ACT IV

_Nurse_ [_to_ Poppaea, _who appears, distraught, coming out of her chamber_]: Why dost thou from thy husband's chamber come, 690 Dear child, with hurried step and troubled face? Why dost thou seek a lonely place to weep? For surely has the day we long have sought With prayers and promised victims come at last. Thou hast thy Caesar, firmly joined to thee By ties of marriage, whom thy beauty won, 695 Whom Venus gave to thee in bonds of love, Though Seneca despised and flouted her. How beautiful, upon the banquet couch Reclining in the palace, didst thou seem! The senate viewed thy beauty in amaze When thou didst offer incense to the gods, 700 And sprinkle wine upon the sacred shrines, Thy head the while with gauzy purple veiled. And close beside thee was thy lord himself; Amid the favoring plaudits of the crowd He walked majestic, in his look and mien Proclaiming all his pride and joy in thee. 705 So did the noble Peleus lead his bride Emerging from the ocean's snowy foam, Whose wedding feast the heavenly gods adorned, With equal joy the sea divinities. What sudden cause has clouded o'er thy face? 710 Tell me, what mean thy pallor and thy tears!

_Poppaea:_ Dear nurse, this night I had a dreadful dream; And even now, as I remember it, My mind is troubled and my senses fail. For when the joyful day had sunk to rest, And in the darkened sky the stars appeared, 715 I lay asleep within my Nero's arms. But that sweet sleep I could not long enjoy; For suddenly a grieving crowd appeared To throng my chamber--Roman matrons they, With hair disheveled and loud cries of woe. 720 Then 'midst the oft-repeated, strident blasts Of trumpets, there appeared my husband's mother, And shook before my face with threat'ning mien A bloody torch. Compelled by present fear, I followed her; when suddenly the earth 725 Seemed rent asunder to its lowest depths. Headlong to these I plunged, and even there In wonder I beheld my wedding couch, Whereon I sank in utter weariness. Then with a throng of followers I saw My son and former husband drawing near. Straightway Crispinus hastened to my arms, 730 And on my lips his eager kisses fell: When suddenly within that chamber burst My lord the king with frantic, hurrying steps, And plunged his sword into that other's throat. A mighty terror siezed me, and at last It roused me from my sleep. I started up With trembling limbs and wildly beating heart. 735 Long was I speechless from that haunting fear, Until thy fond affection gave me tongue. Why do the ghosts of hades threaten me? Or why did I behold my husband's blood?

_Nurse:_ All things which occupy the waking[57] mind, 740 Some subtle power, swift working, weaves again Into our web of dreams. Small wonder then, Thy sleeping thoughts were filled with marriage beds And husbands, when thy newly mated lord Held thee in his embrace. Does it seem strange That thou shouldst dream tonight of sounds of woe, 745 Of breasts hard beaten and of streaming hair? Octavia's departure did they mourn Within her brother's and her father's house. The torch which thou didst follow, borne aloft By Agrippina's hand, is but a sign That hate shall win for thee a mighty name. Thy marriage couch, in realms infernal seen, 750 Portends a lasting state of wedded joy. Since in Crispinus' neck the sword was sheathed, Believe that no more wars thy lord shall wage, But hide his sword within the breast of peace. Take heart again, recall thy joys, I pray, Throw off thy fears, and to thy couch return. 755

_Poppaea:_ Nay, rather will I seek the sacred shrines, And there make sacrifice unto the gods, That they avert these threats of night and sleep, And turn my terrors all upon my foes. Do thou pray for me and the gods implore 760 That in this happy state I may endure.

[_Exeunt_ Poppaea _and_ Nurse.]

_Chorus_ [_of Roman women in sympathy with_ Poppaea]: If babbling rumor's tales of Jove, His secret joys in mortal love, Are true, he once, in plumage dressed, Was to the lovely Leda pressed; 765 And as a savage bull he bore Europa from her native shore: But should he once thy form, Poppaea, see, He would leave his shining stars to dwell with thee. For thou than Leda many fold 770 Art fairer, or that maid of old Whom Jove embraced in showers of gold. Let Sparta boast her lovely dame, Who, as his prize, to Paris came: Though Helen's beauty drove the world to arms, 775 She still must yield to our Poppaea's charms. [_Enter_ Messenger.] But who comes here with hurried step and wild? What tidings bears he in his heaving breast?

_Messenger:_ Whoever guards our noble prince's house, 780 Let him defend it from the people's rage. Behold, the prefects lead their men in haste, To save the city from the furious mob Whose reckless passion grows, unchecked by fear.

_Chorus:_ What is the madness that inflames their hearts? 785

_Messenger:_ The people for their loved Octavia Are wild with rage and grief; and now in throngs Are rushing forth in mood for any deed.

_Chorus:_ What are they bent to do, or with what plan?

_Messenger:_ To give Octavia back her father's house, Her brother's bed, and her due share of empire. 790

_Chorus:_ But these Poppaea holds as Nero's wife.

_Messenger:_ 'Tis even she 'gainst whom the people's rage Burns most persistent, and to reckless deeds Is driven headlong on. Whate'er they see, Of noble marble wrought, or gleaming bronze, The hated image of Poppaea's face, 795 They cast it to the earth with wanton hands And crushing bars. The shattered parts they drag Along the streets, and with insulting heel Deep in the filthy mud they trample them. These savage deeds are mingled with such words As I should fear to utter in your ears. 800 Soon will they hedge the royal house with flames, Unless the prince his new-made wife give up To sate the people's wrath, and then restore To noble Claudia her father's house. That he himself may know these threatened deeds, I'll haste to tell him as the prefect bade. 805

[_Exit._]

_Chorus:_ Why vainly strive against the powers above? For Cupid's weapons are invincible. Your puny fires by those fierce flames he'll dim By which he oft has quenched the bolts of Jove, And brought the Thunderer captive from the sky. 810 For this offense you shall dire forfeit pay, E'en with your blood; for hot of wrath is he, And may not be o'ercome. At his command Did fierce Achilles strike the peaceful lyre; He forced the Greeks and Agamemnon proud 815 To do his will. Illustrious cities, too, And Priam's realm he utterly destroyed. And now my mind in fear awaits to see What Cupid's cruel penalties will be.

FOOTNOTES:

[57] Reading, _intentus_.