Vatinius.

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 palace If not the city. Ha! Senecio, tell us, How stands it with thy house?

Se^{o.} Permit me, sire, To thank you for the imperial favour shewn To my poor dwelling.

Ner. Thank Vatinius: ’Twas his idea.

Se^{o.} Then, sir, I thank thee humbly,— (Aside.) Till I can kill thee.

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 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?

Se^{o.} 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 success Attests thy wisdom.

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.

Sce. We all admire.

Ner. Is it not sense?

Tig. ’Tis commonsense.

Vat. I wonder None ever thought of it before.

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 if The world mistake its will, then I am Cæsar To wag it.

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, 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 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.

Sce., Se^{o.} and Qu. (bowing). Our humble thanks.

Enter a Servant.

Ner. (to Servant). What is it?