Nero

Excerpt

ACT I

SCENE.—The scene is in the Great Hall in the Palace of the Caesars. At the back are steps leading to a platform with balustrade opening on the air, and beyond, a view of the city.

[On the right of the stage is a cedarn couch on which CLAUDIUS is uneasily sleeping. On the right is a door communicating with the inner apartments. On the left a door communicating with the outer halls.

[XENOPHON is standing by the couch of CLAUDIUS. AGRIPPINA is sitting with face turned to an ASTROLOGER, who stands at the top of the steps watching the stars.

[LOCUSTA is crouching beside a pillar, right. A meteor strikes across the sky. The ASTROLOGER, pointing upwards, comes down the steps slowly.

ASTROLOGER. These meteors flame the dazzling doom of kings.

[AGRIPPINA rises apprehensively.

XENOPHON. Caesar is dead!

AGRIPPINA. The drug hath found his heart.
  [To LOCUSTA, who steals forward.
  Locusta, take your price and steal away!
  Sound on the trumpet. Go! your part is done.

  [Exit LOCUSTA.
  [Trumpet is sounded.

  That gives the sign to the Praetorians
  Upon the instant of the Emperor's death.

[Answering trumpets are heard.

  Hark! trumpets answering through all the city.
  Xenophon, you and I are in this death
  Eternally bound. This husband have I slain
  To lift unto the windy chair of the world
  Nero, my son. Your silence I will buy
  With endless riches; but a hint divulged——

XENOPHON. O Agrippina, Empress, fear not me!

AGRIPPINA. Meantime his child, his heir, Britannicus,
  Must not be seen lest he be clamoured for.
  So till the sad Chaldean give the sign
  Of that so yearned for, favourable hour,
  When with good omens may my son succeed,
  The sudden death of Claudius must be hid!
  Then on the instant Nero be proclaimed
  And Rome awake on an accomplished deed.

XENOPHON. Then summon Claudius' musicians in
  To play unto the dead as though he breathed.

AGRIPPINA. Call them! A lulling music let them bring.

  [Exit XENOPHON.
  [She turns to ASTROLOGER.

  O thou who readest all the scroll of the sky,
  Stands it so sure Nero my son shall reign?

ASTROLOGER. Nero shall reign.

AGRIPPINA. What lurks behind these words?
  There is a 'but' still hovering in the stars.

ASTROLOGER. Nero shall reign.

AGRIPPINA. The half! I'll know the rest.

ASTROLOGER. Peer not for peril!

AGRIPPINA. Peril! His or mine?

ASTROLOGER. Thine then.

AGRIPPINA. I will know all, however dark.
  Finish what did so splendidly begin.

ASTROLOGER. Nero shall reign, but he shall kill his mother.

AGRIPPINA. Kill me, but reign!

Enter SENECA

SENECA. The trumpet summoned me,
  And I am here.

AGRIPPINA. Seneca! Speak it low!
  Caesar is dead! 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....