University of Virginia Library

SCENE THE THIRD.

Tigellinus, Octavia, Seneca.
Ti.
The emperor
Sends me to thee.

Oct.
Ah! bringest thou my death?
Now that my innocence is proved, 'twill be
To me acceptable.

Ti.
Thy emperor yet
Holds thee not guiltless; and to make thee so,
'Twas not enough to fortify with poison,
Eucerus, and thy accessory handmaids,
And baffle thus the instruments of torture.
Thou hast exempted them from pangs, 'tis true,
But thou hast taken from thyself the means
Of exculpation.

Oct.
What new subterfuge? ...

Ti.
Nero now interdicts, that trespasses
Not clearly proved should be alleged against thee.
Another now, another accusation,
Far different to the former one, awaits thee;
And this delinquent, not constrain'd by torture,
But free, unquestion'd, comes to ask for mercy.

Oct.
And what delinquent? Tell me.

Ti.
Anicetus.

Sen.
The executioner of Agrippina!

Oct.
What do I hear?

Ti.
The same that Nero saved
From imminent danger: to his emperor then
Faithful he stood; thou, lady, afterwards
Mad'st him a traitor. He, repentant, now,
Flies on thy steps; first he himself accuses,
And all discovers: but not less for this
His punishment awaits him.

Oct.
What imposture! ...

Ti.
Perhaps, then, he did not promise that the troops,
Of which he is the leader in Misenus,
Should, at thy wish, rebel?—And, on what terms,
Ought I to tell thee?

Oct.
Oh, forlorn of hope!
What do I hear? Oh execrable race!
Oh times! ...

Ti.
On thee does Nero now impose,
To clear thyself at once of shameful intrigues,
Of instigating leaders to rebel,
Of disaffected words, of stratagems
So often, yet so fruitlessly, contrived
Against Poppœa; and of popular tumults;
Or he insists that thou confess thy guilt:
And for this purpose he allows to thee
This coming day.

Oct.
... Too much he gives to me.—
Go thou, return to him: beg him that he
Here with Poppœa come. I would alone
To them disburthen my so many crimes:
I ask no more: So much obtain for me;
Go. Let Poppœa come exultingly
In my disgrace to triumph; I expect her.