_Luc._ He said he should not come. I pray you both
Wait: let us first see who is betrayed.
_Fla._ Go thou,
And wait thy death. (_Lucan goes to his place._)
_Asp._ Let us die bravely, Flavus;
’Tis all we can. (_Coming forward to centre._)
_Fla._ We will. Ah, see! he is guarded. 2200
_Enter_ R. _Nero, Tigellinus and Rufus; preceded by Guards, who thrust
Flavus and Asper back, making passage for Cæsar._
_NERO_ (_at centre_).
Here is our court. I love the open air:
It savours more of justice, heavenly justice;
And while we sit, we breathe. Rufus, ascend.
(_Showing Judge’s seat._)
Cæsar is plaintiff, and in his own cause
Might bear a bias: so I make thee judge.
My counsel, Tigellinus, sit by me. (_They sit._)
_Fla._ (_to Asp._) I’ll not despair. I’ll keep my dagger ready.
Be near him if I rush. (_Asper takes a seat on Rufus’ proper left._)
_Ner._ Is it in order. Rufus,
That I speak first?
_RUFUS._
’Twere well for form’s sake, Cæsar,
To state the purpose of this court, and read
The names of those denounced. Where are the informers?
_Ner._ Bring in the prisoners.—As for this court, general,
’Tis called to inquire upon a matter known
To most here: they that know it not may gather it
As we proceed; I will premise thus far:—
You will hear certain citizens confess
That they, with others whom they name, were joined
In a conspiracy to murder another,
And him your chiefest citizen, myself.
Rome at the first had kings, and being returned
To an autocratic rule, in the exigency
Of wide dominion, I, her king, her Cæsar,
Her prætor, tribune, consul, typify
The general weal: who aims at my life, aims
At Rome and all. Therefore, though Cæsar needs
No sanction to his sentence, he invites
The public ear unto the public wrong,
That all, before the guilty are arrested,
May hear the evidence, and self-impeachment
Of the two chief informers. There they are; 2230
Natalis and Scevinus.—(_They have been brought in
guarded during Nero’s speech, and now stand up._ R.)
As plaintiff I shall watch the case, as Cæsar
I watch the judge. Proceed!
_TIGELLINUS._ Scevinus.
_SCEVINUS._ Here, sir.
_Tig._ Thou in this writing hast confessed the truth
Of all the several charges brought against thee
By thy slave Milichus.
_Sce._ I have, my lord.
_Tig._ ’Tis true there was a plot ’gainst Cæsar’s life,
And thou the instrument?
_Sce._ My lord, ’tis true:
I crave great Cæsar’s mercy.
_Tig._ In hope of that,
And moved by late contrition, thou hast revealed
The names of thy confederates.
_Sce._ I have.
_Ruf._ Will Cæsar let me scan the information?
_Ner._ No need. Take each in turn.
_Tig._ (_to Sce._). I ask thee, therefore,
Now to confirm this paper in open court.
Who was the head of this conspiracy?
The man who thought to sit in Cæsar’s place,
When ye had murdered Cæsar?
_Sce._ Calpurnius Piso.
_Tig._ Stand forth, Natalis.
_NATALIS._ Here, my lord.
_Tig._ Art thou
Of Piso’s household?
_Nat._ I am, my lord.
_Tig._ Then thou
Shouldst know: was Piso head of this conspiracy?
_Nat._ He was, my lord.
_Ner._ Judgment!—
_Ruf._ Arrest Calpurnius Piso on this charge.
_Ner._ (_to Tig._). Send and arrest him. (_Tig. speaks to those
behind._)
_Fla._ (_to Ruf._). Let me by thee, Rufus!—
Send me to Cæsar with some paper, Rufus!—
Now I may reach him.—To save Piso, Rufus!—
_Ruf._ (_to Flav., thrusting him back_). Be still!
_Tig._ (_looking up_). Order! who speaks?
_Ner. whispers to Tigellinus, who sets two Guards before
Nero’s seat._
_Ruf._ (_to Flav._). See, fool; he hath smelt thee.
_Tig._ I’ll ask Natalis further if he knew
Of any other chief man in the state
Cognizant of this plot, or joined therein.
_Nat._ Calpurnius Piso was the chief, my lord.
_Tig._ No other? and I have here thy writing!
_Fla._ (_aside to Rufus_). Now,
General, thy turn is come.
_Ruf._ (_to Natalis_). Speak, sir!
_Nat._ I pray,
Rufus, to urge not this: nay, from my heart
I say ...
_Tig._ ’Tis written here.
_Ruf._ This witness, Cæsar,
I do not trust.
_Tig._ Carry Natalis out
To torture.
_Nat._ I will speak.
_Tig._ Then name, sir, name!
_Nat._ Seneca.
_Ruf._ Seneca!
_Tig._ Yes, Seneca.
Let Seneca be arrested. Judge, what sayst thou?
_Ruf._ Let Seneca be arrested.
_Fla._ (_to Ruf._). Villain thou art!
_Ner._ (_to Tigell. who has whispered to him_). Leave
Seneca to me. 2270
_Tig._ These are the heads. Now will I read three names:
Tell me, Scevinus, if I read aright:
Quintian, Senecio, Lucan.
_Sce._ I denounce them.
_Ner._ Three hypocritical and fawning curs,
The lap-dogs of the palace. Where áre they?
_Tig._ They are here, Cæsar.—Quintian, stánd forth.
_QUINTIAN._
Here,
My lord.
_Tig._ Dost thou confess?
_Qu._ I give Scevinus
The lie direct.
_Ner._ We found thee in his company,
The hour of his arrest.
_Qu._ Cæsar, I knew
Of nothing ’gainst thy life. ’Tis true that oft
I have spoken against Vatinius; were he Cæsar,
I should be guilty: but yourself have loved
To prick me to it; and so, maybe, my tongue
Hath given Scevinus undeserved occasion
To think me of his party.
_Ner._ Rufus, judge!
_Ruf._ I look for evidence.
_Tig._ Dost thou?—Then, Quintian,
To save thy life wilt thou inform?
_Qu._ I will.
_Tig._ Then was not Lucan with you?
_Qu._ He was.
_Ner._ O Quintian,
Quintian! if I forgave thee for thy treason,
I could not for thy folly. Arrest him.
_Ruf._ Arrest Quintian.
The next?
_Tig._ Senecio, General, hath confessed.
His evidence we will take later. Where is
Lucan?
_Luc._ I am here, my lord, ready to answer.
_Ruf._ Then let us hear thine answer.
_Luc._ I deny
The charge of treason: but so far confess
My intimacy with the accused, that oft
My zeal for senatorial forms hath led me
To listen to them, when the words that passed
Might tell against me: and if I was betrayed
By antiquarian taste, to trust these men 2300
Against advice and warning ...
_Ner._ Ah! thou sayest
Against advice. Who warned thee?
_Luc._ Cæsar, I said ...
_Ner._ Sir, I will know who warned thee of this plot,
And warned not me.
_Luc._ Sire, I meant not so much.
_Tig._ We heard thee.
_Luc._ I make appeal to Rufus, whether
I must betray the innocent.
_Ner._ If thou look
For thine own pardon.
_Tig._ We can make thee speak.
_Ruf._ Tell us, sir, who these wondrous patriots were,
Who set thy private safety above Cæsar’s.
_Luc._ If Cæsar bids me speak, I may hide nothing.
I will confess it was my mother, Atilia,
Who warned me against these men. Punish not her
For not betraying her son.
_Ner._ Nay, sir, but thee
Who in this bungle of prevarication
Betrayest thine own mother. Judge!
_Ruf._ Arrest him.
_Luc._ I am arrested, Cæsar, not condemned.
_Ner._ Thou’lt see. Stand by!—(_To Tigell._) Another woman! why
Comes not Epicharis?
_Tig._ I know no cause
For the delay. I’ll send again.
_Ner._ Do so.
(_To Scevinus._) Go on, sir: who is next?
_Sce._ Plautius Lateranus.
_Ner._ Plautius Lateranus! Have more care
Whom thou accusest. This is one bounden to me
By special favours: from disgrace I raised him
To sit among the senate, and now he is chosen
Consul.
_Tig._ Dost thou denounce him?
_Sce._ I do, my lord. 2325
_Ner._ Whom then can Cæsar trust? Judge, Rufus, judge!
_Tig._ Judge!
_Ruf._ Let him be arrested.
_Ner._ Send to his house.
_Enter an Officer._
_OFFICER._
Cæsar, being sent to arrest Calpurnius Piso,
We found him dead.
_Ruf._ Dead! how?
_Ner._ Is Piso dead?
_Fla._ (_to Rufus_). See how thou hast ruined all!
_Ruf._ (_to Flavus_). Speak not to me!
_Off._ He died by his own hand as we arrived.
I viewed the body.
_Tig._ He must have killed himself
To escape the confiscation.
_Ner._ Bah! he hath robbed
The treasury.
_Tig._ We shall have pickings yet.
_Ruf._ Cæsar, the untimely suicide of the accused
Confirms the charge against him in so far
As he hath declined to meet it. But the trial
Falls to the ground: we lose both the defence
And the chief witness.
_Ner._ Not so. My chief object
Remains, and my chief witness.—(_To Tig._) Where is Epicharis?
_Tig._ I see a litter passing ’neath the trees.
_Ner._ Meet them, and bring her in.—
[_Exit Tigellinus._
I now produce a woman in the court.
Her name Epicharis: she lives at Naples,
And there was used by the conspirators
To tamper with the navy: the Admiral
Arrested her; but she, being charged before me,
Turned off suspicion with a specious tale,
Which I more readily believed, because
I hate informers, nor will lightly think 2350
Evil of anyone. Senecio
Confirmed her story, but hath since confessed
He knew it false: himself, as he affirms,
Was not in Piso’s confidence; this woman
Knew all. Now Piso towards Senecio
Trusted too much in trusting but a little,
Trusting Epicharis much he trusted well:
For in the extreme of torture she hath not flinched,
Nor given a sound: but seeing her silence now
Confuted by so many tongues, she hath yielded,
And promised to speak truth. See, here she is.
_During this speech Epicharis has been borne in on the litter, and is
set down at the centre of the stage._
Her speech shall now unmask what traitorous faces
Still screen their villany.
_Ruf._ A woman, Cæsar;
And in the pangs of torture, and fear of death!
What evidence is this?
_Ner._ What would ye object?
_Ruf._ Shall Romans have their free lives played with thus?
_Ner._ What puts thee in fear? Silence!—Epicharis,
I bid thee now speak truth before the court.
Piso is dead. Thou seest thy comrades taken.
Truth may not save thy life: yet speak the truth
As thy last hope. Let no man interrupt her.
_EPICHARIS_ (_speaks from the litter_).
Cæsar, I thank thee that in all my torture
Thou hast spared my tongue to tell thee truth at last:
That I am admitted where my free confession
May reach the public ear, nay not denied 2375
Thine own ear, and for that I thank thee most;
And for my torture I thank thee too: ’tis proved
I speak not lightly, and must be well believed.
Thou bidst me, mighty Cæsar, tell thee truth:
Weak is my tongue to tell the mighty truths
Cæsar dare hear, and none hath dared to tell:
And I die ... hearken quickly. Of all thou seest
There is not one whom thou canst trust: all hate thee ...
Yet needst thou not, great Cæsar, fear them much;
For all are cowards: nay, there is not among them
One brave enough to kill thee. And yet again,
Great Cæsar, I counsel thee to fear them too;
For all the world ’gainst one will have their way.
I know thou fear’st. Then who is most thy foe?
Whom first to kill? That I can tell thee, Cæsar:
For none of all thou seest, or ever saw’st,
Or wilt see again, nay, not thy murdered mother,
Thy poisoned brother, thy beheaded wife,
Whose bloody ghosts watch on the banks of hell
To mark thy doom, none hateth thee as I,
Defieth thee as I, curseth thee as I.
O emperor of the world, thine hour is come.
Within thy cankered soul dwell side by side
Remorse and vanity to drive thee mad:
The grecian furies hound thee, the christian devils
Dispute for thee. Fly to thy dunghill, Cæsar, 2401
Where thou must perish ...
_Ner._ Will none there stop her mouth?
_Ep._ Plague-spotted, abhorred for ever—by all—accurst—
_Asp._ Let no man interrupt her!
_Ner._ Who spoke? Arrest him.—
_Epicharis’ last words are spoken as the Soldiers surround her. She
struggles on the litter violently, and falls back dead. Other Guards
arrest Asper._
Who art thou, sir? thy name?
_Asp._ My name is Asper. I am centurion under Rufus.
_Ner._ Rufus, Know’st thou thy man?
_Ruf._ I grieve, sire, it is true:
He is one of my centurions.
_Ner._ Question him.
_Tig._ (_who is standing by Epicharis, to Nero_). Epicharis is dead.
_Ner._ Ye have killed her, fools?
Hath she got quit?
_Tig._ ’Twas her own doing, Cæsar:
She meshed her neck among the cords, and so
Hath reft her of what little life remained.
_Ner._ Remove her to the prison, and let physicians
Attend her at once.
_Tig._ She is dead. (_They carry Epicharis out._)
_Ner._ Rufus, proceed
With thy centurion.
_Asp._ If all hate thee, Cæsar,
How wilt thou bid that hater question this?
_Ruf._ What, fellow?
_Asp._ Thou that sittest there to judge,
And shouldst stand here, wilt thou dare question me?
_Ruf._ I, fellow?
_Ner._ Ha! Rufus, thou turnest pale.
_Ruf._ With anger I turn pale, that in your presence
A traitor should defame me.
_Ner._ Be cool, sir:
Thou wast suspected, now accused thou art.
Thou hast but one appeal: In thy worst case 2423
’Tis to thy friends (_pointing to accused_).
_Ruf._ Call not those men my friends.
_Ner._ I’ll see. Speak, traitors all; was Rufus with you?
_Luc., Sce., and others._ He was. He is guilty.
_Ner._ Arrest the judge.
_Ruf._ Who dares?
What officer of mine dares raise his hand
Against his general?
_CASSIUS._
That will I, my lord;
Knowing that thou deservest more than all.
_Ruf._ Help! help!—(_To Flavus._) Now, man, strike now or never.
_Fla._ Hush!
I am the last. (_Rufus is seized after a struggle._)
_Ner._ (_stepping down_). Now will I mount myself the
judge’s seat. (_Fla. rushes forward to stab Nero._)
_Ner._ Ha! Murder! (_Tigellinus, who has watched Flavus,
intercepts him. Flavus is seized._)
_Tig._ Clear the Court!
_The inner line of Guards faces outwards, and all present except the
prisoners are driven from centre into the wings, and the court begins
to clear._
Ner. (_to Flavus, who is held before him_). Who art thou, sir?
_Fla._ A tribune and an honest soldier, Cæsar;
And none more faithful, while you well deserved.
But I began to hate you from the day
You killed your mother, and debased yourself,
Performing to the people: and I am freed
From all my oaths, by all the gods in heaven,
With all the world; and sworn with half the world
To kill thee or be killed.
_Ner._ Fool! I shall kill thee,
With thy half world, and rule the other half.
(_The curtain fells, or scene shuts across._)