_Pop._ Now, as she loves me, this is mine.
_Ner._ Not so.
_Pop._ Then as thou lovest me.
_Ner._ Well.
_Pop._ (_reading_). Ho! ho! ho! ho!
Now shines the sun at noon.
_Ner._ What is’t?
_Pop._ I read?
_Ner._ Read then.
_Pop._ (_reads_). _To her dearest son. Ha! ha! ha!
When last we met thou wilt remember to have confessed
some shame for wrong done to me. The wrong I forgive,
but eagerly seize on thy sorrow to ask of thee, in regard
for thine own happiness, this only favour. ’Tis my earnest
prayer and advice that thou dismiss Poppæa._ 2551
_Ner._ Ha! writes she so?
_Pop._ Attend, the reasons follow.
(_Reading._) _Beware of her: nor think that I grudge thee
the happiness which thou now findest in her. Marriage
with her can lead only to thy misery. I know her well._
Now hear my character.
_Ner._ Give me the letter.
_Pop._ _She is vain, deceitful, self-seeking, and, being by
nature cold, hath the art to assume the mask of passion;
and ’neath the show of virtue designedly conceals her
wickedness and mischief. She loves thee no better than
she loves Otho._ 2561
_Ner._ Give me the letter.
_Pop._ Nay, one sentence more.
_Believe a woman sees further than a man, since to her eyes
beauty is no veil._
She grants me beauty then. [_Gives letter to Nero._
_Ner._ (_reading_). ’Tis so, ’tis so. Ye gods! and thou
wert right.
Poppæa, this is the end. Come not to Baiæ.
Wait my return.
_Pop._ What’s now to do, I pray?
_Ner._ Ask not: when I return I shall be free.
We will be married.
_Pop._ Will you banish her? 2570
_Ner._ Ask nothing.
_Pop._ From her exile still her plottings
Will reach to Rome.
_Ner._ Not so, for she shall go
Whence nothing reaches Rome.
_Pop._ Oh, now I fear
I have said too much; let not my love o’ercome thee.
Maybe she meant not this.
_Ner._ Thou meddle not!
_Pop._ Oh, but at least no crimes, Nero, no crimes!
Promise me that; rather I’ll fly to-night.
_Ner._ Poppæa, in earnest of the happy day
When thou wilt be my wife, I bid thee now
Depart. 2580
_Pop._ (_kissing him_). Husband, I go. [_Exit._
_Ner._ What ho! what ho!
_Enter a Servant._
Is Anicetus in the palace?
_SERVANT._
Ay, Cæsar.
_Ner._ Go, bid him hither straight. [_Exit Servant._
It shall be done.
Ay, now it shall be done. Let me consider;
I must be cool, lest I be foiled once more.
Where lies my hindrance? not in her; she has twice
Deceived me and escaped: now in my turn
I steal her weapon, and can use it better,
Having been plain before. Then Seneca...
He shall not know, so are his scruples quiet.
For mine, they are hushed already; but ’twere best
Recount the terms which reason can oppose 2591
To too rebellious nature: first there’s my motive,
Huge as the earth; liberty, happiness,
Empire: that cannot slide, I fear not that.
Then there’s the ground of justice; Claudius’ death,
O’er which the executive too long hath slept
In Cæsar’s piety: the sentence now
O’ertakes the murderess with a double score,
Since she by her conspiracy contrived
Britannicus should die ... ay, for his death 2600
The heavy penalty hangs o’er some head;
Now let it fall on hers,—so I am quit.
All this condemns her, long-expected justice
Cries, and occasion hurries on the hand.
Ay, ay, I am clear. Poppæa being my stake,
I cannot shrink nor swerve. What was’t she wrote?
Why here is more. [_Reads._
_Be with me in this matter,
But if thou should’st refuse, we are worse foes._
She dares the threat.
_Enter Anicetus._
_ANICETUS._
Cæsar hath summoned me.
_Ner._ Good Anicetus, tell me, is there none 2610
Greater than Cæsar?
_Anic._ Nay, Cæsar, there is none.
_Ner._ But were there one to whom it might be said
Cæsar owed life and fortune—dost thou take me?
_Anic._ Cæsar would say the Augusta.
_Ner._ Nay, thou’rt dull:
’Twas thee I meant.
_Anic._ Me, Cæsar!
_Ner._ Dost remember
Boasting to me that thou hadst sailor means
To do a certain thing?
_Anic._ Ay.
_Ner._ Do it now.
I’ll owe thee life and fortune. Canst thou be trusted?
_Anic._ My love for Cæsar follows hand in hand
With his command in this.
_Ner._ Then do it, I say; 2620
No words, no explanation. Agrippina
Will come to Baiæ: there have thou thy ship.
_Anic._ I will have one at Bauli, one at Baiæ:
If she take either it shall serve the turn.
_Ner._ Go now contrive thy means; let nothing ’scape thee
To me or any other: when ’tis done
Hold thy head high.
_Anic._ Cæsar, I go to do it. [_Exit._
_Ner._ Now comes my part: ay, though it vex my soul
To stoop; tho’ this be Cæsar’s greatest wrong,
That he must patch his faultless power with guile,
And having all command, miss of his will 2631
But for a subterfuge .... yet for this once
I’ll do it—’tis little; but to write a letter,
Feign to discard Poppæa, as mistrusting
Her love and character; and from that vantage
I surely win my mother to come forth
And join the court at Baiæ—she will come.