Part 8

_Bur._ Then, for one question I’ll be appeased. I know you, Seneca, For a man of many parts, a scholar, poet, Lawyer, and politician, what you will; 2760 A courtier too besides, a man of business, A money-maker; in short, a man of the world, That like a ship lifting to every wave, Heeling to every blast, makes good her way And leaves no track. Now what I ask is this: How ride so lightly with the times, and yet Be the unbending stoic, the philosopher, The rock, I say, that planted in the deep Moves not a hair, but sees the buffeting breakers Boil and withdraw? Which is the matter, Seneca? Nay, ’tis a pertinent and friendly question— 2771 I’ll take your answer as we go along.

[_Exeunt Burrus and Seneca._

_Re-enter Fulvia._

_Ful._ Of all delights I think that liberty Is the prime element: nothing is pleasant Joined with a must. Why, even this journey hither That has so cheered my mistress, all the talk Of sky and fields and trees, tired me to death. I’m sick of servitude, with ’time for this’ And ’time for that’: I’d give my ears for freedom;

[_She sits in Agrippina’s chair._

To have my servants, and say—Prithee, Fulvia, What is o’clock?—Fetch me the little kerchief I left upon my bed—Come, Fulvia, quick; 2782 I want you—Fulvia, go, order my litter— Fulvia, be gone; we’ve business—Fulvia, stay, Amuse me for a while.—I would to heaven I were in Rome again! (_Shouts heard._) Hey, what a noise! Cheering my lady! here’s a change indeed. Well, I shan’t lose by that. Gods, how they cheer! She might have taken me with her. I know well I shan’t see the outside of these villa walls 2790 Till bound for home. And here no visitors, At least for me. Cheer on, my lads! and yet If I should get the chance I’d like to see These famous Neapolitans: I’m told They’re wondrous saucy, and ingenious singers. What’s that? a boat! my lady! gracious heavens!

[_A boat rows up to quay._

My lady, O my lady, what’s the matter?

_Enter Agrippina up from the quay, clothes dripping; the boat remains._

_Agr._ An accident, and I am escaped by swimming: Yet thou must know, Fulvia, ’twas a contrivance To take my life—the kindness was all hollow— A dastardly contrivance: ’twas the ship 2801 Seleucus spoke of. Look, I am hurt in the shoulder, Yet ’tis not much.

_Ful._ Alack, alack, my lady!

_Agr._ I am cold and faint. I must at once go shift These dripping habits. When I am rested somewhat Thou shalt hear all: meanwhile, call in the sailors Who rowed me hither: get from them whate’er They saw or know, and promise a reward Worthy of my deliverance. [_Going._

_Ful._ Praised be the gods, My lady, that thou’rt safe.

_ Agr._ (_turning_). Polla is killed. [_Exit._

_Ful._ What, Polla! Killed! she said killed. Polla killed!2811 Ho! fellows, come within, nay, come within.

_Sailors enter._

_SAILOR._

We are not fit, my lady. By thy leave, We are poor fishermen.

_Ful._ Come, fellows, come. Which is the captain?

_Sail._ Me, so please thee, lady.

_Ful._ Ye have brought the empress safe, and for that service Shall have a good reward. But, tell me now, How came she in your boat?

_Sail._ ’Twas thus, my lady. It being the feast, we smartened up the boat And pulled her close along the shore, to find 2820 A party of landsmen, such as love to visit Misenum, or be rowed across the bay To Pausilypum, lady, and Virgil’s villa. When, as we lay, the Augusta’s galley passed, Not half a cable’s length, and then we cheered, And after took no note of her, till Gripus, He cries, Look! see the galley. And there she was Laid on her beam-ends in the offing. Ho! We cried, and gave the alarm, and led the chase To reach her first: when presently she righted, 2830 Steadied, and trimmed her oars, and drew away. While we were wondering and talking of it I spied a something floating, and again Putting about, saw ’twas a swimmer’s head. Four other boats with ours made for it too; But we gave way with a will and held our own, And coming alongside, found ’twas the Augusta. I reached her out an oar, and I and my mate Lifted her in handsomely. Then she bad us Straight row her hither. She’s a most brave lady, Ay, and can swim. 2841

_Ful._ Know you no more?

_Sail._ No, lady. We looked, but saw naught else, not even a spar. The Augusta told us there was none but she.

_Ful._ What was the reason why the galley heeled?

_Sail._ I cannot tell.

_Ful._ What could it be?

_Sail._ D’ye see, My lady, ’tis the Admiral’s boat, this galley. It’s not for me....

_Ful._ There’s not a breath of wind.

_Sail._ The mischief was aboard.

_Ful._ You know no more?

_Sail._ Nothing, my lady.

_Ful._ Then begone; to-morrow Come for your recompense. I know not yet 2850 The Augusta’s pleasure.

_The Sailors._ Thank thee, thank thee, my lady.

[_Exeunt Sailors._

_Ful._ ’Tis plain the men know nothing.

_Sailor_ (_returning_). Please thee, lady, If not too bold, we’ll ask thee if the Augusta Has taken harm from being so long in the water.

_Ful._ Thank you, my men. I pray she’s none the worse.

_Sail._ ’Tis bitter cold, indeed. But I can tell She’s of good stuff; ay, and can swim.

_Ful._ Be sure You are fortunate to have done her this good service.

_Sail._ I make my humble duties. [_Exit._

_Ful._ Alas, alas! What can this mystery mean? I die to hear. 2860 I must now go attend her; ah! here she comes.

_Enter Agrippina._

_Agr._ Fetch me some wine and a warm coverlet; The fur one from my bed.

_Ful._ Ay, madam, quickly. [_Exit._

_Agr._ I have no friend here but her and the few servants Upon the place: ’tis plotted well indeed To catch me thus alone: Mistress Poppæa Is seen in this. Yet being escaped, I think I yet will prove her match.

_Re-enter Fulvia._

Ah, thank you, so.

_Ful._ Are you recovered, madam, from the shock?

_Agr._ I am warm again. I think too that my hurt Is very little: but I am somewhat shaken. 2871

_Ful._ What is it that hath happed? The sailors knew Nothing but that they found you.

_Agr._ Did they see Nothing?

_Ful._ They saw the galley lurch, and say The Admiral must know.

_Agr._ ’Tis likely enough ’Twas his contrivance. Now I’ll tell thee all, Fulvia, and thou must help me all thou canst When thou hast heard: indeed I tell thee partly To clear my judgment.—We had rowed about a mile, Polla and I, and sat upon the poop, 2880 Taking our pleasure, when, all on a sudden, Darkness; the awning fell, with such a crash As took away my spirits, and Polla and I Were thrown down from our couches by the weight Of falling cloth and spars: one heavy beam Grazed my left shoulder, and we lay crushed down Upon the deck. Then I heard Polla laugh, Finding we were not hurt, and she crept forth Forward, beneath the curtains; the oars stopped: I heard a rush of feet, and presently 2890 Came Polla’s voice, ’Hold, slay me not, ye villains, I am Agrippina.’ Then, ’Ah me, I am slain!’ And one long deathly groan. This, when I heard, Taught me my part, and towards the other side, Crawling, I came to the window o’er the stern, Where lay my only escape; and silently, Feet foremost, I crept out, and by the ladder Slipped down without a sound into the sea. The galley still held way, and in few strokes I saw that I was left and unperceived; 2900 And so swam on until the fishermen Hailed me by name, and took me in their boat.

_Ful._ Who can have laid this plot to kill you, madam?

_Agr._ ’Tis Nero, Fulvia, he who seemed but late So kind and dutiful: ’twas all hollowness, Part of the plot, to bring me here alone, Away from friends: ay, and perceive this too, To lay my death to charge of an accident, And hide, maybe, even my dead body, drowned And lost in the depths of the sea. Now, being alone, I shall need thee to aid me.

_Ful._ Dearest madam, 2911 What can I do?

_Agr._ Thou must be faithful to me Whatever happens. Hearken, I said ’twas Nero Had done this: ’tis not so; my real enemy, The mover, is Poppæa. I blame not Nero: I bade him to discard her: he was driven To choose between us: she hath carried it. But being escaped, and she not here, I yet Can right myself with him. ’Tis not too late; Nay, I can amply trust those broad affections, 2920 Which ’twixt a mother and her son remain At bottom, spite of all. Ay, they remain. The common knowledge of this guilty attempt Will clear the way: and when I show the path, He will be glad to escape. I have writ a letter, Which, if he read, will work. ’Tis pure submission. Remember, we must ever speak of this But as an accident. Here is the letter; Send Agerinus with it straight to Cæsar; Of all my servants he’s the one must bear it: 2930 Nero has known him from a child, will trust him; Nay, he hath rid so oft upon his shoulders That he is half a brother, half a father. Send him at once: I have bidden him await: He should be here.

_Ful._ Alas, this is a day Of sorrow indeed. I pray Minerva guard Her feast from ill. [_Exit with letter._

_Agr._ Indeed I have little fear, If he but read. Yet now, after this warning, I must beware. ’Tis plain the people love me; 2939 They cheered me so. My escape will add to favour.

_Ful._ (_re-entering_). He waited at the gate, and with full speed Runs with the letter.

_Agr._ Come; one business Must now be not neglected; there’s poor Polla. Bring pens and ink and wax: we will seal up All her effects, and make an inventory In proper form, and do whate’er we may While we have time. Let us go see to it. [_Exeunt._

SCENE · 2

_A room in Nero’s villa. A table with papers. Enter NERO, SENECA, BURRUS, and TIGELLINUS._

_NERO._

We have an hour: sit down, my lords, we’ll hold A privy council. I have in my mind a matter Touching the subsidies.

_BURRUS._

The day is good 2950 For market matters, ’tis Minerva’s peace: The sword is sheathed.

_Ner._ (_to Servants_). Set light upon the table.

_SENECA._

To talk of subsidies hurts no man’s conscience. What is the business, Cæsar?

_Ner._ I am vexed By the complaints against the imperial household In the gathering of tolls.—Here in these papers Are weighty charges ’gainst Pomponius Silvanus, and Sulpicius Camerinus: Read them at leisure. But I ask you first Whether there be not cause for discontent 2960 In present management?

_Sen._ ’Tis a deep evil. But never was the empire better governed; Nor is there more extortion now, I think, Than ever was.

_Ner._ And were there no extortion?

_Sen._ Nay, while you farm the taxes there will be Extortion still.

_Ner._ You all think that, my lords?

_Sen._ Ay, ay.

_Ner._ And so say I. You have my grounds. Now hear my scheme, by which for once and all I rid the empire of this blot. ’Tis this. I will have no more tolls or tallages, 2970 Customs or duties levied: nay, not one Through all the empire. I will make this present To the human race: I say, their old vexation And burden shall away.

_TIGELLINUS._

Magnificent.

_Sen._ ’Tis generously meant, most generously. But is it possible?

_Ner._ Why not?

_Sen._ The treasury, Eased of this sum, must fill the deficit By other means. If you cut off the customs, You must increase the tributes, rates, and rents. If one shoe pinches, ’tis no remedy 2980 To stuff both feet in the other.

_Ner._ But my scheme Has precedent; there was no tallage taken Throughout all Italy for some six years Ere Julius.

_Sen._ Ay, but he restored the customs As needful.

_Ner._ Whence they seemed the price of empire.

_Sen._ Unjustly. In the times of greatest liberty Consuls and tribunes have ordained new customs, Which yet remain.

_Tig._ I praise the scheme.

_Ner._ (_to Bur._) And you?

_Bur._ Where look you then for revenue?

_Ner._ The rents, We’ll have the rents. The land.... 2990

_Enter Messenger with Officer of the Guard._

Why, who is this? Whence come you, man?

_MESSENGER._

Cæsar, from Anicetus. He asks great Cæsar’s pardon ere I tell.

_Ner._ Thou’rt free to speak.

_Mess._ There has an accident Befallen the Augusta’s yacht.

_Ner._ Hey! what was that?

_Mess._ At a lurch of the ship the awning fell and dragged The Augusta overboard.

_Ner._ Speak, man, speak on.

_Mess._ We thought her drowned.

_Ner._ Ha!

_Mess._ But by the grace of the gods She is escaped.

_Ner._ Escaped!

_Mess._ She swam to shore unharmed.

_Ner._ Thou wretch, And comest thou here in thy master’s place 2999 To bate mine anger? Forth and send him hither. Fly, or I kill thee.

_Mess._ Pardon, great Cæsar, pardon. The Admiral follows and will straight be here.

[_Runs out._

_Ner._ (_aside_). Escaped! after such boast, escaped! I am lost.— To have done this thing had tried me; to have attempted it And failed is ruin.

_Sen._ (_aside from Nero_). What is this?

_Bur._ (_to Sen._) ’Tis clear Cæsar knows what: and her escape not being His pleasure tells us that ’twas not his purpose.

_Sen._ (_aloud_). Alas, alas!

_Ner._ What friend there cries Alas? Who now stands by me? who will aid me now?

_Tig._ If Cæsar make his will but known...

_Ner._ Thou dullard! I need the brains of them that know my will. 3011 Now is no time for parley. Seneca, Speak what thou thinkest.

_Sen._ Cæsar, I am so much grieved that...

_Ner._ What’s thy pain To mine? Speak, man!

_Sen._ Alas, what shall I say?

_Ner._ How hast thou guessed this thing without a word, And yet hast not foreseen it?

_Sen._ Oh, is’t then true? The letter false; the Augusta hither brought But to be drowned!

_Ner._ See if ye know it not.

_Sen._ Let her escape belie thy guilty purpose. 3020

_Ner._ Why, nay, the failure damns a thousand-fold More than her death—I am henceforth the man Who would have killed his mother, and could not.

_Sen._ Alas, alas!

_Ner._ Hast thou no word but that? Thou that hast ever warned me, ay, and gone So far upon this path that thou hast sought To dull the natural feeling which so long Held off my hand, hast argued ’gainst repugnance, Crying, ’tis she that is the guilty one, 3029 The dangerous one, there is no peace with her: And now the day the thing thou hast foreseen, Ay, and hast led me to, is done, thou’rt silent. Hast thou no word?—Thou that wast ever ready, Hast thou no word?—What strikes thee on a sudden Dumb? Be my counsellor now that I need thee. Speak now! Why, thou dost weep! surely thou weepest! Burrus, what sayest thou?

_Bur._ This mischief, Cæsar, Being thus arisen is the Augusta’s death. Though I bewail the occasion, yet I say ’Twere most untimely justice to endanger 3040 The public peace for her whose life hath been So long the shame of justice. Since the sentence We know is just, and that necessity O’errides the common forms, the less delay The better. Let her die.

_Ner._ I thank thee, Burrus. How were this best performed?

_Tig._ Now, if none speak, I’ll say that Burrus, being the advocate Of what is planned, and as pretorian prefect Possessed of means, is fittest for the work.

_Bur._ Look not on me, Seneca, as if to say 3050 ’Tis well; as if ’twere thy thought that my office Covered this deed. I pardon Tigellinus, That, unacquainted with a soldier’s honour, He thinks it passable in time of peace, Entering in private houses there to slay Defenceless citizens. But that the guards Would thus lay hands on one that bears the name Of Agrippina, that they could forget Their loved Germanicus, who would think this? To such a deed they would not follow me, 3060 Far less another; and if Cæsar now Look for it from me, lo, I here throw down My prefecture to any man soe’er Who durst with this condition take it up.

_Ner._ Nay, Burrus, I’ll not ask thee that. Thou’rt right. And yet, if thou could’st do it— See here the man.

_Enter Anicetus in haste, Paris following._

Thou hast been my ruin!

_ANICETUS._

Pardon, Cæsar, pardon. I am strangely foiled. Give me one hour, and yet I’ll make amends.

_Ner._ If thou canst make amends, Come hither, speak with me. [_They go aside to front._

_Bur._ Is the thing known?

_PARIS._

Ay ay.

_Ner._ (_to Anic._) What canst thou do?

_Ani._ I have set a guard 3071 Around her villa, fearing lest the people Should force their way within, or she escape. Give me the word and I will slay her there.

_Ner._ Fool, I can give no word. Think when ’tis done, If I should punish thee less for that deed Than for thy late misdoing. What is this?

_Enter Officer of the Guard. Petronius follows._

_OFFICER._

The Augusta, Cæsar, sends a freedman hither, One Agerinus, with a letter.

_Ner._ (_to Anic._) Now What to do?

_Ani._ Bid him enter: when he comes 3080 I am prepared. Lend me thy dagger, friend (_to Tig._).

[_Takes Tigellinus’ dagger._

_Enter Agerinus, who runs to Cæsar._

_AGERINUS._

Lo, Cæsar, I am sent...

_Ani._ Ha! where’s thy hand? Ay, as I thought, a dagger well concealed Under his cloak.

_Age._ Indeed, indeed, good sir, I have no dagger.

_Ani._ How no dagger? See! Had I not caught thee! Ho! the guard, the guard! Take him to prison till he can be questioned.

_Age._ You do force treason on me. Cæsar! Cæsar!

[_He is borne off by Guards._

_Ani._ This villain having come, as he confessed, From the empress armed, will Cæsar leave the enquiry Now in my hands?

_Ner._ I do.

_Ani._ With me who will! 3091

_Tig._ I follow, lead the way.

[_Exeunt Anicetus and Tigellinus. Paris follows them. Exit Nero within doors._

_PETRONIUS._

What will they go to do?

_Bur._ ’Tis thus: the Admiral Has gone to kill the Augusta.

_Petr._ Gods forbid! His orders?

_Bur._ Humph!

_Petr._ Why, men, what thing ye do! He is shamed for ever.

_Bur._ Ay, and were’t not done Were shamed no less.

_Sen._ Alas! ’tis true, ’tis true. And thou wert right, Burrus; but dost thou well Permitting this?

_Bur._ I see ’tis necessary, And am not shamed to say I think the thing 3100 Itself is good. As for the motives, Seneca, Ay, and the manner of it, to defend them I shall not meddle.

_Petr._ (_to Sen._) And thou wilt take thy share?

_Sen._ ’Tis not my counsel.

_Petr._ ’Twill be held as thine, And rightly, seeing that thou let it not. I could have stayed it.

_Bur._ Nay, be not so sure. And if thou could’st have let it, could’st thou too Prevent the consequences?

_Petr._ But remember, She is his mother. Oh, I thought him better. Is it too late now think you, if I ran... 3110

_Bur._ They are there by now. Believe ’tis for the best. If she should live but till to-morrow morn, ’Tis civil war. Consider what a party Would stir upon the tale of Claudius’ death, Or to revenge Britannicus. I say There’s nought to gain.

_Petr._ Why, ’tis his mother, Burrus, His mother. I’ll be sworn he had not dared Thus to commit himself had I been by. He that should be a model to the world, The mirror of good manners, to offend 3120 Thus against taste!

_Bur._ If ’twere no worse...

_Petr._ Why, see, There are a hundred subtle ways by which, Had Cæsar done the thing, he had not been blamed. This vulgar butchery displays to all The motive, which so hurts your sense of right That ye neglect the manner. Why, I say, A just attention to the circumstance Would hide the doing; but thus done, the doing Proclaims the deed. And is’t not plain that ye Must share the guilt? Seneca, look for that. 3130