ACT · II

ACT · IIA room in the palace, with large windows at back, and doors right and left. The scene remains unchanged throughout the act.SENECIO, SCEVINUS and QUINTIAN.SCEVINUS.’TIS abominable, sir. What’s your net loss?SENECIO.I ask you, Quintian, as a man of culture and erudition, what do you make of it?QUINTIAN.You admit that Cæsar was not drunk?Seo.Had he been drunk, he had had some excuse. ’Twas past midnight when he burst in, turned us all out of bed, and ordered the house to be pulled down; and I a married man. I have a wife and daughters.681Sce.Married! well, I never knew that. So your house is pulled down.Seo.And half the street, for that matter.Qu.’Twas done to stay the fire: ’twas well done.Seo.But we were reckoning our danger past: and ’twas so situated, that if he wished to protect his palace he had choice of some four streets: and he chooses mine, and begins with me, my house, Senecio’s house; Senecio his sworn comrade. I have played housebreaker and looker on to him these eight years, and helped to save his life a score of times from injured husbands and common fellows....Sce.You do not stand with him as you did.Seo.Nay, nor you.Qu.And he hath made verses on me, which he will recite in all company when I am present.Seo.’Tis that long-nosed cad Vatinius who hath undermined me.Sce.And all of us. We are put down by a coarse pig.701Qu.He hath no true wit, no true humour.Sce.The commoner a man is now, the better will he like him.Seo.It used not to be so: he was once thick with me.Sce.He hath sunk to depths.Qu.With his acting and singing.Seo.I believe ’twas he set fire to the city. I would the earthquake had swallowed him!Qu.Well, I’ll not be civil to his buffoon any longer.Seo.A gentleman must draw the line somewhere.Sce.Hark, then! Shall we unite in some plan of lordly revenge?Seo.I care not; I’d as lief run him through and have done with it.Sce.Are you in earnest? Mean you what you say? Would you join the patriots?Seo.I care not.Qu.Could we not raise a quarrel between Tigellinus and Vatinius?Sce.Poison the brutes both.Seo.All three of ’em, damn ’em!Qu.Hush thou! here they come.Enter Nero, Tigellinus and Vatinius.NERO.725Ha! Here’s my Quintian!The pale Parnassian reptile, that hath ne’erMoistened his leathery tongue in Hippocrene....Nay, laugh not so immoderately, I fearYour sides may split.TIGELLINUS.O no, thou god of the world,Thou hast practised them too well.Qu.And I, your majesty,Am proud to move your jovial lips to smile.VATINIUS.We all believe it, while thy writhing grinMakes us such sport.Qu.(aside).Curse on this ugly brute!Ner.Mind him not, Quintian; we are in good spirits.We have worked all night like firemen, and saved the palaceIf not the city. Ha! Senecio, tell us,How stands it with thy house?Seo.Permit me, sire,To thank you for the imperial favour shewnTo my poor dwelling.Ner.Thank Vatinius:’Twas his idea.Seo.Then, sir, I thank thee humbly,—740(Aside.) Till I can kill thee.Vat.The emperor and IAre glad to serve you; we are very freeTo all the race.Ner.’Tis true:—Senecio,Thou wilt remember well the merry nights,When I and thou and Otho inauguratedMy reign with freaks of license: since that timeWhat steps we have made! I laugh when I recallThose timorous revellings in the dark, and how’Twas deemed a scandal Cæsar should be seenHorse-racing. What misgivings when I firstOpened my circus on the Vatican!But what applause! Then I saw Rome was with me,Nor ever have doubted since: in other gamesOutrunning popularity, till now,—My thanks to Tigellinus—there’s scarce oneOf all the noblest houses that can bragIt hath not sent some actor to the stage,Or wrestler to the theatre: and I crownedMy triumph in Naples, when ye saw, ye heard,Ye applauded.—Would it be believed that whenI came to the throne I might not, in my palace,Sing my own song at supper?Seo.Glorious Cæsar,The Gods deny you nothing.Tig.Thyself a god,By destiny their peer.Vat.Perfect Apollo!In music equal, and in medicine . . . (Acts taking poison).Tig.(hastily). Above all gods in this, that full successAttests thy wisdom.Ner.Well, and is’t not senseTo seek for happiness the natural way?Not by the notions of philosophers,770Who fashion theoretic right and wrongFrom books; or if they judge mankind at all,Judge by themselves, who are unlike the rest,Scarce human. ’Tis the soundest principleTo follow nature; and what nature isI well perceive. I judge all by myself:The appetites are universal gifts:Cæsar will never stoop to flatter CæsarBy such pretence of difference, nor withholdFrom others what himself loves. I believeThat no man in the world worth calling manIs what philosophers term pure and good;—Nor woman either. All would gratifyThe strong desires of nature, and all shall,While I am emperor.Tig.Blessed be the god,Who first named thee for rule.Sce.We all admire.Ner.Is it not sense?Tig.’Tis commonsense.Vat.I wonderNone ever thought of it before.Ner.Tut! fool;That is the greatness: ’tis the common thingFor man to beat about. True geniusIs but simplicity: all great inventionsSeem first devices.Tig.’Tis a revolution.Ner.Just so: in ethics as in politics.I let the world wag as it will; and ifThe world mistake its will, then I am CæsarTo wag it.Vat.Here’s a flaw, good wag; you judgeThe appetites of all men by your own:The standard is too high.Ner.We’ll see to that;By one experiment I’ll strangle doubt.This is my plan. I mean to hold a fête,800Say at Agrippa’s pool:—the folk will needSome such diversion when the fire is o’er:—Thither I’ll draw all Rome, with novel shows,Sea-fights and monsters; round about the water,Along the bank, I shall have wine-booths set,Brilliant with luxury and enticement, wineGratis; and to all comers night and dayThey shall stand open. Now I’ll have these boothsKept by the Roman ladies:—that’s my plan.They shall have license, everything permittedBut interference. We will watch our Trojans,How they conduct themselves.Vat.This is simplicity.Ner.(aside to Tig.). And mark the disaffected.Tig.(aside).Here’s a trapTo catch all but the vermin.Sce.A grand invention.Ner.The details, my good master, are for you:Our three friends here may help.Sce., Seo.and Qu.(bowing).Our humble thanks.Enter a Servant.Ner.(to Servant). What is it?SERVANT.Lord Seneca is in attendance, sire.Tig.(to Ner.). Send the old man home to his wife.Ner.What can he come for?Vat.Is’t not the hour for lessons?Ner.Now what say youTo have him in, and make him of your council[Exit Servant.For the ordering of the fête (To Serv.) Go shew him here.Tig.(aside to Nero). Jest not with this man, Cæsar; Thrasea and heAre your worst enemies.Ner.Mighty enemies!Tig.If there were no pretenders.Ner.What do you mean?Tig.(apart with Nero). My only pleasure is thy service, Cæsar:If ’tis thy will that Tigellinus die,I’ll be thy sacrifice and welcome death.The mob shall tear me, as they tore Sejanus,And tread my mangled corpse on Tiber’s steps:But pardon Nature’s shudderings, they comeAt sound of these men’s names.Ner.Why, know you not831I am reconciled with Thrasea, since I putHis motion to the senate? While he lets meGo my way, he goes his.Tig.And Seneca?Ner.Pooh!Tig.Cæsar said well these men were not to fear,If there were no pretenders.Ner.What pretenders?Tig.Sylla and Plautus are the first to name.Ner.Both are retired from Rome.Tig.And whither, Cæsar?Mark you that Sylla is retired to Gaul,Fire to the tinderbox: those doughty legionsForget not how they crossed the Rubicon.And where is Plautus? close by Corbulo,Whose army is a créature of díscipline,To serve him as his fingers....Ner.Corbulo, now! my prince of generals,Rome’s trusty dexter arm.Tig.Trust not that giant!Nature packed not his mighty body fullOf intrepidity for nought. I wellRemember when I sat by him at supper,The day he took his baton; how his triumphWas undisguised; and whén Cæsar was mentioned—You happed to have won a horse-race....Ner.And what said he?Tig.No word, else had I told it; he but hemmed:But the couch shook. In his big iron chestA thunder rumbled, such as Jove might makeIf he found Juno faithless.Ner.Ha, ha, ha!He’ll crunch us, think you, master? But this SyllaIs poor as a rat: and Plautus, if he is wealthy,Lives moderately.Tig.Poor men are poor in scruples:And rich men that live moderately, be sure,Hide some rich purpose.Ner.Had these men a purpose,It would be bruited.Tig.It is bruited.861Ner.Ha!That’s so?Tig.’Tis also hoped that, being a pair,The one may fight the other and both be slain.Ner.That is a trouble we can spare them, master:That were a pity.—I thank you, Tigellinus:—Take you the order for their deaths; but mind,Secretly, secretly. Here’s Seneca.Enter Seneca.(Scevinus, Senecio and Quintian still stand aside.)Tig.(aside). Two of my foes wiped out; now, Mister Seneca,I take you next.Ner.Good Seneca, what wouldst thou?SENECA.Cæsar, I askA private interview.Ner.’Tis private here:This is my privy-council.Vat.Rome’s triumvirate.(Tableau.)Ha, ha! we rule the world!(Gesturing.) Come, trust thy secretIn Cæsar’s ear, my lord.Seo.(aside to Sce.). Let us make upTo Seneca by going out.Sen.As Cæsar wills.Sce.(to Nero).Cæsar’s august permission!We are not stoics.Ner.I understand you, sir:You may withdraw.Sce., Seo.and Qu.Our humble thanks.class="right">[Exeunt, bowing separately to Nero and Seneca.Ner.Now we are private.Sen.If your majestyWill lend me attention, I will put my businessShortly.Ner.I shall not interrupt.880Vat.Nor I;Unless I snore. (Sits.)Sen.’Tis fourteen years, Cæsar, since I was firstChosen your guide; and for eight years and moreYou have governed the empire not without my aid.Through all whtime your kindness hath heaped ón meSo many dignities and so much wealth,That nothing wants to my felicitySave some curtailment of it.—I can allegePrecedents for my conduct: the divine Augustus,Who was your great-great-grandfather, permittedMarcus Agrippa to withdraw himselfTo Mitylenè and a private life:Mæcenas too he let abide in Rome,As in a foreign country, at his ease;—Whereof the one had served in all his wars,The other toiled at home; and each grown richWith presents answerable to their high deserts.As for myself, what I have done to meritYour prodigal favour,—being but a student,A teacher, a philosopher,—I say not:900But being enriched, it comforteth my mind’Twas not for me to strive against your gifts.Both of us, sire, have filled our measure, youIn giving all a prince should give a friend,I taking what a friend might from a prince.But now, sire, in my journey of life grown old,The business of my riches burdens me.And ’tis by envy augmented; which if youBe set above the sting of, yet ’tis knownWhat curse to peace it is. Wherefore I pray,Let me retire. I crave your helping handTo ease me of my wealth: that I restoreWhence first I had it, to yourself: receive it,I pray you, as your own. You, in your flower,May serve your generation, and permitYour old friends to betake themselves to rest.’Twill be your praise, sire, to have enriched such menAs could live happy in a mean estate.Tig.(half aside). There’s something behind this.Ner.(to Tig.).Silence, I bid!(To Sen.) If, Seneca, I am able out of handTo meet thy long premeditated speechWith equal answer, that I owe to thee,And thine instruction.—First thou didst allegeMæcenas and Agrippa: but from themDivine Augustus took not back their wealth;Which if they won in danger, yet I doubt notThy weapons and thy hand would not have wantedHad I had need of them. But what I neededThat gavest thou; such reason and good counsel930As shall abide with me while my life lasteth.Those goods material, which thou hadst of me,Are liable to perish; and I am shamedThat thou, who art the first in my affection,Art not first also in wealth:—nay, there be slavesOwn more than thou:—and for thine age, I knowThou’rt lusty for thy years, and able wellTo enjoy thy wealth and its commodities.Keep thy rewards still, and still do us service:If slipperiness of youth be overproneTo what it should not, thou mayst draw us back;And our unseemly and unruly zealTemper with kind advice. Harked I to thee,’Tis not thy moderation we should hear of,Nay, nor thy ease, shouldst thou forsake our service:Rather my covetousness and thy fearWould be in all men’s mouths. ’Twould ill beseemSuch a philosopher as thou, at costOf thy friend’s infamy to win thy comfort.Tig.Hear, hear! ’Tis well said, Cæsar!Vat.Admirable!But somewhat senecal.950Ner.Embrace me, Seneca.Let us be friends.Vat.Ye gods! I shall be jealous.Me too, my lord.Sen.If, Cæsar, in this embracePower kissed philosophy, ’twere well with both.Ner.I have my own philosophy to kiss;Be thou content with thine.Sen.Nay, the wise manIs so convinced of truth, he seeks to impart it.Ner.I would impart my wisdom unto thee.(A Messenger enters and speaks to Tigellinus, who goes out with him.)Sen.Alas! all schools alike spew out your doctrines,Zeno or Epicurus.Ner.That is becauseYou all agree to teach what none believes,That pain and misery and death are nothing,But goodness all-sufficient. Tell me, Seneca,Can a good man be happy on the rack?Vat.Not if the rack be good.Sen.Such questions, Cæsar,Have their fit time and place. I came to offerMy wealth and counsel both; you refuse both,And let your fool mock me.—Knows he not whomIll manners hurt, that thus he wounds his master?Ner.And better have no manners than be made,970As thou, of manners only. Thou affectestInsensibility; thy pompous maximsOf wordy wisdom thou wouldst pass for strongBecause they are harsh, generous because inflated.Thy rhetoric is like a mouldy cake;I have eaten to loathing of it: I would no more.Sen.Look for no more. That speech delivers you.Whether my words are false and empty bubblesThere’s nought to show, but ’twill appear the dayWhen life must answer for it:—The condition,Cæsar, I accept, and do not fear the judgment.[Bows to Nero and exit.Re-enter Tigellinus excitedly.Tig.My house is burning, Cæsar!Ner.Well! if it be?By all the gods, vex me not now.Tig.My house!Ner.And what’s thy house, curse it? when half the cityWas burned to the ground, wert thou not cool? why nowFume for thy house?Tig.Cæsar, the Vatican!Ner.The Vatican!Tig.You may see it from the windows.Ner.(going to window). Then Rome will all be burned.Tig.(aside).And by thy foes.When the wínd was in the south, they fired the south:Now it hath changed, they fire the north.Ner.(returning).’Tis true.I can do nó móre: it must búrn.990Tig.What, sire,To tell the captains? May they use discretionTo pull down?Ner.Bid them change the wind, man: bid themSnow from the south. Wóod must búrn; when ’tis burnt,I will rebuild in stone. Go: tell them that!Go, sir! Stay: hark! Have supper laid to-nightOn the palace roof, music beneath, and ladders[Exit Tig. and Vat.Outside for the attendance.If Rome must burn,(Goes to window.)Well, let me see it.Enter Poppæa.POPPÆA.Ah, Nero, Nero! Rome will all be burned.Canst thou do nought?Ner.Nothing. Come watch it with me.What are my spectacles to this? The godsBurn at my feet the capital of the world,’Tis done for me to look on.Pop.Hast thou a heart?Ner.There is no mischief, love, I am not a match for.Rome is a second Troy, but when Troy burnedNone built it up; but I will rebuild Rome:Its name shall be Neropolis.Pop.Vain thou art!Ner.Eh! wouldst thou have it Poppæapolis?Pop.I would not jest to think of all the misery,These homeless thousands....Ner.Seneca hath taught me1011The good man cannot suffer, and the badDeserves ill-fortune.Pop.Woe to me! alas,That e’er I loved thee! one day too shall ITaste of thy scorn.Ner.Nay, love; thy will’s my law.Tell me what I shall do.Pop.If thou didst love meThou wouldst not suffer Acte in the palace.Ner.Acte! what’s she to do with it now? and yetIf that’s thy sorrow, she shall go to-day.Send the witch hither.Pop.And never to return.Ner.Send her at once. I promised thee.[Exit Poppæa.See how’Tis private pleasure that she seeks, nought else:And Seneca the same. That’s the true fire,That burns unquenchable in all human hearts.Let it rage, and consume the rotten timbersOf old convention, the dry mouldering housesOf sad philosophy, that in their steadI may build up the free and ample structureOf modern wisdom. Ay, and let Rome burn.Blow, wind, and fan the flames till all’s consumed;1030That out of full destruction may ariseThe perfect city of my reconstruction,Beautiful, incombustible, Neronic;Good out of ill: or rather there’s no ill:’Tis good’s condition, cradle: ’tis good itself.But now for Acte, my Acte: poor little Acte!That bearest all so patiently; the insultAnd domineering scorn, which this fine lady,Whom for her beauty I have made my empress,Pours on thy head! Thou shalt have full protection:I cannot give it here, but I can send theeTo those who hate thy rival, and for thatWill cherish thee. Thy rival! rob me of thee!Why, there’s no clown in my subservient world,No drudge of lot the vilest, but may smileSecure in tyranny of one fair province,Where young love first campaigned, the tender trustOf a devoted woman: and shall CæsarThrow up this allmen’s joy? nay, here the heart rules:Who aims at thee wounds me.Re-enter Poppæa with Acte.I thank thee, love; now leave us. Hither, Acte!(Poppæa goes out, and is seen to hide where she can be seen by the audience, and can overhear.)ACTE.1051Act.Cæsar sent for me.Ner.My sweetest, dearest girl: my only pleasure.I have ill news for thee.Act.Nought can seem illTold me by Nero.Ner.Acte, thy noble CæsarIs sometimes sad.Act.Ah, ’tis the fire: thou’rt sorryFor thy poor folk. Would I had strength to cheer thee,If thou didst send for this.Ner.No: but to see theeDoth comfort me. It comforts me to tell theeI am not happy.Act.Let the happiness1060Which thy love gives me, turn to thee again.Ner.Acte, I think, I know, Acte, that thouArt the only one in the world that truly loves me.Act.I wish it were no crime to wish I were.Yet I would have all love thee, since I knowNone can as I.Ner.And none hath loved so long:Thou wert my first delight.Act.Did Cæsar sendTo tell me this bad news?Ner.Nay, but I love to tell it:Now for the bad. Hark: thou must leave the palace:Poppæa is jealous, and the day draws nearWhen she and I must solemnize our nuptials:Rome needs an heir.Act.I am not jealous óf her,If Cæsar love me; for I know that CæsarCannot be bound like other men.Ner.’Tis true:And I can send thee too where they will love thee;To Silia’s house; thou wilt be happier there.Act.I think so.Ner.This is not dismissal.Act.Nay.Ner.’Tis needful for thy sake.Act.I know that NeroWill not love Acte less, when she is awayFrom his dislikes.Ner.Ah, pretty sweet, thou know’stMy secretest heart. Come, I will write a letter(The fire brightens.)For thee to take to Silia. Come!Act.(turning).O, Nero,1081The fire, the fire! I am frightened.Ner.Hide thine eyesAnd think not of it.Act.Nay, but I can hear it,And smell the smoke.Ner.It shall not hurt thee, darling:And Silia’s house lies down beyond the Tiber,Far from the flames. Come, sweetest, thou shalt sitBeside me while I write the letter. Come!I treasure thee ’bove all I have. Fear not![Exeunt Nero and Acte. Poppæa comes out from where she was hid. The fire rages.Pop.Accursed wretch! I knew it: she is thy wife.And I thy harlot. Yet I can dissemble—I can dissemble too—I, sanctifiedBy long devotion to the Queen of heaven,Shelter too well thy godless head. I liveTo reign when thou art dead. Vain, hideous fool!Whose heart not murder scathes nor fire can scare,Proof by self-evil against all outer evil:There is one mischief that thou’rt not a match for,The hate of thy bed-fellow. I shall be avenged.(There is at the end of this act such a tableau of fire as the stage machinery will allow of. The fire is first seen thro’ the windows when Tigellinus sends Nero to the window at line 986. At Acte’s speech, ‘Nero, the fire!’ it is very bright: and its climax is during Poppæa’s last speech.)

A room in the palace, with large windows at back, and doors right and left. The scene remains unchanged throughout the act.

SENECIO, SCEVINUS and QUINTIAN.

SCEVINUS.

’TIS abominable, sir. What’s your net loss?

SENECIO.

I ask you, Quintian, as a man of culture and erudition, what do you make of it?

QUINTIAN.

You admit that Cæsar was not drunk?

Seo.Had he been drunk, he had had some excuse. ’Twas past midnight when he burst in, turned us all out of bed, and ordered the house to be pulled down; and I a married man. I have a wife and daughters.

Sce.Married! well, I never knew that. So your house is pulled down.

Seo.And half the street, for that matter.

Qu.’Twas done to stay the fire: ’twas well done.

Seo.But we were reckoning our danger past: and ’twas so situated, that if he wished to protect his palace he had choice of some four streets: and he chooses mine, and begins with me, my house, Senecio’s house; Senecio his sworn comrade. I have played housebreaker and looker on to him these eight years, and helped to save his life a score of times from injured husbands and common fellows....

Sce.You do not stand with him as you did.

Seo.Nay, nor you.

Qu.And he hath made verses on me, which he will recite in all company when I am present.

Seo.’Tis that long-nosed cad Vatinius who hath undermined me.

Sce.And all of us. We are put down by a coarse pig.

Qu.He hath no true wit, no true humour.

Sce.The commoner a man is now, the better will he like him.

Seo.It used not to be so: he was once thick with me.

Sce.He hath sunk to depths.

Qu.With his acting and singing.

Seo.I believe ’twas he set fire to the city. I would the earthquake had swallowed him!

Qu.Well, I’ll not be civil to his buffoon any longer.

Seo.A gentleman must draw the line somewhere.

Sce.Hark, then! Shall we unite in some plan of lordly revenge?

Seo.I care not; I’d as lief run him through and have done with it.

Sce.Are you in earnest? Mean you what you say? Would you join the patriots?

Seo.I care not.

Qu.Could we not raise a quarrel between Tigellinus and Vatinius?

Sce.Poison the brutes both.

Seo.All three of ’em, damn ’em!

Qu.Hush thou! here they come.

Enter Nero, Tigellinus and Vatinius.

NERO.725Ha! Here’s my Quintian!The pale Parnassian reptile, that hath ne’erMoistened his leathery tongue in Hippocrene....Nay, laugh not so immoderately, I fearYour sides may split.TIGELLINUS.O no, thou god of the world,Thou hast practised them too well.Qu.And I, your majesty,Am proud to move your jovial lips to smile.VATINIUS.We all believe it, while thy writhing grinMakes us such sport.Qu.(aside).Curse on this ugly brute!Ner.Mind him not, Quintian; we are in good spirits.We have worked all night like firemen, and saved the palaceIf not the city. Ha! Senecio, tell us,How stands it with thy house?Seo.Permit me, sire,To thank you for the imperial favour shewnTo my poor dwelling.Ner.Thank Vatinius:’Twas his idea.Seo.Then, sir, I thank thee humbly,—740(Aside.) Till I can kill thee.Vat.The emperor and IAre glad to serve you; we are very freeTo all the race.Ner.’Tis true:—Senecio,Thou wilt remember well the merry nights,When I and thou and Otho inauguratedMy reign with freaks of license: since that timeWhat steps we have made! I laugh when I recallThose timorous revellings in the dark, and how’Twas deemed a scandal Cæsar should be seenHorse-racing. What misgivings when I firstOpened my circus on the Vatican!But what applause! Then I saw Rome was with me,Nor ever have doubted since: in other gamesOutrunning popularity, till now,—My thanks to Tigellinus—there’s scarce oneOf all the noblest houses that can bragIt hath not sent some actor to the stage,Or wrestler to the theatre: and I crownedMy triumph in Naples, when ye saw, ye heard,Ye applauded.—Would it be believed that whenI came to the throne I might not, in my palace,Sing my own song at supper?Seo.Glorious Cæsar,The Gods deny you nothing.Tig.Thyself a god,By destiny their peer.Vat.Perfect Apollo!In music equal, and in medicine . . . (Acts taking poison).Tig.(hastily). Above all gods in this, that full successAttests thy wisdom.Ner.Well, and is’t not senseTo seek for happiness the natural way?Not by the notions of philosophers,770Who fashion theoretic right and wrongFrom books; or if they judge mankind at all,Judge by themselves, who are unlike the rest,Scarce human. ’Tis the soundest principleTo follow nature; and what nature isI well perceive. I judge all by myself:The appetites are universal gifts:Cæsar will never stoop to flatter CæsarBy such pretence of difference, nor withholdFrom others what himself loves. I believeThat no man in the world worth calling manIs what philosophers term pure and good;—Nor woman either. All would gratifyThe strong desires of nature, and all shall,While I am emperor.Tig.Blessed be the god,Who first named thee for rule.Sce.We all admire.Ner.Is it not sense?Tig.’Tis commonsense.Vat.I wonderNone ever thought of it before.Ner.Tut! fool;That is the greatness: ’tis the common thingFor man to beat about. True geniusIs but simplicity: all great inventionsSeem first devices.Tig.’Tis a revolution.Ner.Just so: in ethics as in politics.I let the world wag as it will; and ifThe world mistake its will, then I am CæsarTo wag it.Vat.Here’s a flaw, good wag; you judgeThe appetites of all men by your own:The standard is too high.Ner.We’ll see to that;By one experiment I’ll strangle doubt.This is my plan. I mean to hold a fête,800Say at Agrippa’s pool:—the folk will needSome such diversion when the fire is o’er:—Thither I’ll draw all Rome, with novel shows,Sea-fights and monsters; round about the water,Along the bank, I shall have wine-booths set,Brilliant with luxury and enticement, wineGratis; and to all comers night and dayThey shall stand open. Now I’ll have these boothsKept by the Roman ladies:—that’s my plan.They shall have license, everything permittedBut interference. We will watch our Trojans,How they conduct themselves.Vat.This is simplicity.Ner.(aside to Tig.). And mark the disaffected.Tig.(aside).Here’s a trapTo catch all but the vermin.Sce.A grand invention.Ner.The details, my good master, are for you:Our three friends here may help.Sce., Seo.and Qu.(bowing).Our humble thanks.Enter a Servant.Ner.(to Servant). What is it?SERVANT.Lord Seneca is in attendance, sire.Tig.(to Ner.). Send the old man home to his wife.Ner.What can he come for?Vat.Is’t not the hour for lessons?Ner.Now what say youTo have him in, and make him of your council[Exit Servant.For the ordering of the fête (To Serv.) Go shew him here.Tig.(aside to Nero). Jest not with this man, Cæsar; Thrasea and heAre your worst enemies.Ner.Mighty enemies!Tig.If there were no pretenders.Ner.What do you mean?Tig.(apart with Nero). My only pleasure is thy service, Cæsar:If ’tis thy will that Tigellinus die,I’ll be thy sacrifice and welcome death.The mob shall tear me, as they tore Sejanus,And tread my mangled corpse on Tiber’s steps:But pardon Nature’s shudderings, they comeAt sound of these men’s names.Ner.Why, know you not831I am reconciled with Thrasea, since I putHis motion to the senate? While he lets meGo my way, he goes his.Tig.And Seneca?Ner.Pooh!Tig.Cæsar said well these men were not to fear,If there were no pretenders.Ner.What pretenders?Tig.Sylla and Plautus are the first to name.Ner.Both are retired from Rome.Tig.And whither, Cæsar?Mark you that Sylla is retired to Gaul,Fire to the tinderbox: those doughty legionsForget not how they crossed the Rubicon.And where is Plautus? close by Corbulo,Whose army is a créature of díscipline,To serve him as his fingers....Ner.Corbulo, now! my prince of generals,Rome’s trusty dexter arm.Tig.Trust not that giant!Nature packed not his mighty body fullOf intrepidity for nought. I wellRemember when I sat by him at supper,The day he took his baton; how his triumphWas undisguised; and whén Cæsar was mentioned—You happed to have won a horse-race....Ner.And what said he?Tig.No word, else had I told it; he but hemmed:But the couch shook. In his big iron chestA thunder rumbled, such as Jove might makeIf he found Juno faithless.Ner.Ha, ha, ha!He’ll crunch us, think you, master? But this SyllaIs poor as a rat: and Plautus, if he is wealthy,Lives moderately.Tig.Poor men are poor in scruples:And rich men that live moderately, be sure,Hide some rich purpose.Ner.Had these men a purpose,It would be bruited.Tig.It is bruited.861Ner.Ha!That’s so?Tig.’Tis also hoped that, being a pair,The one may fight the other and both be slain.Ner.That is a trouble we can spare them, master:That were a pity.—I thank you, Tigellinus:—Take you the order for their deaths; but mind,Secretly, secretly. Here’s Seneca.Enter Seneca.(Scevinus, Senecio and Quintian still stand aside.)Tig.(aside). Two of my foes wiped out; now, Mister Seneca,I take you next.Ner.Good Seneca, what wouldst thou?SENECA.Cæsar, I askA private interview.Ner.’Tis private here:This is my privy-council.Vat.Rome’s triumvirate.(Tableau.)Ha, ha! we rule the world!(Gesturing.) Come, trust thy secretIn Cæsar’s ear, my lord.Seo.(aside to Sce.). Let us make upTo Seneca by going out.Sen.As Cæsar wills.Sce.(to Nero).Cæsar’s august permission!We are not stoics.Ner.I understand you, sir:You may withdraw.Sce., Seo.and Qu.Our humble thanks.class="right">[Exeunt, bowing separately to Nero and Seneca.Ner.Now we are private.Sen.If your majestyWill lend me attention, I will put my businessShortly.Ner.I shall not interrupt.880Vat.Nor I;Unless I snore. (Sits.)Sen.’Tis fourteen years, Cæsar, since I was firstChosen your guide; and for eight years and moreYou have governed the empire not without my aid.Through all whtime your kindness hath heaped ón meSo many dignities and so much wealth,That nothing wants to my felicitySave some curtailment of it.—I can allegePrecedents for my conduct: the divine Augustus,Who was your great-great-grandfather, permittedMarcus Agrippa to withdraw himselfTo Mitylenè and a private life:Mæcenas too he let abide in Rome,As in a foreign country, at his ease;—Whereof the one had served in all his wars,The other toiled at home; and each grown richWith presents answerable to their high deserts.As for myself, what I have done to meritYour prodigal favour,—being but a student,A teacher, a philosopher,—I say not:900But being enriched, it comforteth my mind’Twas not for me to strive against your gifts.Both of us, sire, have filled our measure, youIn giving all a prince should give a friend,I taking what a friend might from a prince.But now, sire, in my journey of life grown old,The business of my riches burdens me.And ’tis by envy augmented; which if youBe set above the sting of, yet ’tis knownWhat curse to peace it is. Wherefore I pray,Let me retire. I crave your helping handTo ease me of my wealth: that I restoreWhence first I had it, to yourself: receive it,I pray you, as your own. You, in your flower,May serve your generation, and permitYour old friends to betake themselves to rest.’Twill be your praise, sire, to have enriched such menAs could live happy in a mean estate.Tig.(half aside). There’s something behind this.Ner.(to Tig.).Silence, I bid!(To Sen.) If, Seneca, I am able out of handTo meet thy long premeditated speechWith equal answer, that I owe to thee,And thine instruction.—First thou didst allegeMæcenas and Agrippa: but from themDivine Augustus took not back their wealth;Which if they won in danger, yet I doubt notThy weapons and thy hand would not have wantedHad I had need of them. But what I neededThat gavest thou; such reason and good counsel930As shall abide with me while my life lasteth.Those goods material, which thou hadst of me,Are liable to perish; and I am shamedThat thou, who art the first in my affection,Art not first also in wealth:—nay, there be slavesOwn more than thou:—and for thine age, I knowThou’rt lusty for thy years, and able wellTo enjoy thy wealth and its commodities.Keep thy rewards still, and still do us service:If slipperiness of youth be overproneTo what it should not, thou mayst draw us back;And our unseemly and unruly zealTemper with kind advice. Harked I to thee,’Tis not thy moderation we should hear of,Nay, nor thy ease, shouldst thou forsake our service:Rather my covetousness and thy fearWould be in all men’s mouths. ’Twould ill beseemSuch a philosopher as thou, at costOf thy friend’s infamy to win thy comfort.Tig.Hear, hear! ’Tis well said, Cæsar!Vat.Admirable!But somewhat senecal.950Ner.Embrace me, Seneca.Let us be friends.Vat.Ye gods! I shall be jealous.Me too, my lord.Sen.If, Cæsar, in this embracePower kissed philosophy, ’twere well with both.Ner.I have my own philosophy to kiss;Be thou content with thine.Sen.Nay, the wise manIs so convinced of truth, he seeks to impart it.Ner.I would impart my wisdom unto thee.(A Messenger enters and speaks to Tigellinus, who goes out with him.)Sen.Alas! all schools alike spew out your doctrines,Zeno or Epicurus.Ner.That is becauseYou all agree to teach what none believes,That pain and misery and death are nothing,But goodness all-sufficient. Tell me, Seneca,Can a good man be happy on the rack?Vat.Not if the rack be good.Sen.Such questions, Cæsar,Have their fit time and place. I came to offerMy wealth and counsel both; you refuse both,And let your fool mock me.—Knows he not whomIll manners hurt, that thus he wounds his master?Ner.And better have no manners than be made,970As thou, of manners only. Thou affectestInsensibility; thy pompous maximsOf wordy wisdom thou wouldst pass for strongBecause they are harsh, generous because inflated.Thy rhetoric is like a mouldy cake;I have eaten to loathing of it: I would no more.Sen.Look for no more. That speech delivers you.Whether my words are false and empty bubblesThere’s nought to show, but ’twill appear the dayWhen life must answer for it:—The condition,Cæsar, I accept, and do not fear the judgment.[Bows to Nero and exit.Re-enter Tigellinus excitedly.Tig.My house is burning, Cæsar!Ner.Well! if it be?By all the gods, vex me not now.Tig.My house!Ner.And what’s thy house, curse it? when half the cityWas burned to the ground, wert thou not cool? why nowFume for thy house?Tig.Cæsar, the Vatican!Ner.The Vatican!Tig.You may see it from the windows.Ner.(going to window). Then Rome will all be burned.Tig.(aside).And by thy foes.When the wínd was in the south, they fired the south:Now it hath changed, they fire the north.Ner.(returning).’Tis true.I can do nó móre: it must búrn.990Tig.What, sire,To tell the captains? May they use discretionTo pull down?Ner.Bid them change the wind, man: bid themSnow from the south. Wóod must búrn; when ’tis burnt,I will rebuild in stone. Go: tell them that!Go, sir! Stay: hark! Have supper laid to-nightOn the palace roof, music beneath, and ladders[Exit Tig. and Vat.Outside for the attendance.If Rome must burn,(Goes to window.)Well, let me see it.Enter Poppæa.POPPÆA.Ah, Nero, Nero! Rome will all be burned.Canst thou do nought?Ner.Nothing. Come watch it with me.What are my spectacles to this? The godsBurn at my feet the capital of the world,’Tis done for me to look on.Pop.Hast thou a heart?Ner.There is no mischief, love, I am not a match for.Rome is a second Troy, but when Troy burnedNone built it up; but I will rebuild Rome:Its name shall be Neropolis.Pop.Vain thou art!Ner.Eh! wouldst thou have it Poppæapolis?Pop.I would not jest to think of all the misery,These homeless thousands....Ner.Seneca hath taught me1011The good man cannot suffer, and the badDeserves ill-fortune.Pop.Woe to me! alas,That e’er I loved thee! one day too shall ITaste of thy scorn.Ner.Nay, love; thy will’s my law.Tell me what I shall do.Pop.If thou didst love meThou wouldst not suffer Acte in the palace.Ner.Acte! what’s she to do with it now? and yetIf that’s thy sorrow, she shall go to-day.Send the witch hither.Pop.And never to return.Ner.Send her at once. I promised thee.[Exit Poppæa.See how’Tis private pleasure that she seeks, nought else:And Seneca the same. That’s the true fire,That burns unquenchable in all human hearts.Let it rage, and consume the rotten timbersOf old convention, the dry mouldering housesOf sad philosophy, that in their steadI may build up the free and ample structureOf modern wisdom. Ay, and let Rome burn.Blow, wind, and fan the flames till all’s consumed;1030That out of full destruction may ariseThe perfect city of my reconstruction,Beautiful, incombustible, Neronic;Good out of ill: or rather there’s no ill:’Tis good’s condition, cradle: ’tis good itself.But now for Acte, my Acte: poor little Acte!That bearest all so patiently; the insultAnd domineering scorn, which this fine lady,Whom for her beauty I have made my empress,Pours on thy head! Thou shalt have full protection:I cannot give it here, but I can send theeTo those who hate thy rival, and for thatWill cherish thee. Thy rival! rob me of thee!Why, there’s no clown in my subservient world,No drudge of lot the vilest, but may smileSecure in tyranny of one fair province,Where young love first campaigned, the tender trustOf a devoted woman: and shall CæsarThrow up this allmen’s joy? nay, here the heart rules:Who aims at thee wounds me.Re-enter Poppæa with Acte.I thank thee, love; now leave us. Hither, Acte!(Poppæa goes out, and is seen to hide where she can be seen by the audience, and can overhear.)ACTE.1051Act.Cæsar sent for me.Ner.My sweetest, dearest girl: my only pleasure.I have ill news for thee.Act.Nought can seem illTold me by Nero.Ner.Acte, thy noble CæsarIs sometimes sad.Act.Ah, ’tis the fire: thou’rt sorryFor thy poor folk. Would I had strength to cheer thee,If thou didst send for this.Ner.No: but to see theeDoth comfort me. It comforts me to tell theeI am not happy.Act.Let the happiness1060Which thy love gives me, turn to thee again.Ner.Acte, I think, I know, Acte, that thouArt the only one in the world that truly loves me.Act.I wish it were no crime to wish I were.Yet I would have all love thee, since I knowNone can as I.Ner.And none hath loved so long:Thou wert my first delight.Act.Did Cæsar sendTo tell me this bad news?Ner.Nay, but I love to tell it:Now for the bad. Hark: thou must leave the palace:Poppæa is jealous, and the day draws nearWhen she and I must solemnize our nuptials:Rome needs an heir.Act.I am not jealous óf her,If Cæsar love me; for I know that CæsarCannot be bound like other men.Ner.’Tis true:And I can send thee too where they will love thee;To Silia’s house; thou wilt be happier there.Act.I think so.Ner.This is not dismissal.Act.Nay.Ner.’Tis needful for thy sake.Act.I know that NeroWill not love Acte less, when she is awayFrom his dislikes.Ner.Ah, pretty sweet, thou know’stMy secretest heart. Come, I will write a letter(The fire brightens.)For thee to take to Silia. Come!Act.(turning).O, Nero,1081The fire, the fire! I am frightened.Ner.Hide thine eyesAnd think not of it.Act.Nay, but I can hear it,And smell the smoke.Ner.It shall not hurt thee, darling:And Silia’s house lies down beyond the Tiber,Far from the flames. Come, sweetest, thou shalt sitBeside me while I write the letter. Come!I treasure thee ’bove all I have. Fear not![Exeunt Nero and Acte. Poppæa comes out from where she was hid. The fire rages.Pop.Accursed wretch! I knew it: she is thy wife.And I thy harlot. Yet I can dissemble—I can dissemble too—I, sanctifiedBy long devotion to the Queen of heaven,Shelter too well thy godless head. I liveTo reign when thou art dead. Vain, hideous fool!Whose heart not murder scathes nor fire can scare,Proof by self-evil against all outer evil:There is one mischief that thou’rt not a match for,The hate of thy bed-fellow. I shall be avenged.

NERO.

725Ha! Here’s my Quintian!The pale Parnassian reptile, that hath ne’erMoistened his leathery tongue in Hippocrene....Nay, laugh not so immoderately, I fearYour sides may split.

Ha! Here’s my Quintian!

The pale Parnassian reptile, that hath ne’er

Moistened his leathery tongue in Hippocrene....

Nay, laugh not so immoderately, I fear

Your sides may split.

TIGELLINUS.

O no, thou god of the world,Thou hast practised them too well.

O no, thou god of the world,

Thou hast practised them too well.

Qu.And I, your majesty,Am proud to move your jovial lips to smile.

Qu.And I, your majesty,

Am proud to move your jovial lips to smile.

VATINIUS.

We all believe it, while thy writhing grinMakes us such sport.

We all believe it, while thy writhing grin

Makes us such sport.

Qu.(aside).Curse on this ugly brute!

Ner.Mind him not, Quintian; we are in good spirits.We have worked all night like firemen, and saved the palaceIf not the city. Ha! Senecio, tell us,How stands it with thy house?

Ner.Mind him not, Quintian; we are in good spirits.

We have worked all night like firemen, and saved the palace

If not the city. Ha! Senecio, tell us,

How stands it with thy house?

Seo.Permit me, sire,To thank you for the imperial favour shewnTo my poor dwelling.

Seo.Permit me, sire,

To thank you for the imperial favour shewn

To my poor dwelling.

Ner.Thank Vatinius:’Twas his idea.

Ner.Thank Vatinius:

’Twas his idea.

Seo.Then, sir, I thank thee humbly,—740(Aside.) Till I can kill thee.

Seo.Then, sir, I thank thee humbly,—740

(Aside.) Till I can kill thee.

Vat.The emperor and IAre glad to serve you; we are very freeTo all the race.

Vat.The emperor and I

Are glad to serve you; we are very free

To all the race.

Ner.’Tis true:—Senecio,Thou wilt remember well the merry nights,When I and thou and Otho inauguratedMy reign with freaks of license: since that timeWhat steps we have made! I laugh when I recallThose timorous revellings in the dark, and how’Twas deemed a scandal Cæsar should be seenHorse-racing. What misgivings when I firstOpened my circus on the Vatican!But what applause! Then I saw Rome was with me,Nor ever have doubted since: in other gamesOutrunning popularity, till now,—My thanks to Tigellinus—there’s scarce oneOf all the noblest houses that can bragIt hath not sent some actor to the stage,Or wrestler to the theatre: and I crownedMy triumph in Naples, when ye saw, ye heard,Ye applauded.—Would it be believed that whenI came to the throne I might not, in my palace,Sing my own song at supper?

Ner.’Tis true:—Senecio,

Thou wilt remember well the merry nights,

When I and thou and Otho inaugurated

My reign with freaks of license: since that time

What steps we have made! I laugh when I recall

Those timorous revellings in the dark, and how

’Twas deemed a scandal Cæsar should be seen

Horse-racing. What misgivings when I first

Opened my circus on the Vatican!

But what applause! Then I saw Rome was with me,

Nor ever have doubted since: in other games

Outrunning popularity, till now,

—My thanks to Tigellinus—there’s scarce one

Of all the noblest houses that can brag

It hath not sent some actor to the stage,

Or wrestler to the theatre: and I crowned

My triumph in Naples, when ye saw, ye heard,

Ye applauded.—Would it be believed that when

I came to the throne I might not, in my palace,

Sing my own song at supper?

Seo.Glorious Cæsar,The Gods deny you nothing.

Seo.Glorious Cæsar,

The Gods deny you nothing.

Tig.Thyself a god,By destiny their peer.

Tig.Thyself a god,

By destiny their peer.

Vat.Perfect Apollo!In music equal, and in medicine . . . (Acts taking poison).

Vat.Perfect Apollo!

In music equal, and in medicine . . . (Acts taking poison).

Tig.(hastily). Above all gods in this, that full successAttests thy wisdom.

Tig.(hastily). Above all gods in this, that full success

Attests thy wisdom.

Ner.Well, and is’t not senseTo seek for happiness the natural way?Not by the notions of philosophers,770Who fashion theoretic right and wrongFrom books; or if they judge mankind at all,Judge by themselves, who are unlike the rest,Scarce human. ’Tis the soundest principleTo follow nature; and what nature isI well perceive. I judge all by myself:The appetites are universal gifts:Cæsar will never stoop to flatter CæsarBy such pretence of difference, nor withholdFrom others what himself loves. I believeThat no man in the world worth calling manIs what philosophers term pure and good;—Nor woman either. All would gratifyThe strong desires of nature, and all shall,While I am emperor.

Ner.Well, and is’t not sense

To seek for happiness the natural way?

Not by the notions of philosophers,

Who fashion theoretic right and wrong

From books; or if they judge mankind at all,

Judge by themselves, who are unlike the rest,

Scarce human. ’Tis the soundest principle

To follow nature; and what nature is

I well perceive. I judge all by myself:

The appetites are universal gifts:

Cæsar will never stoop to flatter Cæsar

By such pretence of difference, nor withhold

From others what himself loves. I believe

That no man in the world worth calling man

Is what philosophers term pure and good;—

Nor woman either. All would gratify

The strong desires of nature, and all shall,

While I am emperor.

Tig.Blessed be the god,Who first named thee for rule.

Tig.Blessed be the god,

Who first named thee for rule.

Sce.We all admire.

Ner.Is it not sense?

Tig.’Tis commonsense.

Vat.I wonderNone ever thought of it before.

Vat.I wonder

None ever thought of it before.

Ner.Tut! fool;That is the greatness: ’tis the common thingFor man to beat about. True geniusIs but simplicity: all great inventionsSeem first devices.

Ner.Tut! fool;

That is the greatness: ’tis the common thing

For man to beat about. True genius

Is but simplicity: all great inventions

Seem first devices.

Tig.’Tis a revolution.

Ner.Just so: in ethics as in politics.I let the world wag as it will; and ifThe world mistake its will, then I am CæsarTo wag it.

Ner.Just so: in ethics as in politics.

I let the world wag as it will; and if

The world mistake its will, then I am Cæsar

To wag it.

Vat.Here’s a flaw, good wag; you judgeThe appetites of all men by your own:The standard is too high.

Vat.Here’s a flaw, good wag; you judge

The appetites of all men by your own:

The standard is too high.

Ner.We’ll see to that;By one experiment I’ll strangle doubt.This is my plan. I mean to hold a fête,800Say at Agrippa’s pool:—the folk will needSome such diversion when the fire is o’er:—Thither I’ll draw all Rome, with novel shows,Sea-fights and monsters; round about the water,Along the bank, I shall have wine-booths set,Brilliant with luxury and enticement, wineGratis; and to all comers night and dayThey shall stand open. Now I’ll have these boothsKept by the Roman ladies:—that’s my plan.They shall have license, everything permittedBut interference. We will watch our Trojans,How they conduct themselves.

Ner.We’ll see to that;

By one experiment I’ll strangle doubt.

This is my plan. I mean to hold a fête,

Say at Agrippa’s pool:—the folk will need

Some such diversion when the fire is o’er:—

Thither I’ll draw all Rome, with novel shows,

Sea-fights and monsters; round about the water,

Along the bank, I shall have wine-booths set,

Brilliant with luxury and enticement, wine

Gratis; and to all comers night and day

They shall stand open. Now I’ll have these booths

Kept by the Roman ladies:—that’s my plan.

They shall have license, everything permitted

But interference. We will watch our Trojans,

How they conduct themselves.

Vat.This is simplicity.

Ner.(aside to Tig.). And mark the disaffected.

Tig.(aside).Here’s a trapTo catch all but the vermin.

Tig.(aside).Here’s a trap

To catch all but the vermin.

Sce.A grand invention.

Ner.The details, my good master, are for you:Our three friends here may help.

Ner.The details, my good master, are for you:

Our three friends here may help.

Sce., Seo.and Qu.(bowing).Our humble thanks.

Enter a Servant.

Ner.(to Servant). What is it?

SERVANT.

Lord Seneca is in attendance, sire.

Tig.(to Ner.). Send the old man home to his wife.

Ner.What can he come for?

Vat.Is’t not the hour for lessons?

Ner.Now what say youTo have him in, and make him of your council[Exit Servant.For the ordering of the fête (To Serv.) Go shew him here.

Ner.Now what say you

To have him in, and make him of your council

For the ordering of the fête (To Serv.) Go shew him here.

Tig.(aside to Nero). Jest not with this man, Cæsar; Thrasea and heAre your worst enemies.

Tig.(aside to Nero). Jest not with this man, Cæsar; Thrasea and he

Are your worst enemies.

Ner.Mighty enemies!

Tig.If there were no pretenders.

Ner.What do you mean?

Tig.(apart with Nero). My only pleasure is thy service, Cæsar:If ’tis thy will that Tigellinus die,I’ll be thy sacrifice and welcome death.The mob shall tear me, as they tore Sejanus,And tread my mangled corpse on Tiber’s steps:But pardon Nature’s shudderings, they comeAt sound of these men’s names.

Tig.(apart with Nero). My only pleasure is thy service, Cæsar:

If ’tis thy will that Tigellinus die,

I’ll be thy sacrifice and welcome death.

The mob shall tear me, as they tore Sejanus,

And tread my mangled corpse on Tiber’s steps:

But pardon Nature’s shudderings, they come

At sound of these men’s names.

Ner.Why, know you not831I am reconciled with Thrasea, since I putHis motion to the senate? While he lets meGo my way, he goes his.

Ner.Why, know you not

I am reconciled with Thrasea, since I put

His motion to the senate? While he lets me

Go my way, he goes his.

Tig.And Seneca?

Ner.Pooh!

Tig.Cæsar said well these men were not to fear,If there were no pretenders.

Tig.Cæsar said well these men were not to fear,

If there were no pretenders.

Ner.What pretenders?

Tig.Sylla and Plautus are the first to name.

Ner.Both are retired from Rome.

Tig.And whither, Cæsar?Mark you that Sylla is retired to Gaul,Fire to the tinderbox: those doughty legionsForget not how they crossed the Rubicon.And where is Plautus? close by Corbulo,Whose army is a créature of díscipline,To serve him as his fingers....

Tig.And whither, Cæsar?

Mark you that Sylla is retired to Gaul,

Fire to the tinderbox: those doughty legions

Forget not how they crossed the Rubicon.

And where is Plautus? close by Corbulo,

Whose army is a créature of díscipline,

To serve him as his fingers....

Ner.Corbulo, now! my prince of generals,Rome’s trusty dexter arm.

Ner.Corbulo, now! my prince of generals,

Rome’s trusty dexter arm.

Tig.Trust not that giant!Nature packed not his mighty body fullOf intrepidity for nought. I wellRemember when I sat by him at supper,The day he took his baton; how his triumphWas undisguised; and whén Cæsar was mentioned—You happed to have won a horse-race....

Tig.Trust not that giant!

Nature packed not his mighty body full

Of intrepidity for nought. I well

Remember when I sat by him at supper,

The day he took his baton; how his triumph

Was undisguised; and whén Cæsar was mentioned—

You happed to have won a horse-race....

Ner.And what said he?

Tig.No word, else had I told it; he but hemmed:But the couch shook. In his big iron chestA thunder rumbled, such as Jove might makeIf he found Juno faithless.

Tig.No word, else had I told it; he but hemmed:

But the couch shook. In his big iron chest

A thunder rumbled, such as Jove might make

If he found Juno faithless.

Ner.Ha, ha, ha!He’ll crunch us, think you, master? But this SyllaIs poor as a rat: and Plautus, if he is wealthy,Lives moderately.

Ner.Ha, ha, ha!

He’ll crunch us, think you, master? But this Sylla

Is poor as a rat: and Plautus, if he is wealthy,

Lives moderately.

Tig.Poor men are poor in scruples:And rich men that live moderately, be sure,Hide some rich purpose.

Tig.Poor men are poor in scruples:

And rich men that live moderately, be sure,

Hide some rich purpose.

Ner.Had these men a purpose,It would be bruited.

Ner.Had these men a purpose,

It would be bruited.

Tig.It is bruited.

861Ner.Ha!That’s so?

Ner.Ha!

That’s so?

Tig.’Tis also hoped that, being a pair,The one may fight the other and both be slain.

Tig.’Tis also hoped that, being a pair,

The one may fight the other and both be slain.

Ner.That is a trouble we can spare them, master:That were a pity.—I thank you, Tigellinus:—Take you the order for their deaths; but mind,Secretly, secretly. Here’s Seneca.

Ner.That is a trouble we can spare them, master:

That were a pity.—I thank you, Tigellinus:—

Take you the order for their deaths; but mind,

Secretly, secretly. Here’s Seneca.

Enter Seneca.(Scevinus, Senecio and Quintian still stand aside.)

Tig.(aside). Two of my foes wiped out; now, Mister Seneca,I take you next.

Tig.(aside). Two of my foes wiped out; now, Mister Seneca,

I take you next.

Ner.Good Seneca, what wouldst thou?

SENECA.

Cæsar, I askA private interview.

Cæsar, I ask

A private interview.

Ner.’Tis private here:This is my privy-council.

Ner.’Tis private here:

This is my privy-council.

Vat.Rome’s triumvirate.(Tableau.)Ha, ha! we rule the world!(Gesturing.) Come, trust thy secretIn Cæsar’s ear, my lord.

Vat.Rome’s triumvirate.

Ha, ha! we rule the world!

(Gesturing.) Come, trust thy secret

In Cæsar’s ear, my lord.

Seo.(aside to Sce.). Let us make upTo Seneca by going out.

Seo.(aside to Sce.). Let us make up

To Seneca by going out.

Sen.As Cæsar wills.

Sce.(to Nero).Cæsar’s august permission!We are not stoics.

Sce.(to Nero).Cæsar’s august permission!

We are not stoics.

Ner.I understand you, sir:You may withdraw.

Ner.I understand you, sir:

You may withdraw.

Sce., Seo.and Qu.Our humble thanks.class="right">[Exeunt, bowing separately to Nero and Seneca.

Sce., Seo.and Qu.Our humble thanks.

class="right">[Exeunt, bowing separately to Nero and Seneca.

Ner.Now we are private.

Sen.If your majestyWill lend me attention, I will put my businessShortly.

Sen.If your majesty

Will lend me attention, I will put my business

Shortly.

Ner.I shall not interrupt.

880Vat.Nor I;Unless I snore. (Sits.)

Vat.Nor I;

Unless I snore. (Sits.)

Sen.’Tis fourteen years, Cæsar, since I was firstChosen your guide; and for eight years and moreYou have governed the empire not without my aid.Through all whtime your kindness hath heaped ón meSo many dignities and so much wealth,That nothing wants to my felicitySave some curtailment of it.—I can allegePrecedents for my conduct: the divine Augustus,Who was your great-great-grandfather, permittedMarcus Agrippa to withdraw himselfTo Mitylenè and a private life:Mæcenas too he let abide in Rome,As in a foreign country, at his ease;—Whereof the one had served in all his wars,The other toiled at home; and each grown richWith presents answerable to their high deserts.As for myself, what I have done to meritYour prodigal favour,—being but a student,A teacher, a philosopher,—I say not:900But being enriched, it comforteth my mind’Twas not for me to strive against your gifts.Both of us, sire, have filled our measure, youIn giving all a prince should give a friend,I taking what a friend might from a prince.But now, sire, in my journey of life grown old,The business of my riches burdens me.And ’tis by envy augmented; which if youBe set above the sting of, yet ’tis knownWhat curse to peace it is. Wherefore I pray,Let me retire. I crave your helping handTo ease me of my wealth: that I restoreWhence first I had it, to yourself: receive it,I pray you, as your own. You, in your flower,May serve your generation, and permitYour old friends to betake themselves to rest.’Twill be your praise, sire, to have enriched such menAs could live happy in a mean estate.

Sen.’Tis fourteen years, Cæsar, since I was first

Chosen your guide; and for eight years and more

You have governed the empire not without my aid.

Through all whtime your kindness hath heaped ón me

So many dignities and so much wealth,

That nothing wants to my felicity

Save some curtailment of it.—I can allege

Precedents for my conduct: the divine Augustus,

Who was your great-great-grandfather, permitted

Marcus Agrippa to withdraw himself

To Mitylenè and a private life:

Mæcenas too he let abide in Rome,

As in a foreign country, at his ease;—

Whereof the one had served in all his wars,

The other toiled at home; and each grown rich

With presents answerable to their high deserts.

As for myself, what I have done to merit

Your prodigal favour,—being but a student,

A teacher, a philosopher,—I say not:900

But being enriched, it comforteth my mind

’Twas not for me to strive against your gifts.

Both of us, sire, have filled our measure, you

In giving all a prince should give a friend,

I taking what a friend might from a prince.

But now, sire, in my journey of life grown old,

The business of my riches burdens me.

And ’tis by envy augmented; which if you

Be set above the sting of, yet ’tis known

What curse to peace it is. Wherefore I pray,

Let me retire. I crave your helping hand

To ease me of my wealth: that I restore

Whence first I had it, to yourself: receive it,

I pray you, as your own. You, in your flower,

May serve your generation, and permit

Your old friends to betake themselves to rest.

’Twill be your praise, sire, to have enriched such men

As could live happy in a mean estate.

Tig.(half aside). There’s something behind this.

Ner.(to Tig.).Silence, I bid!

(To Sen.) If, Seneca, I am able out of handTo meet thy long premeditated speechWith equal answer, that I owe to thee,And thine instruction.—First thou didst allegeMæcenas and Agrippa: but from themDivine Augustus took not back their wealth;Which if they won in danger, yet I doubt notThy weapons and thy hand would not have wantedHad I had need of them. But what I neededThat gavest thou; such reason and good counsel930As shall abide with me while my life lasteth.Those goods material, which thou hadst of me,Are liable to perish; and I am shamedThat thou, who art the first in my affection,Art not first also in wealth:—nay, there be slavesOwn more than thou:—and for thine age, I knowThou’rt lusty for thy years, and able wellTo enjoy thy wealth and its commodities.Keep thy rewards still, and still do us service:If slipperiness of youth be overproneTo what it should not, thou mayst draw us back;And our unseemly and unruly zealTemper with kind advice. Harked I to thee,’Tis not thy moderation we should hear of,Nay, nor thy ease, shouldst thou forsake our service:Rather my covetousness and thy fearWould be in all men’s mouths. ’Twould ill beseemSuch a philosopher as thou, at costOf thy friend’s infamy to win thy comfort.

(To Sen.) If, Seneca, I am able out of hand

To meet thy long premeditated speech

With equal answer, that I owe to thee,

And thine instruction.—First thou didst allege

Mæcenas and Agrippa: but from them

Divine Augustus took not back their wealth;

Which if they won in danger, yet I doubt not

Thy weapons and thy hand would not have wanted

Had I had need of them. But what I needed

That gavest thou; such reason and good counsel

As shall abide with me while my life lasteth.

Those goods material, which thou hadst of me,

Are liable to perish; and I am shamed

That thou, who art the first in my affection,

Art not first also in wealth:—nay, there be slaves

Own more than thou:—and for thine age, I know

Thou’rt lusty for thy years, and able well

To enjoy thy wealth and its commodities.

Keep thy rewards still, and still do us service:

If slipperiness of youth be overprone

To what it should not, thou mayst draw us back;

And our unseemly and unruly zeal

Temper with kind advice. Harked I to thee,

’Tis not thy moderation we should hear of,

Nay, nor thy ease, shouldst thou forsake our service:

Rather my covetousness and thy fear

Would be in all men’s mouths. ’Twould ill beseem

Such a philosopher as thou, at cost

Of thy friend’s infamy to win thy comfort.

Tig.Hear, hear! ’Tis well said, Cæsar!

Vat.Admirable!But somewhat senecal.

Vat.Admirable!

But somewhat senecal.

950Ner.Embrace me, Seneca.Let us be friends.

Ner.Embrace me, Seneca.

Let us be friends.

Vat.Ye gods! I shall be jealous.Me too, my lord.

Vat.Ye gods! I shall be jealous.

Me too, my lord.

Sen.If, Cæsar, in this embracePower kissed philosophy, ’twere well with both.

Sen.If, Cæsar, in this embrace

Power kissed philosophy, ’twere well with both.

Ner.I have my own philosophy to kiss;Be thou content with thine.

Ner.I have my own philosophy to kiss;

Be thou content with thine.

Sen.Nay, the wise manIs so convinced of truth, he seeks to impart it.

Sen.Nay, the wise man

Is so convinced of truth, he seeks to impart it.

Ner.I would impart my wisdom unto thee.

(A Messenger enters and speaks to Tigellinus, who goes out with him.)

Sen.Alas! all schools alike spew out your doctrines,Zeno or Epicurus.

Sen.Alas! all schools alike spew out your doctrines,

Zeno or Epicurus.

Ner.That is becauseYou all agree to teach what none believes,That pain and misery and death are nothing,But goodness all-sufficient. Tell me, Seneca,Can a good man be happy on the rack?

Ner.That is because

You all agree to teach what none believes,

That pain and misery and death are nothing,

But goodness all-sufficient. Tell me, Seneca,

Can a good man be happy on the rack?

Vat.Not if the rack be good.

Sen.Such questions, Cæsar,Have their fit time and place. I came to offerMy wealth and counsel both; you refuse both,And let your fool mock me.—Knows he not whomIll manners hurt, that thus he wounds his master?

Sen.Such questions, Cæsar,

Have their fit time and place. I came to offer

My wealth and counsel both; you refuse both,

And let your fool mock me.—Knows he not whom

Ill manners hurt, that thus he wounds his master?

Ner.And better have no manners than be made,970As thou, of manners only. Thou affectestInsensibility; thy pompous maximsOf wordy wisdom thou wouldst pass for strongBecause they are harsh, generous because inflated.Thy rhetoric is like a mouldy cake;I have eaten to loathing of it: I would no more.

Ner.And better have no manners than be made,

As thou, of manners only. Thou affectest

Insensibility; thy pompous maxims

Of wordy wisdom thou wouldst pass for strong

Because they are harsh, generous because inflated.

Thy rhetoric is like a mouldy cake;

I have eaten to loathing of it: I would no more.

Sen.Look for no more. That speech delivers you.Whether my words are false and empty bubblesThere’s nought to show, but ’twill appear the dayWhen life must answer for it:—The condition,Cæsar, I accept, and do not fear the judgment.[Bows to Nero and exit.Re-enter Tigellinus excitedly.

Sen.Look for no more. That speech delivers you.

Whether my words are false and empty bubbles

There’s nought to show, but ’twill appear the day

When life must answer for it:—The condition,

Cæsar, I accept, and do not fear the judgment.

[Bows to Nero and exit.

Re-enter Tigellinus excitedly.

Tig.My house is burning, Cæsar!

Ner.Well! if it be?By all the gods, vex me not now.

Ner.Well! if it be?

By all the gods, vex me not now.

Tig.My house!

Ner.And what’s thy house, curse it? when half the cityWas burned to the ground, wert thou not cool? why nowFume for thy house?

Ner.And what’s thy house, curse it? when half the city

Was burned to the ground, wert thou not cool? why now

Fume for thy house?

Tig.Cæsar, the Vatican!

Ner.The Vatican!

Tig.You may see it from the windows.

Ner.(going to window). Then Rome will all be burned.

Tig.(aside).And by thy foes.When the wínd was in the south, they fired the south:Now it hath changed, they fire the north.

Tig.(aside).And by thy foes.

When the wínd was in the south, they fired the south:

Now it hath changed, they fire the north.

Ner.(returning).’Tis true.I can do nó móre: it must búrn.

Ner.(returning).’Tis true.

I can do nó móre: it must búrn.

990Tig.What, sire,To tell the captains? May they use discretionTo pull down?

Tig.What, sire,

To tell the captains? May they use discretion

To pull down?

Ner.Bid them change the wind, man: bid themSnow from the south. Wóod must búrn; when ’tis burnt,I will rebuild in stone. Go: tell them that!Go, sir! Stay: hark! Have supper laid to-nightOn the palace roof, music beneath, and ladders[Exit Tig. and Vat.Outside for the attendance.If Rome must burn,(Goes to window.)Well, let me see it.

Ner.Bid them change the wind, man: bid them

Snow from the south. Wóod must búrn; when ’tis burnt,

I will rebuild in stone. Go: tell them that!

Go, sir! Stay: hark! Have supper laid to-night

On the palace roof, music beneath, and ladders

Outside for the attendance.

If Rome must burn,

Well, let me see it.

Enter Poppæa.

POPPÆA.

Ah, Nero, Nero! Rome will all be burned.Canst thou do nought?

Ah, Nero, Nero! Rome will all be burned.

Canst thou do nought?

Ner.Nothing. Come watch it with me.What are my spectacles to this? The godsBurn at my feet the capital of the world,’Tis done for me to look on.

Ner.Nothing. Come watch it with me.

What are my spectacles to this? The gods

Burn at my feet the capital of the world,

’Tis done for me to look on.

Pop.Hast thou a heart?

Ner.There is no mischief, love, I am not a match for.Rome is a second Troy, but when Troy burnedNone built it up; but I will rebuild Rome:Its name shall be Neropolis.

Ner.There is no mischief, love, I am not a match for.

Rome is a second Troy, but when Troy burned

None built it up; but I will rebuild Rome:

Its name shall be Neropolis.

Pop.Vain thou art!

Ner.Eh! wouldst thou have it Poppæapolis?

Pop.I would not jest to think of all the misery,These homeless thousands....

Pop.I would not jest to think of all the misery,

These homeless thousands....

Ner.Seneca hath taught me1011The good man cannot suffer, and the badDeserves ill-fortune.

Ner.Seneca hath taught me

The good man cannot suffer, and the bad

Deserves ill-fortune.

Pop.Woe to me! alas,That e’er I loved thee! one day too shall ITaste of thy scorn.

Pop.Woe to me! alas,

That e’er I loved thee! one day too shall I

Taste of thy scorn.

Ner.Nay, love; thy will’s my law.Tell me what I shall do.

Ner.Nay, love; thy will’s my law.

Tell me what I shall do.

Pop.If thou didst love meThou wouldst not suffer Acte in the palace.

Pop.If thou didst love me

Thou wouldst not suffer Acte in the palace.

Ner.Acte! what’s she to do with it now? and yetIf that’s thy sorrow, she shall go to-day.Send the witch hither.

Ner.Acte! what’s she to do with it now? and yet

If that’s thy sorrow, she shall go to-day.

Send the witch hither.

Pop.And never to return.

Ner.Send her at once. I promised thee.[Exit Poppæa.

Ner.Send her at once. I promised thee.

[Exit Poppæa.

See how’Tis private pleasure that she seeks, nought else:And Seneca the same. That’s the true fire,That burns unquenchable in all human hearts.Let it rage, and consume the rotten timbersOf old convention, the dry mouldering housesOf sad philosophy, that in their steadI may build up the free and ample structureOf modern wisdom. Ay, and let Rome burn.Blow, wind, and fan the flames till all’s consumed;1030That out of full destruction may ariseThe perfect city of my reconstruction,Beautiful, incombustible, Neronic;Good out of ill: or rather there’s no ill:’Tis good’s condition, cradle: ’tis good itself.But now for Acte, my Acte: poor little Acte!That bearest all so patiently; the insultAnd domineering scorn, which this fine lady,Whom for her beauty I have made my empress,Pours on thy head! Thou shalt have full protection:I cannot give it here, but I can send theeTo those who hate thy rival, and for thatWill cherish thee. Thy rival! rob me of thee!Why, there’s no clown in my subservient world,No drudge of lot the vilest, but may smileSecure in tyranny of one fair province,Where young love first campaigned, the tender trustOf a devoted woman: and shall CæsarThrow up this allmen’s joy? nay, here the heart rules:Who aims at thee wounds me.

See how

’Tis private pleasure that she seeks, nought else:

And Seneca the same. That’s the true fire,

That burns unquenchable in all human hearts.

Let it rage, and consume the rotten timbers

Of old convention, the dry mouldering houses

Of sad philosophy, that in their stead

I may build up the free and ample structure

Of modern wisdom. Ay, and let Rome burn.

Blow, wind, and fan the flames till all’s consumed;

That out of full destruction may arise

The perfect city of my reconstruction,

Beautiful, incombustible, Neronic;

Good out of ill: or rather there’s no ill:

’Tis good’s condition, cradle: ’tis good itself.

But now for Acte, my Acte: poor little Acte!

That bearest all so patiently; the insult

And domineering scorn, which this fine lady,

Whom for her beauty I have made my empress,

Pours on thy head! Thou shalt have full protection:

I cannot give it here, but I can send thee

To those who hate thy rival, and for that

Will cherish thee. Thy rival! rob me of thee!

Why, there’s no clown in my subservient world,

No drudge of lot the vilest, but may smile

Secure in tyranny of one fair province,

Where young love first campaigned, the tender trust

Of a devoted woman: and shall Cæsar

Throw up this allmen’s joy? nay, here the heart rules:

Who aims at thee wounds me.

Re-enter Poppæa with Acte.

I thank thee, love; now leave us. Hither, Acte!(Poppæa goes out, and is seen to hide where she can be seen by the audience, and can overhear.)

I thank thee, love; now leave us. Hither, Acte!

(Poppæa goes out, and is seen to hide where she can be seen by the audience, and can overhear.)

ACTE.

1051Act.Cæsar sent for me.

Act.Cæsar sent for me.

Ner.My sweetest, dearest girl: my only pleasure.I have ill news for thee.

Ner.My sweetest, dearest girl: my only pleasure.

I have ill news for thee.

Act.Nought can seem illTold me by Nero.

Act.Nought can seem ill

Told me by Nero.

Ner.Acte, thy noble CæsarIs sometimes sad.

Ner.Acte, thy noble Cæsar

Is sometimes sad.

Act.Ah, ’tis the fire: thou’rt sorryFor thy poor folk. Would I had strength to cheer thee,If thou didst send for this.

Act.Ah, ’tis the fire: thou’rt sorry

For thy poor folk. Would I had strength to cheer thee,

If thou didst send for this.

Ner.No: but to see theeDoth comfort me. It comforts me to tell theeI am not happy.

Ner.No: but to see thee

Doth comfort me. It comforts me to tell thee

I am not happy.

Act.Let the happiness1060Which thy love gives me, turn to thee again.

Act.Let the happiness

Which thy love gives me, turn to thee again.

Ner.Acte, I think, I know, Acte, that thouArt the only one in the world that truly loves me.

Ner.Acte, I think, I know, Acte, that thou

Art the only one in the world that truly loves me.

Act.I wish it were no crime to wish I were.Yet I would have all love thee, since I knowNone can as I.

Act.I wish it were no crime to wish I were.

Yet I would have all love thee, since I know

None can as I.

Ner.And none hath loved so long:Thou wert my first delight.

Ner.And none hath loved so long:

Thou wert my first delight.

Act.Did Cæsar sendTo tell me this bad news?

Act.Did Cæsar send

To tell me this bad news?

Ner.Nay, but I love to tell it:Now for the bad. Hark: thou must leave the palace:Poppæa is jealous, and the day draws nearWhen she and I must solemnize our nuptials:Rome needs an heir.

Ner.Nay, but I love to tell it:

Now for the bad. Hark: thou must leave the palace:

Poppæa is jealous, and the day draws near

When she and I must solemnize our nuptials:

Rome needs an heir.

Act.I am not jealous óf her,If Cæsar love me; for I know that CæsarCannot be bound like other men.

Act.I am not jealous óf her,

If Cæsar love me; for I know that Cæsar

Cannot be bound like other men.

Ner.’Tis true:And I can send thee too where they will love thee;To Silia’s house; thou wilt be happier there.

Ner.’Tis true:

And I can send thee too where they will love thee;

To Silia’s house; thou wilt be happier there.

Act.I think so.

Ner.This is not dismissal.

Act.Nay.

Ner.’Tis needful for thy sake.

Act.I know that NeroWill not love Acte less, when she is awayFrom his dislikes.

Act.I know that Nero

Will not love Acte less, when she is away

From his dislikes.

Ner.Ah, pretty sweet, thou know’stMy secretest heart. Come, I will write a letter(The fire brightens.)For thee to take to Silia. Come!

Ner.Ah, pretty sweet, thou know’st

My secretest heart. Come, I will write a letter

For thee to take to Silia. Come!

Act.(turning).O, Nero,1081The fire, the fire! I am frightened.

Act.(turning).O, Nero,1081

The fire, the fire! I am frightened.

Ner.Hide thine eyesAnd think not of it.

Ner.Hide thine eyes

And think not of it.

Act.Nay, but I can hear it,And smell the smoke.

Act.Nay, but I can hear it,

And smell the smoke.

Ner.It shall not hurt thee, darling:And Silia’s house lies down beyond the Tiber,Far from the flames. Come, sweetest, thou shalt sitBeside me while I write the letter. Come!I treasure thee ’bove all I have. Fear not!

Ner.It shall not hurt thee, darling:

And Silia’s house lies down beyond the Tiber,

Far from the flames. Come, sweetest, thou shalt sit

Beside me while I write the letter. Come!

I treasure thee ’bove all I have. Fear not!

[Exeunt Nero and Acte. Poppæa comes out from where she was hid. The fire rages.

Pop.Accursed wretch! I knew it: she is thy wife.And I thy harlot. Yet I can dissemble—I can dissemble too—I, sanctifiedBy long devotion to the Queen of heaven,Shelter too well thy godless head. I liveTo reign when thou art dead. Vain, hideous fool!Whose heart not murder scathes nor fire can scare,Proof by self-evil against all outer evil:There is one mischief that thou’rt not a match for,The hate of thy bed-fellow. I shall be avenged.

Pop.Accursed wretch! I knew it: she is thy wife.

And I thy harlot. Yet I can dissemble—

I can dissemble too—I, sanctified

By long devotion to the Queen of heaven,

Shelter too well thy godless head. I live

To reign when thou art dead. Vain, hideous fool!

Whose heart not murder scathes nor fire can scare,

Proof by self-evil against all outer evil:

There is one mischief that thou’rt not a match for,

The hate of thy bed-fellow. I shall be avenged.

(There is at the end of this act such a tableau of fire as the stage machinery will allow of. The fire is first seen thro’ the windows when Tigellinus sends Nero to the window at line 986. At Acte’s speech, ‘Nero, the fire!’ it is very bright: and its climax is during Poppæa’s last speech.)

Back to Index Next