_The previous scene withdraws, showing a supper-room in the house of
PETRONIUS. Slaves removing the last of the feast. PETRONIUS, PISO,
LUCAN, SCEVINUS, SENECIO, and QUINTIAN. Three places are empty._
_PETRONIUS_ (_to Piso_).
That’s the last dish, my lord: a little banquet
Of fruit remains, and, best of all my supper,
Three jars of Otho’s wine.
_PISO._
Ha! merry Otho,
Become a man of affairs. Drink we to him
And Lusitania.
_LUCAN_ (_rising excitedly_).
A toast with Otho’s name!
Republican integrity!
_Pet._ What a fuss,
Lucan, you make, because a gentleman
Is honest. What else could you expect of Otho?
_SENECIO._
When, too, there’s nought worth stealing in his province.
_Pis._ (_to Petr._). You, sir, would underrate high qualities,
Being proved in them yourself. Bithynia
Praises you still, though Rome forgets your zeal
In the grace of your retirement. Will you never
Mix in affairs again?
_Pet._ Nothing could tempt me. 1220
The very thought of travelling wearies me,
And the occupation of the mind in matters
That any clerk is fit for.—Yet I praise
The world and all its fret: its vanity,
Advertisement, vulgarity and dirt
Are precious for one thing; they make retirement
Positive joy. Blest are the gods who sit
On changeless seats. I think they framed the world
That they might look upon it and rejoice
They lived not in it: that’s its use to me.
_Luc._ True, as Rome says, Petronius, thou art steeped
In gross epicurism.
_Pet._ Bravo, stoic!
I may be what men say: yet very few
Are what they show the world: there’s a screw-twist
In every mind. It is the sensuous man
Follows asceticism: the passionate man
Who is practised in reserve. Why _Know thyself_,
Unless to hide thyself? Look at the houses
Of our philosophers: the epicurean,
Who holds the happiness of life depends 1240
On small accessories, lives in discomfort:
The stoic, he who says all outward matters
Concern him not a pin, orders his home
With scrupulous care; however nice your taste,
There’s not a better host.
_QUINTIAN._
You’d tell us then
You set no store by elegance and culture.
_Pet._ Eh! I´ may bé an exception, sir: and yet
I’d have you think I most love elegance
Where ’tis most rare and out of reach of the world.
I’d not without reserve praise Lucan’s style 1250
In poetry.
_SCEVINUS._
Nor his matter.
_Se^{o.}_ Yes, his matter,
Where he laments the fall of the republic;
‘_But if the fates could find no other way
For Cæsar to succeed_’ ... what was’t he said?
_Qu._ ‘_All crimes and horrors we with joy regard,
Since thou, O Nero, art our great reward._’ (_Laughter._)
_Luc._ Let that be read with what I have written since.
What thinkest thou, Senecio, of the days
When thou wert Nero’s darling? If what thou didst
Be as well condoned by what thou goest to do,
As what I wrote shall be by what I write,
Thou’lt be a hero.
_Sce._ Hear, hear!
_Pet._ (_who has motioned the slaves out_). Really, sirs,
You grow obscure.
_Pis._ Explain.
_Sce._ Ay, speak your mind.
_Luc._ I ask then, is Senecio still content
To share in Nero’s deeds?
_Se^{o.}_ Nay, I abjure them.
_Luc._ (_coming to him_). Patriot, I take thy hand!
_Sce._ And I.
_Qu._ And I.
_Luc._ Ye too abjure the bloody tyrant’s guilt?
Would ye see Rome free, let us make an oath
By black Styx, and invoke the gods of crime!
_Pet._ Hey-day! here’s tinsel!—Let me refill your cup,
Piso; the gold mellows this ruby juice, 1271
As music comforts poetry, and the eye
Assists the palate (_pouring_).
_Luc._ Is’t not true, Petronius,
Thou dost hate Nero too? Thou hast held aloof
From all his crimes. Thou sippest an exile’s wine,
Thou laughest and art comfortable: ah! man,
Stop well thine ears with luxury, lest thou hear
The shrieks in Cæsar’s garden, where men burn
To light his revels up.
_Se^{o.}_ Ay, burned alive,
Because he saith they burned the city,—and he
Did it himself: would he were burned.
_Qu._ I heard him
Whisper to Tigellinus, ‘I had liefer
’Twere all burnt than a little; help it, master!’
And so it was.—
_Pet._ I have come to see the purpose of this supper.
(_To Piso_) The company, my lord, was gathered here
By Fænius Rufus: he and other two
Have disappointed me ... My lord, I see
My house was chosen for security.
I’ll take it as a compliment: you are welcome
To all but my attention. Ha! I think
Here be the others.—(_Letting in Rufus, Lateranus and
Flavus._) Welcome, my lords!
_Ruf._ I fear we are late, Petronius.
_Pet._ Make excuse
To my most honoured guest. (_They bow to Piso._)
_Pis._ Ye are come in time
To share the best of wine.
_Pet._ Pray serve yourselves:
I go to close the door ’gainst listeners.
_Ruf._ (_to Luc._). Ye have broached the business?
_Luc._ (_to Ruf._). Yes. (_Motioning._)
_Ruf._ Nay, I’ll sit here,
And fill my cup. (_Sitting._)
_Pis._ And you too, sirs, be seated.
_Ruf._ (_pouring_). I saw a sight as I came here: the mob
Dragging some wretched Christian to be burned.
And all the while his sister ran beside, 1301
With her vain anguish heightening their fury:
And he! ... believe me, I never saw a man
In all my life look better pleased.—I quaff
To Piso.
_All_ (_toasting_). Piso! Piso!
_Ruf._ And what saith
Calpurnius Piso?
_Pis_. How, general?
_Ruf._ You consent?
_Pis._ Consent to what?
_Luc._ Speak, Rufus.
_Lat._ Let the general
Make our proposals to his lordship.
_All._ Hear, hear! (_Petronius returns._)
_Ruf._ My lords and gentlemen, since I am chosen
To expound the common thought.... It sprang at first,
I think, of the earthquake: seeing Cæsar’s life
So near extinguished, as it was, at Naples,
It came into our minds that no provision
Was made for the succession; which neglect,
In case of accident, might cause disturbance, 1315
And saddle us with an upstart. We agreed
To choose our Cæsar; but, to shield ourselves,
Would sound him privately.
_Pis._ My noble friends,
Ye are justified by circumstance: I share
Your fears, and was acquainted with your purpose.
But, ere I stand committed to your party,
What are their names? Have you them writ?
_Luc._ No, no.
We write no names.
_Pis._ Who be they?
_Ruf._ You see us here.
There are besides, my tribunes Statius Proximus
And Granius Silvanus: my centurions
Scaurus and Paullus. There’s Sulpitius Asper,
And Julius Tugerinus, Martius Festus,
Proculus, a whole list,—Munatius Gratus,
Vulcatius Avaricus....
_Pis._ And the consul
Vestinus?
_Ruf._ Nay.
_Pis._ Thrasea and Priscus?
_Ruf._ No. 1330
_Pis._ We lack the senatorials then: perhaps
Seneca is with us?
_Ruf._ Nay, nor he, my lord.
_Pis._ You mentioned Proculus: doth Proculus
Bring all the navy?
_Ruf._ Nay, our Proculus
Is not Volusius.
_Pis._ Nor the navy either!
_Se^{o.}_ I know the Admiral, my lord: let me
Sound him, if he hangs back.
_Fla._ No hangers-back.
_Ruf._ Your name, my lord, when we may mention it,
Is all-sufficient.
_Pis._ I give not my name
Till Nero is dead.
_Fla._ That will be soon.
_Sce._ Three days.
_Pis._ Indeed! how know you?
_Sce._ Here I show you a sword
I have whetted for the deed.
_Fla._ Eh, sir! and who
Named thee?
_Sce._ Myself to Capitolian Jove
Offered myself and weapon.
_Fla._ And what, I pray,
Said Jupiter?
_Pet._ Peace, peace! Here in my house
Let me be chairman.——
I’ll ask Scevinus first to state his plan.
_Fla._ Yes, state it, sir.
_Sce._ I would set fire to his house,
And stab him as he hurried to and fro.
_Pet._ Enough of fire. The palace is already
Half-burned, and what remains of it is prospectively
Lord Piso’s.—Subrius Flavus, what’s your scheme?
_Fla._ I’d kill him when he is singing on the stage,
In face of all the people, a sacrifice
To his Greek Apollo.
_Pet._ Not ill thought of, sir;
But who’s to do it?—Well, Senecio?
_Se^{o.}_ Why fix the time or place? Let all here swear
That the first one of us who can approach him
Shall stab him to the heart.
_Ruf._ Yes, and be killed for it.
’Tis rare that Cæsar goes unguarded now. 1360
_Luc._ You bid us sacrifice our lives, but I
Would gaze, like Cassius, on my glorious deed.
_Pet._ Then, Lucan, have you a plan?
_Luc._ I should propose
To leave the deed to Rufus: he commands
The needful force.
_Pet._ Well, Rufus?
_Ruf._ ’Tis not easy,
As Lucan thinks: and if he escape our swords,
’Tis death to us all. There is but one way free
Of personal risk.—If my lord would invite him
To an entertainment at his house at Naples,
We might be sure of him.
_Pis._ (_rising_). What! Good Heavens, General!
Take you me for a Jew? An entertainment!
My house!
_Pet._ Hear, hear!
_Pis._ Rufus, and all my friends,
Hear me. While Nero lives, my life’s in danger:
Yet will I never move to take him off.
If you shall choose to do it, or if he die,
I’ll be your Cæsar: there’s no more to say.
I leave you to consult. (_Going._)
_Pet._ Not in my house.
As chairman I adjourn the meeting: nay,
I have done more than my duty.
_Luc._ And why, Petronius,
Wilt thou not join us?
_Pet._ Rather, I beg you each, 1380
Whoever may be Cæsar, to remember
My innocence, and leave me to myself.
_Pis._ Why, for your very virtue I shall need you.
_Pet._ Indeed, my lord, you know me not: my habits
Are incompatible with business.
You have eaten with me now, but, late as ’tis,
Your supper is my breakfast; and while you
Go to your beds, I shall begin my day:
Like an old lion....
_Luc._ Or like an owl.
_Pet._ Well, sparrow,
Or like an owl, that makes his day of night,
And when men stir hies to his barn; so I:
And by this trick of time shut myself off
From half the curse of life. You little think
What charm the witching night hath for her lovers:
How her solemnity doth deepen thought,
And bring again the lost hellenic Muse
To sing from heaven: or on moonlit swards
Of fancy shadows in transfigured scene
The history of man.—Thus, like a god,
I dwell; and take the early morning cries 1400
For calls to sleep; and from divinity
Fall to forgetfulness, while bustling day
Ravages life; and know no more of it,—
Your riot and din, the plots and crimes of Rome,—
Than doth a diver in Arabian seas,
Plunging for pearls beneath the lonely blue:
But o’er my slumbering head soft airs of dreamland
Rock their wild honey-blooms, till the shy stars
Once more are venturing forth, and I awake.
Is not that something?
_Pis._ Ha, ha! Well, good-night!
I mean good-morning. Yet ere we depart
I’ll take each by the hand,—you, sir, and you,—
And let it be an earnest of my favour
In time to come: I shall remember all.
Consult meanwhile with Rufus: I shall see him,
And shall myself make ready.
_Pet._ The slaves, my lord,
Are sent away: I’ll show you to the street:
Come: you shall see me undo the doors, and say
I care well for my safety. Pray keep silence.
[_Exeunt._