Chapter 7

SCENE.--_The same. Dawn breaking;_ NERO _discovered lying in a swoon_

NERO. [_Slowly._] Dawn! In the night o'er-past a lightning flash! Ah! I remember--here my mother's ghost Stood--on this very ground--I feel the air Still cold from her--and here the lightning burned. So I awake my mother's murderer. That was her ghost that stole on me sea-marred, Silent--the ocean falling from her hair.

_Enter_ TIGELLINUS

TIGELLINUS. Caesar at last! Sole master of the world!

NERO. O Tigellinus, in the mid of night, The spirit of my whelmed mother stole Hither upon me, dumb out of the deep. Heaven gave a flash: I saw her face and fell.

TIGELLINUS. Her spirit! Better that than she herself. Dismiss dark fancies now--this day thou art free.

NERO. No, but enthralled by her for ever-more. She is my air, my ocean, and my sky.

TIGELLINUS. The night has wrought this sickly mood on you-- Natural--it will pass.

NERO. Never, O never! You flatter, you console, you would assuage, But you are human, can forget and change. But yonder rocky coast remembers yet. That countenance changes not: that conscious bay Maintains its everlasting memory. This privy region saw, and it shall see For ever what was done. The amulet! Filched from me! Was it then a ghost I saw?

_Enter_ SEAMAN _hurriedly, followed by_ BURRUS

SEAMAN. Caesar, my news must plead for this intrusion. I was aboard the ship whereon the Augusta Set sail: when the roof fell, thy mother's maid Cried 'Save me! I am the Emperor's mother!' Straight Crushed under many a blow, she dropped and died. But silently thy mother Agrippina Slid from the ship into the water and swam Shoreward. With white and jewelled arms she thrust Out through the waves and lay upon the foam. We heard her through the ripple breathing deep, And when we heard no more, we watched her still-- Her hair behind her blowing into gold As she did glimmer o'er the gloomy deep; And all the stars swam with her through the heavens, The hurrying moon lighted her with a torch, The sea was loth to lose her, and the shore Yearned for her; till we lost her in the dark, Save now and then some splendid leap of the head.

NERO. You know not if she be alive or dead?

SEAMAN. Caesar, rejoice--thy mother lives.

NERO. She lives?

SEAMAN. When I at last touched shore, I spoke with two Night-wandering fishermen. These two, it seems, Had borne her in their boat across the bay To her own villa.

NERO. [_Falling hysterically on neck of_ SEA-MAN.] I am no murderer then!

TIGELLINUS. Have you considered, sir, what now may urge Thy mother, Agrippina, knowing all, Seeing that by no chance or accident Or sudden flurry of the ocean floor The ship collapsed. Safe is she, but how long? Will she not burst upon us suddenly? Sir, she must die to-night.

NERO. I'll not attempt A second time that life the sea restored; She is too vast a spirit to surprise. Even Nature stood aloof---- My mother shall be gloriously caged, Imprisoned in purple and immured in gold. In some magnificent captivity Worthy the captive let her day decline.

[_Shouts without: enter_ BURRUS.

BURRUS. Caesar, great news I bring: the Armenian Lies helpless on Tigranocerta's plain O'erwhelmed by Corbulo, and the huge host Dissolved. Armenia lies beneath your feet: Rome yearns to welcome you.

NERO. To Rome I go Free-souled and guiltless of a mother's blood, Resume the accustomed feast, the race, the song, And I shall be received with public joy And clamour of congratulating Rome.

[_Great cheering without: exit_ NERO.

[_A pause._

TIGELLINUS. Burrus, she'll strike at us whate'er the cost: She'll slay the ministers if not the master.

BURRUS. We are both dead unless some sudden scheme--

_Enter_ ANICETUS _at back_

[_Turning._] Here is another doomed as we ourselves.

TIGELLINUS. Ah, Anicetus! Agrippina lives, And she will launch her vengeance on us three, But first on you; you first set Nero on-- You first proposed the scheme. You on the sea Bungled--Now on the land retrieve the error. To you we look.

_Enter_ POPPAEA _from behind and stands listening_

ANICETUS. My error is repaired Already. I first heard the Augusta lived, And instantly despatched a faithful troop To slay her at her villa o'er the bay.

TIGELLINUS. How shall we know if they have found and slain her?

ANICETUS. All this I have arranged and clearly planned. If they shall find that she hath fled to Rome, Hark for one trumpet-call across the bay: If they have found her at the villa, then Hark for two trumpet-calls across the bay: If they have found her and have slain her, then Hark for three trumpet-calls across the bay!

[_A burst of music without, and sounds of advancing procession._

[_Enter soldiers and satellites, with attendants bearing a litter. Lastly_ NERO.

TIGELLINUS. Now as a conqueror in triumphant vein Ride through the thundering ways of risen Rome, Anticipating the Armenian car.

NERO. [_Ascending litter._] Set out for Rome! And you, accusing coasts, Accuse no more. Guiltless I say farewell, And with a light heart journey toward Rome Joyous I go, for Agrippina lives.

[_A great triumphal shout swells up again, and to the sound of military music_, NERO _and the procession pass off. Meanwhile_ TIGELLINUS _is left in a listening attitude_. POPPAEA _stands breathless at back. There is a pause. Then a trumpet-call is heard far off; a second; and a third_. POPPAEA _rushes to_ TIGELLINUS _and clasps his hand_.