Stephen Phillips

“ SCENE IV SCENE.—The same—glittering starlight Enter various servants bearing wine-jars and dishes from the inner suffer-room, in procession. Then BURRUS, SENECA, ANICETUS, and TIGELLINUS
BURRUS. 'Tis not man's work to witness this. I have fought
Neck-deep in blood and spared not when the fit
Was on me, but I cannot gaze on this.
Have you a heart, old man?
TIGELLINUS. No, not in hours
Like these: the brain is all. ”

“ I go to Baiae; for I am not housed
Here as I should be: all the palace seems
To me a hovel; scarcely can I breathe.
I should be roofed with gold, and walled with gold,
Should tread on gold; and if I cast mine eyes
Over the city, they should view a scene
Of spacious avenues and breathing trees,
And buildings plunged in odorous foliage.
This is a petty city: I have thought
It might be well to raze it to the ground
And build another and an ampler Rome,
More worthy site for this imperial soul.
I'll go to Baiae, there to dream this dream. ”

“ To watch it. Quiet sea that bringest peace
Between us two. Hast thou not thought how still
The air is as with silent pleasure? Child,
Is not the night then more than common calm?
NERO. A sparkling starlight and a windless deep.
AGRIPPINA. Never until to-night did I so feel
The lure of the sea that lures me to lie down
At last after such heat. Ah, but the stars
Are falling and I feel the unseen dawn.
Son, I must go at once. Where is my maid
To wrap me? Sweet and warm now is the night
And I am glad I had prepared to go
By water, not by land.
Enter SERVANT, hurriedly
SERVANT. O Caesar! ”

“ TIGELLINUS. Caesar, I cannot speak to such a theme.
Merely Rome's mouthpiece.
NERO. And his gesture, why,
'Tis of the Orient, and gesticulation
More happily were called; never a stillness,
Never repose, but one wild whirl of arms.
TIGELLINUS. I spoke not of fulfilment, but of promise,
The artist's dazzling future.
NERO. A sweet voice!
Rome hath no critics! I would write a play
Lived there a single critic fit to judge it.
Whether a dancing-girl kick high enough—
On this they can pronounce: this is their trade. ”

“ OFFICER. Caesar, what shall be done?
Still spreads the fire!
A quarter of Rome in ashes lies already,
And like a blackened corpse: and screaming mothers,
Hugging their babes, dash through the fearful flames,
And old men totter gasping through the blaze
Or fall scorched to the ground. Stifled with smoke
The population from their houses reel.
Meantime the Christians, prophesying woe
And final doom upon a wicked world,
Hither and thither run, and with their dark
Forebodings madden all the minds of men. ”

“ Shall tame her: there's the danger, that she lives.
While she hath life, it is no matter where,
While she hath breath, no other dares to breathe,
Not Caesar, even!
NERO. This breath to her I owe.
TIGELLINUS. [Cautiously and slowly watching
NERO, as do the others.] Caesar, there is a region of exile
Whence none hath yet returned—your pardon, sir—
NERO. [Starts and turns away.] No, no, no!
I remember very clear
How gently she would wake me long ago.
BURRUS. Then be thy mother's son still and surrender
This toy of Rome to her: she bought it you:
Now, wearied, give it back! ”

“ BRITISH CHIEF. Caesar, the tax that thou hast laid on us
Remit, we pray thee, else we rise in arms
And will abide thy battle.
NERO. So! You dream
That Caesar being merciful is weak.
I who can succour, I can strike; I'll launch
The legions over sea, and I myself
Will lead them, and the eagles will unloose
Through Britain—I who sit on the world's throne
Will have no threatening from Briton, Gaul,
People or tribe inland or ocean-washed. ”

“ But to the State.
[AGRIPPINA starts.
'Tis thought that neither Rome,
The provinces, nor armies, will endure
To see a woman in such eminence.
Therefore it is advised that you retire
To Antium a while, and leave Rome free.
AGRIPPINA. [Starting up.] Leave Rome!
Why, I would die as I did step
Outside her gates, and glide henceforth a shadow.
The blood would cease to run in my veins, my heart
Stop, and my breath subside without her walls.
All without Rome is darkness: you will not
Despatch my shadow down to Antium? ”

“ NERO. She is gone! The red drops those that fell from her!
ACTE. Lo! I am with thee!
NERO. Thou! And who art thou?
Enter in great haste an OFFICER, followed by OTHERS
OFFICER. Caesar, Rome burns! We cannot fight the fire
Which blazes and consumes. How it arose
None knows and none can tell. What shall we do?
ANOTHER. It sprung in the Suburra: whether lit
By accident, dropped torch, or smouldering brand——
ANOTHER. Or by design——
ANOTHER. Caesar, the Christians,
Who hate the human race, have done this thing:
They loathe thy rule and would abolish thee,
And with thee, Rome. ”

“ NERO. A kindness harped on grows an injury.
AGRIPPINA. Are you the babe that lay upon my breast?
NERO. I was: but I would not lie there for ever.
AGRIPPINA. Have I not reared you, tended you, and loved you?
NERO. Yes, but to be your puppet and your toy.
AGRIPPINA. Boy, never since I first looked on the sun
From man or woman had I insolence,
Who have sistered, wived, and mothered Emperors.
NERO. I speak no insolence—you weary me!
AGRIPPINA. Gods! you have hit on a new thing to tell me.
[Coming to him.] Does your heart beat? Are
you all ice and pose? ”

“ I'll go, but if I fall, Rome too shall fall:
I'll shake this empire till it reel and crash
On that ungrateful head; and if I fall,
The builded world shall tumble down in thunder.
[Murmur.
Ah!
[Seeing BRITANNICUS.] To my arms, boy! [Snatches him to her side.] Tremble now and shake! Here is the true heir to the imperial throne, Deposed by me, but now by me restored. ”

“ Nero shall climb the throne.
SENECA. I will not ask the manner of his death.
In studious ease I have protested much
Against the violent taking of a life.
But lost in action I perceive at last
That they who stand so high can falter not,
But live beyond the reaches of our blame;
That public good excuses private guile.
AGRIPPINA. You, Xenophon and Burrus, stand with me.
Enter BURRUS, right. He salutes the corse of CLAUDIUS
BURRUS. Obedient to the trumpet-call I come.
AGRIPPINA. Say, Burrus, quickly say, how stands our cause
With the Praetorians who unmake and make Emperors? ”

“ To thee, Caesar, to thee, we come: for thou
Alone mayst with this conflagration cope.
NERO. Listen! Did ye not hear a wailing then?
The wailing of a woman in her grave?
Again! A wailing, and I know the voice!
Enter OTHERS hastily
MESSENGER. Caesar, the fire has reached the Palatine!
Rome will be ashes soon.
ANOTHER. We have fought fire
With water: matched the elements in vain,
For the fire triumphs: Caesar, what aid from thee?
Enter ANOTHER
MESSENGER. Caesar, the temple of Jupiter is aflame.
The shrine of Vesta next will crash to the earth. ”

“ I have appeased and atoned,
Have atoned with cries, with crashings, and with flaming.
Thy blood is no more on my head;
I am purged, I am cleansed;
I have given thee flaming Rome for the bed of thy death! ”

“ Ghost-charming Orpheus, O Apollo—god!
SATELLITE. O Caesar, I am one who speaks right out;
If it means death, yet must I speak the truth.
Thy voice was harsh.
NERO. Was it so, friend?
SATELLITE. Harsh and uncertain. Had it been another
Who sang, it would have ravished every ear,
But thee must I remember at thy best,
And what in others we count excellence
In thee we count a lapse, and falling off.
NERO. There's a good fellow!
SENECA. Caesar!
NERO. But a moment!
1ST SPY. [Stealing forward.] Licinius smiled, sir, at thy final note.
NERO. Nothing! an artist must bear ridicule. ”

“ There is no hunger which I may not sate;
Nought is forbidden me under heaven!
[With a cry.] I shall go mad! I shall go mad!
[ACTE steals in noiselessly, and waits till he turns, then
comes down to him.
My Acte!
ACTE. [Shrinking.] O, I seem so far from you,
And so beneath you now; your care henceforth
The world and nothing less. Long have you been
Nero to me, but Caesar must be now
High throned, the nations crawling at your feet.
And yet be sure that if on some far day
The throne should pass from you; if you should stand
Lonely at last; your friends all fallen away
From you ”

“ CHORUS. O Caesar!
NERO. Let it rage!
ANOTHER. Caesar, 'tis said this fire was lit by thee.
That thou wouldst burn old Rome to build a new,
A Rome more glorious issuing from the flames:
This tale hath maddened all the common folk
Who, from their smouldering homes, curse thee aloud.
NERO. This fire is not the act of mortal mind,
But is the huge conception of a spirit
Dreaming beyond the tomb a mighty thought. ”

“ 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. ”

“ NERO with courteous decision brings her down.
Mother, this is man's business, not for thee.
You jar the scheme of colour—mar the effect.
PARTHIAN. Caesar, we starve: all Parthia parches: all
Our crops sun-smitten bleach upon the plains.
We ask thy aid.
NERO. And ye shall have my aid
Even to the fullest: further, I will open
The imperial granaries for your people's wants.
PARTHIAN. Caesar, we thank thee: and if ever thou
Shouldst need the Parthian aid, whate'er the cost,
That aid thou shalt find ready at thy side. ”

“ The Christians, tell us of an after life,
A glory on the other side the grave.
If there should be a kingdom not of this world,
A spirit throne, a city of the soul!
POPPAEA. I want no spirit kingdom after death. ”

“ If the cold moon hath sinned not, she hath been privy.
She aids me not, but watches quietly.
A placid sea, still air, and bright starlight.
ANICETUS. But Caesar, see, a gradual cloud hath spread
Over the moon; the ship's light disappears.
She is vanished.
NERO. She is veiled from sight.
TIGELLINUS. My eyes
Can find her not; she is enwrapped in mist. ”

“ Enter NERO hastily and perturbed, followed by SENECA, BURRUS, and TIGELLINUS, his privy-councillors. BURRUS. Caesar, still glides the dead Britannicus
About the palace, and his memory
Your mother, Agrippina, uses: makes
Out of his ghost a faction for herself.
She grows a public peril; much you owe
To her, but more to Rome; from Antium
She rages disappointed to and fro.
Me for your army you hold answerable,
But can no longer if you suffer her
To lure the legions from their loyalty. ”

“ AGRIPPINA. How long till Rome shall greet her Emperor?
ASTROLOGER. Behold the heavens! The moment!
[Exit ASTROLOGER.
AGRIPPINA. Give the sign!
[Sounds of acclamation and cries of 'Nero.' BURRUS draws his sword.
BURRUS. See the Praetorians!
SENECA. Nero returns.
Enter a HERALD gorgeously dressed, bearing
a silver wreath
MESSENGER. From Nero unto Agrippina greeting!
He comes a victor from the chariot race.
[Sounds of acclamation grow louder, the
crowd of NERO'S friends and satellites
pours in: last comes NERO dressed as a charioteer.
AGRIPPINA. [Touching CLAUDIUS' body.] ”