e.

NERO. A little time in which to fix my mind.
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.

TIGELLINUS. Might I propose you go not all alone?
At times the answering flash from other eyes
Can aid the mightiest; and a woman's thought----

NERO. Yes--Yes--Poppaea!

BURRUS. Otho will be jealous.

TIGELLINUS. And is already dangerous; he has joined
The Agrippina faction.

NERO. He must be
Promoted then to--Lusitania.

TIGELLINUS. Thule were safer--still.

NERO. Here I appoint him
Sole governor of Lusitania.
To Baiae now--Poppaea--a new Rome!

[_Exit_ NERO.

TIGELLINUS. He hesitates--but I will see Poppaea:
She can find means we cannot, and we thus
Can use her beauty for our policy.

[_Exeunt_ TIGELLINUS, BURRUS, SENECA, _and_ ANICETUS.

SCENE II

SCENE.--_The tiring chamber of_ POPPAEA--_signs of luxury, implements
of a Roman lady's toilet of the period_. POPPAEA _reclining, with a
single maid_.

POPPAEA. Myrrha, more gold upon these builded curls.
How often, child?

MYRRHA. Mistress, forgive me.

[_A slave has entered._

POPPAEA. Well?

SLAVE. Mistress, the Emperor's minister, Tigellinus.

[POPPAEA _signs_ MYRRHA _to go_.

_Enter_ TIGELLINUS

TIGELLINUS. Lady, I am loth to interrupt this toil,
But come on a secret errand.

POPPAEA. Well, what is it?

TIGELLINUS. Long have I watched you, and to me it seemed
You had some mighty wish within your soul
As yet unspoken? Ah, I know it well.
You would climb high, even to the very height?

POPPAEA. [_Rising._] I would.

TIGELLINUS. You would be--mistress of the world?

POPPAEA. Ah!

TIGELLINUS. And shall be: we aim at the same goal.
You from ambition, I from policy.

POPPAEA. Speak clearer.

TIGELLINUS. 'Tis our wish to free young Nero
From Agrippina's dangerous dominance--
To