Poppæa.

And embraceth?

Ner. And embraceth.— Didst thou sleep well in thy new chamber?

Pop. I did.

Ner. How doth it please?

Pop. ’Tis fine. It hath no fault, Save that it lies so far from thine.

Ner. In that See how I trust thee.

Pop. I shall need my litter In this new palace: ’tis a morning’s journey From end to end. What distances!

Ner. Yes, space: Grandeur in space: we cannot emulate Starry distinctions and ethereal peace; Mortal conditions hamper us ... yet I’ll teach The world what may be done; and my new Rome Shall stand for a type: the streets all laid out broad, Straight and intelligible; and all the houses Of fireproof stone from Alba and Gabii. In four years ’twill be finished.

Pop. Four whole years Of rubbish-heaps and hammering?

Ner. Come see The plans in the library.

Pop. Would you believe The plans of architects can cheer a woman?

Ner. If thou wert happy thou wouldst love to see All that I do, and for my sake admire. I wish that thou wert happier. Think, Poppæa, What cause thou hast, being for thy peerless beauty Chosen the world’s Augusta. I could wish Thou didst smile oftener.

Pop. Well, consider, love, I have cause for care.

Ner. I wish that thou couldst sing: Music can cheer. Dost thou remember once, When thou wast fearful in a thunderstorm, How I diverted thee with sprightly music? Then I should love if, when I came to see thee, I heard thy voice afar, and in thy chamber....

(Vatinius interrupts, entering noisily.)

Who’s there? (Vatinius gives a note to Nero.) (Reads.) ‘Proculus the admiral is come from Naples With secret tidings; he hath a lady with him!’ (To Vat.) Let him in, or his tidings, or his lady, Whichever is most secret—or all three. [Exit Vat. (To Poppæa, who is going.) Thou needst not go, love.

Pop. Why! if ’tis a lady.

Ner. Pooh! ’tis some state affair.

Pop. I hate affairs. [Exit.

Ner. Marriage rúins a woman: and how quickly! And I to lead the ape-dance, who am sworn To rid the world of this and all its plagues!

Enter Tigellinus with Proculus and Epicharis; Vatinius following.

Ner. Good-day, Lord Proculus; what brings you here?

PROCULUS. Forgive the intrusion, Cæsar.

Ner. The lady’s looks Are ample excuse. You ask leave to be married?

Pro. Nay, Cæsar; I accuse her.

Ner. Bravo! divorce?

TIGELLINUS (aside to Nero).

His story is urgent.

Ner. What is it?

EPICHARIS. Mighty Cæsar, This is a charge ’gainst me: a foolish charge Not worth your ear. I have a witness with me Would make short matter of it, might he enter.

Ner. By all means. Why, sir, did you keep him back? His name?

Ep. Senecio.

Ner. Good. We know him, lady. Vatinius, fetch him in. (Exit Vat.) What is the charge?

Pro. This woman, sire....

Ner. (interrupting). What is thy name, fair lady?

Ep. Epicharis, your majesty.

Pro. This lady Was known to me at Naples.

Ner. I understand: Spare your excuses.

Pro. At a tavern.

Ner. Ho! You sailors! (Vat. re-enters with Senecio.) (To Epicharis) See your witness, lady, is come.

Pro. She took occasion of her intimacy To draw me into a plot ’gainst Cæsar’s life.

Ner. Ha!

Pro. Entrusted by conspirators at Rome Three days ago to tamper with me.

Ner. By heaven! And thou dost laugh? (to Epic.)

Ep. Will Cæsar hear the end?

Ner. (to Pro.). Give me the names at once.

Pro. I know no names, Cæsar; she would not tell.

Ner. No names? and whom Wert thou then to conspire with?

Pro. She would tell Nothing of her confederates, unless I brought together certain officers, Whose loyalty I know suspicious.

Ner. Dost thou? By God, I’ll have théir names.

Pro. I was to sail to Rome, And seize the granaries.

Ner. Enough. Now, madam; What dost thou answer?

Ep. If Cæsar need an answer To a charge so empty, ’tis enough to say I have never been in Rome.

Ner. ’Tis not enough. Didst thou speak to the Admiral in the sense He avers?

Ep. I humbly crave great Cæsar’s pardon For jesting with his name.

Ner. Thou didst? and why?

Ep. Here is my witness; Lord Senecio Will say that my story is true. Holding with him Some talk of Proculus, I laid a wager That I could make the Admiral believe Anything, no matter how ridiculous: And this we hit on. Then straight he comes in, And if I went too far, ’twas in my fear To lose my money.

Ner. Is this so, Senecio?