POPPAEA. She would not bear it: would command her son To leave me: a younger woman has no hope Against her.
POPPAEA. No? Ah, but her child, and born but to obey. And yet though wiser, mightier, than myself, You shall not find in her a listener So still, so answerable to your mood. And, I will say it, you'll not find in her One who has dived so deep into your soul, Who sees--I cannot flatter--sees that greatness Which she too long keeps under: were I you I would be Caesar, spite of twenty mothers, And seem the mighty poet that I am. I'll go.
NERO. Poppaea, go not, go not. All the east Burns in me, and the desert fires my blood. I parch, I pine for you. My body is sand That thirsts. I die, I perish of this thirst, To slake it at your lips! You madden me.
[_He seizes her cloak and she stands revealed._
Goddess! What shall I give thee great enough? I'll give thee Rome--I'll give thee this great world, And all the builded empire as a toy. The Mediterranean shall thy mirror be, Thy jewels all sparkling stars of heaven. The orb of the earth--throw it on thy lap But for a kiss--one kiss!
POPPAEA. No--I'll not think of it! I'll have no violence for my sake committed. If by some chance unlooked for she should die, If in some far, far time she should succumb To creeping age--then----
MESSENGER. Sir, urgent business-- The State demands you.
POPPAEA. O Nero! Remember first the State--me afterward!
[_He returns and stands as in a dream while the_ COUNCILLORS _enter_.
BURRUS. How long? How long, sir? Agrippina Is drawing to her net the dregs of Rome, Makes mutinous the rabble and the scum.
SENECA. And, sir, she has not scrupled to enroll The ragged, shrieking Christians, who wash not, The refuse of the empire, all that flows To this main sewer of Rome she counts upon.
TIGELLINUS. [_Stealing forward._] And, sir, if these things move you not--a letter.
NERO. [_Reading._] 'I, Agrippina, daughter of Germanicus, of Claudius widow, of Nero mother, hereby do declare that though I have sat tame under private injuries, I will not forgo my public privileges, nor consent to be banished from high festival or ceremony. I purpose then to be present at Baiae at Minerva's feast, together with the Emperor, and will hold no second place. This is my ancient right and to that right I cleave. THE AUGUSTA.'