Robert Bridges

“ For ’tis a burden far beyond thy freight. 70
If thou wilt swim at all, swim with the times,
An empty bottom on a shallow tide:
Be that thy seamanship—No; I am bold to say
Our virtue hath the topmost vaunt of honour;
Seeing we are true to it in spite of shame,
When its incompetence before the world
Gives it the lie; nor can the fawning curs,
That bask in Cæsar’s sunshine, when they mock us,
Dream that we wish them other than they are. ”

“ What ’tis to be full Cæsar. Dost thou think? 110
There’s nothing good on earth but may be won
With power and money; and I have them both;
Ay, and the will.
Oth.Much may be done, no doubt.
Ner. Much! Why there’s nothing, man, may not be
done.
The curse of life is of our own devising,
Born of man’s ignorance and selfishness. ”

“ Persuader to the maidens of the isle
To banish all their lovers?
Deid.O Pyrrha, shame!
Man’s love is nothing; what knowst thou of it 330
To magnify its folly? ’Tis a mischief
To thwart our good: therefore I banish it.
A woman’s love may be as much to woman
As a man’s love can be. ’Tis reasonable
This, and no dream. ’Tis my experience.
When I am with thee, Pyrrha, I want nothing. ”

“ Thou being a mortal shouldst love death and darkness;
For in the brief date of thy heedless term
’Tis vain to strive with evil: and since the end
Cometh the same, and at the latest cometh
So soon, that there’s no difference to be told
’Twixt early and late, ’tis wisdom to despair:
Then would thy tongue have boldly answered me,
And said, Man hath his life; that it must end
Condemns it not for nought. Are rivers salt 700
Because they travel to the bitter sea?
Is the day dark because the gorgeous west
Must fade in gloom, when the ungazeable sun [Pg 213]
Is fallen beneath the waves? ”

“ THRASEA and PRISCUS meeting.
PRISCUS.
I was coming to your house.
THRASEA.
’Tis well we meet.
How went it in the senate?
Pr.As you said.
A message read from Nero.
Thr.Seneca?
Pr. No doubt.
Thr. And in what terms touched he the murder?
Pr. With double tongue, as being an ill which none,
And Cæsar least, could have desired; and yet
A good none should lament. ”

“ Ful. ’Tis Cæsar coming with a company.
Agr. Oh, I will see. (Looking forth.) And there is
Seneca
And Burrus. There’s much meaning in this visit.
How grand he looks with all his lords about him!
There never was a Cæsar like him: others
Have been but Cæsars; he’s an emperor,
And wears the full magnificence of state
In beardless boyhood.—Fulvia, I do love splendour. 2660
To be so young and rule the world!
Enter Nero, Seneca, and Burrus.
Now, welcome,
Welcome, my son!
NERO.
Welcome to Baiæ, mother. ”

“ Hadst thou said this,
And that Earth’s changeful pride, the life of man,
Is exquisite in such a quality
To make the high gods envious could they guess: 711
Then had I found no answer: but when I
Told thee of joy, and set thee in the midst,
That thou shouldst argue with me that ’tis best
To die at once, and for an empty name
Pass to the trivial shades ”

“ Say, my good fortune, Cæsar.
Ner.Now if thy boast
Be true as it is rare, thy lady’s presence
Would add much spirit to our gaieties.
I have never seen Poppæa, say that to-night
Thou bring her.
Oth.In this thing, for friendship’s sake,
Hold me excused.
Ner.Nay, no constraint; thy wish 220
Is all in all. Wrong me not; I would not have,
And least to thee, my pleasures a command;
But my commands are pleasures. Let us go. [Exeunt. [Pg 14]
SCENE · 2 A room in the palace. Enter OCTAVIA and BRITANNICUS.
BRITANNICUS.
Why art thou weeping, dearest? ”

“ Thou may’st be sure, since for thy sake I do it:
And while thou livest I shall have both reason
And wish to live. Have care, too, for thyself;
I think thy peril is no less than mine. [Exeunt. [Pg 84]
SCENE · 5 Supper-room in the Palace. All are reclined at two tables, thus:
NERO.
I will propose a question to the table:
Which of the arts is greatest? Lucan, these sausages
Are something new: try them.
POPPÆA.
You question, Cæsar,
Which of the arts is greatest? I would answer
The one which Cæsar honours.
TIGELLINUS.
But if Cæsar
Should honour more than one? ”

“ The gods defer it long, but when he dies, 300
If thou and I should plan to seize this isle,
Drive out the men, and rule it for our own ...
Wouldst thou work with me, Pyrrha, the thing could be.
Why shouldst thou smile? I do not say that I
Would rate my strength with men; but on the farms
Women are thicker sinewed; and in thee [Pg 195]
I see what all might be. I am sure for speed
No man could match thee, and thou hast an arm
To tug an oar or hurl the heaviest spear,
Or wrestle with the best. Why dost thou smile? ”

“ Cæsar shall hear your message.
Sen.Madam, we go.
Agr. Ay, go, good fellows; though ye have roused
my passion,2380
Your coming here hath cheered me wondrously.
Nay, if ye have ever such another matter,
Bring it again; be not abashed, but come;
Or send your wives, and those two gentlemen,
Whose names I know not. My lords, your humble servant. [Exeunt Burrus and Seneca and two Gentlemen.
Plautus! now is it possible I was wrong
Not to have thought of Plautus? No, I laugh,
’Tis merely laughable. At forty-five
To marry a pretender; and Plautus too! [Pg 133] 2390
He would not have me. ”

“ I would enchant thee and thine isle. Alas!
How wilt thou learn thou art mine? How can I tell
And with the word not lose thee? Now this suitor
Threats my betrayal ... He comes. I’ll watch. Yet not
With jealous eyes, but heedful of my fate. [Hides in bushes.
Enter Lycomedes and Abas.
LYCOMEDES.
’Tis folly and impertinence. I say it
With due respect unto the prince, thy master,
Who am as much his elder as the king
His father is. He ne’er would so have wronged me,— 431
The mild and good Laertes.—In this isle
Think’st thou ’twere possible a man should hide, [Pg 201]
And I not know it? ”

“ So the more dangerous first, then are we quit 1013
At once of all our mischief and disgrace.
’Tis past belief that she who plunged in crime
To enthrone her son should now plot to dethrone him.
There is no bridle for a wicked woman. ”

“ Thou art the first of the Greeks: their homaged kings 739
The gods condemn to death if thou withhold
Thy single arm. Why so? What hast thou done?
Where have men seen thee? Hast thou ruled like Nestor? ”

“ She is vain, deceitful, self-seeking, and, being by nature cold, hath the art to assume the mask of passion; and ’neath the show of virtue designedly conceals her wickedness and mischief. She loves thee no better than she loves Otho. ”

“ Tig. This much were all: and yet this caravan
Is but the least of six; His monstrous Grace
Brings up the rear.
Par.’Tis nobly done of Cæsar.
Tig. ’Tis noble, say you, that the thief go quit
With all his plunder from the house he plundered?
Par. Hark how the weasel can upbraid the fox!
Good Tigellinus, there’s no need to grudge 830
Pallas his scrapings; the sea is full of fish:
Rather thou should’st rejoice because thou seest
Thy probable hap. Pray that as many mules,
Litters and bags and bales, women and slaves
May comfort thee.
Enter Nero with Domitia.
NERO.
Paris, what do you here? ”

“ Say, how didst thou fare?
Luc. In many things, Thrasea, I hold not with thee,
Nor will pretend that I can see in virtue
A self-sufficiency invulnerable
Against the crime of others. I believe
The world is wronged, and burn to avenge the wrong. 1730
But, as an honest man, I take thy hand.
Thr. I looked for this, Lucan, and take thy hand. ”

“ Enter Britannicus.
Ah! ah! ’tis thee.
Speak softly, for these walls have ears.
BRITANNICUS.
Thou thinkest
That Cæsar watches me.
Agr.To-day thy spies
Are mine, but must not hear.
Br.Hast thou seen Burrus?
Agr. He is thine enemy: no hope from him.
Br. I would not have this spoken of as my hope.
Agr. True, boy. I mentioned not thy name, and Nero, [Pg 78]
Being now persuaded thou art innocent,
Forgives thee. Let the risk I ran for thee 1410
Be earnest of more good.
Br.I thank thee for it.
Agr. ’Tis nothing, this. Thou yet shalt reign. ”

“ The Creator smileth on him who is wise and dareth
In understanding with pride:840
For God, where’er he hath builded, dwelleth wide,—
And he careth,—
To set a task to the smallest atom,
The law-abiding grains,
That hearken each and rejoice:
For he guideth the world as a horse with reins ”

“ Ul. We too should study how to meet the king.
Ach. Stay yet, Ulysses. Thou hast parted here
With goods appraised to them that meant to buy.
I have a full purse with me. Be content,
Take it. I’d give as much for the little sword.
Now let me do this favour to the ladies.
Ul. (taking) . ’Tis fit, and fairly done. I did not think
To go off robbed. The sword is worth the gold. 1189
We part in honest dealing. Fare thee well.
Dio. (aside) . Thrashed like a witless cur!
(To Ach.) Farewell, Achilles.
An hour hence we will meet thee at the palace. ”

“ Alone and friendless, in the worst disgrace
Woman can suffer;—ay, and caused by you.
But learn that, if nought else, this house is mine;
If ’tis so small that it can welcome little,
It can exclude the more. At Cæsar’s order
Ye have forgot your manners, now at mine
Resume them. Ye have done his hest, begone! ”

“ Why, give the man his choice
Of marrying me and exile, would he not
Fly to the pole? Poor Plautus! marry Plautus!
Both. Ha! ha! ha! he! he!
Enter Nero. Agrippina is seated.
NERO.
I find you merry, mother; the gods be praised
That you deny the impeachment. [Pg 134]
Agr.Really, Nero,
Burrus’ memory is getting very short
If he said I denied it. I did not.
Ner. You did not?
Agr.Nay, I’d not be at the pains.
Ner. Called you me hither?
Agr.Ay, you seem misled.
I guess who ’tis. But let that pass. I hoped
I might advise you privately; I knew
You would not wish it known. Now, was I wrong? ”

“ Thou didst win indeed
The best and worst of Fortune.
Bur.Give her her due,
Such courage as deserved the best, such crimes
As make her death seem gentler than deserved.
Enter Nero between Anicetus and Tigellinus.
Ner. My lords, ’tis done. Nay, look not grieved. There’s none
Suffers as much as I; all share the good. ”

“ There is no cure, no cure.
I’ll close my eyes for ever, nor see again
The things I have seen, nor be what I have been. [Covers her face weeping.
Enter Achilles.
Ach. The voices that were here have ceased. Ah, there! [Pg 251]
Not gone. ’Tis she, and by my cast-off robe
Sitting alone. I must speak comfort to her,
Whoe’er I seem. O Deidamia, see!
Pyrrha is found. Weep not for her. I tell thee
Thy Pyrrha is safe. Despair not. Nay, look up. 1519
Dost thou not know my voice? ’Tis I myself. ”

“ Your judgment has gone astray upon a contempt for Cæsar’s follies, or a hatred of his mother’s crimes. Measure Nero but by what he has already done, and you may even find cause for congratulation.
19
Pr. We shall be ruled like the Britons by a Queen.
Thr. O nay. It is not possible that Nero will suffer Agrippina’s ambition to take such a place. ’Tis already a quarrel between them, and Seneca declares for him.
Pr. Then, I ask you, may there not be found in this quarrel an opportunity to bring in Britannicus? Now he is of age, he can no longer be held disqualified. ”

“ May be. But then, sir, his empress made away with both him and his will; and the Roman people chose for Cæsar the son of the murderess, rather than the heir of the idiot they were glad to be rid of. Since which day Nero is as truly our Cæsar as Britannicus could [Pg 5] ever have been. Those who swore to Nero will remain by him; as ’tis well they should, else were no stability.
39Pr. Shall we then do nothing?
Thr. You take things by the wrong handle. Let us make the best of what we have. Our Cæsar is the pupil of a philosopher and guided in everything by his master’s counsels. ”

“ Note to Achilles in Scyros.—After I had begun this play I came by chance on Calderon’s play on the same subject, El Monstruo de los Jardines. The monster is Achilles; the gardens the same. Excepting an expression or two I found nothing that it suited me to use, and I should not have recorded the circumstance, if it were not that Calderon’s play seemed to me to contain strong evidence that he had read The Tempest. ”

“ The folly of man hath baulked the gods in heaven:
And good that men desire shall be as common
As ills they now repine at. When I say
There shall be justice, see, even at my word
Injustice is no more.
PARIS.
The house of Rufus,
Standing on justice there, will mar thy palace.
Ner. Fool. Why, I say to Rufus—I am Cæsar,
And need thy house.—Says he—It cost my sire 140
Ten million sesterces.—A trifle that,
Say I, and give him twenty: and down it goes.
Is not this more than justice?
Par.Ay, ’tis power.
Ner. Thou quibbling meddler, learn this point of wit,
To keep thy sphere ”

“ A pedlar’s gear, and with such gawds and trinkets
As tickle girlish fancies, I shall steal
Upon them at their play; my hoary beard
And rags will set them at their ease; and while
They come about me, and turn o’er my pack, 160
I spy. If then Achilles be among them,
The lad’s indifference soon will mark him out;
When, watching my occasion, I’ll exhibit
Something that should provoke his eye and tongue.
If he betray himself, thou being at hand ....
Dio. Why, ’tis a dirty trick. ”

“ Britannicus, sup not to-day with Cæsar.
How came you by it?
Oct.’Tis from Fulvia,
The maid that loves Seleucus; whence ’tis his.
Br. Most like; I know the turbaned mountebank 1500
Keeps an old kindness for me. Yet nay, nay—
If this should now be found—nay, he’s too shrewd
To put himself in writing.
Oct.He might dare
With Fulvia.
Br.Nay. I cannot think ’tis his.
And were it, what’s his credit? I do not trust
These fellows far. They trade in mystery,
And love to thicken water,—and if there be
A plot to poison me, to-day’s occasion
Offers no easier vantage than to-morrow’s. ”

“ Pop. I have other motions in me. I’ve an itch 1290
Men call ambition, and I see a prize
Looks worth the having.
Oth.’Tis not worth the having.
Pop. Why, what were I to thee, could’st thou be Cæsar?
Oth. Even all thou art; I have no itch to rule
Merely to see that game played out, and cry
At the end—what is ambition?
Pop.It hath no end.
Oth. ’Tis plain love hath an end. ”

“ 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. 3110
Is it too late now think you, if I ran ...
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. ”

“ By going, ’tis a quarrel that you go.
Agr. No quarrel, nay. ’Tis only this: I thought
That in your love I held perpetual office.
’Tis not so. Now my time is out: I go
As Pallas goes.
Ner.The sleek, extortionate Pallas,
Dost thou defend the despicable Pallas?
940
Agr. I would be kind to friends; none will stand by you, [Pg 52]
If you cast off those to whom most you owe.
’Twas first through him I came to seize the power
That made you Cæsar. Look! you have lost a friend.
Be wiser when I am gone.
Ner.I have good friends,
Burrus and Seneca: I trust them both. ”

“ There is the monster Achilles, who in many respects remembers Caliban, and is even addressed as Señor monstruo: ’Monsieur Monster.’ There is Thetis, who is to her nymphs as Prospero to his spirits; with musical enchantments, and voices in the air, and even a fantastico bajél. Calderon has moreover hit upon the same device of imitative fancy as tempted Dryden in like sad case, and pictured a man who had never seen a woman. The island is wandered on by the prince and his suite, and one of them says of it Republica es entera, &c. ”

“ My brother’s death, Burrus, indeed, I swear,
Though thou believe me not, yet if my part
In that were separate and weighed ’gainst hers ...
I would not tell thee... Oh, I had been happy had I
But heard thee then.
Bur.Your peace even now as much
Hangs on good counsel. You are hot: be guided, Cæsar.
Ner. Nay, now thou’rt changed, thou’rt wrong: thou goest round
To the other side. If thou would’st give the advice 2161
I need, I’d take it gladly. Listen, Burrus:
I have another secret; if I tell thee
Thou may’st befriend me. I will tell thee. Hark!
’Tis this: I fear my mother ”