Seneca: They justly chafe who pray without avail.580
Nero: When prayers do not avail, should force be sought?
Seneca: Rebuffs are hard.
Nero: 'Tis wrong to force a prince.
Seneca: He should give way.
Nero: Then rumor counts him forced.
Seneca: Rumor's an empty thing.
Nero: But harmful too.
Seneca: She fears the strong.585
Nero: But none the less maligns.
Seneca: She soon can be o'ercome. But let the youth,
The faith and chastity of this thy wife,
The merits of her sainted sire prevail
To turn thee from thy will.
Nero: Have done at last,
For wearisome has thy insistence grown;
One still may do what Seneca comdemns.
And I myself have now too long delayed590
The people's prayers for offspring to the throne.
Tomorrow's morn her wedding day shall prove,
Who bears within her womb my pledge of love.
[Exeunt.]
ACT III
Ghost of Agrippina [bearing a flaming torch]: Through cloven earth from
Tartarus I come,
To bring in bloody hands this torch of hell
To light these curséd rites; with such dire flames595
Let this Poppaea wed my son, which soon
His mother's grief and vengeful hand shall turn
To funeral fires. And ever 'mid the shades
My impious murder in my memory dwells,
A heavy weight upon my grieving soul
Still unavenged; for, Oh, ingratitude
He gave me in return for all my gifts,600
E'en for the gift of empire did he give
A murderous ship designed to work my death.
I would have wept my comrades' plight, and more,
My son's most cruel deed: no time for tears
