Fannia, good-morning!
_Fan._ Good-morning, cousin!
_Luc._ What brings you here so early?
_Fan._ Ah! if I am not too late! My husband sent me
To save thy life.
_Luc._ (_excitedly_). What’s this?
_Fan._ These were his words,
‘Bid him, by all we love and hold in common,
Withdraw from the conspiracy.’
_Luc._ (_aside_). ’Tis nothing.——
(_To Fan._). I thank thee. Take this answer to the message,
‘I bid him, by the love we hold in common,
Join the conspiracy.’
_Fan._ Judge, my dear cousin,
By them that hold aloof how ill ’tis plotted.
_Luc._ Then rather win the hearts that hold aloof,
Than tamper with the movers.
_Fan._ Sir, my husband....
_Luc._ Thou hast the fairest star in heaven to guide thee.
_Fan._ Let him guide thee.
_Luc._ I must not hear thee, cousin.
Write down my name ’mong the tyrannicides. 1450
I know I have thy prayers; and to say truth,
I need them: ’tis an anxious time: indeed
While we talk here, a secret messenger
Awaits me: the suspense distracts me. Excuse me!...
Farewell!... I must....
_Fan._ Ah, Lucan, Lucan!
_Luc._ Give
My loving thanks to Priscus.
_Fan._ Alas! Farewell.
May the gods aid thee! [_Exit._
_Luc._ In sleep or action is my mind at ease:
Betwixt the two, each moment is a world
Of scared imaginations. Better suffer
One worst at once, than all the thousand tortures
The making mind invents. Who is this woman,
That I should dread her message with more fear
Than I would grant to death?
_Enter Epicharis._
Come in! Ah, lady, I fear there’s something ill?
Com’st thou from ... say, bringst thou a secret message?
What is’t? Ay, sit and speak.
_EPICHARIS_ (_sitting_). Art thou the poet Lucan?
_Luc._ I am.
_Ep._ ’Tis well.
I bring this book. (_Giving._)
_Luc._ Ha! a passport: from whose hand?
_Ep._ A courtier gave it to me in lieu of money.
_Luc._ (_aside_). The copy I gave to Quintian.——
Was it Quintian?
_Ep._ No, sir. Ask not his name.
_Luc._ Tell me thy message;
Or if this book is all, what is thy price?
_Ep._ Sir, I was told this book, if given to Nero,
Would be thy death. ’Tis writ by thee? 1475
_Luc._ It is.
_Ep._ Then thou dost hate him.
_Luc._ (_aside_). What should this lead to?——
Thy manner frights me, lady, not thy matter.
Who art thou, pale and breathless as the grave,
That comest thus?
_Ep._ My name is Epicharis.
Three days ago, sir, when this book was given me,
I thought to bring it back to thee, from whom
No doubt ’twas stolen, and win gold for my silence.
To-day I ask not money; but much more
I’ll ask, if by this chance I have found in Rome
The man to avenge me.
_Luc._ Avenge thee? What is thy wrong?
Tremble not so.
_Ep._ Wilt thou? Art thou the man?
Dost thou hate Nero?
_Luc._ Pray, lady, be still.
_Ep._ Sir, canst thou help me?
_Luc._ If thou art wronged by Nero,
Lady, I can and will help thee.
_Ep._ And thou
Thyself too art in danger.
_Luc._ In greater danger
Than thou surmisest.
_Ep._ If all wait their turn,
Who shall be left to avenge?
_Luc._ I do not wait.
Let me beseech thee, lady, master this passion,
And tell thy grief.
_Ep._ My grief? nay, that’s past telling:
There are no words for that. Yet fear not, sir;
I can be quiet while I tell my story.
_Luc._ Be comforted to know thou tellest to one,
Thy sworn ally, before thou sayst a word.
To his strong mortal anger add thy cause.
_Ep._ I shall, sir; I can. All womanly soft feeling
I have driven for ever from me; and I have sworn
A pact with tears, that I will shed not one 1502
Till I be avenged.
_Luc._ Trust me; and tell thy wrong.
_Ep._ I live at Naples, sir; my mother keeps
The tavern where the sailors most resort.
My father died five years ago, and then
It happened that my brother, my only brother,—
Whose generous nature blamed the life of gain
That there we led,—left us, and was ere-long
Inveigled by the Christian sect. It happened
He met their leader Paulus,—whom ’twas said
Burrus protected,—for he came by Naples,
And there my brother heard him, and after had
Strange visions, and believed the end of the world
Was near, and Christ would come to reign in Rome,
And other doctrines taught by Paul; and lately,
Three days ago, he saw Paul in a dream,
Who beckoned him to Rome. Hither he came,
And I soon after him, being full of fear,
Knowing the ill-odour of his sect, and him
Inclined to boast it; and so I came. The Christians
Were seized last night, and my poor brother, sir,
Though unknown, unsuspected and unchallenged,
Gave himself up. Now all is over.
_Luc._ Thou meanest....
_Ep._ I could not stay him. I saw him taken. One Thrasea, 1525
A senator, whose voice seemed powerful with them,
Joined his commands with my poor prayers in vain:
’Twas Nero’s order.
_Luc._ Was he burned?
_Ep._ Ye gods,
If there be any gods; if there be Christ,
Or Zeus, or Jove, or who you will, look down,
Avenge!
_Luc._ Thou shalt be avenged.
_Ep._ I know not, sir,
Where I have been, nor how my brother suffered:
He had no fear; he welcomed death: and yet,—
Ah! what I saw! were it assured a dream,
I would not live after that dream; the memory
Would make a horror of joy. I pray to die,
Die and forget; but first live and avenge him:
I will do that: help me or show me how.
_Luc._ Can thy just hate teach thy tongue silence, lady?
_Ep._ Fear not my tongue: fear nothing: were I not brave,
Should I be alive? should I be here?
_Luc._ My secret,
That I shall tell thee, is my life. I am one
Of a conspiracy to rid the world
Of this black monster.
_Ep._ Thou art? thou art? Thou tellst me
That I may join? Alas, that I am a woman.
_Luc._ Prove now thy mastery of thyself by reasoning
In sober terms.
_Ep._ I can.
_Luc._ (_showing the book_). Who gave thee this?
_Ep._ Senecio.
_Luc._ Ha! Senecio! can it be....
_Ep._ Thou mayst not think it, sir, seeing me to-day:
But yesterday thou wouldst have well believed
I might have lovers.
_Luc._ ... At Naples, at this tavern,
Hast thou acquaintance with the Admiral? 1551
_Ep._ I know him well.
_Luc._ How doth he stand towards Cæsar?
_Ep._ He hates him.
_Luc._ Yes, but would he join our party?
We have no means to sound him: this Senecio
Has taken it on himself. I did not trust him;
Now I suspect him.
_Ep._ You would win the navy?
_Luc._ ’Tis that.
_Ep._ I could approach him.
_Luc._ I think thou mayst.
Bide with me here to-day; for ere we talk
Thou must have food & sleep. I shall speak with thee
More confidently then: thou art now o’erstrained.
_Ep._ I shall not sleep.
_Luc._ To the distracted heart,
To whom this life is hell, nature hath given
A perfect boon, the numbing poppy-juice:
Soothed by its gracious power thou wilt sleep well.
My mother shall attend thee: she knows all.