thy mother comes at thy command.

Ner.O excellent mother!

Agr.What would’st thou with me, son?860I come to hear, and yet I scarce am fitFor banter or abuse. I am ill to-day.

Agr.What would’st thou with me, son?

I come to hear, and yet I scarce am fit

For banter or abuse. I am ill to-day.

Ner.No wonder; ’tis you do too much. ’Twere betterYou spared yourself. Go rest; my businessWill not cure headaches.

Ner.No wonder; ’tis you do too much. ’Twere better

You spared yourself. Go rest; my business

Will not cure headaches.

Agr.Speak whate’er it be.

Ner.Nay, if you’re ill—

Agr.My sickness will not pass.To-morrow I shall leave thee; that last griefWill soon engulph the rest: speak while thou may’st.

Agr.My sickness will not pass.

To-morrow I shall leave thee; that last grief

Will soon engulph the rest: speak while thou may’st.

Ner.What’s this! leave me to-morrow?

Agr.I would spare theeThat worst disgrace of sending me away.870I go of myself.

Agr.I would spare thee

That worst disgrace of sending me away.

I go of myself.

Ner.What now?

Agr.’Tis well resolved.I have been foolish; ’twas a mother’s fault,A tender fault: forget it, and hereafterKnow my love better. If my presence bredDislike, thy kinder mind may yet returnWhen I am gone.

Agr.’Tis well resolved.

I have been foolish; ’twas a mother’s fault,

A tender fault: forget it, and hereafter

Know my love better. If my presence bred

Dislike, thy kinder mind may yet return

When I am gone.

Ner.Why, what has happed, I pray?

Agr.Nothing. I have only come to see my error.I thought, ’twas I that gave him all....

Agr.Nothing. I have only come to see my error.

I thought, ’twas I that gave him all....

Ner.Tut! tut!’Tis the old story told a thousand times.

Ner.Tut! tut!

’Tis the old story told a thousand times.

Agr.Ay, and forgot as oft. Thy constant wrongs,I think, have dug my grave. Dost thou remember881What answer once I made the sorcererWho prophesied thy fortune? Thy son, he said,Shall reign, and kill his mother. Let him kill me,So that he reign, I cried. He spake the truth,But ’tis by grief thou slay’st me.

Agr.Ay, and forgot as oft. Thy constant wrongs,

I think, have dug my grave. Dost thou remember

What answer once I made the sorcerer

Who prophesied thy fortune? Thy son, he said,

Shall reign, and kill his mother. Let him kill me,

So that he reign, I cried. He spake the truth,

But ’tis by grief thou slay’st me.

Ner.That old rubbishWere best forgotten.

Ner.That old rubbish

Were best forgotten.

Agr.Indeed, I had forgot it:But yesternight I dreamed it all again;A frightful dream: plain as I see thee nowStood’st thou before me thus, with angry words

Agr.Indeed, I had forgot it:

But yesternight I dreamed it all again;

A frightful dream: plain as I see thee now

Stood’st thou before me thus, with angry words

[She acts.

890Mocking, until I wept for shame; but thouDid’st only laugh the more. Then ran I to thee,And bared my breast, and cried, Kill me, O son!And thou fastened’st thy snaky eyes upon me,So that I could not see what thy hand did.But, oh! I knew. I heard thy weapon grateLeaving the scabbard, and a fiery pangPierced through my heart. Ah!

Mocking, until I wept for shame; but thou

Did’st only laugh the more. Then ran I to thee,

And bared my breast, and cried, Kill me, O son!

And thou fastened’st thy snaky eyes upon me,

So that I could not see what thy hand did.

But, oh! I knew. I heard thy weapon grate

Leaving the scabbard, and a fiery pang

Pierced through my heart. Ah!

Ner.(aside). Heavens, is she mad?—899Mother, good mother, mother!

Ner.(aside). Heavens, is she mad?—

Mother, good mother, mother!

Agr.’Twas nothing. Nay, where am I? I was comeTo hear thy speech. What is’t thou hast to say?

Agr.’Twas nothing. Nay, where am I? I was come

To hear thy speech. What is’t thou hast to say?

Ner.(aside). If this were trickery? Let the fact try.—’Twas this: what speech you held the other morningWith young Britannicus.

Ner.(aside). If this were trickery? Let the fact try.—

’Twas this: what speech you held the other morning

With young Britannicus.

Agr.(aside).Ah! knows he that?—Thy spies are most alert. This time, at least,I praise their zeal: though thou art slow to thank meFor my kind service done to thee and him.

Agr.(aside).Ah! knows he that?—

Thy spies are most alert. This time, at least,

I praise their zeal: though thou art slow to thank me

For my kind service done to thee and him.

Ner.Whether is it kinder, say you, to him to urge himTo embrace the desperate plot, of which already910He stood suspected, or more kind to meTo water this rebellion with the tearsOf your insidious passion?

Ner.Whether is it kinder, say you, to him to urge him

To embrace the desperate plot, of which already

He stood suspected, or more kind to me

To water this rebellion with the tears

Of your insidious passion?

Agr.Your man’s a fool: I heardYour quarrel, and took pains to sound the boy.

Agr.Your man’s a fool: I heard

Your quarrel, and took pains to sound the boy.

Ner.Next you saw Burrus.

Agr.Well, and what said he?

Ner.Nay, that’s for you to tell.

Agr.’Twas this: BritannicusMost truly said that nought could help his claim,Except the guards and Burrus: at which wordI flew to Burrus, offered him the bait;And when he showed the scruple of his oath,920Three words from me confirmed him.

Agr.’Twas this: Britannicus

Most truly said that nought could help his claim,

Except the guards and Burrus: at which word

I flew to Burrus, offered him the bait;

And when he showed the scruple of his oath,

Three words from me confirmed him.

Ner.If this were true!

Agr.How much you need me, Nero, will be plainWhen I am gone. Who has deceived you now?Who works this madness in you, to conceiveThat your disaster could be gain to me?Have you believed what angry words I spokeWere born of purpose, that my threats against youWere aught but passion? You count not the tears,The bitter, secret tears, for every pangYour wrongs have wrought in me; and bitterer far,930The sharp remorse for each retaliationOf speech provoked in anger. Let it end;’Tis best I go.

Agr.How much you need me, Nero, will be plain

When I am gone. Who has deceived you now?

Who works this madness in you, to conceive

That your disaster could be gain to me?

Have you believed what angry words I spoke

Were born of purpose, that my threats against you

Were aught but passion? You count not the tears,

The bitter, secret tears, for every pang

Your wrongs have wrought in me; and bitterer far,

The sharp remorse for each retaliation

Of speech provoked in anger. Let it end;

’Tis best I go.

Ner.See! if you had gone beforeWe had never quarrelled; now there’s nought to loseBy going, ’tis a quarrel that you go.

Ner.See! if you had gone before

We had never quarrelled; now there’s nought to lose

By going, ’tis a quarrel that you go.

Agr.No quarrel, nay. ’Tis only this: I thoughtThat in your love I held perpetual office.’Tis not so. Now my time is out: I goAs Pallas goes.

Agr.No quarrel, nay. ’Tis only this: I thought

That in your love I held perpetual office.

’Tis not so. Now my time is out: I go

As Pallas goes.

Ner.The sleek, extortionate Pallas,Dost thou defend the despicable Pallas?

Ner.The sleek, extortionate Pallas,

Dost thou defend the despicable Pallas?

940Agr.I would be kind to friends; none will stand by you,If you cast off those to whom most you owe.’Twas first through him I came to seize the powerThat made you Cæsar. Look! you have lost a friend.Be wiser when I am gone.

Agr.I would be kind to friends; none will stand by you,

If you cast off those to whom most you owe.

’Twas first through him I came to seize the power

That made you Cæsar. Look! you have lost a friend.

Be wiser when I am gone.

Ner.I have good friends,Burrus and Seneca: I trust them both.

Ner.I have good friends,

Burrus and Seneca: I trust them both.

Agr.Cannot you read the cause why still they urge youTo cast me off?

Agr.Cannot you read the cause why still they urge you

To cast me off?

Ner.’Tis the disgrace they feelTo see the empire managed by a woman.

Ner.’Tis the disgrace they feel

To see the empire managed by a woman.

Agr.’Tis the constraint they feel in all their actions950Being overruled by me. Do you not seeThey are my ministers, and you are ruledBy them in all they counsel? Rid of me,They rule the world. Think you, when they have castWhat was above them underneath their feet,They will have care to exalt what was below?

Agr.’Tis the constraint they feel in all their actions

Being overruled by me. Do you not see

They are my ministers, and you are ruled

By them in all they counsel? Rid of me,

They rule the world. Think you, when they have cast

What was above them underneath their feet,

They will have care to exalt what was below?

Ner.They both are honest men; you chose them well.

Agr.You are too trustful, Nero. As you loveYour life, I say, be jealous of these men;These men that now would rule thee but to take960The empire from thy hands. They may speak illOf me,—believe that if thou list,—but oh!If once they seem to encroach, delay not then;Hear no excuse nor explanation; strike,Kill them, I say, before they murder thee.

Agr.You are too trustful, Nero. As you love

Your life, I say, be jealous of these men;

These men that now would rule thee but to take

The empire from thy hands. They may speak ill

Of me,—believe that if thou list,—but oh!

If once they seem to encroach, delay not then;

Hear no excuse nor explanation; strike,

Kill them, I say, before they murder thee.

Ner.But, mother, Seneca loves me.

Agr.As a masterWill love a pupil while he takes instruction.He’ll love you while you let him reign. Alas!I scarce dare leave you to him. You are too kind;Will shrink to use the sword as it is needfulFor one who rules to wield.

Agr.As a master

Will love a pupil while he takes instruction.

He’ll love you while you let him reign. Alas!

I scarce dare leave you to him. You are too kind;

Will shrink to use the sword as it is needful

For one who rules to wield.

Ner.You cannot think970These men would serve me so.

Ner.You cannot think970

These men would serve me so.

Agr.What is my purpose?My life’s one object, my supreme ambition?Was’t not to raise thee where thou art, and nowIs’t not to keep thee there?

Agr.What is my purpose?

My life’s one object, my supreme ambition?

Was’t not to raise thee where thou art, and now

Is’t not to keep thee there?

Ner.So once I thought.

Agr.O think it yet. Look! there is none can love you,Nero, as I must love you; there’s not oneCan guard you as I can. Have I not provedMy power? While I am by you, it is yours.

Agr.O think it yet. Look! there is none can love you,

Nero, as I must love you; there’s not one

Can guard you as I can. Have I not proved

My power? While I am by you, it is yours.

Ner.Stay then.

Agr.O that it might be!

Ner.Thou shalt not go.980Resign thy outward power; be in all elseAs heretofore. Forget what I suspected.Be still my mother.

Ner.Thou shalt not go.

Resign thy outward power; be in all else

As heretofore. Forget what I suspected.

Be still my mother.

Agr.Alas!

Ner.Yea, I will have it.

Agr.It cannot be.

Ner.Why not?

Agr.Seneca, my son,Will not permit it.

Agr.Seneca, my son,

Will not permit it.

Ner.Who is SenecaTo say me nay?

Ner.Who is Seneca

To say me nay?

Agr.Unless you join with meHe will o’errule you.

Agr.Unless you join with me

He will o’errule you.

Ner.He shall not o’errule me.

Agr.For that I’d stay. I would give up all elseTo stand by you: ay, and be happy so.

Agr.For that I’d stay. I would give up all else

To stand by you: ay, and be happy so.

Ner.And so it shall be. Have thy private fortune,Remain in Rome.

Ner.And so it shall be. Have thy private fortune,

Remain in Rome.

Agr.But can you trust me, Nero?990

Ner.Nay, I will never more suspect thee. Kiss me.

Agr.O, now you are good and kind. Tell me, who was itDid me this wrong?

Agr.O, now you are good and kind. Tell me, who was it

Did me this wrong?

Ner.It was Domitia told me.She spied on thee.

Ner.It was Domitia told me.

She spied on thee.

Agr.My sister! ha! you know notThe grudge between us?

Agr.My sister! ha! you know not

The grudge between us?

Ner.Yes, I know of that.Agr.And not suspect her slander? Did she alsoCommit Britannicus?Ner.She cast all blameOn thee.Agr.I feared she might have wronged the boy.Ner.Is he, then, innocent?Agr.I went so far1000In sounding him as even to risk my credit.Let not unjust suspicion add a weightTo the just blame we bear. You must protect him.Promise me that.Ner.I will ask Seneca.Agr.Forgive, at least, his foolish indiscretion.He begged me make his peace. Now have I made it?Ner.I’ll think no more of that.Agr.My dearest son,The joy of a good action will be yoursAs well as mine. O, I am happy now—Indeed, most happy now.Ner.Come then, dear mother.[Exeunt.

Ner.Yes, I know of that.

Agr.And not suspect her slander? Did she alsoCommit Britannicus?

Agr.And not suspect her slander? Did she also

Commit Britannicus?

Ner.She cast all blameOn thee.

Ner.She cast all blame

On thee.

Agr.I feared she might have wronged the boy.

Ner.Is he, then, innocent?

Agr.I went so far1000In sounding him as even to risk my credit.Let not unjust suspicion add a weightTo the just blame we bear. You must protect him.Promise me that.

Agr.I went so far

In sounding him as even to risk my credit.

Let not unjust suspicion add a weight

To the just blame we bear. You must protect him.

Promise me that.

Ner.I will ask Seneca.

Agr.Forgive, at least, his foolish indiscretion.He begged me make his peace. Now have I made it?

Agr.Forgive, at least, his foolish indiscretion.

He begged me make his peace. Now have I made it?

Ner.I’ll think no more of that.

Agr.My dearest son,The joy of a good action will be yoursAs well as mine. O, I am happy now—Indeed, most happy now.

Agr.My dearest son,

The joy of a good action will be yours

As well as mine. O, I am happy now—

Indeed, most happy now.

Ner.Come then, dear mother.[Exeunt.

Ner.Come then, dear mother.

[Exeunt.

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